The Other Side Of The Mirror - A Re-Evaluation?

[chriskisn]

I've always found TOSOTM to be one of my favourite albums by Stevie (along with TISL). I never really liked The Wild Heart (it was the last Stevie album that I bought given it wasn't available in Australia for a time), and I'm not overly thrilled with RAL although I do like some of the songs but I can't listen to it from start to finish.

TOSOTM on the other hand was Stevie at her 80s best, better song writing, rockier songs, sexy album cover.

Was actually listening to last night when I took the dog for a walk and still really like it even 16 (maybe 17) years since I bought it.

[Heartboy]

Originally Posted by AliceLover

Still..my favorite Stevie album.

Not mine! I thought the first 4 or 5 songs were good but it went down hill from there. I think 'Rock A Little' is way better and with a better flow of the songs. I love 'Rooms'... and 'Long Way To Go', 'Two Kinds of Love', 'Whole Lotta Trouble' & 'Ooh My Love'.

I hate went record companies put all the 'singles' next to eachother. They should spread them out to make an album more interesting.

[StevieNicksfann]

This is a very interesting thread for me. And I have so many theories but have never tried to put them together before so forgive me if this seems rambling as I am more thinking out loud.

I think OSOTM is an excellent album. Not perfect but excellent. I love I Still Miss Someone but agree it and Cry Wolf seem out of place on it. Fire Burning is the requisite Heartbreaker track equivalent to Imperial Hotel and My Heart, That Made Me Stronger, etc... to me so I was fine with it. But to answer your question in terms of critics and the reviews, I agree with what others have said about Rupert Hine's production (and although it doesn't bother me, some find the heavy keyboard and synthesized sound dated), and the fact it didn't have a monster hit like the other one's seemed like it wasn't safe for people to say they liked it and it was easier to say, oops something is wrong here. Plus:

1) Her entire demeanor and energy around the album - doing press and getting people excited was a complete 180 from RAL (Klonopin Vs Cocaine) and clearly affected the enthusiasm around it.

2) The 80's and the world were changing in terms of the freer world of the 70's and early 80's - by 1989 you saw commericals for "Just say no to drugs" campaigns, and SADD (students against drunk drivers) stuff etc... and although Stevie was not on drugs, people wanted to easily dismiss her as that weird witchy druggie and it just wasn't as "cool" to like her at all. So the album's reviews were a consequence of that imho

3) She wasn't as young or as thin or as pretty to look at it in a lot of casual fan's opinions. I hate to say how much psychology is involved with what's "cool" but even my meathead of a brother (lol) instantly did not like the album as much as others - or maybe more aptly put - he loved the previous albums cuz she was so hot so the music was automatically better reviewed regardless of the musical merit. And this way of thinking was prevalent to a lot of the male dominated world of critics back then anyway. So much was said about her looks and then they'd finally get to the music but you could tell they already were leaning to not liking it.

4) Even tho I agree the album showed some maturity in her writing and her vocals were more controlled than the vocal turrets she could have when on drugs, I think a lot of people liked the straightforward rocker she was marketed as. I know people mention the airy fairy stuff but this was said back in the day (usually) in direct comment to her work with Fleetwood Mac. Her solo work was specifically meant to be marketed in the rock format. Stop Draggin' and Edge of Seventeen etc.. Leather and Lace although a ballad was not full of witches and was easily accepted as a rock ballad. After The Glitter Fades I think was the only misstep (not that I don't like the song) in terms of being more country and steering her away from rock stations. Wild Heart kicked off with Stand Back - and although more synthesized was still considered a rock jam especially with that gritty voice. Rock A Little is indeed rock. Talk To Me and I Can't Wait are growls galore lol. However, OSOTM drops with Rooms On Fire as the lead single and my personal opinion was this was a huge mistake. Don't get me wrong, I ADORE the song. But it's the first lead single that was dismissed by anyone ( I used to be a DJ back in the day) who wasn't a fan and was actually the song that was deemed airy fairy to them as a solo artist. In my little network, I would play them Long Way To Go and they would turn around and say "ok, now THAT is rock". In a world of MTV and Radio where fame was so fleeting, attaining buy-in and hooking people in was critical to keeping Stevie on the forefront.

