Stevie Nicks - Trouble in Shangri-La
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Free Music Notes for Trouble in Shangri-La
Free Music Review: As good as it gets!
Hit: 5 Stars
Stevie Nicks is back with her best album since "Bella Donna". That classic album was released twenty years ago. Since that time Stevie has put out some other great solo albums, "The Wild Heart" and "The Other Side Of The Mirror" and some not so great albums, "Rock A Little" and "Street Angel". "Street Angel" was the last solo album we got from Stevie in 1994. That album had Stevie adrift musically. Personal problems led to the album being a less than stellar effort. By Stevie's own admission, it's not her best work. Well, now signed to a new record label, Stevie is back with her personal demons behind her and has found "Trouble In Shangri-La". "Trouble" is anything but. Where "Bella Donna" was recorded by a wide eyed girl heading into the wild world of Rock and Roll, "Trouble" is the same girl, now 20 years older and much wiser on the other side. As with "Bella Donna" Stevie has included songs from her very start in the business back in the early 70's. "Sorcerer" and "Candlebright" both date back to the "Buckingham Nicks" days. The classic track "Planets Of The Universe" previously known to long time fans as "No Light" is here as well. These classics fit in perfectly right along side the newer tracks. There is not a weak track to be heard here and although Stevie's voice has matured and lowered fans WILL NOT be disappointed with this one. Stevie has grown as a writer, as a performer and as a woman since "Bella Donna". The girl on "Bella Donna" would not have been able to pull off the songs on "Trouble" and make them sound believeable. Like Dorothy in "The Wizard Of Oz" she needed to travel that rocky brick road and discover the pitfalls along the way for herself. Stevie has come back from Oz and has quite a story to tell. The whole album is just one classic after another. "Fall From Grace" rocks harder than anything Stevie's ever done. "Bombay Sapphires" is classic Stevie. The title track ranks up there with Stevie's previous epic title tracks. To close the album Stevie does as she has with her previous albums and leaves us with a rock and roll lullabye, "Love Is" with Sarah McLachlan on piano and background vocals. Macy Gray, Natalie Maines, Lindsey Buckingham and Sheryl Crow also all make appearences. Stevie is back and better than ever. This album is everything you've always loved about Stevie "and so much more". She has retained her classic style while at the same time updated it. An instant classic!!!Free Music Review: Excellent Composition from an Excellent Artist
Hit: 5 Stars
I am a second generation Stevie Nicks/Fleetwood Mac fan. My mother got me started listening to her music at the tender age of five. I own every CD by Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks and I can honestly say that Trouble in Shangri-La is definitely not a disappointment!
This CD was a long time in coming and it is every bit worth the wait. Stevie's voice is better than ever and the songs in this collection are proof as to why she is one of the most respected and celebrated singer songwriters.
I have heard many critics say this is Stevie's best work since Bella Donna. Personally, my favorite album was "The Other Side of the Mirror". Trouble in Shangri-La is an extremely close second.
The title cut starts the CD off brilliantly and leads into a classic Candlebright. Any Stevie fan who has managed to get their hands on a copy of the much-circulated "demos" should immediately recognize and love this song. Age and time have taken nothing away from this song,
Nor have they taken anything from the third on the CD Sorcerer. It is a real pleasure to hear Stevie on vocals on this song for a change.
Planets of the Universe is one of my favorite songs on the CD. Every Day should already be familiar to anyone who is a radio listener.
Too Far From Texas is a very good song that blends the wonderful voices of Stevie and Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks. These ladies sound great together and I certainly hope they record another song together in the future.
That Made Me Stronger, It's Only Love, Love Changes, I Miss You, Bombay Sapphires, Fall From Grace and Love Is round out the CD with strong performances by Stevie and her guest musicians. Sarah McLachlan lends her velvet voice and piano talent to the beautiful ballad Love Is. Macy Gray's smokey vocals provide the backup for Bombay Sapphires--a very good song you will catch yourself humming. Lindsay Buckingham joins Stevie by playing guitar on I Miss You. (It is a shame that he lended no vocals to the song as he and Stevie are magic together.)
There has been a great deal said about the influence of Sheryl Crow on this CD. She brought a lot to it. Her vocals are clearly heard on Sorcerer. She also plays guitar on many of the songs.
I am very happy that Lori Nicks and Sharon Celani are with Stevie once again. For me, Lori was missed on Street Angel. That album would have been much better had both of her backup singers been with her through all the songs.
I highly recommend this album to any Stevie fan or to anyone who enjoys great music.
Free Music Review: This is good stuff.
Hit: 5 Stars
I've never really listened to Stevie Nicks or Fleetwood Mac at all. I'm relatively young, so I've never been exposed to it, but I happened to be randomly exploring music and I listened to the samples, and it sounded good. I wasn't disappointed. It was much better than I thought. I guess I'm pretty nitpicky too. I've never had a CD where I like every single song. The song has to be one that I will frequent alot. Sorry if the songs are out of order here.
1) Trouble in Shangri-La: This is really good. The chorus is catchy, almost too catchy, you know? but I love the songs. The sample of this song caught my attention and made me have to have it.
2) Candlebright: This song is odd, just the structure. But it's enchanting, and very good.
3) Sorcerer: This might be my favorite. Listen too it loudly. It has a certain swagger. No that's not really the word. It has something, and it's wonderful. GREAT.
