Continuing my look at the albums of 1986…

When I wrote the Decades posts about 1984, my happiest discovery was The Bangles’ debut album All Over the Place. So I shouldn’t be surprised that their follow-up, Different Light, holds the same designation for 1986.

This was the band’s triple-Platinum breakthrough, the album that featured #1 hit ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ and #2 hit ‘Manic Monday.’ It was more polished and poppy than the debut, more designed for commercial airplay, but still unpredictable and energetic.

Two other songs here received ample airplay: ‘Walking Down Your Street’ and a cover of Jules Shear’s ‘If She Knew What She Wants.’ But every song is more than worthy. I found myself returning to the deeper cuts, which have a vibrancy undiminished by overexposure. ‘Standing in the Hallway’ and ‘Return Post,’ tucked away in the middle of the album, are particular favorites.

But I don’t want to downplay the hits. ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ might be remembered as a novelty but it’s a chaotically quirky blast. And ‘Manic Monday,’ reportedly given to Susanna Hoffs by Prince in an attempt to woo her, is pure pop bliss.

The Bangles released one more album before disbanding for 15 years. I look forward to loving that one when the Decades series takes me to 1988.