Top 11 Albums of 2011: #9 The Bangles – Sweetheart of the Sun

Here’s #9 in our countdown of the 11 best power pop albums of 2011….

#9 The Bangles – Sweetheart of the Sun

Annalee is one of the best singles this year. Perhaps you caught The Bangles on a recent episode of Dancing With The Stars like I did. As expected, they played a couple of old hits (I seem to recall hearing Manic Monday again) but nothing new from Sweetheart of the Sun. What a shame. Their new work is soooo good.

Jonathan Keefe for Slant Magazine:

“…the Bangles get an awful lot right on Sweetheart of the Sun. They could have easily spent the rest of their career playing …”Manic Monday” and “Hazy Shade of Winter” on the nostalgia tour circuit, but it’s clear that they’re still committed to pushing themselves creatively.

I had an opportunity to meet the Bangles lead singer, Susanna Hoffs, through a mutual friend recently. Not only does she still sound great live, but I came away wondering how someone of her stature could be so friendly and unassuming. You can read more about it in a piece I wrote for Rocker Magazine a few months back if you’re so inclined.

Here’s their single, Annalee: