Bella Donna & Wild Heart= End of Story!

[mitzo]

Unlike most, I found it hard to appreciate Stevie's solo work on BD and WH with a few exceptions. BD is really marred by songs that sound dull and amateurish IMO due to muddy, irritating production - a lot of it sounds she is mumbling and hollering through a blanket in a windstorm. WH is better, but it is only Nightbird, Stand back, and BATB that do it for me - they have a quality that is lacking on the rest. I was intrigued and hooked by Stevie and her FM songs and found her solo work to be somehow cheaper and sloppier in overall quality, much of the mytique and allure was drowned under dull instrumentation/arrangement and puzzling song choices. In all her solo albums I have found a few great tracks but most of it I can only listen to when I am in a certain space. I have always wished she's stop trying to "rock" and do more compelling ballads, which is where she shines, I think. FM stuff like Storms, GDW, Gypsy, even 7 Wonders, is unique and haunting, some (not all eg. EO17) of her solo midtempo and rocker work is borderline.

[SapphireSister]

Originally Posted by APerfectLie

I just have to say, I disagree with everyone. All of Stevie's albums have their ups and downs. None of them suck and none of them are perfect. Street Angel has some peeled back production and some fiery vocals on some rocking songs such as Blue Denim and Love Is Like A River and the extremely loved Bella Donna was a little too country at parts. To say that all of Stevie's albums after The Wild Heart sucked is absurd. If that is the case, then why stay a fan 28 years later? My moods fluctuate, and some days I'm very Street Angel and other times I want to Rock A Little. At the end of the day, I'd prefer any Stevie album over most any other albums out there. But perhaps that is just me.

Well said John, I love this. It's so true, they all have their ups and downs but in my mind TWH has the least amount of downs (can we say Gate and Garden). I would also prefer any Stevie album over most music out there.

Regarding I Will Run to You, I also did not like this song up until about a year ago where I decided to give it a couple more listens and my head was spinning because I discovered it's greatness. For all those who despise it, please give it another chance for me. It's a song for tormented lovers and we can all relate to that. Just the music by itself is brilliant sounding and her vocal is chilling.

[Jondalar]

Bella Donna is perfect. The atmosphere, the quality of the songs, the flow—it's all there. It's almost her greatest hits. I think people are putting this album down to try and uplift her later works. Notta. This album is a Diamond and they are the hardest things to crack. Bella Donna is why I am still a fan of her solo work. It made her solo career.

[SapphireSister]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

Bella Donna is perfect. The atmosphere, the quality of the songs, the flow—it's all there. It's almost her greatest hits. I think people are putting this album down to try and uplift her later works. Notta. This album is a Diamond and they are the hardest things to crack. Bella Donna is why I am still a fan of her solo work. It made her solo career.

Artistically, the album is near perfect. I however, don't like the country-sounding songs particularly so that kills it for me in terms of being my favorite.

[ryguy2010]

Well my favorite album is Street Angel too as a whole. For me the easiest way too explain why is b/c Stevie's voice is more prominent and isn't pushed back by the instrumentation. My belief too is that Lindsey has ruined some of FM's songs by using heavy instrumentation to the front and pushing the vocals back as well.

[David]

Originally Posted by SufferYourLove

I know a lot of people say that if she recorded some of the demo's like China Doll, Julia, etc it would be ruined with her voice today and I have to disagree. Those songs are where the emotion and lyrics are at! We need those song done!!

