The Other Side Of The Mirror - A Re-Evaluation?
 

I know there are members on this board who adore this album, and then there are others who loathe it, with some calling it the album which hurt Stevie Nicks' credibility the most. Critics absolutely mauled it, from what I've read around the album.

Yet, is it just me, or does it seem to be gaining something of a cult status recently? I've noticed in quite a few reviews for In Your Dreams, they've mentioned Mirror - and how unappreciated and under-rated it is.

I still don't quite... get The Other Side Of The Mirror, but, I'm quite interested on people's thoughts on why it's being seen as an under-rated album all of a sudden :laugh:

The funny thing is, I was really disappointed (at the time) with Rock A Little. When The Other Side of the Mirror was released, I was really happy because I thought the writing was so much better. All these years later, I like all of her albums all the same -- not for what I wanted/expected them to be, but just for what they are - warts and all.

Well from what I recall the album actually got a *better* review (from Rolling Stone at least) than The Wild Heart and Rock A Little. I can't really say what the metacritic rating would have been....I don't think it existed back then. I know the album did hit #10, which was an improvement over Rock A Little chart-wise.

As for people hating it, I think that's due to a number of factors:
1. Rupert Hines production just puts some people off. I think this is largely the source of the complaints about the album being muddy or murky.
2. Initially the album only went Gold whereas the previous three had all gone Platinum, and I find that many people react to sales figures. "Oh it only went gold so it must not be as good as I thought". I see albums get re-assessed that way all the time.
3. Singles-wise the album didn't do as well as previous releases. No top 10 hit on Billboard, and no other top 40 single besides "Rooms On Fire".

Factors relating to it's being re-evaluated since:
1. It's since gone Platinum, making it seem more "equal" with the previous 3 albums
2. Some critics cite particular songs as being under-rated. A critic reviewing Enchanted called "Ooh My Love" a 'gem'.
3. Some critics cite the album as being under-rated like the recent Rolling Stone review
4. AllMusic is an interesting source for seeing how albums are reconsidered years later. For example Bella Donna initially got 3 stars, now it has 4 1/2. The Wild Heart initially got 2 stars, now it's 4 stars. Rock A Little initially got 1 1/2 stars now it's got 3 stars. The Other Side of the Mirror originally got 2 1/2 stars (like I said, it originally got rated higher than The Wild Heart and Rock A Little) but now is at 3 stars.

Nope, nope... Just you. :lol:

I felt exactly this way. I thought The Other Side of the Mirror was an improvement.

it was garbage then and still belongs in the dump pile

When I started getting into Stevie as a solo artist shortly after really delving into Fleetwood Mac's albums, OSOTM was the first album I bought on CD (the 2nd overall... Wild Heart I bought on cassette tape). I was 15 when The Dance came about, and despite having to listen to my sister's FM Greatest Hits tape and having songs like "Little Lies" & "Everywhere" ingrained in my memory from when I was little, I didn't become a fan until that reunion tour and album came out. I wasn't fond of Stevie's voice actually at first (except for on "Gypsy"), and thought I only really liked Christine's songs.... but this soon changed lol! If you can believe it, at first I liked OSOTM better than Wild Heart... to my ears, her voice/singing style and the A/C production had a maturity about it that was very appealing to me. It still is really. I loved "Rooms On Fire" & "Long Way To Go" instantly... and there wasn't a song on the album I disliked (save for maybe "I Still Miss Someone"). Over time, her other solo albums became favorites as well... particularly The Wild Heart & Rock A Little. You could say OSOTM probably was responsible for making me a Stevie Nicks fan. I have seen Louie refer to the album as a "concept album" on here... and I would agree in that there definitely is an overall cohesive sound that ties the album together nicely.

Over time, I actually became somewhat a fan of Rupert Hine's songwriting and production on both his own solo projects and on material he has worked on for other artists... this album and Tina Turner's "I Might Have Been Queen" are responsible for this lol!

