IYD Press Reviews & Discussion

[LiquidDiamonds]

Amoeba Review

She may be 62 years old, but her first studio album in over 10 years does the old Stevie Nicks one better—it turns the trick of jumping to the top of her catalogue. With plenty of production lacquer courtesy of Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, and her vintage Wiccan-warble still on point as it was in her Rumours days in the late-1970s, Nicks is in rare form on the sultry ballads (“Italian Summer”) and in romantic raconteur mode (“For What It’s Worth”). Fans of Nicks, rejoice.

http://www.amoeba.com/buy-stuff/deta...cd--30107.html

[LiquidDiamonds]

I thought this review was pretty spot on .

http://www.journal-news.net/page/con....html?nav=5076

It took Stevie Nicks 40 years to become unpredictable.

After decades of chart-topping repetition and radio-friendly solo albums, Nicks entered the new millennium seemingly spent. As recently as Fleetwood Mac's 2009 tour, the white winged dove wheezed more than wowed. But like the sorcerers and witches lacing her songs, Nicks always has another trick up her mystical sleeve.

Her latest solo album, "In Your Dreams," isn't simply a trick. It's Nicks' best music since 1983.

"In Your Dreams" is unpredictable in the only way an album from an aging rocker can be: It doesn't sound like microwaved nostalgia. Sure, Nicks still relies on the well-worn themes of California witches and love's labor lost. She's been doing that since she joined Fleetwood Mac with Lindsey Buckingham on New Year's Eve 1974. But in 2011, the era of Cullens, and Bella Swans, and shirtless werewolves, her music regains a youthful glisten.

There are moments so good on "In Your Dreams," you would swear you're listening to "Gypsy" for the very first time. Lead single "Secret Love" sounds like a Rumours-era B-side, which makes sense since it was written in the same days as "Dreams." "New Orleans," which has been circulating on her tours for years, is quite simply the best thing she's done since 1981's "Bella Donna." Nicks is still a kid singing: "I wanna sing in the streets of the French Quarter/I wanna dress up/I wanna wear beads/Wanna wear feathers and lace."

But not everything here is leather and lace. "In Your Dreams" suffers from the same ails of every Stevie Nicks album: It's a solo Stevie Nicks album. And conventional wisdom has always held: Fleetwood Mac is greater than the sum of its parts.

Each of the album's 13 songs could benefit from a John McVie bass groove. Mick Fleetwood makes a few cameos, but he's largely missed, too.

And that's without even mentioning Lindsey Buckingham.

Dave Stewart may be a great producer, as he aptly demonstrates here, but no one understands the back alleys of Nicks' songs like Lindsey Buckingham. He's spent the better part of 40 years navigating them, giving the musical grandeur that defines classics like "Rhiannon" and "Gold Dust Woman." It's impossible not to wonder what magic he could weave here. That Stewart guitar solo on "You May Be The One"? Please. Have you not heard the closing guitar on "Gypsy"!?

We get a small dose of their chemistry on "Soldier's Angel" where Buckingham contributes guitars and harmonies. Suddenly it's 1979 and "Tusk" is being re-recorded. It's a shame that he's only found on one track. The repertoire shared between the two is one of the best in rock history, bested only by Lennon and McCartney.

Playing "what if" can become a nasty business, however, and it's hard to not love "In Your Dreams" for what it is: A solid album from a woman who once defined rock and roll from platform boots. There's not a lot of breathing room here. It's all business, and though it may occasionally threaten to falter, this ship stays together.

Anyone who dared to think this Welsh witch had nothing left to prove will leave "In Your Dreams" disappointed.

Because Stevie Nicks still has the charm and chops to prove, that after 40 years, dreams unwind and love's a state of mind.

[BombaySapphire3]

I like how this reviewer classifies "New Orleans " as her best song since Bella Donna..it is a beautiful piece IMHO in which the allure only grows with repeated listens.Quite a contrast to that Slant magazine critic that called it possibly her worst song ever..but we now know that his review may well be acting out a vendetta against a member of the Ledge..warped.

