Crystal Visions Reviews

[PenguinHead]

I'm surprised by the utter disdain some people have for the Dreams remix. Granted I'm no fan of techno dance music -- I find it tedious, vacant and souless, and it has a limited shelve life. Yet, as one reviewer mentioned, it did give Dreams a facelift. And more importantly, it brought Stevie into the clubs, where her music is rarely played. It gave the Crystal Visions compilation added value -- it would have been tedium if she just plucked the original version on the collection. And it made her current again --something she really needs.

Most dance music has the vacuous, cliched and recycled lyrics of no-name artists. Dreams is a solid classic, and I give credit for Stevie making the effort to re-record the vocals. Every time I heard it I was not sure if it was the original vocal or not. It just goes to show you that she still has that voice -- and she can still hit the high notes when she wants to.

[AliceLover]

Originally Posted by MacMan

http://www.the-trades.com/article.php?id=5415&print=yes

Stevie Nicks's Crystal Visions joins that ever growing collection of "Best of..." CDs from once popular artists that add very little to your library since the last time you bought their "Best of..." CD. Nicks released her last collection, Timespace, in 1991 and, to be frank, there's been nothing new in her career since then. To be so bold as to call Crystal Visions the "Very Best" of Stevie Nicks is, in fact, pushing the boundaries of truth. Seven of the songs on Crystal Visions also appear on Timespace (not counting the live version of "Edge Of Seventeen"). And at least one song that should be on Crystal Visions, "Whole Lotta Trouble", is missing, even though it can be found on the prior collection. Filling out Nicks's new collection are covers of her best hits with Fleetwood Mac: "Dreams", remixed by techno-producers Deep Dish, live versions of "Rhiannon" and "Landslide", and the original version of "Silver Springs", in addition to a few more recent songs - "Sorcerer" and "Planets of the Universe" from Nicks's 2001 album, Trouble in Shangri-La - a live cover of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll", and the aforementioned live version of "Edge of Seventeen".

But to question the necessity of the album is not to question its actual content. The seven songs that migrated from Nicks's original collection are all anthems of a lighter, more energetic era in music. The synthesizers at the forefront of these older tracks are ever present and are a wonderful throwback to the music of the 1980's. And when the drum machine kicks in, you get totally lost in a sense of nostalgia. "Planets of the Universe" and "Sorcerer" add nothing to the CD, serving only to remind us that Nicks fashions herself something of a witch (really!) with a sense for the occult. From all the songs Nicks has performed with Fleetwood Mac, "Silver Springs" is an unusual choice to add to this album, but at least it's not alone. The techno remix of "Dreams" is an utter disgrace. The live cover of "Rhiannon" starts off somewhat frightening. The slow start with Nicks accompanied only by a piano makes you question Nicks's ability to sing without heavy studio production... but then the bass and guitars start up and you're as relieved as everyone in the crowd. Finally, "Landslide" is a necessity given its recent popularity after it was covered by the Dixie Chicks.

What should be the crowning achievement of this album is the live version of "Edge of Seventeen" with the Melbourne Symphony but the song never reaches its full potential. Already, "Edge of Seventeen" is one of the album's strongest songs, and to hear it with full brass and string accompaniment should be an absolute pleasure, but the performance starts slowly, with the symphony hardly noticeable, marked only by a thundering bass line. But clocking in at a whopping nine minutes - also twice as long as the studio version - the song has plenty of time to build, and around the time the violins chime in, you really start feeling the potential of the song. The song builds to its ultimate cressendo, but you never really feel the layers adding on, one by one. You're just left wishing that the whole symphony was present from the beginning.

Too many "Best of..." CDs can be relegated to the "only for the die-hard fans" category. That can't be said for this collection from Stevie Nicks. In the 80's, Nicks was a major player in the music industry. Her duets with Tom Petty ("Stop Draggin' My Heart Around") and Don Henley ("Leather And Lace") are testament to her standing during that era. And her contributions to Fleetwood Mac cannot be questioned. But her output since then has been sparse and unremarkable.

