In Your Dreams vs. 24 Karat Gold

[Musicman408]

So, which do you prefer?

IYD felt like a NEW album, 24 felt like a rehash. I've maybe listened to it 5 times. A couple good tracks on the deluxe version which wasn't available in stores, which stunk. What do you think?

Much Love,
Ethan

[gssmith]

Love both but went with 24 KG because of it's classic rock sound and lots of atmosphere. Makes me want to light up. IYD a tad too modern pop. Both great though!

[BlueLight]

A hard choice, because I love IYD. But for me, 24KG is her best album since WH (or maybe RAL). Pure perfection, and I still can't stop listening to it. The best of Stevie from multiple eras. :thumbsup:

[mitzo]

IYD was full of songs basically created by Dave Stewart and it therefore seems so much less Stevie than other work of hers. It also has no "wow" track to me, just a flat glossy sheen of Dave pop and often tortured Stevie lyrics. 24KG on the other hand is wall to wall Stevie interpreted straight up. It has several "wow" moments and takes you back to what makes you love her. The songs and voice.

[Frankenstein]

IYD was full of songs basically created by Dave Stewart and it therefore seems so much less Stevie than other work of hers. It also has no "wow" track to me, just a flat glossy sheen of Dave pop and often tortured Stevie lyrics. 24KG on the other hand is wall to wall Stevie interpreted straight up. It has several "wow" moments and takes you back to what makes you love her. The songs and voice.

Agree with all of this. While it was awesome to finally get an album after ten years, I just never really "connected" with IYD. 24K to me ranks just behind Bella Donna and Wild Heart. I'm partial to Stevie's older songwriting rather than her modern writing, so that's also a major factor.

[PenguinHead]

For me it's like comparing apples and oranges. I value both albums equally for different reasons.

In Your Dreams is very enjoyable, and a fine contribution to her musical legacy. I have no issues about Dave Stewart's influence on the songs; he gave the album it's own distinction, but it's still very Stevie. 24 Karat Gold benefited from his inspiration and production in a dissimilar capacity.

[Jondalar]

24K Gold is the kind of music that made Stevie famous. It's her best album since the album since the Wild Heart. I like it better than the Wild Heart. 24K Gold also seems more Stevie to me. I will be listening to it for years.

[jcalzaretta]

I love 24 Karat Gold. Most of it. Not a fan of I Don't Care or Carousel but I agree that this is classic Stevie. Just love this record. Cannot wait for volume 2.

[TheWILDheart]

For me, this is easy, IYD hands down. 24kg is such a half-assed rush job of songs she didn't know what else to do with and it shows when listening to the album. The muddy production, mixing and distorted and muffled vocals just make it worse. Aside from a few songs, I never listen to it and prefer 90% of the original demo's over the finished tracks.

[Artemis]

24 Karat Gold has some of the best songs of, perhaps, Stevie's whole career on it. The title track, Mabel Normand, All The Beautiful Worlds - simply stunning. However, as an album? I find it very hard to listen to.

IYD on the other hand flows wonderfully as an album, and there are some fantastic songs on there. I like the idea of modern songwriting to see where Stevie is in life now.

[Jondalar]

I think that some fans marinated in the demos for too long. If they weren't so used to the demos, some of which are just god-awful, they would of liked this album a whole lot better. Too much bias against 24K to give it a fair shake by some people.

[mitzo]

I think that some fans marinated in the demos for too long. If they weren't so used to the demos, some of which are just god-awful, they would of liked this album a whole lot better. Too much bias against 24K to give it a fair shake by some people.

Absolutely. That is what has affected "fan" appreciation of a lot of Stevie's other work too. How often do we hear that the demo was better the demo was better the demo was better.

[michelej1]

Definitely, if she couldn't release both and you had to choose one or the other, I'd choose IYD. I think it's a very solid album. Cheaper than Free is the only dreadful song on it. I think 24K has more clunkers, but I can't say that IYD is better than 24K. I just think it gets the edge because it had new music on it and, if worse came to worse and there was no 24K we would still have the demos. I know the finished songs are quite different from the demos, but still ...

