SYW or TISL?????

[SmthngOfADreamr]

I was just listening to TISL the other day for the first time in a while. I was really surprised by how more adventurous her vocals seem on that album than on SYW. Listen to the range of her voice on the TISL's title track alone... It's huge compared to anything on SYW.

On the other hand I really love when she sings with Lindsey and when he arranges her songs. So for me it's a complete toss-up.

[stevierocks87]

Originally posted by dissention
TISL:

1. Trouble In Shangri-La- One of my all-time favorites and the best lyrics ever written by Stevie.
2. Candlebright- I like it, but it's not a fave. It seems a little overlong.
3. Sorcerer- Perfection. I love Sheryl Crow on this.
4. Planets of the Universe- I much prefer the extended version, but both versions rock. Another one of Stevie's best.
5. Every Day- No thanks.
6. Too Far From Texaaaaaasssssss- One of the worst she's ever recorded.
7. That Made Me Stronger- Another stinker.
8. It's Only Love- Fantastic. I think it would've been phenomenal if it had just one guitar and Stevie's voice, though. A gem.
9. Love Changes- Blech. I hate everything about this song, with the exception of the last two lines, they're great lyrics.
10. I Miss You- Amazing. It should've been a single.
11. Bombay Sapphires- Love it! I love how their voices blend together.
12. Fall From Grace- I love it, too. Great vocal and great lyrics.
13. Love Is- I love the demo, I hate the album version.

SYW:

3. Illume- I love the vocal, Lindsey's guitar, and a few particular verses. The "trade you for diamonds" verse is a favorite of mine; it's beautiful.
4. Thrown Down- I've stated my thoughts on it many a time before.
7. Say You Will- The radio version is better than the album version, but I like it. Very catchy and sweet. it could've been a massive hit if it was promoted right.
10. Smile At You- Love it! Powerful vocal and it's better than the demo. Lindsey did it so differently and I love it.
11. Running Through the Garden- I adore it, but it pales in comparison to the demo. I want the dueling vocals back.
12. Silver Girl- I hated it at first, but it's grown on me. I listen to it now.
15. Everybody Finds Out- The best vocal she's ever recorded. She hits notes I didn't think she could hit.
16. Destiny Rules- Love the lyrics, but she sings it in her granny voice. I do, however, like the opening vocal.
18. Goodbye Baby- Beautiful.

I also agree with most of Dissention's analysis Trouble in Shangri-La has incredible lyrics and an overall great vibe. I acually like Candlebright a whole lot (great vocals!) but It can seem a little long sometimes. Sorcerer, Planets of the Universe, It's Only Love, Bombay Sapphires and Fall from Grace are all perfection. I can't believe so many people think It's Only Love is the worst song on TISL....the simple arrangement w/ acoustic guitar, Stevie's vocals unlike anything she's ever recorded, great lyrics...I also love Bombay Sapphires, esp. the Chorus w/Macy Gray...very old-school sounding Stevie! I don't live I Miss You as much, but I still listen to it. Love the line "she's back on that staircase on the way up to her place"...great imagery, and totally reminds me of young Stevie in every way.

SYW also has some gems....Illume, Thrown Down. I can really get into SYW sometimes, but I really don't like the kiddie voices or how the backup singers take over the chorus live. Smile at You has incredible vocals, but that second chorus goes on for way too long! Running Through the Garden and Everybody Finds out are great when I'm feeling into them, which ISN'T always. Destiny Rules is good, but the vocals call get too monotonal. Overall, both albums have their high and low points, and I wouldn't say one outweighs the other by very much

adam

[stefan]

Well for me her SYW efforts are much much more interesting- I am very content about it. TISL has this certain Stevie solo sound, often the songs sound so similar. I think you can`t say that about the SYW stuff. I have difficulties listening to her solo albums from beginning to the end as there are always songs that I like or love but on the other hand there are too much songs also that are plain boring to me. Guess it`s a lot about the old production thing, we have discussed again and again. I must admit that I can`t share the excitement about TISL and I always was astonished about it. It`s not better or worse than always imo but of course I know it`s all about taste. So here is my list:
TISL-O.K.
Candlebright- boring
Sorcerer-O.K.
Planets of - I like it
Every day-O.K. but after a few listens it`s enough
Too far from- boring
That made me stronger-very boring
It`s only love-O.K.
Love changes-very boring
I miss you-I like it
Bombay-boring
Fall from grace-boring
Love is-boring-half O.K. half boring

Illume-love it
thrown down-like it
say you will- too poppy, too much of the chorus, too long but still O.K.
Smile at you- like it esp because of the church choral like- chorus- (can`t stand the boring demo)
RTTG- like the song- but not the 80`s guitar and production on it
Silver girl- hate it, should have been on her solo efforts as it sounds like her solo stuff
EFO-still O.K. not a favourite
Destiny rules-I like it
Goodbye baby-O.K.

