IYD - A thread for the underwhelmed

[chriskisn]

Hmm...well having now had a listen through the album, all I can say is that personally it doesn't really do anything for me.

There are loads of people posting in other threads about how excited they are, how wonderful the album is, etc. I wonder how they will feel in 6 months once the gloss has worn off?

A lot of people don't like TISL, but I really thought that was one of her best albums of her solo career, and I can listen to that album on repeat quite happily. However IYD just doesn't have that appeal.

The songs sound unfinished, like we are listening to demos and her voice is flat and emotionless on most songs.

I do quite like Ghost Are Gone, although it does need a bit of work to make it flow better and the best song on the album I feel is In Your Dreams, possibly the only one that might have single appeal. Secret Love isn't all that bad either, although we have been exposed to that one.

So yeah, I'm underwhelmed, I was expecting so much more. I can't see this album getting mainstream success. Any initial chart success will be mainly because the hard-core fans are buying up more than one copy, but that will drop off after the first week or two.

Anyone else feel this way?

*barricades door and waits for onslaught of abuse* :rolleyes:

[JohnL]

In a word...NO! This album is such a storytelling mantra in my eyes. I think Stevie has poured out the last 10 years of her life in this CD and I am totally impressed. Her voice is full of emotion. I guess we have to agree to disagree.

[Tellurium]

Great thread. I agree with you that generally core fanbases can be quick to label something they like as the best thing evAr, and that their opinions often mellow (and sometimes reverse) over time. I guess only time will tell, and we'll see in about a year how the album holds up.

However, regarding the songs sounding demo-ish and her voice falling flat... All I can say is I think we must be listening to different albums. ;)

I know that I really like this album. How it will ultimately hold up to my other favourites by her, it's definitely too soon to tell.

[melacine]

I can see where you're coming from. I have to say, at first I was a bit underwhelmed too...like I was expecting more from it. I liked the overall feel and especially the sound of her voice , but couldn't really pick out favorite individual songs (except for Moonlight, that one won me over instantly).

Compared to TISL, I really like the flow of the songs better here. Now, let me say I enjoy TISL, but to me, the songs on it sound kind of disjointed. To me it was like, ok when Lindsey always just knew exactly what to do with Stevie's songs......like compare the Tom Petty Gypsy demos and then listen to what Lindsey did to it on Mirage. Amazing. TISL to me was like someone didn't know exactly what to do with her songs . This album sounds more "Stevie" to me. I hope that made sense :D

But really the more I listened to it, especially when listening to the lyrics, I just adore the album now. I hope it grows on you too!

--Shel

[chriskisn]

Compared to TISL, I really like the flow of the songs better here. Now, let me say I enjoy TISL, but to me, the songs on it sound kind of disjointed.
--Shel

I have to admit I listen to everything on my iPod, and it plays the tracks in alphabetical order rather than in track number order. I guess that doesn't help the flow of the tracks at all. I've only ever found that to be a problem in concept albums though that are meant to have a particular order to the tracks.

I really do hope this album grows on me, I hated Lindsey's songs on SYW until I had listened half a dozen times. So you never know, my mind might change?

[Sanne2]

"her voice is flat and emotionless on most songs"

I guess I can understand being underwhelmed by the songs but I really don't understand this ^^^.
Her voice on TISL and SYW makes me cringe at times, its a monotone, nasal mess compared to her voice on IYD, atleast to me.

[carrie721]

I have to admit I listen to everything on my iPod, and it plays the tracks in alphabetical order rather than in track number order. I guess that doesn't help the flow of the tracks at all. I've only ever found that to be a problem in concept albums though that are meant to have a particular order to the tracks.

I really do hope this album grows on me, I hated Lindsey's songs on SYW until I had listened half a dozen times. So you never know, my mind might change?

i've never heard of anyone who listens to an album alphabetically instead of in the track order. :shocked: even albums that aren't "concept albums" are often painstakingly sequenced to tell a story, influence the mood, keep the flow going, etc. IMO the album is one unit.

[Jondalar]

Hmm...well having now had a listen through the album, all I can say is that personally it doesn't really do anything for me.

There are loads of people posting in other threads about how excited they are, how wonderful the album is, etc. I wonder how they will feel in 6 months once the gloss has worn off?

A lot of people don't like TISL, but I really thought that was one of her best albums of her solo career, and I can listen to that album on repeat quite happily. However IYD just doesn't have that appeal.

The songs sound unfinished, like we are listening to demos and her voice is flat and emotionless on most songs.

I do quite like Ghost Are Gone, although it does need a bit of work to make it flow better and the best song on the album I feel is In Your Dreams, possibly the only one that might have single appeal. Secret Love isn't all that bad either, although we have been exposed to that one.

So yeah, I'm underwhelmed, I was expecting so much more. I can't see this album getting mainstream success. Any initial chart success will be mainly because the hard-core fans are buying up more than one copy, but that will drop off after the first week or two.

Anyone else feel this way?

*barricades door and waits for onslaught of abuse* :rolleyes:


What exactly were you expecting? What did you like about TISL exactly? I know that I tried to force myself to like TISL and couldn't do it. There were too many producers in that pot and the album fell apart. I instantly liked this album. Lot of it has to do with the production and the details. I have read posts on other sites were people are slamming this album, yet, holding up TISL and I really don't get it all. I think some people fought so hard for TISL that they feel all the love for this album is a slap in the face. The only reason I'm saying this is because usually when people say they don't like this album, they mention TISL. I wonder if you want to like this album.

Also, In Your Dreams is a definite single. When I heard that song, I knew it was a radio hit. However, I'm wondering where it will get played.

[saintvox]

i've never heard of anyone who listens to an album alphabetically instead of in the track order. :shocked: even albums that aren't "concept albums" are often painstakingly sequenced to tell a story, influence the mood, keep the flow going, etc. IMO the album is one unit.

I have to agree with this. Albums have a set tracklist for a reason. A song may flow better with another song, and they may even strengthen each other.

And if the flow is a problem, you can't honestly complain unless you listen to it in the order it was mean to be listened to in. :thumbsup:

I think Stevie's vocals are good, however, I don't see the difference from TISL too strongly, as others seem to. She does sound more into the songs though.

[bluefox4000]

I kinda expected to be included in this thread....but as of now I can't. Hmmmmm....Being a bit of a cynic. I will say, maybe I'll be underwhelmed once the excitement of a new album wears off. Give me a little time:laugh::D.

Mick

[Bryan]

Glad this was brought up.
As it stands the album has *still* not been released, yet it feels like everyone has listened to it endlessly already and are fairly familiar with it to the point of declaring it her all time greatest.
I personally love it,and took to it immediately and like it.But I believe many got swept up in the buzz of 'newness' after years of waiting for fresh Stevie tunes.Be interesting to see how it goes after it sits proudly on our shelves in hard copy form and enough time passes to allow for being objective.

[BombaySapphire3]

And the mainstream citics some of them who are calling it her best album ever or coming 'remarkably close"to her classic work with Fleetwood Mac are really hardcore fan plants enchanted by the newness?:shrug:

[Bryan]

And the mainstream citics some of them who are calling it her best album ever or coming 'remarkably close"to her classic work with Fleetwood Mac are really hardcore fan plants enchanted by the newness?:shrug:

Nah those critics got a fat cheque from Warner Reprise:lol:

[saintvox]

And the mainstream citics some of them who are calling it her best album ever or coming 'remarkably close"to her classic work with Fleetwood Mac are really hardcore fan plants enchanted by the newness?:shrug:

No they're critics.

The same people who praise Gaga and give her albums the same rating as Stevie's. :shrug:

I swear I can't respect most critics when they gave The Fame four stars and above, and their reviews of Stevie are like 3.

[chriskisn]

i've never heard of anyone who listens to an album alphabetically instead of in the track order. :shocked: even albums that aren't "concept albums" are often painstakingly sequenced to tell a story, influence the mood, keep the flow going, etc. IMO the album is one unit.