One key benefit to Crystal Visions over Nicks's last collection is that a double-disc version is available including a DVD with video versions of the songs on the album (plus a few more, including "Whole Lotta Trouble"). Granted, most of these videos can be obtained freely - and legally - on the Internet, and seeing some of these 80's-era videos may leave you scratching your head as to what was in good taste only two decades ago, but the DVD includes some choice extras, including commentary by Nicks, and a featurette on the making of Bella Donna, Nicks's breakthrough solo album (little more than poor quality home video footage of the recording sessions.) The commentary is very insightful and informative but the featurette could have used some remastering (although the cost was likely prohibitive.)

No, Crystal Visions isn't just for die-hard fans of Stevie Nicks. There's some milestone moments in recent rock-n-roll history on this album. But if you already have Timespace, then you should think twice about buying this album.

This guy/chick whatever was blaintinly honest. 85-90% of what he said was 100% true. Planets of the Universe does add nothing (its the only track ive been skipping for the past few weeks), but I do love the album cut of Sorcerer. I hope Stevie reads this one and gets some modivation to record some new songs. Its getting a little ridiculous. DON'T GET ME WRONG, I am SO glad that she is still touring and singing, but as a diehard fan it just gets OLD.

[Phoenix]

Originally Posted by sparky

That was a silly comment.



To anyone who hates bad gay disco remixes, probably. I think it is silly, but fun.


I'm relieved when it is over and I have returned from peeing. Actually I will listen to the intro, then leave. He was nicer than I would be about it. If the word disgrace is gonna be used, it would go for the present day live Rhiannon performances. The Today show version was interesting at least, however.


I think he means it was a huge hit single for them, which it never was for her. Historically it makes sense to include it, on that count.




They weren't hit singles, but he obviously doesn't think they are good songs regardless.



I think it is a horrific choice. This is a solo package. No Mac songs should have been included.



That's questionable taste, to be sure.

NOW! i compleetley agree. sheesh, that guy shouls pay you to translate his articles.

[skcin]

This says absolutely nothing of substance. But I found it in the university paper here, and that's what I found hilarious:

Crystal Visions…The Very Best of Stevie Nicks
AIDAN KEAVENEY - Staff Writer

In her remarkable career, Stevie Nicks has gone multi-platinum, produced over twenty Top 40 hits, won multiple Grammy awards, and in 1998 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Reprise Records newest release "Crystal Visions...The Very Best of Stevie Nicks" is a compilation CD that features her biggest hits as well as some previously unreleased and live recordings.

In 1991 Modern Records released "Timespace," another Stevie

Nicks compilation. Unlike its predecessor, "Crystal Visions" features Fleetwood Mac songs, as well as songs from Stevie's long career as a solo artist.

The album is a sixteen song collection that features early hits like "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around," in addition to some of Nicks' more recent work, like her 2001 duet with Sheryl Crow "Sorcerer."

The standout tracks on the album are the previously unreleased live versions of "Landslide" and "Edge of Seventeen," which were recorded in Australia with The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. The 104-member orchestra complements Stevie Nick's voice, offering a mellower rendition of the classics.

Also intriguing is the Deep Dish dance cover of Fleetwood Mac's hit song "Dreams," for which Stevie re-recorded the vocals, and "Silver Springs," the original B-side of Fleetwood Mac's "Go Your Own Way."

This album represents the scope and range of Stevie Nicks, highlighting her success with Fleetwood Mac as well as her achievements as a solo artist and duet partner.

[Livia]

http://www.ifmagazine.com/review.asp?article=1721 (I love the last sentence)

Review: CRYSTAL VISIONS: THE VERY BEST OF STEVIE NICKS

The good witch of hard rock gets another best of treatment and it's a treasure trove for die-hard fans
Grade: A-
Artist(s): Stevie Nicks
Label: Reprise Records
Suggested Retail Price: $24.98

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

By CARL CORTEZ, Contributing Editor
Published 4/11/2007


At a certain point, the record industry might stop repurposing their artists catalogs with brand-new "Best Of's," "Millennium Editions," "Super Special Mini-Collections" and so on, but hopefully if they’re going to continue this practice, they make it worthwhile for die-hard fans.

