The Bangles – Different Light: #782 of best 1,000 albums ever!

Why is The Bangles’ Different Light on my best 1,000 albums ever list?

I mean, just ask any police officer who happens to be at a local fried carbohydrate treat market.

What does The Bangles’ Different Light mean to me? What does it make me feel? Why is it exciting or compelling?

While it’s a little goofy, I’ve always found “Walk Like an Egyptian” to be fun, catchy, and representative of a go go 1980s aesthetic that isn’t overly concerned with depth and stuff.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4WoM3V2Vje4Qa2MNwkr7gK?si=043d01f567a44362

It’s interesting to compare “Walk Like an Egyptian” with the other smash hit on Different Light, “Manic Monday.” The latter holds up extremely well, and a close listen reveals really lovely layered in background vocals. It’s as catchy as “Walk Like an Egyptian,” but shows off a different side of the band. And who can’t relate to wanting to rewind Monday and get back to one’s fun day?

“In A Different Light” is a great jangle pop number with another excellent hook that again leverages the vocals of Susanna Hoffs, Vicki Peterson, and Debbi Peterson.

Pop culture stuff that’s somehow related to The Bangles’ Different Light

My favorite Bangles song of all – and one of my most favorite songs from the 1980s – is “Hazy Shade of Winter.” It’s a hard driving, hard rock song that’s leavened by absolutely gorgeous vocals and sweetened by an all-timer hook. And that organ!

The song was released on the Less Than Zero soundtrack. The 1987 movie with which the soundtrack is associated is really good, kind of underrated, and quite dark. It stars a bunch of ascendant stars, including Andrew McCarthy, Robert Downey, Jr., and James Spader, and is as good a morality tale as any with regard to, “Don’t get started on the hard drugs, kids, it ain’t gonna end well.”