Well if you know how to change an Ipod Classic to play songs in track order rather than in alphabetical order then please let me know. As it doesn't record the track numbers there is no other way that I know of to play the songs...

EDIT: You know what I think I've just discovered how to do it - if you use the search function (as I alway do when searching) it gives me alphabetical order which has always annoyed me. However if I spend five minutes scrolling manually through album search, it actually plays in track order. How cool is that. :lol:

[chriskisn]

What exactly were you expecting? What did you like about TISL exactly? I know that I tried to force myself to like TISL and couldn't do it. There were too many producers in that pot and the album fell apart. I instantly liked this album. Lot of it has to do with the production and the details. I have read posts on other sites were people are slamming this album, yet, holding up TISL and I really don't get it all. I think some people fought so hard for TISL that they feel all the love for this album is a slap in the face. The only reason I'm saying this is because usually when people say they don't like this album, they mention TISL. I wonder if you want to like this album.

Also, In Your Dreams is a definite single. When I heard that song, I knew it was a radio hit. However, I'm wondering where it will get played.

I guess I'm spoilt by the fact that (as someone else mentioned) Lindsey has done such great work over the years with Stevie's stuff. I'm always a little disappointed in Stevie's solo work compared with her Fleetwood Mac work.

I'm quite willing to like this album if I could find it likeable. Despite all the criticism of TISL I liked it the moment I played it and played it constantly. IYD will get a couple of plays (going to listen again while I wash up and tidy the house), but I suspect like all those recent Lindsey Buckingham solo albums it will get quickly forgotten.

I know that everyone here loves it, I'm sorry I don't. I was looking forward to the album, but perhaps not as excitedly as some of you.

[KateTheCursed]

Well if you know how to change an Ipod Classic to play songs in track order rather than in alphabetical order then please let me know. As it doesn't record the track numbers there is no other way that I know of to play the songs...

If you change the shuffle settings to album, it should play the tracks in sequence.

[chriskisn]

If you change the shuffle settings to album, it should play the tracks in sequence.

Thank you! Damn it I've had it for two years and it has always annoyed me. I guess I shoud have read the instruction booklet but I'm a man and we don't do instruction booklets. :lol:

[saintvox]

Thank you! Damn it I've had it for two years and it has always annoyed me. I guess I shoud have read the instruction booklet but I'm a man and we don't do instruction booklets. :lol:

I am also a man and approve this statement. I have things for years, and one day I'll find something out about them that I would have known for years if I'd read instructions. :laugh:

[carrie721]

Well if you know how to change an Ipod Classic to play songs in track order rather than in alphabetical order then please let me know. As it doesn't record the track numbers there is no other way that I know of to play the songs...

EDIT: You know what I think I've just discovered how to do it - if you use the search function (as I alway do when searching) it gives me alphabetical order which has always annoyed me. However if I spend five minutes scrolling manually through album search, it actually plays in track order. How cool is that. :lol:

:laugh: good work. yeah, it does record the track numbers - it's embedded in the metadata for each file. :wavey:

[Heartboy]

Hmm...well having now had a listen through the album, all I can say is that personally it doesn't really do anything for me.

There are loads of people posting in other threads about how excited they are, how wonderful the album is, etc. I wonder how they will feel in 6 months once the gloss has worn off?

A lot of people don't like TISL, but I really thought that was one of her best albums of her solo career, and I can listen to that album on repeat quite happily. However IYD just doesn't have that appeal.

The songs sound unfinished, like we are listening to demos and her voice is flat and emotionless on most songs.

I do quite like Ghost Are Gone, although it does need a bit of work to make it flow better and the best song on the album I feel is In Your Dreams, possibly the only one that might have single appeal. Secret Love isn't all that bad either, although we have been exposed to that one.

So yeah, I'm underwhelmed, I was expecting so much more. I can't see this album getting mainstream success. Any initial chart success will be mainly because the hard-core fans are buying up more than one copy, but that will drop off after the first week or two.

Anyone else feel this way?

*barricades door and waits for onslaught of abuse* :rolleyes:


You know what they say? You can't please everyone!.... Have some cookies, maybe you'll change your mind.

[studyinscarlet]

I agree. Although, I don't think Stevie's voice has sounded this good in years, the songs, for the most part sound flat in that there's nothing behind them as far as emotion for me. :shrug: I like her voice here, just not many of the songs or the way they're performed.

[bikerchic]

i've never heard of anyone who listens to an album alphabetically instead of in the track order. :shocked:

:lol:

Finally have internet again and just had a listen through and my first impression is WOW!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! Just having NEW music from Stevie is a gift! I'm going to have to give it a few listen to's before I can say what I love or hate about certain songs, but first impression, very impressed!

The reason I laugh at that above is because I have to get my 16 year old daughter to do everything for me when it comes to electronics :laugh:

[bluefox4000]

Just listened to it again. This time I listened to it with a more critical ear. The only song i would ax is Everybody loves You. Other then that, I'm very pleased. And Stevie needs to work with Dave Stewart again. If another album is down the road that is.

Mick

[KenshiMaster16]

This album, for me, reminds me a lot of TISL. There's a good amount of the album I can listen to on repeat, and a good amount that'll really have to grow on me. For instance, for TISL, songs I instantly loved were;

- TISL
- Sorcerer
- Planets
- Every Day
- I Miss You
- Bombay
- Fall From Grace
- Love Is

The rest of the album had to grow on me for months, and one track even years. For IYD, it's pretty much the same thing. Songs I instantly love are;

- Secret Love
- IYD
- WSS
- New Orleans
- Moonlight
- Annabel
- Ghosts
- Italian Summer

The rest are going to have to grow on me. Now, I'm not saying I hate them, I'm just saying they haven't caught on yet. There's not one track on either CD I completely dislike, which makes both TISL and IYD two of her best solo works for me, I can honestly say.

[tilthefirefades]

So you've never fully enjoyed anything Stevie's done solo, yet you feel underwhelmed from In Your Dreams, and you're shocked?

[Regina]

I liked it the first time I heard it. I've listened now a half dozen times (I'm still holding back a bit until I have it in my hot big old hands) and I love it. No, I LOVE it.

I think Stevie does things, with her voice, she's never done before. I think there is a grandeur and depth that hasn't been there in a long time. A real passion. She is the Poet back in her grand storytelling role. Nothing tentative, nothing held back. I was thinking about this yesterday. The Unleashed tour? Bull. THIS is Stevie, unleashed.

It's beautiful. I will say this about all her previous recordings. There are at least 3 or 4 songs on each that I continually skip over. As a matter of fact, when I was setting up my iPod, I only included 1 or 2 songs from each record. There are two songs I'm not overly crazy about on IYD (Soldier's Angel and the Ghost one). But, I still appreciate them enough (and am growing more fond of them with each listen) that I don't skip over them at all. And that's never happened before.

So, yeah. The fact that she's recording, at this age, when she has been discontent with the business end of things, and the fact that all this sounds original and current...is a total blessing. I'm not underwhelmed at all. So, I guess I shouldn't be on this thread, but ... I felt like encouraging you to give it a few more listens. No expectations of what you should or shouldn't feel...just let the music and the stories wash over you.
(Sheesh, I sound like a New Age Guru).

