Stevie CDs You Play Most Often - Page 3

darklinensuit · #31 06-17-2004, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiliD

I rarely play the others at all...and only because I'm somewhat of a completist do I still OWN Other Side Of The Mirror...to me, it is by far her worst solo album.

I'm surprised you don't like TWH. It's cohesive, but vocally more adventurous than the others. But then again the lyrics are probably too extreme Stevie-esque for you, I imagine.
TOSOTM is sad to the point of dreary. I like several songs a lot, but the overall sound & keyboard support leave me feeling blah afterwards. Say what you will about RAL, folks, but for many of us it's an energizing mood lifter.

(And I agree that Side 2 is probably stronger than Side 1. My least favorite song on the album is I Sing For The Things.)

- Jake

darklinensuit · #32 06-17-2004, 10:39 AM

And I'm surprised that BD hasn't rated better around here considering how many people say they love it.

- Jake

dissention · #33 06-17-2004, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

(And I agree that Side 2 is probably stronger than Side 1. My least favorite song on the album is I Sing For The Things.)

- Jake

I actually like the upbeat version of ISFTT that's out there. With the exception of those stupid lyrics, that version is pretty good.

darklinensuit · #34 06-17-2004, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I actually like the upbeat version of ISFTT that's out there. With the exception of those stupid lyrics, that version is pretty good.

It has the same weak vocal, IMO. (Though I love the same vocal on the song RAL. Go figure. Maybe it's that RAL is more of a whisper.

)

- Jake

dissention · #35 06-17-2004, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

It has the same weak vocal, IMO. (Though I love the same vocal on the song RAL. Go figure. Maybe it's that RAL is more of a whisper.

)

- Jake

I think the vocal is quite a bit more louder than the wretched album version.

Have you heard the piano demos for it?

darklinensuit · #36 06-17-2004, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

I think the vocal is quite a bit more louder than the wretched album version.

Have you heard the piano demos for it?

I think I've heard one but did not care for it.
The demo you referred to has a country sound to it, correct?

- Jake

chiliD · #37 06-17-2004, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

I'm surprised you don't like TWH.

It's not that I "don't like" it. It just sounds even more dated than RAL to me. (especially, "If Anyone Falls" & "Nothing Ever Changes") "Sable On Blond" is still in my top 5 favorite Stevie solo tunes. I think Fleetwood Mac plays "Stand Back" better than the original recording. "Enchanted" is really a cool tune, but the remix on the box set sounds cleaner to me. "Gate & Garden" is ok...another song that has the direct DNA of "Dreams" (but of all those, "Outside The Rain" & "Sable On Blond" are the stronger ones). "I Will Run To You"...after the wonderful TP duet on Bella Donna, this was boring (to me), and starting to get formulaic (especially, with TP having another duet with SN on his own album in the meantime). "Beauty & the Beast", again, the box set track sounds cleaner. (and I actually kind of like the Fleetwood Mac demo/outtake version even better than her solo version). She does a nice job on B&tB live, though. Oh, yeah, and the title track...not so much, ya know? It was the first track that really started to show the wear & tear on her voice and was a hint as to the direction her voice was going. Plus, it seemed like she was going for another "Bella Donna" (the song), and it paled by comparison. And, that said, I think overall (and in retrospect) it just seemed like she was trying to re-create the entire Bella Donna album formula only using the current pop/synth flavors instead of the slight country flavor of BD.

darklinensuit · #38 06-17-2004, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiliD

It's not that I "don't like" it. It just sounds even more dated than RAL to me. (especially, "If Anyone Falls" & "Nothing Ever Changes") "Sable On Blond" is still in my top 5 favorite Stevie solo tunes. I think Fleetwood Mac plays "Stand Back" better than the original recording. "Enchanted" is really a cool tune, but the remix on the box set sounds cleaner to me. "Gate & Garden" is ok...another song that has the direct DNA of "Dreams" (but of all those, "Outside The Rain" & "Sable On Blond" are the stronger ones). "I Will Run To You"...after the wonderful TP duet on Bella Donna, this was boring (to me), and starting to get formulaic (especially, with TP having another duet with SN on his own album in the meantime). "Beauty & the Beast", again, the box set track sounds cleaner. (and I actually kind of like the Fleetwood Mac demo/outtake version even better than her solo version). She does a nice job on B&tB live, though. Oh, yeah, and the title track...not so much, ya know? It was the first track that really started to show the wear & tear on her voice and was a hint as to the direction her voice was going. Plus, it seemed like she was going for another "Bella Donna" (the song), and it paled by comparison. And, that said, I think overall (and in retrospect) it just seemed like she was trying to re-create the entire Bella Donna album formula only using the current pop/synth flavors instead of the slight country flavor of BD.