[fumidesigns]

That Stewart guitar solo on "You May Be The One"? Please. Have you not heard the closing guitar on "Gypsy"!?

now THAT is funny!!!!!!

[LiquidDiamonds]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

I like how this reviewer classifys "New Orleans " as her best song since Bella Donna..it is a beautiful piece IMHO in which the allure only grows with repeated listens.Quite a contrast to that Slant magazine critic that called it possibly her worst song ever..but we now know that his review may well be acting out a vendetta against a member of the Ledge..warped.

That seems a bit extreme...what vendetta?

[BombaySapphire3]

Originally Posted by LiquidDiamonds

That seems a bit extreme...what vendetta?

Go read back a couple of pages on the reviews thread the info is there

[tabruns]

Originally Posted by LiquidDiamonds

I thought this review was pretty spot on .

http://www.journal-news.net/page/con....html?nav=5076

It took Stevie Nicks 40 years to become unpredictable.

After decades of chart-topping repetition and radio-friendly solo albums, Nicks entered the new millennium seemingly spent. As recently as Fleetwood Mac's 2009 tour, the white winged dove wheezed more than wowed. But like the sorcerers and witches lacing her songs, Nicks always has another trick up her mystical sleeve.

Her latest solo album, "In Your Dreams," isn't simply a trick. It's Nicks' best music since 1983.

"In Your Dreams" is unpredictable in the only way an album from an aging rocker can be: It doesn't sound like microwaved nostalgia. Sure, Nicks still relies on the well-worn themes of California witches and love's labor lost. She's been doing that since she joined Fleetwood Mac with Lindsey Buckingham on New Year's Eve 1974. But in 2011, the era of Cullens, and Bella Swans, and shirtless werewolves, her music regains a youthful glisten.

There are moments so good on "In Your Dreams," you would swear you're listening to "Gypsy" for the very first time. Lead single "Secret Love" sounds like a Rumours-era B-side, which makes sense since it was written in the same days as "Dreams." "New Orleans," which has been circulating on her tours for years, is quite simply the best thing she's done since 1981's "Bella Donna." Nicks is still a kid singing: "I wanna sing in the streets of the French Quarter/I wanna dress up/I wanna wear beads/Wanna wear feathers and lace."

But not everything here is leather and lace. "In Your Dreams" suffers from the same ails of every Stevie Nicks album: It's a solo Stevie Nicks album. And conventional wisdom has always held: Fleetwood Mac is greater than the sum of its parts.

Each of the album's 13 songs could benefit from a John McVie bass groove. Mick Fleetwood makes a few cameos, but he's largely missed, too.

And that's without even mentioning Lindsey Buckingham.

Dave Stewart may be a great producer, as he aptly demonstrates here, but no one understands the back alleys of Nicks' songs like Lindsey Buckingham. He's spent the better part of 40 years navigating them, giving the musical grandeur that defines classics like "Rhiannon" and "Gold Dust Woman." It's impossible not to wonder what magic he could weave here. That Stewart guitar solo on "You May Be The One"? Please. Have you not heard the closing guitar on "Gypsy"!?

We get a small dose of their chemistry on "Soldier's Angel" where Buckingham contributes guitars and harmonies. Suddenly it's 1979 and "Tusk" is being re-recorded. It's a shame that he's only found on one track. The repertoire shared between the two is one of the best in rock history, bested only by Lennon and McCartney.

Playing "what if" can become a nasty business, however, and it's hard to not love "In Your Dreams" for what it is: A solid album from a woman who once defined rock and roll from platform boots. There's not a lot of breathing room here. It's all business, and though it may occasionally threaten to falter, this ship stays together.

Anyone who dared to think this Welsh witch had nothing left to prove will leave "In Your Dreams" disappointed.

Because Stevie Nicks still has the charm and chops to prove, that after 40 years, dreams unwind and love's a state of mind.