[Ghosty]

i don't know if i am underwhelmed, but my first reaction listening was that i love some songs, but some did not feel quite right upon first hearing.

maybe it's just me, but some songs sound like she tries too hard to squeeze in all the words she wants, or sings them in an odd or uncomfortable way, off beat rather than on certain beats. but i've had this issue with her songs for a while. probably first noticed it on osotm. some songs did not seem to be sung in a smooth and polished, finished way. like juliet, for example ("dancing to the beat of some man's anciet drum"). lindsey or jimmy never would have put that on the album, you know what i mean? they'd have her streamline it or something, or say nope, just not ready for an album yet, it's not working.

it's like bella donna is flawless, seamless, perfection. wh and ral are similar, they have the smooth polished song feel. then osotm happened. and many songs on each cd after that has had at least a few songs on it with this issue, to me, anyways.

but i suppose i should be used to this by now, it's sort of become her style. and it's probably just me because i never hear complaints of it. maybe it's just how it sounds to me.

i also dread when she has a "cause" song and insists it will be on her next album (whether or not it's one of her better songs to record). like desert angel. i love it, but like, well, it's never gone on any sn mixed tapes or cd's i've ever made, you know what i mean? and illume. with new orleans, i am pleasantly surprised i like it as much as i do. a few lyrics stick in my side, but listening a few times i get past it and can flow with it.


anyone else wish we could hear john shanks give his hand on soldier's angel? (my favorite songs from tisl are the ones he worked on). i do love lindsey though, so, i'll take it. i'd love a buckinghamnicks cd next! (decided to put my thoughts on soldier's angel in a seperate thread.....


i'm loving iyd, but some songs will take a few times of me listening to them to get the flow. over all, i'm really happy with it. since we know sn will never work with jimmy i. again, i can certainly deal with how iyd came out. dave did great working with her very wordy lyrics, and many songs do kick some butt!! i don't dislike any. bd and wh will probably always be my faves, but this will rank up there with ral and sa to me, and half of tisl. i'd give it 4 out of 5 stars, easily.

[markolas]

I think people are entitled to not like things. :shrug:

I haven't listened to IYD since Tuesday (not sure if the RS stream is still up); I thought I'd take a break from it and wait until the copy I ordered from B&N arrives.

Anyway...I don't think it's her "best album ever," but it comes pretty close. The only song I don't especially care for is Everybody Loves You (that intro and Stevie's "cahn't" irritate the hell out of me).

[pattyfan]

I was going to start a thread called "If Anyone Doesn't Fall in Love"....

But you beat me to it. Anyway, I'm just going to get it all out in this one shot, and then I'll shut up :)

I'm super happy that you guys all love the CD and I hope it does really well for Stevie's sake. I hope that she tours behind it and that the tour is really successful. I like Stevie's voice a lot on this CD, and I like the production. Also, it sounds like she tried to update her sound without totally reinventing herself (I for one understand when songwriters get bored and want to reinvent themselves but I usually hate the results :) ), and if she really did have a great time making the CD and it leads to more CDs, then more power to her. I really like Secret Love and Annabel Lee, even though I didn't really like the demo for the latter. For What It's Worth and In Your Dreams are pretty good. And I for one really like the vocal on Soldier's Angel. But...

For me, for the most part, the songs on this CD are pretty pedestrian. I'm hoping that when I listen to it more on my stereo, or in my car, it'll sound better, or that maybe with time I"ll come to like some of the songs more. For me, the last part of the CD is just boring. I'm a huge Italphile, but I just can't get into Italian Summer. I don't know how to say this any differently, but it just doesn't sound like a Stevie song. I like her lyrically simple country songs (That's Alright, Rose Garden, etc.) and mysterious, minor chord songs (Rhiannon, Sisters of the Moon, How Still My Love, Planets of the Universe, etc) and her rockers (Fall from Grace, Outside the Rain, etc) but Italian Summer and You May Be the One just sound like pop schlock to me. And the thing is that I really want to like this CD, but I don't. :(

Also, no one has mentioned politics here, and I feel a little wary about doing that myself, but it's a problem for me on this CD. I like Stevie's voice on both New Orleans and Soldier's Angel, but each has lyrics that just make me mad. I love that Stevie took time to visit US soldiers in hospitals. She obviously has a big heart, and so I really don't to be misunderstood here. But the line "righteous war", to me, is just vile. I know that this isn't the place to debate the war in Iraq, but personally the idea of a "righteous war" is really awful. Also, the line about forgiving in New Orleans really puts me off. The federal government completely abandoned the poor. So again, maybe it's just me, and if you disagree, that's totally fine, but for me personally the idea behind this song is so facile and simplistic to the point where it seems emotionally unauthentic.

Anyway, I don't have friends who are into Fleetwood Mac and Stevie the way I am, so I appreciate having this forum. I'm glad that there are so many of you who love this CD, even though I don't. :)

Kevin

[-Lillith-]

I think here voice sounds very heartfelt on this Album. You belive her what she is singin. :angel:

[carrie721]

:lol:

Finally have internet again and just had a listen through and my first impression is WOW!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE it!!! Just having NEW music from Stevie is a gift! I'm going to have to give it a few listen to's before I can say what I love or hate about certain songs, but first impression, very impressed!

The reason I laugh at that above is because I have to get my 16 year old daughter to do everything for me when it comes to electronics :laugh:

you're canadian ... it's okay. i'm glad you got to listen to it!

I think people are entitled to not like things. :shrug:

i agree. i don't see why people need to come in here and defend the album - there are good vibes all over the board, and the threadstarter wasn't being an asshole :shrug:

[michelej1]

I know that this isn't the place to debate the war in Iraq, but personally the idea of a "righteous war" is really awful.




I know what you mean and I don't want to be political either, but I don't think that the song thinks the war was righteous. Just the opposite. And really I think the word "righteous" is used in a negative sense in both that song and in You May Be the One, to mean righteous subjectively, but self-righteous (and worse) to anyone viewing the matter objectively.

Michele

[DestinyRules]

Stevie's songs and albums aren't for everyone. I accept that.

However, I disagree vehemently that these songs sound unfinished or Stevie's voice sounds flat and/or emotionless. This is the most passionate I've heard Stevie sing on one of her solo albums since at least 1985. I don't count Stevie's contributions to Say You Will as a solo album even though some people seem to because, well it's a Fleetwood Mac record.

There are songs I gravitate toward the most on this CD, both of which were mentioned at least somewhat favorably in the OP. "In Your Dreams" just screams "single" to me and has some of her impassioned vocals and lyrics, and "Ghosts Are Gone" also is Stevie at her searing rocker best. There are songs I just don't get into on this CD, namely "For What It's Worth" and "Cheaper Than Free" which should have been left on The Blackbird Diaries and not included here.

[Bandon]

I feel for the Stevie fans who don't connect with this album for whatever reason. Don't get me wrong, I was not a fan of Street Angel or most of SYW from the start and my feelings haven't changed. But I love this as much as I loved Bella Donna when it came out. :blob1:

[Nightbird17]

I hope it grows on those that don't like it at the moment. I have to say that I am in heaven. Being a 30+ year fan I feel this piece of work is right up there with BD and WH. But I know how these fans are feeling....it was the same for me 10 years ago. I still cringed when I try to make it through TISL :sorry:

[MariaA37]

Hmm...well having now had a listen through the album, all I can say is that personally it doesn't really do anything for me.

A lot of people don't like TISL, but I really thought that was one of her best albums of her solo career, and I can listen to that album on repeat quite happily. However IYD just doesn't have that appeal.

*barricades door and waits for onslaught of abuse* :rolleyes:

I won't abuse you :)

On the first listen I had to agree with you, but now that I've listened to it three times I'm liking it better. I love Moonlight, For What It's Worth, and I've always liked Annabelle Lee. I also agree with you about TISL, I love every song on that album.

~Maria

[chriskisn]

So you've never fully enjoyed anything Stevie's done solo, yet you feel underwhelmed from In Your Dreams, and you're shocked?

Not shocked...disappointed. After TISL I had high hopes for this album. I listened to them both again this morning and TISL is such a better album. I have to admit that on the third (or is it fourth) listen of IYD (can't say I'm not trying) I don't hate it, but still underwhelmed.

Cheaper Than Free must be the single worse duet that Stevie has ever done though. Stevie doesn't duet well in most cases, but this really is the worse song on the album...