Songs that remain absolute classics for me to this day: "Rooms On Fire", "Long Way To Go", "Two Kinds Of Love" (I've always loved the verse melody), "Ooh My Love", "Ghosts", and "Alice"

Still..my favorite Stevie album. Love it! I was shocked when RS called it an underrated gem in their recent review of IYD.

It, is, after all one of Stevie's favorite albums!

I have always liked TOSOTM. I feel like it is absolutely an adult themed album, which was a departure from all her things solo or with FM. It was the first time she had showed some major growth in her musical style. I think the departure from her normal "airy fairy" stuff really turned a lot of fans off. But if artists don't grow, then they aren't really artists at all, are they?

"Rooms On Fire" is one of my favorite Nicks solo songs.

For the rest of the album I really like these songs: "Ooh My Love", "Ghosts", "Alice", "Doing The Best I Can", "Juliet", "Two Kinds Of Love"

These are decent songs: "Whole Lotta Trouble", "Long Way To Go"

I like these songs but I don't think they fit on the album: "Cry Wolf", "Fire Burning", "I Still Miss Someone"

For my playlist I take those 3 songs off and replace them with "Mirror Mirror" and the piano version of "Sorcerer". I think doing that makes it a better 'black magic' album.

Here's a bit of a critical re-evaluation: http://blogcritics.org/music/article...cks-the-other/

He makes some points that mirror things I've said before: Her voice is much better than on Rock A Little, and "Cry Wolf" and "I Still Miss Someone" are nice but they don't fit the album.

I have always loved that cd. I was a rep for Warner when it came out and I loved doing the displays with the promo materials from that album. I love the songs, more than RAL, actually, and several of them are in my "Stevie" folder in my ipod. I was really shocked when I first found the Ledge and realized how many people despise the album. My whole family loves it.

I Love TOSOTM as much now as I did as a 16 year old when it came out. I was and still am entranced by Rooms On Fire. There is a real pulsating darkness to the album that yes...reflects Stevie's heartache and state of mind at the time, that I myself can NOW relate to with age. As far as Rupert Hine's prodution....in 1988-89....the sound was good....most songs had a cohesive album sound....there were obvious clunkers as on most any album....."I still miss someone"...seemed very out of place, as did Fire Burning and I wasn't a big fan of Cry Wolf.
I adore Long Way to Go...Ooh My Love....Rooms on Fire, Alice and Juliet. I did not then understand Doing the Best That I can but as I got older I felt the pain of that song too. Whole Lotta Trouble would probably sound better with Stevie's voice Now than it did in her exhausted 1989 voice....

There are some great tracks on TOSOTM like "Rooms on Fire", "Ooh My Love" (which should have been a single)", "Alice", "Doing the Best That I Can" and "Whole Lotta Trouble" (although the Chris Lord Alge Remix is much better than the LP Version)....the rest is overproduced crap....

Wha? Chris Lord A remixed wha?? I'm interested now. I will never get over Alice. One of my favorite songs of all time. It's epic.

I've always found TOSOTM to be one of my favourite albums by Stevie (along with TISL). I never really liked The Wild Heart (it was the last Stevie album that I bought given it wasn't available in Australia for a time), and I'm not overly thrilled with RAL although I do like some of the songs but I can't listen to it from start to finish.

TOSOTM on the other hand was Stevie at her 80s best, better song writing, rockier songs, sexy album cover.

Was actually listening to last night when I took the dog for a walk and still really like it even 16 (maybe 17) years since I bought it.

Not mine! I thought the first 4 or 5 songs were good but it went down hill from there. I think 'Rock A Little' is way better and with a better flow of the songs. I love 'Rooms'... and 'Long Way To Go', 'Two Kinds of Love', 'Whole Lotta Trouble' & 'Ooh My Love'.

I hate went record companies put all the 'singles' next to eachother. They should spread them out to make an album more interesting. :)

This is a very interesting thread for me. And I have so many theories but have never tried to put them together before so forgive me if this seems rambling as I am more thinking out loud.

