Stevie vocals on the new album

[darklinensuit]

One of the things that I love about Stevie is the varieties of her voice. I never know quite what to expect. I've always enjoyed all of her vocals (Wild Heart days are probably my favorite), even the unpopular renditions on Street Angel and the ultra-raspy versions of I Sing for the Things, When I See You Again, and Rock a Little, which some friends have criticized as Stevie trying to sound baby-ish. I love the old-day BN Stevie and the recent lower register Stevie, too. But when I heard the song Destiny Rules online, I was appalled. I thought she sounded flat as a pancake, tired, and even "callow," as that Rolling Stone reviewer once called her. I've NEVER thought that of any released Stevie song. (The demos for Destiny and Dial the Number come close.)

I just came home from Barnes & Noble, where I made a point to check the free listening area for SYW, as I remembered that a Ledgie mentioned that Borders had it. I've listened to the seven SYW songs online again and again, and the B & N listening area had six of them (not Smile at You). Destiny Rules sounded amazing. (The other songs sounded great as well, and the Lindsey song WTWCT sounded much better at B & N as well.) Stevie's vocals had a depth that was completely missing in the downloaded version. I've learned my lesson about doubting my favorite singer.

(BTW, am I the ONLY one who doesn't find Lindsey's voice as aged as the critics kept saying when THe Dance was released?)
- Jake