Initial Feelings On IYD

[APerfectLie]

Well I was unable to post a review when the album was released and I have too much school stuff going on this week to do a track by track review, but next week or so I will give an in depth review of what I think. For now however, I just want to say that I am loving the new album! I think the only way it could have been made perfect is if they would have dropped Cheaper Than Free and ended the album with China Doll. Also, I wish they wouldn't have faded out the intro to Everybody Loves You, it would be way more powerful if it stayed at the same volume and went silent for a split second and then came back with her singing. The fade makes it seem kinda disconnected.

[APerfectLie]

Well school is over so here is my in depth review!

Album as a whole:
Love it! Being that she had the same team of producers from start to finish and there aren't any WTF tracks, it is definitely her most cohesive album since Bella Donna. It is new and edgy, yet classic, familiar Stevie Nicks at the same time. That being said, I don't think this is the BEST album she has ever done or the best one since BD either. It ranks high up there, but let's not let the chiffon go to our heads. Another thing I wanted to mention was the vocal. I see everyone trashing the TISL vocal compared to this, but I'm wondering if this is because they are just so excited from the newness or if it has been forever since they listened to TISL. Her vocal isn't really better on either album as a whole, but rather certain songs on certain albums. Yes, the vocal on Secret Love is way better than the vocal on Every Day, but the vocal on Sorcerer blows Soldier's Angel out of the water. Both albums have songs with amazing vocals and both have songs with average vocals, so that isn't one thing I am creaming my pants about.

Individual songs:

Secret Love- Well I must admit, I overdosed on this song when we got it back in January. However, after the revelation that the lyrics are "Must secret loves secretly die?" I have found a strange new love for it.

For What It's Worth- Love it. It is tied with YMBTO as my favorite on the album! Not going to lie... it made me cry. And NOTHING makes me cry.

In Your Dreams- It took a few listens to get into this one, but I'm digging it now. I love the lyrics and its upbeat tempo. However, it definitely is no Edge, Stand Back, or I Can't Wait.

Wide Sargasso Sea- Love this one as well! The music is very tribal sounding and the way she sings it is very different but amazing. My only complaint on this song is that she says, "you'll remember THIS, you fell to the ground when you saw THIS".

New Orleans- Another one I love! Even the Anne Rice lyric! The only thing I don't love is the way she ends the song. Something about that last "in the city of tears lies the city ghost" irks me.

Moonlight-!!!! So glad she finally did LFTM! Her vocal is really amazing and the new lyrics are great! I especially love the last bit "She's laying on the floor in silent pain..." and her little Ahhhhooooooohhhh at the end I do wish she would have included my favorite verse tho

Annabel Lee- I was really skeptical when I heard this was going to be on the new album, but I think they did a really good job with it! I do think the "I lie down" gets a little tiring tho.

Soldier's Angel- Sometimes I love this song, sometimes I skip it. I'm not a huge fan of the vocal and the song gets kind of repetitive. But at times, it can be very moving. I think they could do an amazing video for this song with clips of her and Linds in the studio and then actual clips from the war.

Everybody Loves You- The intro to this makes my day! I just wish they wouldn't have faded the intro out. Will someone please do an edit where the intro doesn't fade?

Ghosts Are Gone- I had really high hopes for this song, but it didn't live up to my expectations.It sounds like something I'd hear in a roadhouse. But it is growing on me. I especially love the last half.

You May Be The One- Tied with FWIW as my favorite! Love the bluesy feel and the lyrics!

Italian Summer- Also love this one! Love the atmosphere and the huge buildup to the end!

Cheaper Than Free- I like it, but I still wish it would have remained on Dave's album. I still think this album would have been perfect had Stevie pulled out China Doll and ended the album with that, but oh well...

[SapphireSister]

I know it's past the initial feeling but I've given it some more listens and I've still come to the same conclusion - I just don't love it . I attribute this to a few things in particular:
I'm totally too emotionally attached to the older stuff and have a hard time latching on to these new songs so far. I just don't like the style/genre of a lot of the songs although I think they are still decent tracks. As I've said many times I like more electric guitar, synths, rock and roll (not the bluesy/country-ish kind). I really really like Annabell Lee and Wide Sargasso sea and think those have the possibility for me to become passionate about but it's gonna take some time. I'll stop talking about it now because I most certainly am not trying to rain on anyone's Stevie parade, just my opinion.

