ALBUM REVIEW: A sun-drenched return

by Nikki M. Mascali
Weekender Editor

Fans expecting another “Walk Like An Egyptian” or “Manic Monday” might be disappointed with “Sweetheart Of The Sun,” The Bangles’ first album of new material in nearly eight years, which drops Sept. 27. But they might be pleasantly surprised with the solid 12-song effort from guitarist/singer Susanna Hoffs, guitarist/singer Vicki Peterson and drummer/singer Debbi Peterson.

The summery “Anna Lee (Sweetheart Of The Sun)” offers a first look at the album’s great guitar work, as well as the easy harmonies between Hoffs and the Peterson sisters. Hoffs, whose nasally intonation helped catapult the band’s hits, takes lead vocals on “Under A Cloud.” Despite still having her pierce, Hoffs’ voice got a bit rugged with age, and it works.

Debbi Peterson leads “Ball N Chain,” which has lines like, “If brains were clothes, you’d have nothing to wear” and “There’s a thousand reasons why I can’t stay/ And every one of ’em has your name.” Despite such woman-scorned lyrics, there’s still that sunny So-Cal Bangles vibe.

The Hoffs track “I’ll Never Be Through With You” is a heartfelt standout while “Mesmerized” is reminiscent of a ’60s girl group. Vicki Peterson sings “Circles In The Sky,” as her husband John Cowsill (of The Cowsills fame) provides backing vocals.

A garage-rocky cover of “Sweet And Tender Romance” is an unexpected highlight, with Vicki stepping in to do the guitar solo originally done by Jimmy Page in 1963. “Through Your Eyes” is a lush standout, with pretty strings and harmonies between the trio. “Open My Eyes,” a Todd Rundgren’s Nazz cover, which the band has been playing live since the mid-’80s, picks up the pace to close the album. The track features great cowbell throughout and has a fuzzy Matthew Sweet “Girlfriend” feel (which isn’t too left field considering the album was recorded in Sweet’s Hollywood home studio).

All in all, “Sweetheart of the Sun” is a fun reintroduction to the ladies of The Bangles, one that’s befitting where the trio is at this stage of its career.

Rating: W W W 1/2