New wave giants Blondie released their self-titled debut album in December 1976, when the world was just starting to catch onto what punk rock even was. More than 50 years later, they're coming back with a new LP called High Noon, set to come out early next year. It'll be their last with longtime drummer Clem Burke, who passed away from cancer last year at the age of 70.
Shortly after Clem Burke's death last year, his bandmate Chris Stein announced on social media that Blondie were finishing up a new album and eyeing a release date in the fourth quarter of 2025. When a fan asked whether Burke played on it, Stein replied that Burke "played the whole thing." That album obviously didn't come out when Stein said it would, but it's now set for a February 2027 release, so better late than never.
Blondie have been working with outside collaborators for a very, very long time, and they bring in a few more for High Noon, including the Sex Pistols' Glen Matlock, Beirut's Zach Condon, and Lucius' Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig. Blondie recorded the LP with storied indie rock producer John Congleton, who also worked on their last record, 2017's Pollinator. Their album opener and lead single "Spectral Eyes" is a gleaming chug driven by Debbie Harry's wearily cool growl and some shimmery guitars from Johnny Marr, who also wrote the song. (Just like John Congleton, Marr also worked with Blondie on Pollinator.) Below, check out that song and the High Noon tracklist.
TRACKLIST:
01 "Spectral Eyes"
02 "Heartbreak Kid"
03 "Come Back Home"
04 "Tambo Tambo"
05 "Man Who Had No Face"
06 "The End"
07 "Little Metal Drummer"
08 "Sleepwalking"
09 "Whistle Into The Wind"
10 "Antifreeze"
11 "East Of Eden"
12 "Bad Underwear"
13 "Ah, Sunflower, Weary Of Time"
High Noon is out 2/26 on BMG. Pre-order it here.