ONE YEAR of "24 Karat Gold"!!!

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

Your observations are interesting.

I agree that the lyrics of I Don't Care are unfortunately pedestrian and cliche. The song doesn't live up to its intended expectation.

I don't mind Hard Advice. It's a very "Stevie" song in terms of its peculiarity. A lot of Stevie songs are "uncoverable." That's not such a bad thing.

For sure, Lady does drone on too long. A bit of editing would have helped. The same verse and chorus drags on repetitively one too many times.

I feel that Mabel Normand is a significant stand out number in her body of work. It's more than a song -- it's an art piece. It's a rare instance of Stevie stepping outside of her staid musical conventions.

It's deceptively coherent. The middle "change sides" passage serves to distinguish two sides of the of the narrative. In a sing/talk manner she tells a story in her unique impressionistic way. Then she reiterates it in a heightened state of panicked urgency.

It's an artistic statement that challenges the listener, and takes no prisoners.

I'm not buying the Mabel Normand argument. I don't consider it an art piece. I consider it a beautiful mess from a lazy writer. It's like she had the green apple splatters on a canvas but your saying she created a Jackson Pollock. I'm saying she had the runs. Not to say I don't like it. It's excellent to listen to. Very interesting with terrific production. I just have to suspend disbelief while I'm listening to the words to enjoy it.

[welcomechris]

its been a year already? wow this past year has gone really fast

i only listen to a few songs the rest i got tired off

[sorcerer999]

Originally Posted by michelej1

I forgot Twister. I would definitely have to bump one of my six to add that one in.

Michele

I always forget about "Twisted" in regards to this album. Probably because this one is the third released version. My preference is still the one with Lindsey that made it onto the soundtrack, but I really enjoy this new version.

It's very Byrds meets The Heartbreakers, with a hint of the Stone Poneys. It's got a completely different vibe than the soundtrack version. I was reticent at first because it was taking up "valuable real estate" (as someone eloquently put it in a different thread) to where another unreleased song could have gone. But as I have been grooving to it this past year, I'm really seeing and understanding her vision of what she wanted it to be and how she wanted it to sound. I'm glad it was included on this record!

[wheart]

I think 24K Gold is a great album and feature some of Stevie's best vocals in recent memory. But the emotional connection I've developed with each of Stevie's albums (yes, even Street Angel) hasn't come yet. Perhaps it never will or may happen 10 years from now. Dunno. I connected to IYD right away but 24K is another story.

[ViscountViktor]

I've just listened to it the whole way through for the first in a long time!

I'm with PenguinHead, I absolutely love Mabel Normand.

[pryderi]

Mabel Normand is one of those Stevie songs that upon first listen grabs you by surprise. I can't really explain it, out of the box maybe? I had the same feeling with "Angel" back in 79 and more recently "Everybody Finds Out" (well, somewhat recently).

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

I'm not buying the Mabel Normand argument. I don't consider it an art piece. I consider it a beautiful mess from a lazy writer. It's like she had the green apple splatters on a canvas but your saying she created a Jackson Pollock. I'm saying she had the runs. Not to say I don't like it. It's excellent to listen to. Very interesting with terrific production. I just have to suspend disbelief while I'm listening to the words to enjoy it.

I appreciate your perspective, especially the Jackson Pollock reference. It's not an argument, just a personal perspective. I agree she is a lazy writer, or perhaps it's just a matter of her literary limitations.

[DauphineMarie]

Mabel Normand is my favourite Stevie song of the 21st century, mainly because of the lyrics. I don't care so much about the instrumentation, but the words get to me every time... The way they were written make it clear she was trying to chase some coked out idea down the rabbit hole. And to me that format of jumbled lyrics only strengthens the songs main point. I just absolutely love it, words fail me.

[MusicInferno]

I really like this album and the majority of the songs, but the recording quality of the vocals leaves a lot to be desired at times. Most of the time they're too muffled and the quality changes from take to take. It's sad, because the vocals are great!
Musically, it's very strong and timeless!

[TheWILDheart]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

Well there is one thing people forget to recognize; everything she has done since the low of Street Angel has been a step up from the previous effort. Street Angel < Trouble in Shangri La < Say You Will < In Your Dreams < 24 K arat Gold

What you forget to recognize is that that statement is entitrely a matter of opinion and not a fact.

A year on, I still firmly think that 24KG sucks. Infact, I think it sucks more now than it did a year ago. There's nothing wrong with most of the songs, but it's sloppy production and half assed vocal's really drag it down. Couple that with some seriously questionable choices for release and the whole thing falls totally flat for me. It just seems rushed and desperate. Almost throw-away.

I do love the title track though, but wish she'd have kept it for the next Fleetwood Mac record. It's crying out for some Lindsey-Stevie-Chris harmonies.

I rank "Street Angel" far higher than 24KG and TISL waaaayyy about IYD.

[Frankenstein]

Still in my top 3 right with Bella Donna and Wild Heart. I actually haven't listened to the album as much as I could have during the past year, because I didn't want to get sick of it. So it still sounds relatively fresh and new to me.

Originally Posted by Jondalar

3. The Dealer is a great song but her vocal could of been better. There were a few moments during the initial listening of the song where I cringed.

100% agree. I listened to this song last night and thought, is that really the best vocal they could have gotten from her? It's a very pedestrian, watered-down version compared to the BD recordings; but I still wouldn't rank it as my least favorite track on the album. That honor goes to I Don't Care.

[Macfanforever]

I still love the album and tops my list but pissed about no tour support.I hope that will happen in 2016.

[sorcerer999]

Originally Posted by Macfanforever

I still love the album and tops my list but pissed about no tour support.I hope that will happen in 2016.

I'm willing to bet that she will tour for 24KG. She was riding the IYD promotion train for nearly three years with the album, the two tours, the documentary, the film festivals and the DVD release. I suspect a 24KG tour is inevitable. I just pray that she at least uses a month or tour during that year to record three or four songs with the Mac, and put her harmony vocals on Chris/Lindsey's songs.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by sorcerer999

I'm willing to bet that she will tour for 24KG. She was riding the IYD promotion train for nearly three years with the album, the two tours, the documentary, the film festivals and the DVD release. I suspect a 24KG tour is inevitable. I just pray that she at least uses a month or tour during that year to record three or four songs with the Mac, and put her harmony vocals on Chris/Lindsey's songs.

I think what is stopping her from the new Fleetwood. Mac album is she doesn't want to tour for it.

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

I think what is stopping her from the new Fleetwood. Mac album is she doesn't want to tour for it.

I'd prefer a new FM album over another tour.