Interesting.
I agree that Stand Back live is far superior to the album track, at least the versions from the current and RAL tours. The Mask versions sucked, as much for her voice as for the production.
I love the song Wild Heart, and IMO the album still has some country sounds, especially Enchanted & Gate And Garden. One big difference from BD is that the earlier album relies on guitars, whereas TWH has a prominent piano sound (except where those keyboards are present). I Will Run To You is no Insider, to be sure. It's the most dated of the songs (keyboards!), along with IAF, though I love IAF. And the vocals on Nothing Ever Changes and Sable On Blonde match up to any on BD, IMO.

- Jake

diamondsnake · #39 06-17-2004, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dissention

-
-TOSOTM (I have love it, shoot me!)

I thought you said this album was mediocre adult contemporary?

markolas · #40 06-17-2004, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

Interesting.
I agree that Stand Back live is far superior to the album track, at least the versions from the current and RAL tours. The Mask versions sucked, as much for her voice as for the production.
I love the song Wild Heart, and IMO the album still has some country sounds, especially Enchanted & Gate And Garden. One big difference from BD is that the earlier album relies on guitars, whereas TWH has a prominent piano sound (except where those keyboards are present). I Will Run To You is no Insider, to be sure. It's the most dated of the songs (keyboards!), along with IAF, though I love IAF. And the vocals on Nothing Ever Changes and Sable On Blonde match up to any on BD, IMO.

- Jake

Wild Heart is one of those 4 or 5 great songs on the album, IMO. Even though I agree that it sounds dated, If Anyone Falls is another one of the great ones. Something about the vocal and the lyrics seem to make up for the very '80s sound of the music.

I've never been able to make any sense out of the lyrics to Gate & Garden.

darklinensuit · #41 06-18-2004, 02:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diamondsnake

I thought you said this album was mediocre adult contemporary?

Yeah, but he meant in a good way.

- Jake

darklinensuit · #42 06-18-2004, 02:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markolas

Wild Heart is one of those 4 or 5 great songs on the album, IMO. Even though I agree that it sounds dated, If Anyone Falls is another one of the great ones. Something about the vocal and the lyrics seem to make up for the very '80s sound of the music.

I've never been able to make any sense out of the lyrics to Gate & Garden.

I agree with all of this.
Gate & Garden & The Nightmare have the same tendency to start a thought/conjure & image & then just jump to a new one abruptly. But that's Stevie.

- Jake

darklinensuit · #43 06-18-2004, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

For me TWH is Stevie's best album, which is funny because I didn't care for it at first. But over the years I find it's the album I go back to the most. Her vocals on it are superb, from the passionate opening track to the epic and lush Beauty & The Beast - I just love every single song, IWRTY included. Bella Donna is a close second though, and TISL is holding up well so far.
I always thought TWH and BD were the albums that sounded the least dated, but we all hear things differently I guess!

Well said!

- Jake

markolas · #44 06-18-2004, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darklinensuit

I agree with all of this.
Gate & Garden & The Nightmare have the same tendency to start a thought/conjure & image & then just jump to a new one abruptly. But that's Stevie.

- Jake

Now, see...I love The Nightmare. The lyrics are a little convoluted, but I can make some sense out of it (besides, she just rocks on it). With Gate & Garden, I get nothing. Definitely one of the turkeys of her career.

darklinensuit · #45 06-18-2004, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markolas

Now, see...I love The Nightmare. The lyrics are a little convoluted, but I can make some sense out of it (besides, she just rocks on it). With Gate & Garden, I get nothing. Definitely one of the turkeys of her career.

Okay, big talker, explain:
"So about the moon and her sisters
How dare he take them prisoner
Well, if she had flung out her heart against him
Then in all her wisdom
Ooooh, that was a mystery"

- Jake