[kak125]

i still love IYD and will probably play the cd every day for the rest of the year -ha! i do think its one of her best but i cant say the best because i love all of her music! of course i still listen to tisl and syw too!!

[bluefox4000]

I still Love it......but I did make my own by axing the 2 singles and ELY. I like it more concise.....less bloated. It runs 52 mins now. Still her best work in years

Mick

[Fannymac]

After just a few listens, I've got to say......it's my least favorite album.....by FAR!!!!

There's just nothing that REALLY jumps out at me, and I CERTAINLY hope she doesn't work with Dave again....the production is just "Eh!" for me! (I am interested to see the production on the new Joss Stone, though!).

I'm anxious to start listening to it in the car, where I can really soak it up!

[fairydust75]

This is her best album/ties with Belladonna, IMO. Dave helped her express herself and say all the things she wanted to say with this album.
Favorite Tracks:
#1: You May Be The One (love the bluesy vibe, this is her "Say Goodbye" to Lindsey, IMO, or maybe a Fall From Grace Part II)
#2: Moonlight (love that it starts with Lady from the Mountain lyrics)
#3: Wild Sargasso Sea (Sums up the book/movie perfectly)
This is the album she has always wanted to make, but has never had the right circumstances around her. She has often been her own worse enemy, but I do believe that her ghosts are finally gone. I will be heartbroken if she does not tour. I need to hear some of these new song live. Annabel Lee, Ghosts Are Gone, and hopefully You May Be The One would be awesome.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by fairydust75

#1: You May Be The One (love the bluesy vibe, this is her "Say Goodbye" to Lindsey, IMO, or maybe a Fall From Grace Part II)

I wondered that as well...if it was about Lindsey - or maybe Joe.

I relate to it a lot myself...I think it's sad being able to look back and see the people I was secretly in love with (or not so secretly in some cases). Putting them on such a pedestal at my own expense. At least I can laugh about it now, and know that everything turned out the way it should have.

I used to love you...See light inside you

But I sure don't anymore, scumbag.

[HejiraNYC]

Despite listening a gazillion times, I still am not over the newness of this album; it's so hard to make any kind of contextual judgment this soon. However, what does seem apparent to me is that this really is two very different albums (7 songs each) mashed together- one bluesy country rock, the other straight up pop:

The pop album:
-Secret Love
-New Orleans
-Moonlight
-Annabel Lee
-My Heart
-Everybody Loves You
-Italian Summer

The bluesy country rock album:
-For What It's Worth
-In Your Dreams
-Wide Sargasso Sea
-Soldier's Angel
-The Ghosts Are Gone
-You May Be the One
-Cheaper than Free

One thing I love about this album is that it is so diverse- it's like a very satisfying meal with many different courses. However, dessert seems to be served right in the middle of the meal with the immaculate trifecta of "New Orleans," "Moonlight" and "Annabel Lee" all beautifully strung together- each song very special in its own way, but complementing each other at the same time. Although I loved TISL, I have to admit that I was a bit put off by the way her vocals were recorded/mixed- you always got the sense that her voice was being put through some kind of a filter or digital effect. I love the fact that Stevie's voice is mostly front and center here, and not drowning in tons of reverb and autotune. "Soldier's Angel" is the rawest thing she has ever done; it's almost as if she is sitting in front of you singing this song. And I love the fact that you can hear the hum of the pickups on Lindsey's guitar too; it gives it all a kind of rough demo feel, which is perfect for the subject matter. On paper the poem sounds flighty and grandiose. But the vocal she delivered was perfect- gritty, full of pain, terse. She wasn't going for "sad beauty" or melodrama here... she was serving Johnny Cash Folsom Prison realness.

Oh, another thing... am I the only one to detect a strong Exile on Mainstreet-era Rolling Stones vibe on "The Ghosts Are Gone?"