Although this reviewer is clearly thoughtful, I have to disagree with the take of judging a Nicks solo album critically because it's not a Mac album. I mean, I think that's patently unfair to knock the album down a little simply because "Mac is better than the sum of its parts" etc. Why can't the album be judged for what it actually is?

[BombaySapphire3]

Reprise; 2011]
Rating: 7/10
By Amanda Norris, Staff Writer
May 5, 2011


Key Tracks: “Annabelle Lee," "You May Be The One," "New Orleans"
Stevie Nicks is not only the reigning queen of rock ‘n’ roll; she is the queen of dreamscapes. And yes, for anyone even vaguely familiar with her Fleetwood Mac days, that was as much a comment on her latest effort as it was a shameless and easy allusion to her past.
In Your Dreams is Nicks’ first solo album in nearly a decade and it is worth the wait. With collaboration with David A. Stewart of Eurythmics stardom, the romantic and intriguing effort is everything we could hope for from two legends.
Nicks’ voice, though noticeably changed, has aged remarkably well and still manages to maintain a youthful edge--at least when she wants it to, as on the fast-paced and naively poppy title track. Yet, it also has a wizened quality that shines when appropriate as on the narrative ballad “Wide Segasso Sea” and the folk-twinged “For What It’s Worth.”
While most are not generally inclined to take anything admittedly influenced by the “Twilight” saga seriously, “Moonlight (A Vampire’s Dream)” is admittedly a listenable and lyrically intriguing track. But as far as literary allusions go, the strongest on this album is definitely “Annabelle Lee”--Edgar Allen Poe’s masterpiece getting in touch with its ‘80s side.
The best parts of the album, however, are the parts where Nicks is influenced by her own past.
The somewhat soulful “You May Be The One” is nostalgic in all the right ways, working in bluesy guitar licks and biting lyrics like “You may be the one but you’ll never be the one.” It is a tale of heartbreak, knowledge and ultimately of experience that centers around the phrase “used to”--the most human of phrases. The song reminds us that Nicks is an artist who has actually done some living, not just played the part--adding a layer of believable truth to her lyricism.
This is echoed on “Italian Summer,” a tune equal parts enchantment and disenchantment. “Oh it’s so romantic / Oh it is all so soulful” sings Nicks with more than a hint of sarcasm in her tone, clearly commenting on youthful romanticism from the lens of--not a jaded--but a realistic adult perspective.
In Your Dreams is poppy in places and soulful in others. Storytelling ballads blend into mythic sagas with nods to gothic poetry for good measure. The cover art is over the top. The vampire reference is a bit much. But, in general, fans of Stevie Nicks will not be disappointed by this latest release. In fact, they might even be pleasantly surprised by its depth--which in the end is all we can really ask of an Check out ACRN online radio, streaming 24/7!

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

Reprise; 2011]
Rating: 7/10
By Amanda Norris, Staff Writer
May 5, 2011


Key Tracks: “Annabelle Lee," "You May Be The One," "New Orleans"
Stevie Nicks is not only the reigning queen of rock ‘n’ roll; she is the queen of dreamscapes. And yes, for anyone even vaguely familiar with her Fleetwood Mac days, that was as much a comment on her latest effort as it was a shameless and easy allusion to her past.
In Your Dreams is Nicks’ first solo album in nearly a decade and it is worth the wait. With collaboration with David A. Stewart of Eurythmics stardom, the romantic and intriguing effort is everything we could hope for from two legends.
Nicks’ voice, though noticeably changed, has aged remarkably well and still manages to maintain a youthful edge--at least when she wants it to, as on the fast-paced and naively poppy title track. Yet, it also has a wizened quality that shines when appropriate as on the narrative ballad “Wide Segasso Sea” and the folk-twinged “For What It’s Worth.”
While most are not generally inclined to take anything admittedly influenced by the “Twilight” saga seriously, “Moonlight (A Vampire’s Dream)” is admittedly a listenable and lyrically intriguing track. But as far as literary allusions go, the strongest on this album is definitely “Annabelle Lee”--Edgar Allen Poe’s masterpiece getting in touch with its ‘80s side.
The best parts of the album, however, are the parts where Nicks is influenced by her own past.
The somewhat soulful “You May Be The One” is nostalgic in all the right ways, working in bluesy guitar licks and biting lyrics like “You may be the one but you’ll never be the one.” It is a tale of heartbreak, knowledge and ultimately of experience that centers around the phrase “used to”--the most human of phrases. The song reminds us that Nicks is an artist who has actually done some living, not just played the part--adding a layer of believable truth to her lyricism.
This is echoed on “Italian Summer,” a tune equal parts enchantment and disenchantment. “Oh it’s so romantic / Oh it is all so soulful” sings Nicks with more than a hint of sarcasm in her tone, clearly commenting on youthful romanticism from the lens of--not a jaded--but a realistic adult perspective.
In Your Dreams is poppy in places and soulful in others. Storytelling ballads blend into mythic sagas with nods to gothic poetry for good measure. The cover art is over the top. The vampire reference is a bit much. But, in general, fans of Stevie Nicks will not be disappointed by this latest release. In fact, they might even be pleasantly surprised by its depth--which in the end is all we can really ask of an Check out ACRN online radio, streaming 24/7!