She has recorded a lot of her old songs:

Planets of the Universe
If You Ever Did Believe
Candlebright
Secret Love
Smile at You
Goodbye Baby
Lady from the Mountains
Sorcerer -- twice
Running Through the Garden

[Nikolaj]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I loved Street Angel from the first time I listened to it. There has always been a mob mentality on the Ledge against the album, though. My thoughts are as follows: all Stevie albums have stinkers on them. Street Angel happens to have the worst stinkers of any Stevie album, though. Perhaps that's why so many dislike it. However, I think when Street Angel is good, it really sparkles. Blue Denim, Love Is Like A River, Kick It, Listen To The Rain... these are all great ROCKING tracks! I think the title track is beautiful and haunting. Greta is so quirky and fun. Jane, Destiny, and Maybe Love are all turds, though. Really, really stinky ones. But they don't detract from my love of the album. Regarding Stevie's performances from this tour, all I have to say is youtube them. Stevie was ON FIRE for the tour. I don't know if she was overcompensating for her weight and the album she wasn't pleased with, or if she was just fiery because the effects of Klonopin had finally worn off, but I think Stevie was quite the performer on the Street Angel tour. She's been a zombie onstage ever since.

Regarding what I don't like about Wild Heart? Where do I begin? It's an overly sappy piece of crap. It reeks of bloated ego. I detest her overly goat like vocals on the album. There really isn't much of a rock presence on this album. I dislike like most of the lyrics. For instance:

There is gate, it can be guarded. It is not heaven, but it has a garden.

I mean seriously, WTF? I have to just click "next" when she starts screaming about enchanted children on the title track. It's embarrassing to listen to. Nightbird is simply awful. Beauty and the Beast is terrible. I just can't stand the sappiness of the album, it's just an overtly reeking show of bloated ego. Sorry, guys... but Wild Heart is just not for me.

I can appreciate the best tracks of 'Street Angel' and don't consider it the nadir of her recording career at all. It has a good handful of really good songs- I don't think that TISL was such a huge jump in quality as it is credited to be either- TISL has, again, a good handful of songs that work well. But it's not like Street Angel is crud and TISL is brilliance.
It's an old trick many performers have used, to trash a previous work that didn't sell up to expectations to make it sound like the new cd is a must have, and that definitely was a factor. However, the title song 'Wild Heart'- I think many SN fans feel that the final 2 minutes of that vocal performance is perhaps her best singing ever recorded on a solo cd- I haven't ever heard anyone trash the vocal on 'Wild Heart' so feverishly before- but to each their own. If you skip to the next track when she gets to the 'children hopelessly enchanted' segment you miss the orgasmic climax of that vocal- start to finish, I love it. Most fans do. Tom Petty said it was 'epic'. But people hear things differently. I do agree about 'G&G' though.
Oh, can't even remember- is it in the portion above- but SN has given good performances since the SA tour. The 'Enchanted' tour was SN in excellent form- and anyone who missed the mini-tour that was 'Two Voices' missed seeing the best vocal performances, in my opinion, since the 'Wild Heart' tour. Stevie on 'Hotel California' was beyond expectations, and it was the loudest ovation I'd heard her receive since The US Festival in 1983. She was sublime on 'New York Minute' vocally, too, and had fun with 'So You Wanna Be A Rock And Roll Star' w Henley as an encore. 'Two Voices' was a fully energized, recharged SN in absolute peak vocal form. I humbly add 'in my opinion'- which is never a bad idea, particularly when trashing entire tours, some of which you didn't even see, baby! A maturity in being a little humbler about your opinions which are no more valid than anyone elses would definitely make you a better writer and definitely less offensive as a moderator- I've never seen a moderator be so arrogant as you, Louie, but good luck, ye who knows everything. Of course you have the right to a differing opinion, but the ego, feh. Downhill it's going, here. There, Jannie, Michele, and to whomever concerned, someone did what any of you should have done- told Louie to stop being offensive. A confrontational moderator is not going to work here, at all. DUMB decision. There I said it, publically, and I am so glad that I did. Everyone is free to disagree with me, ban me, tell my mother, or just have a different opinion- which is something that never even occurs to little, pathetic louie in his ridiculously egomaniacal posts which I simply won't tolerate from a moderator. I no longer respect The Ledge or want it in my life. Louie, you are an ass-wipe. You always have been!
Will never be back, I swear. I hope those it makes happy are pleased. It's so past time I got the hell out of here!
so gbye, and best wishes, even to Louie, who simply has too much to learn for me to stick around. You write like a little boy made editor of a junior high newspaper. That is the truth for The Ledge to remedy.
To any friends, and I had some, I will miss you.
Though it won't matter to her, I know she loves Louie and I'm glad she does, I want to say that I was unkind to Danielle and now that I'm leaving, I'm sorry that I was. Being unkind is something I never came to The Ledge to be, and I take responsibility for it.
I most will miss Jannie and Hejira and wish them both love and everything that is 'in your dreams', both of you. I wish I could have known you both better.
Viv, stop bugging people for their phone numbers, you have too many friends already. I'll miss ya! But I still won't give you my phone number!
Meowi, I never liked you.
LOL.
But Meowi, I wish you a wonderful life, and hey- you may be a hero now, you and Louie are a big reason why I started hating it here. But, hate is something I have shame about and need to eliminate from my life.
In fact, I send everyone here parting wishes of love, success, and happiness. It was never my intent to become unkind, and it happened more than I wish it had.
This is for real. My mind will not be changed.
Love the new cd everyone, and have fun! That's the whole point of being here, after all.

