A thoroughly credible faux-punk, mainstream New Wave pop act, Blitz was one of the few Brazilian bands that thoroughly embraced American-style rock, with very little homegrown "Brazilian-ness" in the mix... These Rio rockers get credit for authenticity and for being trailblazers in the BRock scene, as well as for having a bright, goofy sound that fit right in with the American and British pop of the time. Singer Fernanda Abreu, who later broke out into a successful solo career, was a founding member of the band, but left after the first few albums.
Blitz "As Aventuras Da Blitz" (EMI, 1982) (LP)
Their debut album opens with the anthemic, self-promotional "Blitz Cabeluda," a goofy tune that's one of the most "new wave" sounding tracks on here, complete with a tightly interlocking, Bernie Worrell-ish keyboard riff and bouncy melody, punctuated by super-dorky shout-out vocals. The straight-up new wave material is limited to a few songs; a blues-based boogie-rock vibe dominates the rest of the album (mostly this falls flat, although there is one tune that has a cool, John Lee Hooker grunge-blues riff that's pretty cool...) Singer Fernanda Abreu, who later broke out into a successful solo career, is one of two female singers in the band -- they are mainly relegated to backup status, but their perky interjections lend a fun B-52s-meet-Toni Basil feel to the band. Although this is a relatively accomplished American-style pop album, it is, admittedly, also pretty dorky and could easily be dismissed, outside of its historical context. Still, there's not much like it from Brazil, and it is fun to hear this kind of music sung in Portuguese, instead of fake-English accents that crowded American radio at the time... Worth checking out.
Blitz "Radioactividade" (EMI, 1983)
Absolutely dreadful. Even taken as camp entertainment, this hyperactive blender-romp through a variety of pop styles -- perky new wave, factory-made synthpop, bubblegum reggae, bad disco, punk/'50s rock -- is incredibly irritating. My cats ran out of the room and hid until I stopped playing it. Literally. Clearly Blitz was aiming at a cheeky, B-52s-ish glibness, but the tilt towards the ephemeral slides them over the abyss, and just makes this disc sound grating and overly-prefab. The high point is the album's closer, a chirpy cover of "Itsy Bitsy, Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," which turns out to be Fernanda Abreu's big showcase number. It's a miracle she lifted herself up out of this stuff into a serious solo career.
Blitz "Blitz 3" (EMI, 1984)
I put this one on next, and my cat, who is normally pretty patient about what I listen to, shot me this look, like, Oh, come on...really? We talked about this. You have GOT to be kidding! More of the same, although there are teensie, tiny hints of subtlety that were entirely absent on the last album... Some tracks mildly redeem this disc, such as "Xeque-Mate," "Ego Trip" and the vaguely Jorge Ben-ish groover, "Taxi," and it's interesting (in theory) to hear a new wave tune about the Nicaraguan revolution ("Sandinista") Abreu and the other gal are given a little more breathing room, although they are still engulfed in a wall-of-hyperactivity sound mix... But, as a transition into things to come, this album's noteworthy. Scary, though.
Blitz "Ao Vivo" (EMI, 1994)
Blitz "Linguas" (Henrimar, 1997)
Blitz "Ultimas Noticias" (Panela, 1999)
Blitz "Serie Bis" (EMI, 2000)
A 2-CD best of collection...
Blitz "Serie Retratos" (EMI, 2004)
A best-of set, covering their EMI years...
