Product Description

The Bangles, a Los Angeles rock quartet, were the premier all-female band of the mid-'80s, stealing the crown from new wave goddesses The Go-Go's. Fronted by the doe-eyed Susanna Hoffs, the Bangles wielded imposing four-part harmonies in energetic pop arrangements. A DIFFERENT LIGHT is the Bangles'most successful recording, polished and powerful; and the substantial disc advances hit after hit, marking it among thebest albums of the 1980's.
The group's first major hit, "Manic Monday", is not quite as funky as Prince's (the song's author) live versions, but it is rockier, more accessible,and infectious enough to bring the band to the top of the charts. The hook-heavy "Walk Like An Egyptian", a rollicking novelty song, effectively displays the band's exuberance andSusanna's sexy purr. "If She Knew What She Wants" is smart,sassy and perky. "Following", bassist Michael Steele's contribution, is an eerie, disturbing song about obsession and paranoia. The remaining songs are equally strong.
If The Go-Go's were the distaff punk cousins to the surf/girls/car-happy Beach Boys, then the Bangles were the female version ofthe polished, pop-perfect Beatles. On A DIFFERENT LIGHT it is obvious that these four women can sing, write and play their instruments as well as any of their male counterparts.

Track Listing

1. Manic Monday
2. In A Different Light
3. Walking Down Your Street
4. Walk Like An Egyptian
5. Standing In The Hallway
6. Return Post
7. If She Knew What She Wants
8. Let It Go
9. September Gurls
10. Angels Don't Fall In Love
11. Following
12. Not Like You

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #75920 in Music
• Released on: 1996-08-05
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

My favorite Bangles album
In the synthesiser-dominated eighties, the Bangles (along with a few others) provided a contrast with their guitar-driven rock music - a throwback to the sixties but with an eighties edge. The Bangles recorded a lot of upbeat fun songs so did not always get the credit they deserved. As this album shows, they also recorded some wonderful ballads.

This is my favorite original Bangles album. It contains two of the three huge international hits that everybody remembers the Bangles for. Manic Monday is an up-tempo rocker. Walk like an Egyptian is a novelty song that (to some people) destroys their credibility but I love it. This album also yielded two lesser hits, If she knew what she wants (the first single off the album) and Walking down your street.

The band wrote most of the songs but Prince wrote Manic Monday, while September gurls is a cover of an Alex Chilton song. Alex originally achieved success with the Box tops but he wrote September furls while he was leader of Big star.

Apart from the great songs already mentioned, there are many wonderful album tracks here including Following, In a different light and Not like you. While Susannah sings lead on the big hits, this album proves that they all have outstanding voices as they all get to be lead singer on at least two songs.

Anybody who loves guitar rock of the type that was common in the sixties and early seventies will surely love the music of the Bangles.

something close to sublime
different light is one of the sweetest albums i've ever heard. produced well over a decade ago, it joyfully shuns the disenchanted, manufactured pop gluttony of the eighties, and embraces the innocent melodic effervescence of groups like the supremes and the beach boys, with catchy hooks and stunning throaty vocals.

i still think susannah hoffs has one of the most gorgeous female voices ever, but all four female voices blend beautifully here, creating layers of sheer uplifting sound. many people will recognise the infectious 'manic monday and the cheerfully bonkers 'walk like an egyptian'. lyrically, these are two of the strongest tracks, but there are many other treasures. 'september gurls' is a take on the old big star song, proof if any was needed that these girls can really nail a joyful sixties vibe.

the happy-sad inflection of many of the melodies - notably 'if she knew what she wants' and 'not like you' - is the thing that i love the most about the bangles. against the playful 'walking down your street', you have the stark chilly echo of 'following' with its haunting layers of vocals.

the bangles were the definitive girl band; they played guitar! they wrote practically all their own songs! they had attitude and class! different light is the girls at their most intuitive and fun. i defy anyone not to enjoy this stunning album.