Concrete Blonde: Concrete Blonde (I.R.S.)

HORDES OF eighties bands have claimed to be catholic in both their influences and their output. Concrete Blonde, however, can actually back the claim up. This alluring, openhearted debut LP pulls recklessness from punk, hamfisted energy from heavy metal, free association from jazz, simplicity from folk, emotional melodies from British Invasion pop and meaningful lyrics from poet-rockers like Patti Smith.