I have many other thoughts - music tastes changing, starting to get more techno music, and getting away from the long haired 80's bands, getting on our way to a country kick and having the grunge era soon after. But I truly believe had Long Way To Go or Whole Lotta Trouble been the lead single then it would have been considered ok, if not cool to enjoy the other songs like Rooms On Fire and Two Kinds of Love and thus would have been accepted.

I personally think the singles released should have been:

1) Long Way To Go - with a killer video to promote it
2) Whole Lotta Trouble
3) Two Kinds Of Love
4) Rooms On Fire
5) Ooh My Love (yes agreed this should have been a single)

[LittleSpacey]

I am also suprised how many people dont like Wildheart. Whenever I think of growing up in the 70s, I remember that album cover. It has 2 of my fave songs, Beauty and Enchanted, and her voice sounds amazing. Nightbird and If Anyone Falls....Stand Back.....I LOVE that album.

[LittleSpacey]

sorry....Wild Heart

[ahafan02]

Originally Posted by LittleSpacey

Wha? Chris Lord A remixed wha?? I'm interested now. I will never get over Alice. One of my favorite songs of all time. It's epic.

The Chris Lord-Alge remix is on the Timespace compilation

[darklinensuit]

It has taken me years to dislike TOSOTM as much as I do now. For a long time I was something of an apologist for Stevie's sound on this album, even when everybody I knew, including people who had always liked Stevie up to that time, said they did not care for it at all. I think this is the point in time when Stevie jumped the shark by going (in many people's eyes) from hot rocker chick/space cadet/wild cokehead to boring adult contemporary artist with tired feet, Yanni-style keyboards, and Kenny G to boot (no pun intended). Yes, there are rock songs on the album, but they were hardly in evidence on the tour. It also didn't help that the vocals sounded worn and sometimes flat. Yes, the RAL vocals were often quite strained, but they were frequently brimming with energy & spontaneity. Additionally, many people could not relate to her lyrics - a widow & a dove, a stiletto in a garter? Yes, "The Nightmare" is every bit as lyrically remote on RAL, but at least in 1989 she sold the crazy lyrical images with a fiery vocal.

That having been said, there ARE decent songs on TOSOTM, and I don't like that she skips entire albums for years at a time when she tours.

- Jake

[bluefox4000]

Oh you're gonna make me re-visit this after IYD. uhhhhhhhh.....Yea this album sucks....yea. It sucks hard. But that's not important. Let's look forward. TOSOTM Gathers dust on my shelf where it should. After IYD all is forgiven

Mick

[kak125]

you know i never like tosotm until i was in college. i was having a really tough time dealing with the stress of working and going to school full time and this cd really helped me get through it. i love just about every single song on it and the magical vibe. it takes me to another time and place everytime i hear it.

[holidayroad]

I liked TOSOTM in the past much more than I like it now. Now I feel more in agreement with what Heartboy says below.

Originally Posted by Heartboy

I thought the first 4 or 5 songs were good but it went down hill from there. I think 'Rock A Little' is way better and with a better flow of the songs. I love 'Rooms'... and 'Long Way To Go', 'Two Kinds of Love', 'Whole Lotta Trouble' & 'Ooh My Love'.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by holidayroad

I liked TOSOTM in the past much more than I like it now. Now I feel more in agreement with what Heartboy says below.

Ditto.

Every now and then, although it's rare, I feel in the mood to listen to The Other Side of the Mirror. It has to be at night - and I have to have wine with it. It's a dark album, and leaves me feeling somewhat moody and sullen. Or is that the wine?

[cliffdweller]

I think TOSOTM is better than RAL. It's much more cohesive, and the songs don't sound nearly as dated. Plus, I think Whole Lotta Trouble is one underrated rock song, and one of Stevie's bluesy best.

[SapphireSister]

Can I re-post what I said last time we had this discussion?

[Jondalar]

The Other Side of the Mirror gave her her only true hit in England, so it was good for something.

[bluefox4000]

This thread made me brave enough to try the album. Big mistake, could not finish it...It's ust so blah. Fades into the walls.

Mick