CRYSTAL VISIONS: THE VERY BEST OF STEVIE NICKS is a perfect example of an artist taking pride in reissuing their material yet again to savvy fan base. Although her last true "Best Of" was 1991’s TIMESPACE, and 1998 saw the release of the box set ENCHANTED, Nicks has only released two official solo albums in the interim (not counting her work with Fleetwood Mac), which doesn’t give a whole heck of a lot to add to the mix of what was already there back in 1991.

Yet surprisingly, this set is very cohesive, featuring not only recent live versions of some of her top hits, but also including several signature Fleetwood Mac tracks to offer up a true 16-song encapsulation of who Stevie Nicks is as an artist.

All the hits are here, from "Edge of Seventeen," "Stand Back," "If Anyone Falls" and "Talk To Me," mixed with two of her most popular duets "Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around" (with Tom Petty) and "Leather and Lace" (with Don Henley). Her time with Fleetwood Mac is represented by the tracks "Silver Springs," a pretty groovy techno remix from the group Deep Dish of "Dreams" (which features brand new vocals from Nicks), a live recording of "Rhiannon" and an awesome live recording of "Landslide" with the Melbourne Symphony. She even throws in an obligatory cover, a live version of Led Zeppelin’s "Rock and Roll" that does truly rock. Although there were some great songs from 1994’s underrated STREET ANGEL, no tracks from that disc are represented, while only "Rooms On Fire" from 1989’s THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR gets disc-time.

Even more illuminating are the songs from her 2001 release TROUBLE IN SHANGRI-LA. "Sorcerer" and "Planets of the Universe" may be some of her recent recordings, but as the liner notes point out, they were written back in the ‘70s where she first began her colossal climb to rock goddess stature and which totally adds to the cohesive nature to the sound and style of the songs picked for this collection.

CRYSTAL VISIONS is released in both single CD set and a double disc CD/DVD package, but the latter is the one to buy since it compiles all of Nicks’ music videos starting in the '80s with "Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around" and finishing up to the present with "Sorcerer." Even cooler are the honest audio commentaries from Nicks’ about the making of the videos and the quality of the video themselves. She also talks condidly about her drug addiction and how she came very close to losing her life, but found her way out of the darkness to sing another day.

Another interesting thing about this retrospective is to see how little Nicks has changed over the years. She's always maintained her mystique, style and solid musicianship during the radically changing musical landscape throughout the decades and she's ALWAYS looked fantastic even when her weight tended to fluctuate up and down.

Also included on the DVD are personal behind-the-scenes video during the making of her first solo album BELLA DONNA which gives insight into those legendary sessions.

With a nice booklet filled with photos throughout her career, CRYSTAL VISIONS bucks the trend of thread-bare "Best Of" compilations and gives something meaty to fans as they wait for an album of new material from Nicks. It’s also a reminder of what a potent musical force she’s been over the decades and how her signature singing style has never wavered through the good and bad times. And to think, she didn’t have to have two kids with a deadbeat husband and shave her head in public to prove it either.

[strandinthewind]

Originally Posted by Livia

. . . And to think, she didn’t have to have two kids with a deadbeat husband and shave her head in public to prove it either.

OMG

thanks, as always, for posting!

[Livia]

04/12/07
The Goddess Of Rock Releases 'Crystal Visions... The Very Best Of Stevie Nicks' CD/DVD

The voice and songwriting talent of Stevie Nicks as a solo artist as well as a member of Fleetwood Mac is truly the stuff of legend. Indisputably one of the most successful female artists in rock history, Nicks' extraordinary career includes multiple Grammy awards, numerous gold and platinum records, induction into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and unforgettable performances across the stages of the world for over three decades.

From her unforgettable Fleetwood Mac classics including "Landslide", "Dreams" and "Rhiannon" to the release of her five times platinum solo Bella Donna and her most memorable songs such as "Edge of Seventeen" and "Stand Back," Stevie Nicks is unique among the pantheon of rock icons. Her Trouble in Shangri-La CD returned Ms. Nicks to the top of the charts and a box set career retrospective, Enchanted reflected the breadth of her tremendous talents.

