Track Listing

1. Screaming Skin
2. Forgive And Forget
3. Maria
4. No Exit
5. Double Take
6. Nothing Is Real But The Girl
7. Boom Boom In The Zoom Zoom Room
8. Night Wind Sent
9. Under The Gun
10. Out In The Streets
11. Happy Dog
12. Dream's Lost On Me
13. Divine
14. Dig Up The Conjo
15. Hot Shot
16. Rapture
17. Heart Of Glass

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #82118 in Music
• Released on: 2002-08-12
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

CD Description
After a 17-year recording layoff, one might assume the members of Blondie would be a bit rusty. This is not the case onNO EXIT, the band's seventh album of new material. Four of the original five members are intact, and time seems to haveonly improved the Blondie sound.
"Maria" is perfect pop,an infectious radio-friendly single. "Forgive And Forget" has jungle drums and electronic rhythms primed for the '90s dance market. The title track has Debbie Harry trading raps with Coolio; ironic, considering it was Harry who helped propel rap into the top 40 in the early '80s. The diversity of musical styles gives the album a widespread appeal. Rap, ska,dance, jazz, rock, country and African genres are all represented. Although the band helped pioneer the new wave movement along with The Cars, B-52's and Talking Heads, they have always resisted categorisation. Blondie is back, and NO EXITdelivers in a big way, showing a vigour not seen since the group's early days.

Customer Reviews

Buy it!
This album starts off excellently and gives a wonderful first impression. Songs like 'Screaming Skin' are immensly powerful and overwhelming with strong drums and memorable bass riffs. Organs and overdrive guitars are used effectively as a great combination of instruments, and the band really take this opportunity to show what they're made of. It's almost enough to bring tears to your eyes. The first half of the album strikes the listener as being very different to anything they've heard by Blondie before, and the new rock/indie style is perfect for Debbie Harry's voice - something which most listeners probably gathered after the release of 'Maria'. This new style all works so well.

However, I must say that tracks 9 to 13 are a bit too weak. They sound almost like fillers and are quite disappointing after hearing songs as wild and powerful as the initial tracks - it's almost like a nemesis. They're very mellow and get quite monotonous, leaving a lot to be desired for. Although some of these lyrics are very amusing to listen to, and well written, these few tracks are still the scurge of the whole album.

The live tracks at the end of 'No Exit' are a nice addition. It helps the listener remember what the old days used to be like, and for a young listener like me, it shows how great Blondie are.. How they've changed over the musical eras and are out to try new styles - something which helps bands gain a lot of respect and makes the music industry interesting.

I find that most albums have their weak spots, but the ones on this album are outweighed by new styles of Blondie. This is definately worth buying and I'd reccomend it to people of all ages!!

Well done Blondie

A suprisingly good comeback from the coolest rock group ever
After 16 years more or less out of the musical limelight (sans various solo albums and a few movies) Blondie returned in 1999 with this comeback effort, darkly titled ‘No Exit’. Many people expected an album full of classic-style Blondie tunes: extremely catchy punk-pop hits. Instead, they found an LP that had more in common with band’s diverse, eclectic 1980 album, ‘Autoamerican’. However, the result is really not that disappointing.
The CD kicks off with the ska-style groove of ‘Screaming Skin’, and Deb’s Ms. Dracula impression shows the old sense of humour and self-satire is not gone (yay!). ‘Maria’, a soaring rock anthem about teenage desire for a beautiful woman, was the first single lifted from ‘No Exit’ and with it, the band managed to do something they had never, not even in their heyday, been able to do before: go straight into the U.K charts at No.1. It was written by the multitalented Jimmy Destri and is my favourite song on the entire album. As well as that, there’s a power ballad or two, a rap/rock song about vampires and endless life (featuring Coolio), a revamped cover and a few more tracks that would have sounded at home on any of the first 4 Blondie albums. The lyrics to ‘Nothing Is Real But The Girl’ conjure up beautiful images, pictures from day to day life. This is new wave pop/rock at it’s finest. ‘Under The Gun’ is a rocking tribute to one of the band’s lifelong friends and finally, ‘Happy Dog’ is a bizarre slice of blues/rock with some wonderful lyrics.
There are a few more average songs, but the only really terrible material here are tracks 7, 12, and 14. ‘Boom Boom In The Zoom Zoom Room’ is very bland jazz with horrible squeaky sax near the end. ‘The Dream’s Lost On Me’ is a violin-laden waltz track that really drags. ‘Dig Up The Conjo’ sadly falls into last-track-on-the-album-is-always-rubbish stereotype. Almost five minutes of heavy tribal chanting and nonsense about zombies.
Those 3 tracks aside, ‘No Exit’ is actually a very good comeback album. I applaud Blondie for being so brave, surpassing everyone’s expectations, and producing another alternative- style album. And, despite all the years that have passed, instead of deteriorating musically, the band has gone from strength to strength. Ms. Deborah Harry, currently 59, is still punk, still in charge, and she’s still one of the most gorgeous and talented women in the business. (Britney, Christina and Avril, pay attention- this is the original rock chick and worldwide sex symbol). And the boys, a year or so younger each, are just as amazing. Fans buy now.

Yesteryear? I think NOT!
Blondie are the type of band who i never get bored of. EVERY album has been a joy.

This album is fantastic and has such great tracks as the pounding rap-esque opener "Screaming Skin" and the lullaby styled melody of "Forgive & Forget".

Record labels forget how good Blondie are and don't promote them.

If you appreciate the genius of Deborah and Chris's songwriting, then buy this. You won't be disappointed!