For many in America,
"I Want Candy"
was their first introduction to young
Annabella Lwin
and the band
Bow Wow Wow
. The song, a cover of a
Strangeloves
hit, barely scraped the Top 50, but became an enduring
new wave
classic. The song gave its name to the band's 1982 release, which was mainly a compilation, but included a couple new cuts produced by
Kenny Laguna
(
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
). The
Laguna
-produced tracks find
Lwin
sounding more self-assured and slightly less frantic in her vocal delivery.
"Louis Quatorze,"
with its theme of falling for the bad boy, has an instantly catchy chorus that is matched by the stuck-in-your-brain
"Baby, Oh No."
Of course, no
album would be complete without the obligatory come-hither insinuations from
, which appear on
"Cowboy."
With solid new songs, some of the better old ones, and the hit that made them one-hit wonders,
I Want Candy
is an enjoyable romp that doesn't overstay its welcome. ~ Tom Demalon