I think OSOTM is an excellent album. Not perfect but excellent. I love I Still Miss Someone but agree it and Cry Wolf seem out of place on it. Fire Burning is the requisite Heartbreaker track equivalent to Imperial Hotel and My Heart, That Made Me Stronger, etc... to me so I was fine with it. But to answer your question in terms of critics and the reviews, I agree with what others have said about Rupert Hine's production (and although it doesn't bother me, some find the heavy keyboard and synthesized sound dated), and the fact it didn't have a monster hit like the other one's seemed like it wasn't safe for people to say they liked it and it was easier to say, oops something is wrong here. Plus:

1) Her entire demeanor and energy around the album - doing press and getting people excited was a complete 180 from RAL (Klonopin Vs Cocaine) and clearly affected the enthusiasm around it.

2) The 80's and the world were changing in terms of the freer world of the 70's and early 80's - by 1989 you saw commericals for "Just say no to drugs" campaigns, and SADD (students against drunk drivers) stuff etc... and although Stevie was not on drugs, people wanted to easily dismiss her as that weird witchy druggie and it just wasn't as "cool" to like her at all. So the album's reviews were a consequence of that imho

3) She wasn't as young or as thin or as pretty to look at it in a lot of casual fan's opinions. I hate to say how much psychology is involved with what's "cool" but even my meathead of a brother (lol) instantly did not like the album as much as others - or maybe more aptly put - he loved the previous albums cuz she was so hot so the music was automatically better reviewed regardless of the musical merit. And this way of thinking was prevalent to a lot of the male dominated world of critics back then anyway. So much was said about her looks and then they'd finally get to the music but you could tell they already were leaning to not liking it.

4) Even tho I agree the album showed some maturity in her writing and her vocals were more controlled than the vocal turrets she could have when on drugs, I think a lot of people liked the straightforward rocker she was marketed as. I know people mention the airy fairy stuff but this was said back in the day (usually) in direct comment to her work with Fleetwood Mac. Her solo work was specifically meant to be marketed in the rock format. Stop Draggin' and Edge of Seventeen etc.. Leather and Lace although a ballad was not full of witches and was easily accepted as a rock ballad. After The Glitter Fades I think was the only misstep (not that I don't like the song) in terms of being more country and steering her away from rock stations. Wild Heart kicked off with Stand Back - and although more synthesized was still considered a rock jam especially with that gritty voice. Rock A Little is indeed rock. Talk To Me and I Can't Wait are growls galore lol. However, OSOTM drops with Rooms On Fire as the lead single and my personal opinion was this was a huge mistake. Don't get me wrong, I ADORE the song. But it's the first lead single that was dismissed by anyone ( I used to be a DJ back in the day) who wasn't a fan and was actually the song that was deemed airy fairy to them as a solo artist. In my little network, I would play them Long Way To Go and they would turn around and say "ok, now THAT is rock". In a world of MTV and Radio where fame was so fleeting, attaining buy-in and hooking people in was critical to keeping Stevie on the forefront.

I have many other thoughts - music tastes changing, starting to get more techno music, and getting away from the long haired 80's bands, getting on our way to a country kick and having the grunge era soon after. But I truly believe had Long Way To Go or Whole Lotta Trouble been the lead single then it would have been considered ok, if not cool to enjoy the other songs like Rooms On Fire and Two Kinds of Love and thus would have been accepted.