:sorry:

[Ghosty]

ohhhh...i love cheaper than free. in this lovely economy it could go over well too. it sounds like something i could picture being an old demo of hers, yet it's new. it's kind of innocent, young, naive, but so totally in love.


what's warmer than a sun drenched land - your hand....

[bluefox4000]

Is it me....or does anybody else find those opening piano chords on Cheaper then Free terribly Depressing?

Mick

[Tellurium]

Chriskisn, I feel bad that you and other fans who don't love this album all seem to feel compelled to lace your opinions with apologies. You never need to apologize for your opinion on something so subjective as music. And frankly, if you don't like the album, it really only sucks for you. All is good for the rest of us!

And I'm still not sure I think this album is better than TISL. I've always loved that one, too, and nobody seems to be apologising to me when they say negative things about it. ;)

[Ghosty]

Is it me....or does anybody else find those opening piano chords on Cheaper then Free terribly Depressing?

Mick

it does seem to sort of start off sad. then ends with such love - you, child and sun drenched land, your hand. so sweet and romantic. maybe that's part of its charm for me. sad times, bad economy, people are losing jobs, losing their homes, but here is this innocent love hanging on to each other in the middle of the saddness. we may not have much, but we have each other. am i the only goober who finds it soft and romantic? the story of if the "rose garden" lady had chosen the other path?

[bluefox4000]

it does seem to sort of start off sad. then ends with such love - you, child and sun drenched land, your hand. so sweet and romantic. maybe that's part of its charm for me. sad times, bad economy, people are losing jobs, losing their homes, but here is this innocent love hanging on to each other in the middle of the saddness. we may not have much, but we have each other. am i the only goober who finds it soft and romantic? the story of if the "rose garden" lady had chosen the other path?

Good observation. People like to get on this for being corny. but it's grown on me. And i've written cornier love letters to my wife. lol

Mick

[tabruns]

Well I don't really understand criticism of either Trouble In Shangri-La or In Your Dreams. Both albums got generally great reviews and both albums have been seen as among Nicks' better albums. Both albums have exceptionally well-written songs that demonstrate Nicks coming out of her Behind The Mask/Street Angel Klonopin haze.

I put criticism down to two things:

1. Just personal taste, purely subjective. Sometimes things just don't appeal to you.
2. For professional critics, there's always going to be the odd one out that slams something that everyone else is cheering.

[tabruns]

Cheaper Than Free must be the single worse duet that Stevie has ever done though. Stevie doesn't duet well in most cases, but this really is the worse song on the album...

:sorry:

Well I can't agree with you at all there. Nicks is generally known as being *great* at duets.

[WildHearted]

Cheaper Than Free must be the single worse duet that Stevie has ever done though. Stevie doesn't duet well in most cases, but this really is the worse song on the album...

:sorry:

I agree with you on that note. TBH, I said before that there were no bad songs on the album - but that was because I forgot about Cheaper Than Free, as I stopped the stream after Italian Summer (I also initially started with For What It's Worth because I already heard Secret Love and was impatient). I'm sure if you're listening to the album as a whole it doesn't ruin it or anything... but it's simply not a good song, at all, and definitely not something I would listen to out of the context of the album. Dave and Stevie's voices do not blend well period, first of all, so that doesn't help the poor thing.. and then there's the lyrics. It's a sweet sentiment and all, and I feel bad saying this because Stevie seems to think it's an incredible song, but it's just not good in my opinion.

But, I disagree about Stevie's other duets not being great. Isn't she kind of known for being a great harmony singer? Lots of her duets are very popular, and I like them a lot.

[Artemis]

Well I can't agree with you at all there. Nicks is generally known as being *great* at duets.

This.

Even when she's a backing singer on someone else's song, singing with someone else is normally Stevie's strongest point; she knows exactly how to harmonize with someone or enhance their song. Like, Vanessa Carlton's The One wouldn't be the same without Stevie, and neither would Gold or Midnight Wind by John Stewart :nod:

[henryscutter]

I listened to the cd first on my computer speakers then we listened to it through our stereo, there was quite a stark differance in the music and vocals. You should listen to the actual cd on a quality system and see if that helps.

[tabruns]

:shrugs: It may just be that he doesn't care for this album. Although I sense a bit of "revenge" when he mentions how much he loves Trouble In Shangri-La and had to endure other fans not liking it.

Which kind of baffles me that some fans have turned on TISL. It seems like when it first came out everyone was in love with it, and it did get the best reviews of Nicks' albums up to that point.

[sorcerer999]

Thank you for starting this thread. I think your point is quite valid and understandable.

Myself, I quite enjoy the new album. It could very well be the fact that I, like everyone else on this board, have been so starved for new Stevie material, that we're letting our excitement overpower our objectivity. I am going to continue to listen to this album for another month or two before I see how it as a whole (as well as the individual songs) rank against the other Stevie solo records.

I still am in love with TISL. I always will be. It never gets old. I also like this new album very much. At this point, it's premature to decide which one I like better. TISL had a run of GREAT songs from tracks 1-5 (in my opinion of course) then kind of dwindled until Bombay, FFG and Love Is.

IYD doesn't really have any great song runs for me...right now at least. I like the latter half better than the beginning, and even then it's like two good songs, one mediocre, two good, one BAD. I dunno. There are about 4 songs on the album that I don't care for at the moment. I'm not saying it's a bad album, quite the contrary. I think it's really good. Maybe a bit disjointed?

[tabruns]

Ah see for me IYD starts out strong with "Secret Love" and each track following is a little bit stronger than the last until it hits its peak with "Moonlight"/"Annabel Lee". The rest of the album isn't downhill from there, rather, its back to excellent songs after two classic songs.

[chriskisn]

Which kind of baffles me that some fans have turned on TISL. It seems like when it first came out everyone was in love with it, and it did get the best reviews of Nicks' albums up to that point.

They will turn on this one just the same. I remember we all loved Steet Angel once too...

[Morgana]

Ah see for me IYD starts out strong with "Secret Love" and each track following is a little bit stronger than the last until it hits its peak with "Moonlight"/"Annabel Lee". The rest of the album isn't downhill from there, rather, its back to excellent songs after two classic songs.

I agree, Moonlight/Annabel Lee peaks the cd out.

[chriskisn]

What exactly were you expecting? What did you like about TISL exactly? I know that I tried to force myself to like TISL and couldn't do it. There were too many producers in that pot and the album fell apart. I instantly liked this album. Lot of it has to do with the production and the details. I have read posts on other sites were people are slamming this album, yet, holding up TISL and I really don't get it all. I think some people fought so hard for TISL that they feel all the love for this album is a slap in the face. The only reason I'm saying this is because usually when people say they don't like this album, they mention TISL. I wonder if you want to like this album.


I forgot to respond to this bit of your post earlier -

I think TISL was a little bit rockier, her voice had more emotion (not always an easy thing in Stevie past the mid 1980s), she sang with more passion not just like she was going through the motions of putting out another album.

I think perhaps because I liked TISL (and hey I even liked TOSOTM so what can I say?) that I was hoping for as good as TISL or better. Perhaps if I had hated TISL I would think this album was the best thing since Belladonna.

Maybe I'll come around to thinking that this album is great, but it hasn't happened yet. Actually I'm not going to listen to it for a few days and then I'll try again, and hope that by some the intervention of some magical fairy, I'll discover what everyone else is raving about.

[Ghosty]

i still love street angel. i really like tisl too, and if shanks had produced the whole thing it'd probably be right up there with bd and wh for me.

i am really liking iyd too. i just really want my cd in hand so i can hear it better and more. my little laptop is not very loud.

[AnthonyMI]

Dear "underwhelmed"....

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0x-fkSYDtUY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[tabruns]

They will turn on this one just the same. I remember we all loved Steet Angel once too...