Nicks' new release, Crystal Visions... The Very Best of Stevie Nicks was released on March 27 on Reprise Records. The mega-star is slated to tour the country late Spring and Summer. Stevie Nicks is the embodiment of the transcendent power of music.

Highlights:
-Live performances of "Landslide" and "Edge of Seventeen" recorded with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra
-Classic hits including "Stand Back", Leather and Lace" with Don Henley, "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" with Tom Petty, "Sorcerer" with Sheryl Crow, "If Anyone Falls In Love"
-Live version of "Rhiannon"
-Knock-out live version of Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll"
-Deep Dish dance remix of "Dreams"
-"Silver Springs" from the original master of rumors - a cult favorite and originally the "B" side of "Go Your Own Way"

The DVD Component:
- 13 Stevie videos with voice-over commentary by Stevie Nicks
- Never before seen home video filmed during the making of five-times platinum "Bella Donna" album
- Original Nicks art work, photographs and personal pictures and liner notes written by Stevie for every track on CD.

Enter Here To Win A Signed Stevie Nicks Poster!
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index....es_crystal_vis

Tracklisting:
CD (16 tracks)
1. Edge of Seventeen 5:29
2. I Can't Wait 4:36
3. Sorcerer 4:55
4. If Anyone Falls In Love 4:07
5. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (with Tom Petty) 4:03
6. Silver Springs (with Fleetwood Mac) 4:46
7. Dreams (with Deep Dish) 3:47
8. Rhiannon (Live) 7:02
9. Rooms On Fire 4:35
10. Talk To Me 4:10
11. Landslide (Live with The Melbourne Symphony) 4:14
12. Stand Back 4:48
13. Planets Of The Universe 4:46
14. Rock And Roll (Live) 4:03
15. Leather And Lace (with Don Henley) 3:55
16. Edge Of Seventeen (Live with The Melbourne Symphony) 9:12

DVD (13 tracks):
1. Stop Draggin' My Heart Around (with Tom Petty)
2. Edge Of Seventeen
3. Stand Back (Scarlett Version)
4. Stand Back
5. If Anyone Falls In Love
6. Talk To Me
7. I Can't Wait
8. Rooms On Fire
9. Whole Lotta Trouble
10. Sometimes It's A Bitch
11. Blue Denim
12. Every Day
13. Sorcerer (with Sheryl Crow)

Also includes video commentary by Stevie on all videos and over 30 mins of never-before-seen home video of the Bella Donna recording sessions and personal behind-the-scenes footage.

Package includes 20 page booklet with photos and liner notes written by Stevie for every track on CD.

[MacMan]

By Jeff Swindoll Apr 13, 2007, 17:05 GMT
http://music.monstersandcritics.com/...ks%92__CD_DVD_

First off, Stevie Nicks is not a witch…she just dresses like one. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way (so that she won’t turn me into a newt), Warner Brothers and Reprise records bring out this excellent collection of songs and puts on some great bonus material sure to please the fans.

Nicks first came to fame as a member of Fleetwood Mac and is one of the few artists who has a dual career as a band member that also has a thriving solo career (Mick Jagger springs to mind as well). The first disc is a 16 track compilation of her solo hits, including “Edge of Seventeen.”

It also includes “Silver Springs (with Fleetwood Mac),” “Stop Draggin’ my Heart Around (with Tom Petty),” “Dreams (with Deep Dish),” “Leather and Lace (with Don Henley),” and live performances of “Landside,” “Edge of Seventeen” (both with the Melbourne Symphony), “Rhiannon,” and “Rock and Roll (the Led Zepplin song).” If those tunes were not enough there’s a DVD full of bonus material.

The DVD has over an hour of music videos that include commentary on each one from Nicks. There’s also a 30-minute “making of” feature about making her first solo album “Bella Donna.” The video is pretty crappy VHS quality but is welcome nevertheless to catch a glimpse of Nicks at work on the album.

A great set for her fans or just the casual listener wanting an “instant” Stevie Nicks collection.