I personally think the singles released should have been:

1) Long Way To Go - with a killer video to promote it
2) Whole Lotta Trouble
3) Two Kinds Of Love
4) Rooms On Fire
5) Ooh My Love (yes agreed this should have been a single)

I am also suprised how many people dont like Wildheart. Whenever I think of growing up in the 70s, I remember that album cover. It has 2 of my fave songs, Beauty and Enchanted, and her voice sounds amazing. Nightbird and If Anyone Falls....Stand Back.....I LOVE that album.

sorry....Wild Heart

The Chris Lord-Alge remix is on the Timespace compilation

It has taken me years to dislike TOSOTM as much as I do now. For a long time I was something of an apologist for Stevie's sound on this album, even when everybody I knew, including people who had always liked Stevie up to that time, said they did not care for it at all. I think this is the point in time when Stevie jumped the shark by going (in many people's eyes) from hot rocker chick/space cadet/wild cokehead to boring adult contemporary artist with tired feet, Yanni-style keyboards, and Kenny G to boot (no pun intended). Yes, there are rock songs on the album, but they were hardly in evidence on the tour. It also didn't help that the vocals sounded worn and sometimes flat. Yes, the RAL vocals were often quite strained, but they were frequently brimming with energy & spontaneity. Additionally, many people could not relate to her lyrics - a widow & a dove, a stiletto in a garter? Yes, "The Nightmare" is every bit as lyrically remote on RAL, but at least in 1989 she sold the crazy lyrical images with a fiery vocal.

That having been said, there ARE decent songs on TOSOTM, and I don't like that she skips entire albums for years at a time when she tours.

- Jake

Oh you're gonna make me re-visit this after IYD. uhhhhhhhh.....Yea this album sucks....yea. It sucks hard. But that's not important. Let's look forward. TOSOTM Gathers dust on my shelf where it should. After IYD all is forgiven:nod::nod::D

Mick

you know i never like tosotm until i was in college. i was having a really tough time dealing with the stress of working and going to school full time and this cd really helped me get through it. i love just about every single song on it and the magical vibe. it takes me to another time and place everytime i hear it.

I liked TOSOTM in the past much more than I like it now. Now I feel more in agreement with what Heartboy says below.

Ditto.

Every now and then, although it's rare, I feel in the mood to listen to The Other Side of the Mirror. It has to be at night - and I have to have wine with it. :laugh: It's a dark album, and leaves me feeling somewhat moody and sullen. Or is that the wine?

I think TOSOTM is better than RAL. It's much more cohesive, and the songs don't sound nearly as dated. Plus, I think Whole Lotta Trouble is one underrated rock song, and one of Stevie's bluesy best.

Can I re-post what I said last time we had this discussion? ;)

The Other Side of the Mirror gave her her only true hit in England, so it was good for something.

This thread made me brave enough to try the album. Big mistake, could not finish it...It's ust so blah. Fades into the walls.

Mick

The RS review is the only one where I've heard TOSOTM mentioned. Have there been others?

Anyway, I go back & forth with this album. I saw an old post here where I described it as my favorite Stevie album, and was like "wtf?" :lol: I don't remember it ever being my favorite, but it must have been at some point.

I actually like Rupert Hine's production and the sound of the album, overall. And I can take Kenny G in small doses, as on this album. I just think it desperately needs to be remastered. Some of the songs are not Stevie's best, lyrically, and I prefer RAL in general, but it's a decent album.

I remember listening to it for the first time. I was really suprised by how much I didn't love it. I had been hearing Rooms On Fire and loving it, so when I heard the whole thing I was just like, what the heck?!? It confused me. This was not the Stevie Nicks I had come to know. I played it a lot, I mean, it was new Stevie. I'll take it. But it was so different, and weird. One minute there's something fast and modern like Long Way to Go, then some Kenny G in the background of a song. Then it ends with the circus coming to town with a silly organ version of I Still Miss Someone. Had the music been different I would have loved her singing that song. But not when you picture clowns juggling around her! What in the world was rupert thinking. I did not like his work with her, not at all. And I sort of think he's a scum. Stevie was all zoned out on klonopin and he was married and he goes and gets her all caught up in him, and then makes it his album, not hers, (it doesn't sound like her, imo, sorry Stevie, it was not magic like you say, you were doped up and being led on, long nets of white cloud your memory and that is so sad, but thank God you are better now). Then he goes back to his wife, breaking Stevie's heart. Not that I condone sleeping with married people, but she was especially vulnerable at that point. The scumbag! (oops, i'm off on a tangent!).......