Well I have to say not me. I was largely disappointed by Street Angel. I was very happy that there was a new Nicks album out, but when I got it I was basically like "meh"....it wasn't a bad album per se it just lacked the Stevie magic that her previous four albums had had.

[tabruns]

I think perhaps because I liked TISL (and hey I even liked TOSOTM so what can I say?) that I was hoping for as good as TISL or better. Perhaps if I had hated TISL I would think this album was the best thing since Belladonna.
.

I really liked TOSOTM as well. I would say that TOSOTM is clearly Stevie's most under-rated album.

I don't know about your second sentence though. I *love* TISL and considered it Stevie's best album since Bella Donna. I still do. But I also love IYD and do think its slightly better than TISL.

To me, Bella Donna, Trouble In Shangri-La and In Your Dreams are all albums where Nicks was sober, focused, and determined to put out a great album. Many of her other albums are still great, but they're all a little "out of focus" somehow:

The Wild Heart is a good album but it's like a sloppier or wilder version of Bella Donna. You can hear that while Nicks is inspired she's also somewhat rushed, and hence the introduction of heavier synths than on Bella Donna and also a heavier reliance on an outside writer for music (Sandy Stewart).

Rock A Little went for a much sleeker production (which can be good or bad depending on your point of view). Nicks' voice is much raspier here and while she still has much of that Stevie magic I think you get the feel that her life is swinging more wildly out of control as you listen to the record.

I thought The Other Side of the Mirror was something of a rebound from The Wild Heart and Rock A Little. She seems a little more focused here, but the one thing about this album is that she didn't totally commit to making it a dark, mystic album. There are many moments like that but then some songs just stand out like sore thumbs: "Cry Wolf", "Fire Burning", "I Still Miss Someone"....not bad songs, but they just don't seem to fit on a record that sounds like it should have been all dark, long, witchy music.

Street Angel (like the Mac album Behind The Mask) is her one solo album that's clearly impacted by her Klonopin haze. The writing is solid rock but it completely lacks the Nicks magic. As I've said before, it's very "pedestrian" writing for someone of Nicks' calibre.

[Bryan]

I really liked TOSOTM as well. I would say that TOSOTM is clearly Stevie's most under-rated album.

I don't know about your second sentence though. I *love* TISL and considered it Stevie's best album since Bella Donna. I still do. But I also love IYD and do think its slightly better than TISL.

To me, Bella Donna, Trouble In Shangri-La and In Your Dreams are all albums where Nicks was sober, focused, and determined to put out a great album. Many of her other albums are still great, but they're all a little "out of focus" somehow:

The Wild Heart is a good album but it's like a sloppier or wilder version of Bella Donna. You can hear that while Nicks is inspired she's also somewhat rushed, and hence the introduction of heavier synths than on Bella Donna and also a heavier reliance on an outside writer for music (Sandy Stewart).

Rock A Little went for a much sleeker production (which can be good or bad depending on your point of view). Nicks' voice is much raspier here and while she still has much of that Stevie magic I think you get the feel that her life is swinging more wildly out of control as you listen to the record.

I thought The Other Side of the Mirror was something of a rebound from The Wild Heart and Rock A Little. She seems a little more focused here, but the one thing about this album is that she didn't totally commit to making it a dark, mystic album. There are many moments like that but then some songs just stand out like sore thumbs: "Cry Wolf", "Fire Burning", "I Still Miss Someone"....not bad songs, but they just don't seem to fit on a record that sounds like it should have been all dark, long, witchy music.

Street Angel (like the Mac album Behind The Mask) is her one solo album that's clearly impacted by her Klonopin haze. The writing is solid rock but it completely lacks the Nicks magic. As I've said before, it's very "pedestrian" writing for someone of Nicks' calibre.

They're my two all time faves ! haha everyone's got their own tastes,that's what I love about music-there's no right,wrong or definites about it,people either like things or they don't:nod:

[tabruns]

They're my two all time faves ! haha everyone's got their own tastes,that's what I love about music-there's no right,wrong or definites about it,people either like things or they don't:nod:

So true, and I'm glad that you love them. I always feel like I'm missing out on something when someone is raving about some music/movie/book and somehow I don't "get it". I much prefer loving something over feeling "meh" about it.

I will say about Behind The Mask that I love how Stevie is all over that album with background vocals all over the place. I love it that she's so prominent on "In The Back of my Mind", "When The Sun Goes Down", "Behind The Mask" and at the end of "Save Me".

I consider Behind The Mask to be an under-rated album. It's better than the reviews it got. But Stevie's work on that album is still the "not quite there Stevie" level of songs, IMO.

[Bryan]

So true, and I'm glad that you love them. I always feel like I'm missing out on something when someone is raving about some music/movie/book and somehow I don't "get it". I much prefer loving something over feeling "meh" about it.

I will say about Behind The Mask that I love how Stevie is all over that album with background vocals all over the place. I love it that she's so prominent on "In The Back of my Mind", "When The Sun Goes Down", "Behind The Mask" and at the end of "Save Me".

I consider Behind The Mask to be an under-rated album. It's better than the reviews it got. But Stevie's work on that album is still the "not quite there Stevie" level of songs, IMO.

The ''not quite there Stevie'' will always be my favourite:lol: And i'll never know why but it just does it for me.:)
Yes,I used to feel like that 'missing out' feeling upon highly spoken of art,I've since learned to form my own opinions and trust them completely.Once upon a time i'd be so offended if a friend or associate didn't like the things I liked,wow that's changed now I'm all for varying tastes-it's great! And I giggle when someone calls any new bands I recommend 'crap' or 'meh',it's totally cool to get opposing reactions.
Sadly there are still those that take it to heart when *I* criticize music or movies they like,they should know not to take it personally,but oh well everyone's different:nod:

[KarmaContestant]

I'm feeling bad for those of you who are underwhelmed. :angel:

I haven't heard the whole album yet, but it's been delightful so far. Maybe with time you're opinion will change.

[henryscutter]

Dear "underwhelmed"....

<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0x-fkSYDtUY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Haha, good one. Don't analyze it too much, just play it on a good stereo and relax :)

[Hawkeye]

For me TISL starts with 3 incredible songs. TISL in particular is very close to being the greatest Stevie song ever. Then there's not anohter abover average song until Bombay Saphires followed by the unbelievable Fall From Grace. I'm very glad Stevie has chosen to play the 2 out of 3 of the best songs from this album this past decade and made them set staples. They deserve they setlist airtime they've gotten. But they need to be removed immediately to make room for IYD songs now.

[blemelin]

The first day Rolling Stone streamed it, I listened to the whole album three times. Then I gave it a day off and went back to it on Saturday.

At first, I loved, loved, loved it--the whole thing--even though Soldier's Angel did bother me. First, I started leaving Soldier's Angel off the playlist. Then the guitars on Ghosts Are Gone started to irritate me and it got edited out. It just sounds like they're trying too hard to "rock" or create a new guitar riff (a la Edge of Seventeen). Then Secret Love started to bore me with its mediocrity. Then the bombast of the second half of Italian Summer started to make me realize that she can't sing the notes necessary to keep up with the song and the music as they hit the crescendo. Should'a kept that one down to a ballad (sorry Dave, the strings and the arrangement just overpower her). Now Moonlight is starting to trail off for me, and I really liked that one at first.

So I still have eight new songs that I really like to listen to for now. Worth the price of admission for sure, but I'm questioning whether this is really her best effort.

[Jondalar]

The first day Rolling Stone streamed it, I listened to the whole album three times. Then I gave it a day off and went back to it on Saturday.

At first, I loved, loved, loved it--the whole thing--even though Soldier's Angel did bother me. First, I started leaving Soldier's Angel off the playlist. Then the guitars on Ghosts Are Gone started to irritate me and it got edited out. It just sounds like they're trying too hard to "rock" or create a new guitar riff (a la Edge of Seventeen). Then Secret Love started to bore me with its mediocrity. Then the bombast of the second half of Italian Summer started to make me realize that she can't sing the notes necessary to keep up with the song and the music as they hit the crescendo. Should'a kept that one down to a ballad (sorry Dave, the strings and the arrangement just overpower her). Now Moonlight is starting to trail off for me, and I really liked that one at first.