‘Crystal Visions - The Very Best of Stevie Nicks’ (CD/DVD) is now available at Amazon. Visit the music database for more information.

[MacMan]

Nicks croons '80s best with 'Crystal Visions'
http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/m...-2842668.shtml

Self-billed as the most successful woman in rock 'n' roll history, Stevie Nicks has roller-coastered through a career with rock legends Fleetwood Mac and ventured out on her own to a very successful solo career. With the recently released "Crystal Visions," Nicks comprises the highs - and lows - of her musical history. She joins with musical greats Tom Petty, Don Henley and former bandmates Fleetwood Mac on this mostly stellar, sometimes mediocre album.

Opening with the hit "Edge of Seventeen," Nicks holds nothing back with her most famous of songs. Crooning in perfect '80s rock style about the white wing dove, Nicks realizes what teenagedom was about. Remade famous by Joan Cusack's impromptu signing in "School of Rock," this '80s ballad will always remain iconic.

The heavy chords of "I Can't Wait" keep the rock juices pumping with some edgy and flamboyant guitars that match perfectly to the techno beats in the background. The '80s are encapsulated in this rock/techno jam that will make any child of that blessed decade yearn for a comeback of John Hughes, Bon Jovi and Van Halen. Nicks roughs up her voice and weaves through the guitar solos showing why this song was an instant classic.

Following the one-two punch that "Edge of Seventeen" and 'I Can't Wait" make up, she brings in rock legend Tom Petty to help on "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around." This is one of the weaker songs on the album because it can't decide if it wants to be a Petty or Nicks song. It tries to be both, but doesn't do either very well. Petty's guitar is prominent and it tunes up a fairly decent rhythm. But the chorus transitions into an '80s riff more akin to Nicks. The dichotomy between the two parts doesn't fit and brings down a song that could have been great.

What didn't work with Tom Petty works marvelously well with Don Henley on one of the closing tracks, "Leather and Lace." This track delves into Nicks's folk side while not ignoring her rock side. Nicks sings in a very competent country style that listens to country greats before the pop revolution that is now overtaking the genre came into effect. Don Henley's calm yet moving guitars complement Nicks perfectly. As do the sections when Henley exercises his soothingly edgy voice that wouldn't normally seem at home amongst a folk song.

The album closes with a live version of "Edge of Seventeen" that rocks harder than the studio version. The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra plays alongside Nicks that is far more a successful combination that it would seem. The orchestra sound next to the electric guitar brings memories of Metallica's foray into orchestra rock. Obviously not the same, this version still brings some rock power next to a equally powerful strings section.

All in all, this album is for any Nicks fan - her career is very well summed up in this good compilation. Eighties rock is still alive and well with the edgy Nicks, and as long as people still remember what "The Breakfast Club" was all about, Nicks will still have a relevant place in the American music scene. Where more music has gone the way of the pop talent eraser, Nicks holds nothing back and puts violins next to her big hair.

[Livia]

http://www.edgenewengland.com/index....sc3=cd&id=6269

"Crystal Visions - The Very Best of Stevie Nicks" by Stevie Nicks
by Rick Dunn
EDGE Community Editor
Wednesday Apr 18, 2007

All that twirling has clearly paid off, because Fleetwood Mac frontwoman Stevie Nicks - arguably the most prolific, and certainly one of the most influential women in rock music - has successfully maintained parallel careers as a big time solo artist and as a member of a big time band. Other charismatic, iconic performers have tried, but none other than Nicks have managed to pull-off con-current careers.

As one of Mac’s three singer/songwriters, Nicks was only able to contribute three or four songs per album, leaving her with a wealth of unrecorded material. In 1981, while FM was taking a break following an arduous world tour, she released her first smash solo album, Belladonna, which hit number one and featured four Top 40 singles. In ’82, FM released Mirage featuring her smash, Gypsy. The following year, Nicks issued another smash solo disc, The Wild Heart, featuring Stand Back. This release cycle continues to this day, although there’s a much greater gap between CD releases, even though both she and the band continue to tour aggressively.

