Review Revue: The Bangles - Bangles

Welcome to Review Revue, where every Thursday I dig through the KEXP stacks to share DJ reviews and comments written on the covers of LPs (and occasionally CDs) in the ’80s and ’90s, when the station was called KCMU, the DJs were volunteers, and people shared their opinions on little white labels instead of the internet.

Before they were The Bangles, and after they were The Bangs, there was a band called Bangles who released a little indie EP called Bangles, which - if our small sample here is any indication - quickly became a favorite among hip college radio DJs across the nation. Like most people my age and demographic, I first became aware of the band along with the rest of the nation, when we were all walking like Egyptians and being manic on Mondays. It was a heady time, I tell you. I wish I could say I was cool enough at age six to be hip to this early Bangles effort (I'm sure it was getting play on at least a couple of our fine Boston-area college radio stations), but I'd be lying. Thankfully, the adoration of college radio programmers propelled the band to fame and fortune, and we all were blessed with their sweet pop sounds.

Sounds which they continue to make! The Bangles released a new album of original songs in 2011 (which if you're old like me is basically yesterday), and are playing this summer as part of the impressive lineup at the Arroyo Seco Weekend. (Hm, that is the weekend before my birthday, in case anyone feels like springing for a plane ticket and festival pass. Just putting it out there.)