So I still have eight new songs that I really like to listen to for now. Worth the price of admission for sure, but I'm questioning whether this is really her best effort.

My least favorite is Annabelle Lee and I still think it's good. I love the rocking Stevie. Ghosts are Gone, Soldier's Angel, Wide Sargasso Sea and In Your Dreams really help this album classic rock wise in my opinion.

[blemelin]

I like the song, I like her voice, I like the Bob Seger-ish attitude and the potential for another good highway-driving song, but those guitars just irritate the hell out of me.

[cliffdweller]

I know what you mean and I don't want to be political either, but I don't think that the song thinks the war was righteous. Just the opposite. And really I think the word "righteous" is used in a negative sense in both that song and in You May Be the One, to mean righteous subjectively, but self-righteous (and worse) to anyone viewing the matter objectively.

Michele

I really want to believe this and I hope you are right. :angel:

I have to say, I'm not a fan of the SA lyrics, as one poster mentioned, the lyrics are rather self-involved and narcissistic. She speaks mostly of herself in relation to these soldiers, when really, if she was going to write a song for the troops, she should probably try to write it from their perspective, if not literally than figuratively. Of course who am I to say how Stevie should write a song, right? Yep, I agree. I just don't like the way she refers to herself as some kind of guardian of the troops. It comes off as condescending and self-aggrandizing, which is not what she intended, I'm sure.

Having said all of that, I LOVE the way the song sounds and I adore the melody. And I think Buckingham/Nicks need to go into the studio and make an album. I love the way Lindsey arranges Stevie's songs and the feel he gives to them. Their collaboration is what I love about Soldier's Angel.

[bluefox4000]

Listening to my copy right now.....got it this afternoon. I love the album. I love SA....pretentious though it may be. I also LOVE hearing Bucky on there But of course I would:lol: The only song I consistently skip is Everybody Loves You.....snooze. Other then that this Record FAR exceeded my expectations.....Nice job Stevie and Dave:thumbsup:

Mick

[Jondalar]

Listening to my copy right now.....got it this afternoon. I love the album. I love SA....pretentious though it may be. I also LOVE hearing Bucky on there But of course I would:lol: The only song I consistently skip is Everybody Loves You.....snooze. Other then this Record FAR exceeded my expectations.....Nice job Stevie and Dave:thumbsup:

Mick

I must really be out there, because people either pick on Everybody Loves You or Soldier's Angel and both those songs are in my top 4. hmmm

[kak125]

i completely love 'everybody loves you'. its one of my favorites on the cd along with annabel lee, moonlight, widl sargasso sea etc. i think the only song on the cd i always skip is cheaper than free. that song is just blah to me.
i have been listening to this cd non-stop since last week so today i tried to listen to TISL for a bit but after 2 songs i went back to IYD, ha! lol i had some trouble sleeping last night because i had all these songs from IYD in my head.

[LittleSpacey]

Literally the only song I skip is Ghosts Are Gone. It is just too noisy for me. I grew to love Everybody Loves You, but it took a few listens. I love when she sings the part Not make Believe, it gets me every time. I love the chorus of You May Be The One too. Can't stop walking around the house singing it.

[skuncles]

I'm trying to get a feel for the fans reactions to IYD. So I want to know who are the people who DON'T like the album. I've been reading pretty much nothing but postive reviews from everyone, but I'm being told there are a bunch of fans who think it would have been better if she didn't make the album at all. I want to hear from you!

[JohnL]

If anyone truly thinks she should never have made this album, then I would prefer they keep it to themselves. I fully understand people not liking particular songs on the album but to say she shouldnt keep producing new material is just ludicrous.

[crtrofthenight]

I think Wide Sargasso is incredible but the beginning is very raw and could have been more "polished". Annabelle Lee is not her poem but she did an excellent job singing it the way she did. Moonlight is old lyrics. The other songs pale in comparison to any other record she's done (with the exception of S. Angel). I love S. Angel when I had the demo. It was beautiful and then she totally botched it.

[KarmaContestant]

Who doesn't like In Your Dreams?

Communists.

:lol:

[skuncles]

I was informed by someone that there are a LOT of fans who are very disappointed with the album. This person is loving the fact that each week the album drops a little on the charts. Says he loves Stevie but this is the most self indulgent album she's done and will be worst selling album of her career. Says there a bunch of fans who feel the same way. Other than this one person I have yet to hear anyone echo those thoughts.

[tinaboo2]

this is stupid.

[KarmaContestant]

I was informed by someone that there are a LOT of fans who are very disappointed with the album. This person is loving the fact that each week the album drops a little on the charts. Says he loves Stevie but this is the most self indulgent album she's done and will be worst selling album of her career. Says there a bunch of fans who feel the same way. Other than this one person I have yet to hear anyone echo those thoughts.

There's always one fan who is delusional enough to think they speak for everyone. That "bunch of fans" must be the voices in his head.

[Sanne2]

I was informed by someone that there are a LOT of fans who are very disappointed with the album. This person is loving the fact that each week the album drops a little on the charts. Says he loves Stevie but this is the most self indulgent album she's done and will be worst selling album of her career. Says there a bunch of fans who feel the same way. Other than this one person I have yet to hear anyone echo those thoughts.

Not that every fan has to love the whole album, but loving the fact that the album drops on the charts? That is not a fan, not possible.

[Jondalar]

I'm trying to get a feel for the fans reactions to IYD. So I want to know who are the people who DON'T like the album. I've been reading pretty much nothing but postive reviews from everyone, but I'm being told there are a bunch of fans who think it would have been better if she didn't make the album at all. I want to hear from you!

He probablyl mean't he didn't like the album, and then just told you a whole bunch of fans didn't like the album. Who cares? A whole bunch could mean 10 out of 10,000.

[SpyNote]

I would give it a strong 3 and 1/2 stars out of 5. I think if she had kept it more of a concept album, the whole Moonlight thing focusing on the strings, I would have enjoyed it more. Each song on its own is fine, even great. But taken together as an album, it's a mixed bag of styles that clash at times. Some like pop/rock Stevie, bluesy Stevie, folky Stevie, or country Stevie, which speaks to Stevie's versatility and diverse fan base. I'm a pop/rock Stevie fan, so there were songs on the album that I just didn't like.

[Artemis]

Each album will have its detractors and supporters; but to suggest she shouldn't have made it at all is ridiculous. Even the worst albums have some merit in them. I think Stevie needed to make this album, it was important for her to capture that creativity inside of her and make an album again, as I think now it'll be the vehicle which will see her make more albums. So even if some fans didn't enjoy this particular album, there may be music made in the future, because of this one, that they will enjoy.

[KarmaContestant]

I would give it a strong 3 and 1/2 stars out of 5. I think if she had kept it more of a concept album, the whole Moonlight thing focusing on the strings, I would have enjoyed it more. Each song on its own is fine, even great. But taken together as an album, it's a mixed bag of styles that clash at times. Some like pop/rock Stevie, bluesy Stevie, folky Stevie, or country Stevie, which speaks to Stevie's versatility and diverse fan base. I'm a pop/rock Stevie fan, so there were songs on the album that I just didn't like.

All of her albums are like that however, except TOSOTM and RAL. They all have an assortment of strings, guitars, bluesy rock and pop.

Right?

[Christopher]

I was informed by someone that there are a LOT of fans who are very disappointed with the album. This person is loving the fact that each week the album drops a little on the charts. Says he loves Stevie but this is the most self indulgent album she's done and will be worst selling album of her career. Says there a bunch of fans who feel the same way. Other than this one person I have yet to hear anyone echo those thoughts.

