Blondie - Live by Request
Originally performed and broadcast for A&E; on May 7, 2004 from  Manhattan's John Jay College,Blondie: Live by Requestfinds New  York City's cherished punk-popsters older, rounder, and still in  possession--if not always in complete control--of the fire needed for  credible performances of classics like "Dreaming," "Rapture," "Call Me,"  and "Heart of Glass." The 2004 Blondie includes founders Deborah Harry,  Chris Stein, and Clem Burke solidly backed by Paul Carbonara (guitar),  Kevin Topping (keyboards), and Leigh Foxx (bass). The disc's 17 tracks  comprise Blondie's biggest hits, with "Atomic" notably absent and four  cuts from 2003'sCurse of Blondie(including a  touching tribute to Joey Ramone) holding their own against the tried and  true. Harry remains her flamboyant self, compensating for a diminishing  vocal range with fresh phrasings and boundless pizzazz. Lead guitarist  Stein seems lost at times, while drummer Burke plays tighter than ever,  cementing the songs with a mix of disco sass and punk fervor. Keep your  remote handy: caller requests and the show's vapid emcee get old fast.DVD sound is timbrally on target but dynamically compressed to within an  inch of its life, but the mix breathes better in surround (Dolby or DTS)  and it's easier on the ears in DTS.--Michael Mikesell