Her output as a solo artist and as a member of Fleetwood Mac are so intertwined that she’s always struggled to assemble an appropriate greatest hits disc. Contractual issues prevent the inclusion of original FM recordings, but for Crystal Visions: The Very Best of Stevie Nicks, she’s found a compromise that permits the inclusion of a handful of her signature Fleetwood compositions. She’s included newly recorded live versions of Rhiannon and Landslide, which features the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. She’s swapped out the Fleetwood Mac version of the number one hit Dreams, with Deep Dish’s dance-inflected cover version with re-recorded vocals.

One Mac recording is included - the original version of Silver Springs, which was cut from the band’s biggest seller, Rumors. Ten years ago, a live version was a hit for the band, but the original is equally riveting.

Most of her top 40 solo hits are accounted for, including Edge of Seventeen, Stand Back, Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around, Leather & Lace, Talk to Me, Rooms on Fire, I Can’t Wait, If Anyone Falls, and there’s an additional, epic live version of Edge of Seventeen with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.

Crystal Visions is available as a single CD or as CD/DVD package. The DVD contains 13 music videos, including a clunky Civil War-themed video for Stand Back that was shelved. Nicks provides illuminating, and sometimes hilarious, commentary for every video. The real revelation is an unreleased, 30-minute home video documenting the recording of Belladonna. Unconcerned with the superficial and equally unaware of an upstart MTV, there’s something remarkably pure about this footage. It’s a testament to her dedication and evidence of her enduring appeal.

Available as single disc or CD/DVD package.
Reprise Records

Rick Dunn’s writing has appeared in The Boston Globe, The Windy City Times, Washington Blade and Bay Windows. He is a member of Ryan Landry’s Gold Dust Orphans theatrical troupe. He was the editor of in newsweekly from 1996 to 2003.

[Livia]

http://www.dvdinmypants.com/hotpants...ons_snicks.php

There's a contest to win a copy: http://www.dvdinmypants.com/hotpants...sts/stevie.php

Crystal Visions – The Very Best of Stevie Nicks
By Cary Christopher

As a music geek, Stevie Nicks has always been an artist I had very mixed feelings about. Her contributions to Fleetwood Mac are without a doubt masterful. Artistically, she brought an element to the band that resonates in their catalog to this day. Emotionally, she was oneof the catalysts in that band creating their masterpiece Rumors album. On her own though, Stevie Nicks has been one of those artists that seemed to walk a fine line just this side of parody. All of the lace, candles and gypsy imagery just begs a sarcastic son of a bitch like me to take potshots at her.

So, reviewing Crystal Visions... The Very Best of Stevie Nicks is an interesting endeavor. The set contains one audio CD and one DVD. The CD track listing immediately made me dread putting it in because about a third of the songs on here are not the popular versions once played on your favorite radio station. They are instead alternate mixes ("Dreams" club mix) or live versions ("Landslide", "Rhianon", etc.). That's not surprising when you actually separate the Fleetwood Mac hits from Nicks' solo career and realize how few she actually has that she can call a "Stevie Nicks hit". That's not to say she hasn't written great songs. It's just saying that buying a CD called The Very Best of Stevie Nicks which focused only on her solo career would be underwhelming for casual fans.

And that is where the problem with this disc lies. The live and alternate versions of the Fleetwood Mac hits on this CD aren't nearly as good as their originals. Additionally, the live version of her covering Led Zeppelin's "Rock and Roll" is flat when you compare it to Heart's version. As for the hits on here that are hers, many suffer from the sound of the times. For example, the big 80s drums and keyboards on "Stand Back", "Talk To Me" and "If Anyone Falls" are almost cringe inducing now. "Leather and Lace" has become cliché as it's so overplayed on adult contemporary radio. Of all the songs on here, the only two that hit me just as hard as when I first heard them are "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" and "Edge of Seventeen" (the studio version, not the live symphony version also included here).

Still, if you are buying this set, chances are you are already a huge fan and getting those alternate versions will be a boost to your personal Stevie Nicks collection. You know, the group of CDs you keep on a separate shelf, sitting on a crocheted doily, surrounded by deep crimson candles and guarded by your cat.