"informed by someone that there are a LOT of fans who are very disappointed with the album" - Huh!? WTF! This is the most blatantly stupid & delusional post I've ever read. Get a grip! If you don't like the album say your peace & move on & stop being trollish, but don't suppose to speak for "many others" who have seemingly cast down their dark evil thoughts on IYD becoming the worst selling record in Stevie's career and lauding its every decent down the charts:rolleyes: This is KOO KOO for coo coo puffs and totally laughable!!!

For staters you lost credibility when you or "many others" claim IYD to be the most self indulgent album of Stevie's. That's a blatant and outlandish spin & completely false - that designation would go to "The Wild Heart" or OSOTM - look at me trying to rationalize with the irrational. IYD is clearly beloved by most of her true fans (arguing sales is really subjective in this current music marketplace) Those who dislike it are in the minority. Nothing really to add. :cool: Other than IYD is in my Top 3 Stevie solo albums of all time, If not her best ever.

[TrueFaith77]

Who doesn't like In Your Dreams?

Communists.

:lol:

Perfect. :thumbsup: :lol:

As for sales... Stevie is not a big seller and Stevie does not have the industry backing an industry "gimmic" like Plant/Krauss has. Instead, Stevie is a back catalogue artist. The stores and Amazon will always be stocked with her albums. They will sell regularly forever. That's her slot in the music biz. And all that matters to ME is that she makes vital art. IYD is vital.

[skuncles]

Let me just clarify. I am not saying people don't like the album I am currently having an argument with someone else in another forum who said many fans don't like the album. Specifically he said people on The Ledge. I have not seen this to be the case so I am trying to find WHO these people are. I think IYD is one of the best things Stevie's ever done. This guy in the other forum strongly disagrees and claims he is not alone. It seems to me he's full of ****.

[SpyNote]

All of her albums are like that however, except TOSOTM and RAL. They all have an assortment of strings, guitars, bluesy rock and pop.

Right?

Right, and that's why I think none of her albums since Bella Donna has really been spectacular because they tend to be a mixed bag of stuff. For some artists, it seems to work just fine. I enjoy Stevie best when she's singing about the moon and the stars against the backdrop of a verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus. Of course, she can't always be that, and that's fine with me.

[KarmaContestant]

I enjoy Stevie best when she's singing about the moon and the stars against the backdrop of a verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus.

And the sea. :nod:

[louielouie2000]

Right, and that's why I think none of her albums since Bella Donna has really been spectacular because they tend to be a mixed bag of stuff. For some artists, it seems to work just fine. I enjoy Stevie best when she's singing about the moon and the stars against the backdrop of a verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus. Of course, she can't always be that, and that's fine with me.

Yeah, but can't you see the differing styles on Bella Donna especially?

Stop Dragging My Heart Around: very bluesy
After The Glitter Fades & Highwayman: ultra country
Edge of Seventeen, Outside The Rain, How Still My Love: rock and roll all the way
Bella Donna, Kind Of Woman, Think About It: pop

In Your Dreams is probably her closest album stylistically to Bella Donna. It has the same even mixture of pop, rock, bluesy, and country-esque songs. :)

[Newzchspy]

I was informed by someone that there are a LOT of fans who are very disappointed with the album. This person is loving the fact that each week the album drops a little on the charts. Says he loves Stevie but this is the most self indulgent album she's done and will be worst selling album of her career. Says there a bunch of fans who feel the same way. Other than this one person I have yet to hear anyone echo those thoughts.

Geez Skuncle, look above and you'll see others ^^^ that like myself, are not particularly impressed with this album. AS YOU know personally, I am not a fanboi nor am I am critic. I am simply a Stevie fan who felt that this album was "self-indulgent." I didn't like the production as well and was disappointed in the song selection as well as the "flow" of the CD. Stevie has SO much in her personal catalog that she could've brought to the table. This (to me), was more like a collection of poems forcibly put to music for the sake of an album. Dave Stewart is an artist, NOT IMHO a producer. Glen Ballard disappointed me tremendously after the success of Alanis' JLP.

Like others above, maybe I will warm to the songs, perhaps I won't. Its been three weeks now and the CD is going into its literal twilight. I am not measuring its success BY sales alone (BUT that is certainly an indicator of how well it is liked by the non-fan base) Apparently the non-fan base is agreeing with me if you use sales as a metric. Not a single song charted on iTunes and that has certainly got to tell you something. OH, where's the breakout hit we've all been waiting for?

FWIW, I wasn't measuring the success of the CD by sales, just said that the sales metric is an "indicator" of how well its doing. I wasn't expecting BD 2 or WH 2 numbers for this CD. You can say I am FOS BUT that's all right with me..................That's what makes this and other forums great, we all have an opinion. We can all agree to disagree without being disagreeable.

[bluefox4000]

My only complaint is one that everybody knows........here it comes.....Chop down on the leangth Stevie:laugh::wavey: 65 mins is a tinsy bit indulgent No album should go beyond 45. I don't care how long we've waited. I got IYD down to 52 mins. normally that would be pushing it. With the 3 i cut...it leaves all great songs.

Mick

[dontlookdown]

Funny - I couldn't disagree more.
I think this is her most soulful sounding album since Bella Donna.
And my least favorite tracks are Ghosts Are Gone and Moonlight. I think they both sound very generic and phoned-in.
Lose those two and Cheaper Than Free, and you have her strongest collection of songs in 30 years.

I liked Trouble In ShangriLA but I think it was a victim of too many producers - which gave it a very uneven disjointed feel. It had it's moments and it was certainly the best thing she had done sicne The Wild Heart, but there were many sluggish filler tracks on the record. I think In Your Dreams is a more solid effort. There's an enthusiasm and a certain energy level that I haven't heard since Bella Donna and The Wild Heart.
For the most part, I think Stevie has been on a roll since 1997 and In Your Dreams is definitely her best work in years.

I think one of her weaknesses has recently been an inability to self-edit. She had this problem on Say You Will - and that's why we got clunkers like Running Through The Garden.
Dave Stewart has definitely been a huge help. I kind of wish she would even go a little bit more progressive and work with some more interesting producers like Jacknife Lee or Nigel Godrich.

[Newzchspy]

I would give it a strong 3 and 1/2 stars out of 5. I think if she had kept it more of a concept album, the whole Moonlight thing focusing on the strings, I would have enjoyed it more. Each song on its own is fine, even great. But taken together as an album, it's a mixed bag of styles that clash at times. Some like pop/rock Stevie, bluesy Stevie, folky Stevie, or country Stevie, which speaks to Stevie's versatility and diverse fan base. I'm a pop/rock Stevie fan, so there were songs on the album that I just didn't like.

A voice out of the Wilderness and ONE of reason as well!!!

[Stevie's~Prince]

I must really be out there, because people either pick on Everybody Loves You or Soldier's Angel and both those songs are in my top 4. hmmm

It's fine they're in my top 5 too,

And also, I didn't take the lyrics in SA as narcissistic, quite the opposite.. Compassionate, sympathetic and full of sorrow is how I read it :shrug:

[chriskisn]

Who doesn't like In Your Dreams?

Communists.

:lol:

Made me think of this (John Birch Paranoid Blues)

Now we all agree with Hitler’s views
Although he killed six million Jews
It don’t matter too much that he was a Fascist
At least you can’t say he was a Communist!
That’s to say like if you got a cold you take a shot of malaria

[chriskisn]

If anyone truly thinks she should never have made this album, then I would prefer they keep it to themselves. I fully understand people not liking particular songs on the album but to say she shouldnt keep producing new material is just ludicrous.

Well I'm glad she is making new material. I just wish it was better!:sorry:

[SpyNote]

Yeah, but can't you see the differing styles on Bella Donna especially?

