3/5 STARS
This band keeps moving forward, year after year, releasing full-length albums in record time while meeting the quota set in the Chrysalis Records deal. The song “Shadows Of The Night”, along with the video, crept up the charts and dominated the rotation. MTV logged quite a bit of time for the video in which Benatar acted a bit, as this was the first full production project. The concept was a WWII woman trapped in a job she held because men were at war. He dreams of what life would be like if he were in the trenches of espionage against the Germans. Judge Reinhold Y Bill Paxon, Fresh out of Stripes heels, make quick appearances.
There isn’t a single bad song on this album, but with all the hooks and chants too catchy, the band is in a much-needed state of rest. They break away from some of the more rock-oriented tunes that existed on the first three releases and format what makes the Top 40 thrive. It takes a few twists to get comfortable singing, but once you grab it, you just don’t let go.
“The Victim” is a brutal assault that is a welcome relief for those of us who are used to Giraldo’s screeching guitars echoing over Grombacher’s heartbeat. This track could have been placed anywhere in the previous versions and fit better. The song is amazing on its own or alongside some of Benatar’s past songs, but it seems like a conciliation award for those who love the power rock of the past. After a closer and more thorough examination, “The Victim” begins with a guitar line very similar to that of U2 “I Will Follow”, but quickly goes its own way.
Pat Benatar may have wanted to give his vocal chords a break, as constant touring affects them, which is evident in some of his interviews. The songs are pure and she delivers every note flawlessly, never stifling or overcompensating. Always a professional, although some of the songs fall short of some of the past, she produces at the top of her game.
The bass line on “Anxiety (Get Nervous)” sets the pace for the excitement for the band to play again, picking up the speed that works perfectly in conjunction with the theme of the song. By making the listener feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety, it conveys the message the band is aiming for.
After several twists, it’s like the songs have been on the DJ’s rotation for years. It’s easy to be seduced and drawn into their master plan when, before you know it, you’re screaming the title tracks along with Pat. (“Fight It Out”, “I’ll Do It” and “I want out”). It is not clear if this was the intention, but it is surely the result.
Myron Grombacher’s “Silent Partner” has so many alternate paths from which it could have been written, it’s hard to tell if it’s a love story or a reflection of how the band feels after years of recording and touring under the name. Pat Benatar. This is by no means a reflection of Benatar herself, as she has always wanted to be part of a band, not a solo artist.
It’s unclear if it was a conscious decision for Pat to walk away from the lyrics writing process, but in doing so, the rocker jitters of previous albums is lost a bit in the final product. Neil Giraldo has been a constant figure in the recording studio, delegating direction and production, so without him most releases past and present would be murky and destructive pop creatures who would never venture into the top 100 let alone in the top 20.
Contributing five songs may have been too much responsibility to add to the immense amount of work you undertake to get the best out of the band. Form a partnership with Billy Steinberg, who wrote “Precious Time”, it was a great collaboration but it would be better spread by Benatar’s discography. Too much of a good thing often results in replay and, in this case, an over-the-top theatrical rock masterpiece gone wrong.
There are still enough good tunes to recommend a few twists before making up your mind. Don’t ignore it until you’ve completely exhausted every possible song, because that’s when you’ll find out just how good it really is. Fans who have been drawn to some of the more pop-oriented songs scattered throughout the previous albums will find this one a delightful treat.
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