That said, let's move on to the DVD because really, that's where the meat on this collection is. The DVD contains every single video from Nicks' solo career and while that's reason enough for a fan to buy it, each video also comes with commentary by Stevie Nicks herself. That's huge. Nicks talks pretty candidly about each one, beginning with "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" where she rightly points out how poorly she's lip syncing. In fact, she barely knew the song when they were filming and if you watch, there are moments when she's not even mouthing the right words. It's pretty funny. Her sense of humor is pretty good on most of these. At the same time, she shares some pretty personal moments about songs like "Edge of Seventeen" (she was in tears from stagefright before the show) and "If Anyone Falls". She comes off as warm and open and while she doesn't really address anything on a "Behind the Music" level, she doesn't seem to shy away from anything either.

Additionally, the DVD contains home movie footage of the recording of Bella Donna (Nicks' first solo album). The quality is pretty awful but there are some truly funny and enlightening moments on here that give you a good glimpse of how Nicks works in the studio.

Finally, I can't wrap up this review without mentioning the packaging. The set comes with a booklet where Nicks has written notes for each of the songs on the CD and included personal photographs with many of the musicians who accompanied her. The notes are going to be great for fans and do add some insight into where she was when she wrote each song and where she is now in comparison.

All in all, it's easy to take this set and say, "Well, it's not really the best of Stevie Nicks" but I'd venture to say that's not the point. The point was to give her fans something that truly said, "Thank you" for years of support. In that regard, Crystal Visions... The Very Best of Stevie Nicks is a fine collection.

3.5

[Johnny Stew]

This is from one of my favorite websites -- MusicTAP.
I especially love that last sentence.
_______________________________________________________________________


Stevie Nicks
Crystal Visions...
The Very Best of Stevie Nicks
4 (out of 5) Stars

Reviewed by - Matt Rowe

From Stevie Nicks’ beginnings with her as-yet-unreleased-on-CD, Buckingham/Nicks duet recording to her eventual introduction, with Lindsay Buckingham, into a re-re-revitalizing Fleetwood Mac (resulting in the band’s most popular incarnation) to her successful solo career, she has mesmerized a wide audience with her gypsy-like presentation. After the disruption of the Fleetwood Mac parade (before her current rejoining), Ms Nicks knew how to take much of her unrecorded writings to the next stage, and, along with a myriad of followers from her Fleetwood Mac days, turn them into music demanding to be heard.

Crystal Visions is a recently released collection of the best that came from her solo work as well as her penned Fleetwood Mac b-side, “Silver Springs” and a few live recordings and a remix. Crystal Visions is an excellent revue of her work although I have to admit surprise that she didn’t tease fans with a cut from the highly coveted Buckingham/Nicks album. The contrast between her 1991 ‘best of’, the Modern Records/Atlantic issue of Timespace with its 14 tracks and this new Crystal Visions compilation with its 16 tracks and a DVD of 13 videos, is a lot of included songs – you’ll find 6 songs on Timespace not on Crystal Visions and 7 on Crystal Visions not on Timespace. It may have been to avoid extreme replication or it is a rethink of what were really ‘best’ cuts from here career. Regardless, both sets offer a sincere overview of Stevie Nicks with Crystal Visions doing the better job because of the wider career sweep and the added DVD. Both sets provide Nicks commentaries on the songs contained therein.

The real deal on this set is the DVD with the videos that add to the luxury of this special Edition collection. A few of the songs on Crystal Visions (“Landslide,” “Edge of Seventeen”) are live, a practice that I detest when they replace the original in a compiled ‘best of.’ I like live inclusions but only if they are added as the best live cut of an original in addition to the original - fortunately done here with "Edge of Seventeen." There are a few other live cuts including a very good version of Led Zeppelin’s classic “Rock and Roll” that works very well.

All in all, Crystal Visions…The Very Best of Stevie Nicks, is a very good overview of what Stevie Nicks has produced. With live tracks, originals, videos, and an excellent booklet with commentaries, Crystal Visions represents.