DONE.

[sorcerer999]

Originally Posted by APerfectLie

I just have to say, I disagree with everyone. All of Stevie's albums have their ups and downs. None of them suck and none of them are perfect. Street Angel has some peeled back production and some fiery vocals on some rocking songs such as Blue Denim and Love Is Like A River and the extremely loved Bella Donna was a little too country at parts. To say that all of Stevie's albums after The Wild Heart sucked is absurd. If that is the case, then why stay a fan 28 years later? My moods fluctuate, and some days I'm very Street Angel and other times I want to Rock A Little. At the end of the day, I'd prefer any Stevie album over most any other albums out there. But perhaps that is just me.

John, you took the words right out of my mouth! I think most everyone here would agree with you on the bold highlighted areas. I know I do.

I hated Street Angel when I first heard it. Now I have to say it's grown on me. Still not my favorite, but I love tracks like Greta, Blue Denim, LILAR, etc. It's all about the mood I'm in, like you said.

Louie, I love ya more than my luggage, but I guess we have to agree to disagree. The Wild Heart is my favorite Stevie record. Are there songs that are pretentious? Yes. Do I still love them? Yes INDEED!

Also, am I the ONLY PERSON on this board who ADORES "Gate & Garden"? I've not heard anyone say anything nice about this song. LOL.

Anywho, reading everyone's opinions is great! It just goes to show how different we all are in our appreciations and love for all things Stevie. Tis a GREAT THING! To all those out there who take umbrage to other people's OPINIONS, and to those who wish to pick fights BECAUSE of those opinions, please take note! This board should be for healthy and FRIENDLY discussion. Can't we celebrate each other's differences?

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by sorcerer999

John, you took the words right out of my mouth! I think most everyone here would agree with you on the bold highlighted areas. I know I do.

I hated Street Angel when I first heard it. Now I have to say it's grown on me. Still not my favorite, but I love tracks like Greta, Blue Denim, LILAR, etc. It's all about the mood I'm in, like you said.

Louie, I love ya more than my luggage, but I guess we have to agree to disagree. The Wild Heart is my favorite Stevie record. Are there songs that are pretentious? Yes. Do I still love them? Yes INDEED!

Also, am I the ONLY PERSON on this board who ADORES "Gate & Garden"? I've not heard anyone say anything nice about this song. LOL.

Anywho, reading everyone's opinions is great! It just goes to show how different we all are in our appreciations and love for all things Stevie. Tis a GREAT THING! To all those out there who take umbrage to other people's OPINIONS, and to those who wish to pick fights BECAUSE of those opinions, please take note! This board should be for healthy and FRIENDLY discussion. Can't we celebrate each other's differences?

I love Gate and Garden, especially because of the little nuiances. When you hear Stevie sing Every night in the background. That was a great touch. That song and Sable on Blonde really had special little touches to them that were sophisticated and made them special. I would also like to add that that song is extremely feminine, yet rock. She definitely wasn't trying to act like one of the boys and I always thought that song demonstrated her feminine touch.

