Do we expect too much from Stevie?
 

Since the release of Crystal Visions, most people have expressed that it's such a wonderful package and that it was so well put together (me included). On the other hand, there are those people who are still complaining that Stevie should release a CD of new material and she should "get going". So, that got me thinking, do any of you think that we expect too much from Stevie? I mean, from her recent 2005 and 2006 tours, she's taken songs from them, and put them on CV. So, basically, that tour led to the release of this album, in essence. I'm thrilled with this release and it's exciting that she's released something new again, but i just feel some people expect too much from Stevie. She's at a point where she can do what she wants, and right now this is what she wants to do. I think it's kind of silly though, that some folks think since Stevie has released this and is touring with it, that means she has given up writing, recording and releasing new material. I think in time, she'll release a new CD, but it has to be on her terms, not ours. I guess it just seems some people expect too much from her, and if they don't get what they want in regards to a new CD, that Stevie has given up on caring, but i think she's just doing something different, and i say good for her! Any thoughts?

Not generally, no. I finally realized that Stevie is not the "artiste" I once thought she was and have really stopped expecting much of anything out of her. I still listen to her prior work occasionally, but I don't hold her in the high regard that I used to.

I think Crystal Visions is great for what it is, even if I have no intention of buying it myself (I did download the live tracks off of iTunes, and would buy the DVD if they sold it separately - I just have no interest in owning a bunch of the same songs twice). And she can certainly do whatever she wants, but I have a right to be disappointed with it, to voice that disappointment, and to move on to other artists that are more to my taste, which is what I have largely done.

I doubt she's going to record an album of new material, although if she actually goes through with the "blues standards" project that she talked about, I would totally love it and might even regain some of the respect I lost for her.

The albums and the tours is how most (if not all) of us "know" Stevie. The songs have allowed us to "share" in her emotional roller coasters and "share" in her relationships. So yea, I think we "expect" Stevie as an artist to continue the stories and relationships that she has started by releasing new songs and new material. We all know there is a wealth of unrealeased songs and mixes that she or a record company could share with us instead of putting "Dreams" (although my personal fav song of hers of all time) on every cd released in the last 10 years (sorry, a slight exageration...they skipped adding it to TISL).

Worried about costs? Worried she might not sell in relation to the Beyonces and Justins of the music world now? Why not release an album to itunes of some unreleased songs? Cheaper then a physical album...and would make a bunch of us addicted Nickers happy!

Sorry for the rant!

Honestly, I know the woman works hard. She tours almost every year, she spent two years with Fleetwood Mac, etc. However, I personally do not think it is too much to ask for a singer/songwriter to put out a new cd with new songs after almost 4 years. Even if she has stopped writing, she has hundreds of songs in her vault and could do an album called "From the Vaults," or something like that. It makes for a good concept album since she loves doing those, but it's somewhat loose so she doesn't have much trouble with sticking to the theme. The theme would simply be "songs I wrote and never recorded." And for crying out loud, get John Shanks to produce it...he was masterful on TISL. I would personally like for her to take a year off of touring if need be to make the album. That way she can come back on tour with at least 3-4 new songs. So, I don't think it's a matter of us expecting too much from Stevie, we just expect her to do different things instead of touring with almost the same set list for the third year in a row.

I don't really HAVE expectations for her. So she allways hits above the mark. Im just allways more than thrilled that my favorite singer/songwriter/preformer is still doing ANYTHING. THis is why whenever something REMOTLY random or un-expected i.e. circle dance, rock and roll, beauty and the beast, touring with tom petty,Dreams remix, releasing a kick ass DVD w/ comentary, ect. ALLWAYS thrills me. yes,I would like to have her sing AFEW diferent songs on her tours, and would be elated at a new album (blues standards/rhiannon songs/new songs/old songs, whatever) but, you know, whatever. I love going to see her sing "Outside the rain", or "dreams", because I love those songs. I couldnt give a crap if its "NEW", or "RELEVANT" or whatever cause sheesh, who cares about those things anyway. in elementary school, kids were listening to milli vanilli, or chris cross.I listened to Stevie. Highschool, THEY listened to boys to men, and Stone temple pilots, I listened to stevie. Now, people are listening to justin timberlake and nickelback, and Im listening to STEVIE. SO there ya go.
I do HATE that people seem to be consistantly comparing coked up drugged out 30 year old stevie to sober,58 year old stevie though. thats when I think the expectations are too much.

Very well said. IAT :wavey:

I don't expect anything from Stevie. She's given me a great 30 years and I would respect if she wanted to retire at this point. This doesn't mean I can't be disappointed that all she chooses to do at this point is trot around Landslide to some talk shows and do another shed tour with the same list. If she's going to be active and work, then I think she could much more and be much more creative.

Expectation can kill you. When you expect something to be great and then it gets there, it usually isn't. Or not as great as you expected. Now anticipation can make you happy!:D

I expected that Stevie as long as she has not retired to create new music .That is what she always said she would do but of course we have to consider the so often hperbolic source.I would be happy at this point for an album of blues covers or just about anything new.That she could not even come up with a single real new track for CV is just a bit bewildering to me.

thank you...:xoxo:

now THAT was well said.:)

Actually yeah, I think "expect" is the wrong word, so I amend my previous post. I think a better question might be "Do we WANT too much from Stevie?" In that case, I don't think I want too much from her, but I guess it might be wrong to say I expect it from her.

I've realized that the reason Stevie did not put any new songs on the album is probably because she did not want them to over shadow the live tracks. Because, let's be honest, if there were any new songs on here, would we really care about the live tracks? No, we wouldn't, and i think Stevie knew that, so thats why there are no real new songs on here. I think she's very proud of those tracks and wanted them to stand out from everything else on the album.

I partly agree with you.... Didn't she also talk about Timespace NOT being a "best of" in her sense of the meaning, or wanting it to be that?... She thought it was too early or something like that...so adding new songs to that didn't phase her. I think she truly means for this to be a "best of" package and for it to stand on it's own and not rely on anything new to make it interesting... even though the re-working of a number of tracks does make it interesting and kinda new at the same time...

She has to do only one thing...
 

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