Stop Dragging My Heart Around: very bluesy
After The Glitter Fades & Highwayman: ultra country
Edge of Seventeen, Outside The Rain, How Still My Love: rock and roll all the way
Bella Donna, Kind Of Woman, Think About It: pop

In Your Dreams is probably her closest album stylistically to Bella Donna. It has the same even mixture of pop, rock, bluesy, and country-esque songs. :)

I can see that. There are clear influences. But Bella Donna sounds like a pop/rock album from beginning to end. There aren't any songs that sound out of place because nothing strays too far from genre. It's seamless.

But that's not the case on In Your Dreams, where you have a number of songs that are stylistically different from each other in genre and vocal. There are clear moments of brilliance on the new album, some of Stevie's best recordings ever. But there are low points, too, that level things out.

[Jondalar]

Has anyone read the negative reviews on Amazon. They don't mention songs. It's weird. They are just giving her negative reviews for negative reviews sake. Ticks me off. This is the first good album she has had since the Wild Heart and this stuff happens. Plus, metacritic is still not posting her positive reviews. She only had nine reviews on there and two are negative and two are so so. They forgot to post the 50 or so reviews that say rave about this album. Actually, they are doing it on purpose.

[GoldDustOrphan]

Metacritic only aggregates music reviews from a small of list of publications. If the review doesn't run in one of the following, it won't factor into the equation. I haven't look to see if any of these published reviews that have not been added, the four-star review in US magazine does not qualify for inclusion because the magazine doesn't meet metacritic's criteria but plenty of overly precious, music-snob publication/websites do meet the criteria. Magazines devoted to one genre demonstrate an obvious bias and shouldn't be included.


All Music Guide
Absolute Punk
Alternative Press*
American Songwriter
Austin Chronicle
Billboard
BBC Music
Boston Globe
Chicago Tribune
Clash Music
CMJ
Cokemachineglow.com
Consequence of Sound
Country Weekly
Delusions of Adequacy
Dot Music
Drowned In Sound
Dusted Magazine
Entertainment Weekly
Filter*
The Guardian
Hartford Courant
HipHopDX
The Independent (UK)
Los Angeles Times
Lost At Sea
Mojo*
MSN Expert Witness (Robert Christgau)
musicOMH.com
New Musical Express
New York Magazine
The New York Times
No Ripcord
NOW Magazine (Toronto)
Okay Player
One Thirty BPM
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Paste Magazine
The Phoenix (Boston)
Pitchfork
Pop Matters
Prefix Magazine
Q Magazine*
Rock Sound
Rolling Stone
Slant Magazine
Spin*
Sputnikmusic
The Telegraph (UK)
Tiny Mix Tapes
Uncut*
Under The Radar*
Urb*
Village Voice
The Wire*
XLR8

[MrStevie]

Yeah, but can't you see the differing styles on Bella Donna especially?

Stop Dragging My Heart Around: very bluesy
After The Glitter Fades & Highwayman: ultra country
Edge of Seventeen, Outside The Rain, How Still My Love: rock and roll all the way
Bella Donna, Kind Of Woman, Think About It: pop

In Your Dreams is probably her closest album stylistically to Bella Donna. It has the same even mixture of pop, rock, bluesy, and country-esque songs. :)

I can see that. There are clear influences. But Bella Donna sounds like a pop/rock album from beginning to end. There aren't any songs that sound out of place because nothing strays too far from genre. It's seamless.

But that's not the case on In Your Dreams, where you have a number of songs that are stylistically different from each other in genre and vocal. There are clear moments of brilliance on the new album, some of Stevie's best recordings ever. But there are low points, too, that level things out.

I have to agree with louie 100%. The genres and style differences appear on both giving both an epic quality. Maybe the problem for you is you're hearing too widely varied vocals on IYD? The producer used recordings of her younger voice on too many tracks, or maybe should have used more? There's also a difference in lyric quality to consider. The mature Stevie has a different approach to writing lyrics. Maybe she's lost you there?

[markolas]

Has anyone read the negative reviews on Amazon. They don't mention songs. It's weird. They are just giving her negative reviews for negative reviews sake.

People do that for everything, tho. Sometimes I go on there and read reviews of stuff just for a laugh. You should check out the reviews of classic novels on there; 95% of the negative reviews are from kids saying "OMG they made us read this for school and it was sooooo boring!!! My teacher is such a d!ck for this - he sucks!!!"

[tothegypsy]

The producer used recordings of her younger voice on too many tracks...


Hmm? I hadn't heard that.

[Jondalar]

Metacritic only aggregates music reviews from a small of list of publications. If the review doesn't run in one of the following, it won't factor into the equation. I haven't look to see if any of these published reviews that have not been added, the four-star review in US magazine does not qualify for inclusion because the magazine doesn't meet metacritic's criteria but plenty of overly precious, music-snob publication/websites do meet the criteria. Magazines devoted to one genre demonstrate an obvious bias and shouldn't be included.


All Music Guide
Absolute Punk
Alternative Press*
American Songwriter
Austin Chronicle
Billboard
BBC Music
Boston Globe
Chicago Tribune
Clash Music
CMJ
Cokemachineglow.com
Consequence of Sound
Country Weekly
Delusions of Adequacy
Dot Music
Drowned In Sound
Dusted Magazine
Entertainment Weekly
Filter*
The Guardian
Hartford Courant
HipHopDX
The Independent (UK)
Los Angeles Times
Lost At Sea
Mojo*
MSN Expert Witness (Robert Christgau)
musicOMH.com
New Musical Express
New York Magazine
The New York Times
No Ripcord
NOW Magazine (Toronto)
Okay Player
One Thirty BPM
The Onion (A.V. Club)
Paste Magazine
The Phoenix (Boston)
Pitchfork
Pop Matters
Prefix Magazine
Q Magazine*
Rock Sound
Rolling Stone
Slant Magazine
Spin*
Sputnikmusic
The Telegraph (UK)
Tiny Mix Tapes
Uncut*
Under The Radar*
Urb*
Village Voice
The Wire*
XLR8

Billboard gave stevie a glowing review. It's not there.

[mylittledemon]

Speaking of underwhelmed... I STILL have not received my Barnes and Noble copy of IYD.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

[RickRobert]

This thread should be renamed "IYD - A thread for the hipsters"

[LiquidDiamonds]

I have to agree with louie 100%. The genres and style differences appear on both giving both an epic quality. Maybe the problem for you is you're hearing too widely varied vocals on IYD? The producer used recordings of her younger voice on too many tracks, or maybe should have used more? There's also a difference in lyric quality to consider. The mature Stevie has a different approach to writing lyrics. Maybe she's lost you there?

Um, where the hell do you hear her younger voice??

[bombaysaffires]

And the sea. :nod:

And the wind and the rain...

[markolas]

Speaking of underwhelmed... I STILL have not received my Barnes and Noble copy of IYD.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

Oh hell, I gave up on that ages ago and just ordered it from Amazon and had somebody e-mail me the mp3 of My Heart.

[TrueFaith77]

This thread should be renamed "IYD - A thread for the hipsters"

:laugh:

genius

[TrueFaith77]

Um, where the hell do you hear her younger voice??

I still think maybe the beginning of Moonlight...

[SuzeQuze]

I think Rock a Little was Stevie's most self-indulgent album. I love IYD and cannot stop listening to it. It got better with subsequent listens. I don't believe album sales are a barometer for the quality of a record. That said, as a dyed-in-the-wool chiffon head I have a clear bias. :D I adore this record and for those who don't I encourage you to give it a few listens before you completely dismiss it.

[Jondalar]

Speaking of underwhelmed... I STILL have not received my Barnes and Noble copy of IYD.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

That's crazy. :(

[holidayroad]

Speaking of underwhelmed... I STILL have not received my Barnes and Noble copy of IYD.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

I ended up cancelling my order from Barnes and Noble. :distress:

[BrownEyedGirl26]

And the wind and the rain...

And the WATER! :xoxo: