Robin Lane & the Chartbusters

• Robin Lane & the Chartbusters [Warner Bros., 1980] B+
• 5 Live [Warner Bros. EP, 1980] C

Consumer Guide Reviews:

Robin Lane & the Chartbusters [Warner Bros., 1980]
Formally, this is reactionary, from Lane's chesty melismas to the band's fakebook licks, and the songs go on too long. But every one catches, and despite Lane's lady-macho stage moves, her lyrics seem felt in what I can only call a progressive way--autonomous but not anomic or selfish, compassionate but not infinitely longsuffering. B+

5 Live [Warner Bros. EP, 1980]
A new wave demands new gimmicks, and bizzers have been working overtime to create them. For the big guys they long ago came up with the redundant live double. So for the little guys they've devised the redundant live half. C