If I had to choose a weak spot, I would have to say it is "Wide Sargasso Sea." I am really trying to like this song. I love the premise- it's classic Stevie to deliver the meaning of a song in such poetic but concise terms ("They drew a line in the sand... just because.") But it is just one of thse songs that kicks into second gear, but doesn't quite go anywhere after that. I just think it had the potential to be one of those incendiary epic songs full of wailing guitars and big drums at the end. I mean, she burned his house down for crikeys sake!

[markolas]

My feelings on IYD haven't really changed. I'd still put it in the top 3 as far as Stevie's solo albums go, and I still think it's better than TISL, which can be a little "soupy" production-wise. Her vocals are also better on IYD (not that they're bad on TISL). Tracks that I've been playing over & over:

Secret Love (I'm more into this now than when it first came out)
In Your Dreams
Wide Sargasso Sea
Annabel Lee
My Heart

and to a somewhat lesser extent:

Moonlight
For What it's Worth
New Orleans

[SapphireSister]

Originally Posted by fairydust75

This is her best album/ties with Belladonna, IMO. Dave helped her express herself and say all the things she wanted to say with this album.
Favorite Tracks:
#1: You May Be The One (love the bluesy vibe, this is her "Say Goodbye" to Lindsey, IMO, or maybe a Fall From Grace Part II)
#2: Moonlight (love that it starts with Lady from the Mountain lyrics)
#3: Wild Sargasso Sea (Sums up the book/movie perfectly)
This is the album she has always wanted to make, but has never had the right circumstances around her. She has often been her own worse enemy, but I do believe that her ghosts are finally gone. I will be heartbroken if she does not tour. I need to hear some of these new song live. Annabel Lee, Ghosts Are Gone, and hopefully You May Be The One would be awesome.

Thank you so much for saying this. I love your post! You have put into words the exact reasons this album holds a very special place in my heart, even if I'm not too crazy about any of the songs yet...

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by APerfectLie

Ghosts Are Gone- It sounds like something I'd hear in a roadhouse.

You make that sound like hearing something in a roadhouse is a BAD thing.

(from a musician who gigs 90% of the time in roadhouses) I find that pretty damned offensive.

[tabruns]

I've had this album on non-stop. It's holding up really well under intense listening. There still aren't any clunkers on this album for me, and "My Heart" has started to grow on me although I still consider it the weakest song on the album.....but that's "weakest" in a definite relative sense, since everything on this album is amazing.

"Moonlight" is still my absolute favorite. My second favorite kept shifting. Started out being "Wide Sargasso Sea", then "New Orleans", then "Everybody Loves You", then "Annabel Lee". "Annabel Lee" seems to have conquered the #2 spot.

None of the songs have diminished but several songs have grown on me more than when I first heard them: "For What It's Worth" seems to get better every time I hear it. There's a definite gravitas to that song that one might miss at first. "You May Be The One" and "Ghosts Are Gone" have gotten better to my ears as well.

In terms of the album package, I like it a lot. The album cover is very cool and it fits in with the mood and sound of the music. I think the "Stevie Nicks" logo is awesome. The "In Your Dreams" font is a little simple but it's okay. The Trouble In Shangri-La album cover is still better, but In Your Dreams probably has the best "Stevie Nicks" logo.

[mitzo]

I like the album and production and vocals overall but something is missing - I cannot find the song on IYD that will bring me back to it often in future. Like Street Angel, it seems to lack the Stevie moment that the other albums have provided. IYD is a technically excellent album, is all I can say.

[Lee]

Ok, I'm on my 4th run through of IYD & I like it. It's good , but not IMO, as good as her earlier work. I got the B&N version with the My Heart bonus. I'm glad I did because I like My Heart. It's a pretty romantic song which I like. The only songs that I don't like are New Orleans, Cheaper Than Free & Annabel Lee. I may be in the minority for not liking Annabel Lee, & I can't explain why I don't like it, I just don't. Italian Summer is a borderline song for me. It can go either way. Secret Love is getting that way, too, because Stevie is just singing this song live & nothing else right now. The songs that jumped out at me the very first time I heard them were the fast tempo songs, In Your Dreams, Wide Sargasso Sea, & Ghosts Are Gone. I probably like Soldier's Angel because Lindsey is singing on there, otherwise I don't know if I would have like it. So this is my two cents worth, For What It's Worth.

Lee