[David]

Yikes.

I agree with Mitzo, who said that Stevie's solo albums lacked Fleetwood Mac's quality of craftsmanship & inventiveness. There really isn't anything in the music tracks on her solo albums that's worth talking or writing about. By contrast, Fleetwood Mac tracks get continual attention. Music lovers talk about their favorite Buckingham guitar solo, whether it's "Go Your Own Way" or "Tango in the Night" or "World Turning," or their favorite Fleetwood drum track ("Hypnotized" is one of mine) or the precision punch-lope playing of John's or even Christine's introverted keyboards, which sneak in the back door & wind up redecorating the entire house. Can you imagine anyone talking seriously about any music or orchestration on a Stevie Nicks solo album? What would anyone say? "What guitar solo on Rock a Little gives you the shivers?" "Don't you dig all the creative filigree that decorates I Still Miss Someone?"

I mean, the idea is ludicrous from the get-go. There's so much on the Mac albums to engage the intellect & please the ear, apart from the songs themselves or even the lead singing. To this day, we speak of the Fleetwood Mac sound -- the sound of that band & the way it constructs a track around a song. It's the sound that has musically influenced dozens of other bands & thousands of other musicians. Stevie Nicks is the only thing happening on a Stevie Nicks album. If she falters, the whole castle crumbles.

[sorcerer999]

Yes!!! Gate and Garden & Sable On Blonde are my two favorite songs on the album...BECAUSE of those subtle nuances. You hit the nail right on the head!

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by sorcerer999

Yes!!! Gate and Garden & Sable On Blonde are my two favorite songs on the album...BECAUSE of those subtle nuances. You hit the nail right on the head!

Yes, it was like she put a little moon necklace on each song, making them a little extra special to bring out the best of each song... her estrogen touch

[Garbo]

Gate and Garden as well as Sable And Blonde are amongst my favorites from WH as well. They float my boat!

[louielouie2000]

Sable On Blonde is definitely my fav from Wild Heart as well. I love I Will Run To You as well. Both of these songs are much more straight forward and understated like others have said. I really should put my grievances with the album aside and listen to these tracks more... I enjoy them very much. There. I said nice things about Wild Heart.

[mitzo]

Originally Posted by David

Yikes.

I agree with Mitzo, who said that Stevie's solo albums lacked Fleetwood Mac's quality of craftsmanship & inventiveness. There really isn't anything in the music tracks on her solo albums that's worth talking or writing about. By contrast, Fleetwood Mac tracks get continual attention. Music lovers talk about their favorite Buckingham guitar solo, whether it's "Go Your Own Way" or "Tango in the Night" or "World Turning," or their favorite Fleetwood drum track ("Hypnotized" is one of mine) or the precision punch-lope playing of John's or even Christine's introverted keyboards, which sneak in the back door & wind up redecorating the entire house. Can you imagine anyone talking seriously about any music or orchestration on a Stevie Nicks solo album? What would anyone say? "What guitar solo on Rock a Little gives you the shivers?" "Don't you dig all the creative filigree that decorates I Still Miss Someone?"

I mean, the idea is ludicrous from the get-go. There's so much on the Mac albums to engage the intellect & please the ear, apart from the songs themselves or even the lead singing. To this day, we speak of the Fleetwood Mac sound -- the sound of that band & the way it constructs a track around a song. It's the sound that has musically influenced dozens of other bands & thousands of other musicians. Stevie Nicks is the only thing happening on a Stevie Nicks album. If she falters, the whole castle crumbles.

Thanks David. The overall sound on Stevie's solo work is often shabby compared to the aural castles in the air built around her songs on FM albums. And I certainly include SYW in that. I think it is not that Stevie is the only thing happening on a solo album, it is that despite the fact she could afford to hire any help, she has stuck with producers and backup who lack vision and don't play up her strengths.