Michele

[soul_drifter333]

IYD only has a couple of songs that I can bear to listen to and ranks her 2nd worse album (Soundstage Sessions #1) for me. The lyrics and production are sub-par at best. Even the documentary is tiresome and self indulgent. 24 Karat came out a lot better, even though I was nervous having Dave produce another album. Stevie you definitely need a producer who will offer more constructive criticism, especially in your writing. She has produced some of her best work with strong producers like Lindsey and Jimmy who are not afraid to offer some advice and opinions on the material, unlike Dave.

[Jondalar]

In Your Dreams is a sympathy lay...

[SisterNightroad]

In Your Dreams is a sympathy lay...
http://media.giphy.com/media/20vHbYhl8VWbm/giphy.gif

[seekerj]

:thumbsup:IYD was full of songs basically created by Dave Stewart and it therefore seems so much less Stevie than other work of hers. It also has no "wow" track to me, just a flat glossy sheen of Dave pop and often tortured Stevie lyrics. 24KG on the other hand is wall to wall Stevie interpreted straight up. It has several "wow" moments and takes you back to what makes you love her. The songs and voice.

[sorcerer999]

IYD was full of songs basically created by Dave Stewart and it therefore seems so much less Stevie than other work of hers. It also has no "wow" track to me, just a flat glossy sheen of Dave pop and often tortured Stevie lyrics. 24KG on the other hand is wall to wall Stevie interpreted straight up. It has several "wow" moments and takes you back to what makes you love her. The songs and voice.

I'm partial to Stevie's older songwriting rather than her modern writing, so that's also a major factor.

IYD only has a couple of songs that I can bear to listen to. Even the documentary is tiresome and self indulgent.

^^^ Agreed with all these statements, but wanted to add that IYD actually does have some "wow" tracks for me, personally - number one being "Everybody Loves You" with its chilling string bridge, guitar solo and verse lyrics. The only thing about the song that is marred is the lyrics to the chorus, which we all know Stevie didn't write. But it is my second favorite song on the record, number one being "Moonlight" and number three being "Secret Love"...and I suppose that's what Frankenstein and I have in common because they are both "vault" songs. I guess I just haven't been really knocked out with a "freshly written" or "new, non vault" song that she has written. "Italian Summer", musically, is incredible. Lyrically, not so much.

And I think that's my MAIN complaint with IYD. 90% of the songs that I enjoy listening to are marred by SOMETHING, most often because of the lyrics.

And don't even get me started on the documentary. That's a whole different thread/rant!

I understand people not liking 24KG because of the raw, rushed, non-glossy aspects of the way that they pretty much HAD to do it. But to me, I LIKE THAT about the record. And what are the two songs I can't stand? "Carousel" (not written by Stevie) and "I Don't Care" (verses written in 2014 by Stevie).

"Starshine"
"IYWML"
"Mabel"
"24 Karat Gold"
"Belle Fleur"
"ATBW"
"Watch Chain"
"Blue Water" (it has grown on me something fierce :laugh:)
"Hard Advice"

^^^ All nine of these songs are "winners" for me personally. IYD has only five "winners", and two of them are tainted with questionable lyric choices.

Sorry to make this post into a NOVEL ( ya'll know me, though) but I get all worked up when it comes to Miss Nicks and her music. I guess I just should have simply said, "I like 24KG better than IYD." :o:laugh:

[WatchChain]

So, which do you prefer?

IYD felt like a NEW album, 24 felt like a rehash. I've maybe listened to it 5 times. A couple good tracks on the deluxe version which wasn't available in stores, which stunk. What do you think?

Much Love,
Ethan

I must agree. "In Your Dreams" was on rotation at my house for about a year. While there are some wonderful moments on "24K GOLD", it died pretty quickly for me. It all feels rushed to me.

Thus, I'm for team "In Your Dreams".

[PenguinHead]

I must agree. "In Your Dreams" was on rotation at my house for about a year. While there are some wonderful moments on "24K GOLD", it died pretty quickly for me. It all feels rushed to me.

Thus, I'm for team "In Your Dreams".

I love In Your Dreams. I don't see any level of distinction in the lyrical quality in comparison to any of her previous work. It's a worthy edition to her musical legacy.

