Great Album No Trouble for Nicks
================================
by Mike Sarzo ECLIPSE Staff Writer
Until U2 released All That You Can't Leave Behind last year, the idea
that rock acts would release an album that ranked with the best
material
in their long careers was almost unheard of.
But Stevie Nicks also turned the trick with Trouble in Shangri-la, her
first studio album in seven years, and arguably her best work since her
solo debut, 1981's Bella Donna, sold 4 million copies.
Despite having many different producers for the album's 13 tracks, the
songs blend extremely well and showcase a variety of styles, from
country-spiced ("Too Far From Texas") to Latin- flavored ("Bombay
Sapphires"), to pop ("Everyday," and Love Changes"), to ballads ("Love
Is," I Miss You.")
But Nicks is at her best when she rocks, and the album includes that
element.
The powerhouse rocker "Fall From Grace" brought the house down at the
Blockbuster Awards when Nicks and good friend and producer of five
Trouble in Shangri-la songs, Sheryl Crow, sang it April 10.
"Planets of the Universe" sounds starkly different from demo versions
of
the song that were almost sweet-sounding, but have been described by
longtime fans as depressing. The song transformed into a defiant,
mid-tempo rocker for the album.
Nicks included several songs that could only be described as complex,
from layered vocals in the title track to sounds in "Bombay Sapphires"
that could work on a jazz station or one that plays R&B.
But another album highlight is a very simple-sounding song with many
possible interpretations, "It's Only Love." Crow wrote the song for
Nicks
when she thought about the stories her friend told her about her life,
and the song makes it clear that Crow understands Nicks better than
anyone who hadn't known Nicks for 20 years.
The most remarkable thing about the album is that of the 13 tracks,
nine
are worth playing over and over again. That doesn't mean that no songs
stand out; in fact, "Fall From Grace" and "It's Only Love" are the two
strongest.
The weakest tracks, "That Made Me Stronger" and "Everyday" are songs
I'd
have to be in the right mood to hear.
Since Trouble in Shangri-la is in stores today, run, don't walk to the
store or surf the Internet to an online store and get a copy of the
album.
There's something for everyone from the casual listener to the
shawl-wearing, tambourine shaking Stevie Nicks freak to appreciate.
--
gender is just an excuse, relationship shouldn't just be an excuse,
love is often an excuse, although sometimes these excuses are all
we have to hold onto,
death is the reason and living is the celebration
- Beth Orton
--
※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.csie.ntu.edu.tw)
◆ From: 140.92.62.96