Trouble In Shangri-La vs. In Your Dreams

[bluefox4000]

I just want to say one thing I forgot to about TISL I was 16 when it came out. This was the album that Stevie started to win me back with. After the horrible 1 2 3 blow of RAL, OSOTM and SA (Although I've softened on SA) I was completely thrown out of Stevieland, lol. When I heard TISL. I said, "OK Stevie getting there." If not for the middle it would be up to par. However IYD won me completely.

Mick

[starshine]

Well, I picked TISL ...its not like its my favorite its OK but I really haven't listend to IYD much (really once) I mean its not bad just didn't make me want to really listen to it much again though--I can handle some songs on 'Dreams' but really 'Lady from the Mountain' should've stayed that don't care about the vampires' song thing. Plus Stevie's voice seems kinda monotoned somewhat. I will try to listen to it again just haven't yet. Really nothing compares to the older things to me not that I don't like it that she tried something new etc. IMO anyway

[louielouie2000]

I listened to In Your Dreams for the first time in a year today. I'd forgotten what a wonderful album it is. As an entire work, it's far better than most, if not all, of Stevie's solo albums. On the other hand, the more than time goes on, the more flawed I find Trouble In Shangri La to be. There are several different production styles on the album which definitely clash; I think the tracking is very poor; and I feel Stevie's vocal performances on the whole are pretty uninspired. However, Trouble In Shangri La does have some better individual songs than In Your Dreams does. Love Is contains some of Stevie's most poignant songwriting since her Tusk days. Still, In Your Dreams is vastly superior in every other way. After listening to it again today, it might even topple Bella Donna as my favorite Stevie solo album.

[KarmaContestant]

I ended up choosing TISL.

In Your dreams is a better whole album for the casual listener, but TISL has Planets and Candlebright and Sorcerer and Fall From Grace and Bombay Sapphires and the title song - I guess what I'm getting at is that TISL has these classic songs, these sterotypes of Stevieism, these tracks that really scream "this is what Stevie is all about".

[SpyNote]

I'd say they're about even. I like and dislike about the same number of songs on each album.

TISL

Pros
- Lots of old demos finally recorded
- First four songs are perfection

Cons
- Drum machines. Awful invention. Makes the songs sound incomplete and amateurish.
- Some very generic and forgettable songs: Every Day, I Miss You, Love Changes

IYD

Pros
- Her most melodic album since Bella Donna
- No drum machines, at least their use is not glaringly obvious on this record
- Good cohesive mix of songs

Cons
- Lots of lyrical clunkers: Soldier's Angel (sorry, Stevie!), You May Be The One (contradictory lyrics are the worst), Ghosts Are Gone, Cheaper Than Free. Repetitive, cliched, and bland.

Despite all this, I bought at least 10 copies of TISL and 5 copies of IYD.

[JohnL]

This one is really difficult. I love both albums. To me, I guess it has to be In Your Dreams for the win. I love TISL (the title song)and Planets and Love Is...the rest of TISL has kind of fallen off my radar. I dont really crave to hear it.

In Your Dreams has some spectacular songs on it. I LOVE For What Its Worth, Wide Sargasso Sea, New Orleans, You May Be the One, Secret Love, and Italian Summer. The rest of the songs are not as great but no clunkers either. The one negative point on IYD for me is Moonlight. I know people will hate that I say that but I dont get all the love for that song. Bores me....

[DestinyRules]

Trouble In Shangri-La vs Secret Love
Candlebright vs For What It's Worth
Sorcerer vs In Your Dreams
Planets Of The Universe vs Wide Sargasso Sea
Every Day vs New Orleans
Too Far From Texas vs Moonlight (A Vampire's Dream)
That Made Me Stronger vs Annabel Lee
It's Only Love vs Soldier's Angel
Love Changes vs Everybody Loves You
I Miss You vs Ghosts Are Gone
Bombay Sapphires vs You May Be The One
Fall From Grace Vs Italian Summer
Love Is vs Cheaper Than Free

Granted, I like more TISL songs than I do IYD songs, but the songs I like on IYD are generally more passionately felt ("Fall From Grace" and "It's Only Love" being noticeable exceptions).

[FierySequences]

Originally Posted by DestinyRules

[b]
Granted, I like more TISL songs than I do IYD songs, but the songs I like on IYD are generally more passionately felt ("Fall From Grace" and "It's Only Love" being noticeable exceptions).

Ooh I love your idea so much, I decided to copy it. This is a tough decision and I think I orginally voted TISL w/o posting.

My take:

Trouble In Shangri-La vs Secret Love
Candlebright vs For What It's Worth
Sorcerer vs In Your Dreams
Planets Of The Universe vs Wide Sargasso Sea
Every Day vs New Orleans
Too Far From Texas vs Moonlight (A Vampire's Dream)
That Made Me Stronger vs Annabel Lee
It's Only Love vs Soldier's Angel
Love Changes vs Everybody Loves You
I Miss You vs Ghosts Are Gone
Bombay Sapphires vs You May Be The One
Fall From Grace Vs Italian Summer
Love Is vs Cheaper Than Free

So, I guess I really do love TISL more than IYD. Her latest was nice and of course a welcomed addition to my collection. However the hype that surrounded IYD as being her return-to-form of a story album (like BD and TWH) has me in a questioning state of mind

I feel that TISL was more on par with the storyline concept-type album.