24 Karat Gold was recorded in such a atypical manner. It may sound rushed because it was rushed. But that only means it's more spontaneous, and less labored, thus, it has a more rustic feel to it. It's a nice variant to her usual approach.

No Sophie's choice here. I like both equally.

[Jondalar]

I must agree. "In Your Dreams" was on rotation at my house for about a year. While there are some wonderful moments on "24K GOLD", it died pretty quickly for me. It all feels rushed to me.

Thus, I'm for team "In Your Dreams".

I wonder if some of you didn't know the album was recorded that quickly if you would feel that way or make that criticism.

24K Gold feels Tangible and real to me.

In Your Dreams is almost too polished. I like the album but it's like looking through a window and wishing you could buy something that you could never get.

[BlueDenimLamp]

People dismissing "24K" just because it was recorded and on the shelves in a fairly short time is ridiculous....

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>“I learned aavery quickly Peter (Green) had that magic, which is: less is more.” <a href="http://t.co/2PBUCUVhtY">pic.twitter.com/2PBUCUVhtY</a></p>&mdash; Mick Fleetwood (@Mick_Fleetwood) <a href="https://twitter.com/Mick_Fleetwood/status/583058475158097920">April 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

To use Mick's recent quote "LESS IS MORE" and I think it holds true with "24K"

[PenguinHead]

I think that some fans marinated in the demos for too long. If they weren't so used to the demos, some of which are just god-awful, they would of liked this album a whole lot better. Too much bias against 24K to give it a fair shake by some people.

You are so right with that. Spot on articulation!

[tabruns]

I love both but I'd give the nod to IYD.

[tabruns]

For me, this is easy, IYD hands down. 24kg is such a half-assed rush job of songs she didn't know what else to do with and it shows when listening to the album. The muddy production, mixing and distorted and muffled vocals just make it worse. Aside from a few songs, I never listen to it and prefer 90% of the original demo's over the finished tracks.

Actually considering that Stewart produced both I find it odd that it would be that different from IYD production-wise. I don't hear it as being super different.

[tabruns]

Absolutely. That is what has affected "fan" appreciation of a lot of Stevie's other work too. How often do we hear that the demo was better the demo was better the demo was better.

I have rarely listened to Stevie's demos but the one place where I would say "the demo is better" is "If You Were My Love". The 'Mirage' take with its jaunty chorus has more of a hook then the very slow (and imo somewhat boring) version on 24KG.

[Machu]

I have more absolute favorites on In Your Dreams than 24 Karat Gold but I think the best song on 24 Karat Gold is better than the best song on IYD so I'm confused as hell.

In the end, I went with In Your Dreams because there are more songs I couldn't live without (In Your Dreams, For What It's Worth, Moonlight, Annabelle Lee, Secret Love) compared to 24 Karat (Mabel Normand, Blue Water, 24 Karat Gold, All The Beautiful Worlds). I'm already second-guessing my decision. I guess if there was a "tied" option, that's the one I'd choose.

[PenguinHead]

I have more absolute favorites on In Your Dreams than 24 Karat Gold but I think the best song on 24 Karat Gold is better than the best song on IYD so I'm confused as hell.

In the end, I went with In Your Dreams because there are more songs I couldn't live without (In Your Dreams, For What It's Worth, Moonlight, Annabelle Lee, Secret Love) compared to 24 Karat (Mabel Normand, Blue Water, 24 Karat Gold, All The Beautiful Worlds). I'm already second-guessing my decision. I guess if there was a "tied" option, that's the one I'd choose.

Tied is a fair option. Threads like this are just a benign means to stimulate a conversation, not an obligation.

[Jondalar]

I have rarely listened to Stevie's demos but the one place where I would say "the demo is better" is "If You Were My Love". The 'Mirage' take with its jaunty chorus has more of a hook then the very slow (and imo somewhat boring) version on 24KG.

If You Were My Love is my favorite song on 24K. I would not call it boring at all. I would say the song takes time to build its case and has a real emotional payoff. It's very sophisticated, unusual and one of the best ballads of her career.