[goldie]

SYW for me, for sure!! There are a few strong ones on TISL, but SYW just completely outshines TISL.

[Ghosty]

I have some favorites, couldn't-live-without's on both cd's, so hard to say which is my favorite cd. Ihate to say this, but Sheryl Crow sorta ruined TISL for me. That's just my taste, that's all.

I too (as someone else here said) would have *loved* if Sorcerer had been with Fleetwood Mac, not solo Stevie. Well, not with Sheryl producing and being on it anyways. Maybe if Shanks had produced it, I might have liked it better. I was not so fond of it as it came out on TISL. The demo was so *wild* and *intense*. The TISL version seems dull and mellow compared (which to me is the Sheryl sound it has - to me, Sorcerer came out sounding very Sheryl-ish, more than Stevie-ish which I did not like at all). I love how Sherly worked with If You Ever Did Believe. But on TISL, I was not happy with her.

I am blown away that some people think Fall From Grace is boring. Wow. And Love Is. But to each their own, I suppose. Those are two of my favorite songs from TISL (although the piano demo of 'Love Is' is sooooo much better, it drives me crazy it is not on TISL and is "just" a demo). And I also love the song TISL, I Miss You, Planets, ..... But I also *love* Thrown Down. It's a fave. And Say You Will, Running Through the Garden, Destiny Rules (seems like classic Mac), Goodbye Baby (I love the touch Lindsey added to that - their collaboration made it sound more hopeful than so somber and sad like the demo, although that's incredible too).

I love both the cd's. They keep putting them out, I'll keep gobbling them up! I'd prefer they (or Stevie) go into the studio this spring, rather than tour again. I'd like a new album, please.

With Stevie's cd's, I do always love how they each seem to have such a theme, flow, total "something" to them. Like a book. Can't explain what I am trying to say, but you know what I mean? The pictures of her, the artwork, the songs, the sequence....

[Cristian]

It is really difficult to make a decision in these places.

Oh well... Trouble In Shangri-La is one of my favorite Stevie albums, second only to Bella Donna. I do believe she achieved a level of greatness that she didn't have (at least in a solo album) since those years. "Trouble In Shangri-La", "Planets Of The Universe", "Sorcerer", "Fall From Grace" are four songs that can be considered among her best. Also she gives great renditions of "Everyday" and "It's Only Love". I don't like "Too Far From Texas" or "That Made Me Stronger" too much, but overall the album is mesmerizing.

The fact that she has two really weak songs on Say You Will ("Illume" and "Silver Girl", in my opinion) made me think that I would choose Shangri-La. But then again there are also brilliant songs... "Thrown Down", "Goodbye Baby", "Destiny Rules", "Running Through The Garden" being my absolute favorites. I believe the production helped her a lot in this record and I think her lyrics are mesmerizing on various spots.

With a lot of doubts, I'll choose Say You Will.




Song of the moment - I'd Rather Go Blind

[diamondsnake]

Originally posted by Cristian

The fact that she has two really weak songs on Say You Will ("Illume" and "Silver Girl", in my opinion) [/I]

I swear, I must be the only person I the ledge that loves Silver Girl. It is one of my favorites on the album. And the lyrics are no more childish then "You can ride high atop your pony, I know you won't fall, cuz the whole thing's phoney" (and BTW, that is one of my favorite Stevie lines).

[GypsySorcerer]

I've always preferred FM Stevie over solo Stevie. But I must say I think I like TISL Stevie better than SYW Stevie. TISL is tied with Belladonna as my favorite Stevie album.


On TISL, the only songs I truly dislike are "Love Changes," and "That Made me Stronger." The title cut is awesome; I love her vocals on "I Miss You" and "Love Is," and "Sorcerer" and "Bombay Sapphires" are amazing too.


On SYW, my favorites are "Thrown Down," "Good-bye Baby," and "Running Through the Garden." I like "Destiny Rules," but her voice is SO monotonous. I know I'm the only one, but I don't care all that much for "Everybody Finds Out." "Say You Will" is pleasant, but nothing spectacular.


I think Stevie's voice sounds better overall on TISL than on SYW. (Though she was in fine form for the SYW tour.)