4) Planets of the Universe: There is alot of good things to be said about this song, but also some negatives. It's not one of my favorites. Just didn't catch on. The lyrics are very nice, I don't know, it just tries too hard, if I am extra critical. It's good, though.
5) Everyday: Lovely. Sounds very Sheryl Crow, mainstream, maybe that I've heard it before. But it's so good. Her voice adds so much depth. I love this song!
6) That Made Me Stronger: One of my favorites. Interesting song. I can see people finding it not very good, but I think it's really great. Very catchy.
7) It's only love: this song is heartbreaking. Her voice makes it sound so sincere. It's an interesting song.
8) Love Changes: My first reaction was that it seemed different than anything on the CD. It seems like she's really open to different styles. I can't help but like it.
9) I Miss You: This really sounds like a song I've heard, I just can't place it. But whatever it is, it's great. second favorite.
10) bombay sapphires: Don't like it. i think the intro raised my expectations too high.
11) Fall From Grace: rocks hard.
12) Love Is: not a fan of this ballad. a little too corny for me.
13) Too Far From Texas: kind of altish-country. I think it's pretty great. Her and natalie maines sound really good together. one of the best.
Altogether, it's one of the awesomest CDs I've owned. Maybe the best. I'm a tightwad, too, so I get kinda mad if the CD is not up to par. sometimes that happens. but go out and get this one!
Free Music Review: The return of rock's high priestess
Hit: 5 Stars
In her first solo album sinse 1994's "Street Angel",Stevie Nicks releases possibly her best solo effort ever! Perhaps in time,even better than her multi platinum 1981 solo debut,"Bella Donna". Nicks has always been one of America's best singer/songwriters,and this collection demonstrates her vivid storytelling,backed by infectuous harmonies and lush production.The initial singles,"Everyday"(the first video clip being played on VH1),and the fantastic rocker,"Planets of the universe" are already being embraced by radio,and there are many potential hit singles here! "I miss you" is gorgeous,and is my pick for the second video/single! "Too far from Texas" is charming with Natalie Maines,of Dixie Chicks backing Nicks' suprisingly twangy strong vocals! "Sorcerer",with Sheryl Crow finds Nicks hitting high notes she hasn't hit sinse "Dreams",with increadible ease. "Fall from grace" is an intence epic of a rocker. It is easily the hardest rocking song on the entire collection,ending with a fury."That made me stronger" details her converstation with Tom Petty,when she asked him to help her writer's block("Well you know me better than know myself,will you write this for me? He says NO,you write your songs yourself"). And what would a Stevie Nicks album be,without her long-time back-up singers,Lori Perry-Nicks,and Sharon Celani? Their gorgeous backing vocals,along with the many guests appearing on this sterling disc,delivers a most satasfying listening experiance.Stevie Nicks is an American Rock icon,and with this new release,she will continue that legacy with old and new fans alike. This music is addictive,infectuous,and very touching. There is not one bad track on the entire album. Do I smell a GRAMMY?? THE WITCHY WOMAN IS BACK! AND BETTER THAN EVER! Look-out Britney,Backstreet,and all you teen pop stars! STEVIE IS GOING TO TWIRL HER WAY to the top of the charts with some REAL rock "n" roll! It's about time some GOOD music returned to the mainstream! Stevie Nicks is one of the most beautiful woman in the world,looking years younger than her age,and one of the most animated performers in rock. With her summer tour in support of "Trouble in Shagra la", the album should rest comfy in the top ten for months,and hopefully become the best selling disc of her long,increadibly influential career.Free Music Review: Finally a great solo album from this talanted lady.
Hit: 5 Stars
I have been an ardent Stevie Nicks fan ever since I heard "Rhiannon" back in 1975 at the age of 13 on the first radio I ever owned. Yet I didn't know the incredible face and bewitching persona that went with that remarkable voice until I saw Nicks gracing the back cover of "Rumours" several years later. That being said, I have been a fan of her work largely within the confines of Fleetwood Mac, when, as another reviewer put it so well, Lindsey Buckingham was able to translate her "internal landscapes" into something coherent. One only need listen to the differences between her demos and the final Fleetwood Mac product to know that Buckingham could take Nicks' great raw material and hone it into a polished gem. Her solo work, however, has been largely disappointing, almost embarrassing. It is sacrilege to many to say it, but even "Bella Donna" was weak--stripped down and simplistic compared to the lush arrangements on her Fleetwood Mac recordings. There are a few exceptions in her solo work, most notably, "Sleeping Angel," arguably one of her best songs ever.But at long last, the solo Nicks I wanted to give up on (but could never quite bring myself to) has come through with a, for the most part, great CD. One has to wonder how much Crow's influence brought this CD to a level of greatness, as it is on her acoustically-charged production numbers that Nicks is at her best--Candlebright, Sorcerer, It's Only Love. The latter Crow song is exquisite and Nicks' interpretation brings it an aching gentleness and a tone of humility and resignation that one wishes we would witness more often in her own work. Too often she lapses into self-righteousness (High priestess...she's the keeper of the peace in this), self-indulgence (witness most of "That Made Me Stronger") and self-parody ("I touch with gossamer wings"--in a charging rock song??). So why five stars? No musician has ever achieved the perfect album (with one exception--almost anything by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds). But lyrically, most of this album is lucid in a way that Nicks hasn't achieved in years (this is your brain on drugs), the melodies are soaring (not incidentally on most of her earlier songs), and the arrangements lush to the point that you can't help listening over and over again. At last, it's legitimate to worship Ms. Nicks again.