On initially listening to this, Ms Harry’s sixth solo album and her first for fourteen years, the first reaction was……. well – there was NO reaction at all. It washed over in unspectacular manner. Then the track counter indicated number eight. On checking the sleeve-notes, it was established that this song was called, ‘You’re Too Hot.’ This was more like it! The following track, ‘ Dirty And Deep’ maintained the interest, so with renewed enthusiasm all possible distractions were put aside, and the album was re-cued and re-played.
Unfortunately, further listening proved only that sometimes first impressions ARE lasting impressions. It also confirmed that the afore-mentioned tracks are only good in comparison to the remainder! Certainly the album opener and recent single ‘Two Times Blue’ harks back to earlier efforts by Ms Harry and is a bright and breezy pop song with soft and sultry vocals. Second track ‘School For Scandal’ rocks along a bit more, but in truth is pretty ordinary. From here it’s all downhill for the next few tracks! ‘If I Had You’ and ‘What Is Love’ are soft ballads, certainly not in keeping with the memories of Debbie Harry of old. You must commend artists for trying something new but while these tracks, if performed by the likes of Kelly Clarkson, would be prime daytime radio in The States, they just don’t sit here. ‘Jen Jen’ is another where full marks must be given for experimentation, but since Debbie Harry has (seemingly) no vocal input, the track is comprised of tribal chants over simple repetitive beats and guitar, and was written by Chris Stein, it is hard to justify any praise.
There are seventeen tracks in total on this album. Way too many.
I take absolutely no pleasure at all in so reviewing this album, since Debbie Harry has contributed so much and is responsible for inspiring many, many others in the music industry. However, the album is titled: ‘Necessary Evil,’ and if one works on the basis that artists frequently name the album after the strongest track, one must ask if indeed the album was necessary at all? When you’ve set the bar so high early in your career, there comes a time when a complete change is necessary. Top class athletes find alternative careers in media and coaching when they can no longer perform to the levels they once could. I rest my case.