I recommend her excellent 1985 Modern Records/Atlantic release of Rock a Little, of which 2 of her big hits, (“I Can’t Wait,” “Talk to Me”) are inevitable inclusions on any collected set.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Matthew Rowe.

[AliceLover]

Originally Posted by Johnny Stew

This is from one of my favorite websites -- MusicTAP.
I especially love that last sentence.
_______________________________________________________________________


Stevie Nicks
Crystal Visions...
The Very Best of Stevie Nicks
4 (out of 5) Stars

Reviewed by - Matt Rowe

From Stevie Nicks’ beginnings with her as-yet-unreleased-on-CD, Buckingham/Nicks duet recording to her eventual introduction, with Lindsay Buckingham, into a re-re-revitalizing Fleetwood Mac (resulting in the band’s most popular incarnation) to her successful solo career, she has mesmerized a wide audience with her gypsy-like presentation. After the disruption of the Fleetwood Mac parade (before her current rejoining), Ms Nicks knew how to take much of her unrecorded writings to the next stage, and, along with a myriad of followers from her Fleetwood Mac days, turn them into music demanding to be heard.

Crystal Visions is a recently released collection of the best that came from her solo work as well as her penned Fleetwood Mac b-side, “Silver Springs” and a few live recordings and a remix. Crystal Visions is an excellent revue of her work although I have to admit surprise that she didn’t tease fans with a cut from the highly coveted Buckingham/Nicks album. The contrast between her 1991 ‘best of’, the Modern Records/Atlantic issue of Timespace with its 14 tracks and this new Crystal Visions compilation with its 16 tracks and a DVD of 13 videos, is a lot of included songs – you’ll find 6 songs on Timespace not on Crystal Visions and 7 on Crystal Visions not on Timespace. It may have been to avoid extreme replication or it is a rethink of what were really ‘best’ cuts from here career. Regardless, both sets offer a sincere overview of Stevie Nicks with Crystal Visions doing the better job because of the wider career sweep and the added DVD. Both sets provide Nicks commentaries on the songs contained therein.

The real deal on this set is the DVD with the videos that add to the luxury of this special Edition collection. A few of the songs on Crystal Visions (“Landslide,” “Edge of Seventeen”) are live, a practice that I detest when they replace the original in a compiled ‘best of.’ I like live inclusions but only if they are added as the best live cut of an original in addition to the original - fortunately done here with "Edge of Seventeen." There are a few other live cuts including a very good version of Led Zeppelin’s classic “Rock and Roll” that works very well.
All in all, Crystal Visions…The Very Best of Stevie Nicks, is a very good overview of what Stevie Nicks has produced. With live tracks, originals, videos, and an excellent booklet with commentaries, Crystal Visions represents.

I recommend her excellent 1985 Modern Records/Atlantic release of Rock a Little, of which 2 of her big hits, (“I Can’t Wait,” “Talk to Me”) are inevitable inclusions on any collected set.

Copyright © 2002-2006 Matthew Rowe.

OMG all the reviewers say this. If the album versions of Dreams, Rhiannon, and Landslide were on this collection I would VOMIT. Thank god that didn't happen.

[Livia]

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/in...&news_id=55980

Stevie Nicks
The Very Best Of Stevie Nicks
(Reprise)

Stevie Nicks has enjoyed a consistently stellar solo career outside the Fleetwood Mac armada, proving both a delightful and stylish vocalist and excellent songwriter whose music has been embraced by pop, rock and country fans. Though some of the tunes included in this extensive collection date back more than 30 years, they haven’t lost their lure, and Nicks’ voice seems even more appealing when hearing them again.

Among the many highlights are the vulnerability and sadness displayed in her rendition of “Edge of Seventeen,” the alluring “Sorcerer” that paired her with Sheryl Crow and the spirited “Stop Draggin’ My Heart Around” duet with Tom Petty, plus the more lyrically ambitious “Rhiannon” and “Rock and Roll,” her Led Zeppelin tribute number.

There’s also a previously unreleased live version of “Landslide,” and several other numbers that have made Stevie Nicks a longtime fan favorite.

[kathy1]

i love the crystal visions cd/dvd. i love some of the behind the scenes things.