I loved Rooms On Fire, loved Ooh My Love, but the rest had to grow on me (like Two Kinds of Love, Ghosts, etc.) and some never grew on me back then (Cry Wolf, I Still Miss Someone, even though I like Johnny Cash). And it was like half the songs could be on my parents easy-listening radio stations. Kenny G on her cd?!?!?! WTF? It * was * weird.

I like it more now, probably because I am older. I actually really like Cry Wolf (used to barely be able to stand it). But still, it is what it is. Not a gem, to me, but just there. Better than nothing.

Meanwhile, I love that demo of Whole Lotta Trouble, it reminds me of the band playing in the garage and getting down and gritty, lol. It rocked much more and had a more intense, in your face sound to it. I love at the end of the demo when she is like "midnight...when will I see you...I don't think tomorrow baby..." She was so into it. It was wild. Rupert was a snoozer though. Big time.

It's my least favorite Stevie album. I know for her it's SA, but I love SA.

It's definitely grown on me over the years, but it's still half-half in terms of songs I like and songs I don't. 'Ooh My Love' has been one of my favourites for years now and it was a shame it was never issued as a single. 'Two Kinds of Love' and her cover of 'I Still Miss Someone' are two of my least favourite Stevie songs. I guess in some way I've always been a little disappointed that it's actually her highest selling album and her only one to make the top 10 here in the UK when it's not even her best or close to being her best.

When it first came out, I gave it a couple of listens and threw it in the trash. I was heartbroken. I thought she couldn't get any worse than Rock A Little and somehow, she managed too. I would not have released that album. Her management should of stopped her. After that I thought anyone who released that couldn't be that talented. It hurt her reputation.

I would have been really bummed if The Other Side of the Mirror never came out. When it originally was released it got a slightly better review from RS than The Wild Heart and Rock A Little had, and it went higher on the album chart than Rock A Little had. It didn't have the same staying power though, so it both took longer to go Platinum and it didn't have a 2nd hit single.

Rock a Little had Talk to Me, I Can't Wait, Has Anyone Ever Written Anything and then If I Were You and No Spoken Word.

Other Side of the Mirror had Rooms on Fire and then whatever struck your fancy. I personal thought Juliet and Ooh My Love were ok. Just saying Rock A Little stayed longer cause it had smidge more on it. Has Anyone stood the test of time pretty well.

I remember Other Side of the Mirror got a ton of returns in the CD stores. Bad word of mouth.

For someone that's supposedly a Stevie Nicks fan, all you do is bad mouth and slate her music!

OSOTM has a lot of appealing points. Lyrically, it was a vast improvement on RAL. I don't like the production at all, but I think it's aged a lot better than anybody expected. I still can't stand "Two Kinds Of Love" or "I Still Miss Someone", but "Ooh My Love", "Long Way To Go" and "Doing The Best I Can" are some of the best songs she's ever written and the album certainly deserves it's place in Stevie history

...and I'm sure just as many people have returned Bella Donna, Wild Heart, Rock a Little, STREET ANGEL, and TISL over the years. You are just harping on this because you personally don't like the album.

I'm a Stevie Nicks fan because of Bella Donna, The Wild Heart, this album and some singles. I stayed with her because of her earlier work and because of Fleetwood Mac. I don't support garbage and I'm not the type to feed into her making more of it.

Do you sit at home in a corner clutching your Bella Donna vinyl and writing to Stevie trying to convince her to pick the coke back up, or something?

Personally, give or a take a few tracks, I love everything she's ever done and I love that she's never repeated herself in terms of music style...The Wild Heart sounds nothing like Bella Donna, and RAL sounds nothing like either and so forth. Why bother with the boards and fan community if all you're going to do is piss people off by slating 50% of her career? People like you are the reason that Stevie hasn't acknowledged half of her solo career in her live set for over a decade! Believe it or not, there are fans out there who consider "Rock A Little" and "Street Angel" her best albums. And ya know what? I LOVE that they do!