who is this from?

[BombaySapphire3]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

who is this from?

ACRN online radio

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

ACRN online radio

I'm kind of pissed off. 97% of her reviews have been positive and yet, the metacritic only has 5 reviews on their website giving her a score of just 76. Two of the reviews are bad ones: Paste Magazine and that stupid one from Slant magazine. They didn't even put up US magazines 4 star review. Billboard magazine also just gave her a stunning review. Someone updated her Wikapedia and they referenced the metacritic site score and its not right, yet.

I have left scathing reviews on Slant Magazine and Paste of their reviewers biased. So have other people. I can't believe their stupid reviews knocked her down and they have not put the other reviews up. US magazines 4 star review was up before Slant Magazines. Not right.

[BombaySapphire3]

metacritic doesn't put US weekly or People magazine type reviews on their site..it might put the Billboard review on there hopefully.76 is six points better than TISL has but I agree that score does not represent the bulk of reviews for IYD ..the Slant magazine critic seems to have an axe to grind.His review is so over the top bad it does seem biased.

[LiquidDiamonds]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

I'm kind of pissed off. 97% of her reviews have been positive and yet, the metacritic only has 5 reviews on their website giving her a score of just 76. Two of the reviews are bad ones: Paste Magazine and that stupid one from Slant magazine. They didn't even put up US magazines 4 star review. Billboard magazine also just gave her a stunning review. Someone updated her Wikapedia and they referenced the metacritic site score and its not right, yet.

I have left scathing reviews on Slant Magazine and Paste of their reviewers biased. So have other people. I can't believe their stupid reviews knocked her down and they have not put the other reviews up. US magazines 4 star review was up before Slant Magazines. Not right.

You can ask to have the score corrected by selecting help and then select ask a question. I just did...

[tabruns]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

I'm kind of pissed off. 97% of her reviews have been positive and yet, the metacritic only has 5 reviews on their website giving her a score of just 76. Two of the reviews are bad ones: Paste Magazine and that stupid one from Slant magazine. They didn't even put up US magazines 4 star review. Billboard magazine also just gave her a stunning review. Someone updated her Wikapedia and they referenced the metacritic site score and its not right, yet.

I have left scathing reviews on Slant Magazine and Paste of their reviewers biased. So have other people. I can't believe their stupid reviews knocked her down and they have not put the other reviews up. US magazines 4 star review was up before Slant Magazines. Not right.

I wrote Metacritic about including the US magazine review. This was before the Billboard review was up.

[tabruns]

Originally Posted by BombaySapphire3

metacritic doesn't put US weekly or People magazine type reviews on their site..it might put the Billboard review on there hopefully.76 is six points better than TISL has but I agree that score does not represent the bulk of reviews for IYD ..the Slant magazine critic seems to have an axe to grind.His review is so over the top bad it does seem biased.

Agreed. It was basically an almost non-sensical review.