Album Speculation

[APerfectLie]

Perhaps Stevie will bring in Taylor Swift to do a duet and then she will have no problem selling 50K in a week.

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Oh, that's pure nuttiness. On what planet is Lucinda Williams more popular/recognized than Stevie? I couldn't name a Lucinda Williams tune, let alone hum one, if my life depended on it. Also, her most recent album in 2008 sold 35,000 copies in its first week- before the big financial meltdown and back when music was still selling somewhat. It won't happen again for her. There is no doubt in my mind that Stevie will sell at least 50,000 in the first week. I'd bet my house on it.

All I can say is, feel free to throw it in my face when the results are in (if they do end up going head to head, of course). Unlike some on this board, I don't run away when my unfounded braggadocio has been convincingly/overwhelmingly proven wrong.

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by APerfectLie

Perhaps Stevie will bring in Taylor Swift to do a duet and then she will have no problem selling 50K in a week.

Like Taylor Swift has time for that nonsense. She just sold 60,000 tickets in Boston in five minutes.

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by LukeA

All I can say is, feel free to throw it in my face when the results are in (if they do end up going head to head, of course). Unlike some on this board, I don't run away when my unfounded braggadocio has been convincingly/overwhelmingly proven wrong.

Praise Allah for fearless, self-congratulatory defenders of the truth! Makes me think of a recent episode of South Park:

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by tilthefirefades

Who is Lucinda Williams?

An interesting factoid, Lucinda won the 2001 Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance... a category our very own Stevie Nicks was nominated for. It was quite an upset for us Stevie fans at the time, because Lucinda was a relative unknown, her album was largely considered Country NOT rock, and TISL was Stevie's long-coming triumphant solo return.

So the question remains, could Lucinda pull another upset on Stevie if they release their albums at the same time? It's absolutely possible. Lucinda's last studio album cracked the US Top 10 2 years ago. This past decade she hasn't gone more than 2 years without releasing new material, and each of her albums have charted higher than it's predecessor. Point is, she's been building and focusing her fanbase, whereas Stevie has largely let hers atrophy because she has neither been retaining her current fans nor recruiting new ones via releasing new material.

I personally don't paint an especially rosy picture for the sales of Stevie's upcoming album. But I do have a distinct feeling it'll be her turn in the sun for critical acclaim and industry awards. The Recording Academy has been smiling on older artists for some time now, especially older artists who collaborate with other musicians (a la the Santana collaboration albums, Robert Plant/Allison Krause, etc). Plus these kind of award shows love nice round numbers like '30 years since her first album' and '10 years since her last album.' To me, it just seems like a giant oversight that Stevie's not received a solo Grammy... if her album is any good, the timing might just be right for that to be rectified. I guess we'll see what happens!

[Christopher]

If Taylor Swift is anywhere near this record I will puke! I really cant think of anyone current who I can see or want to hear Stevie collaborate with at this point. On the other hand I can think of several producers I would love to see her work with.

On the issue of sales, I would love to see Stevie have a modest hit with this record on par with TISL's, but personally am not expecting it, but just loving the fact that we get another Stevie solo recording. However, I do think she can sell upwards of 50K units in the 1st week or two just from her hardcore fans - Stevie has over 100K fans on Facebook that they could market to without barely lifting a finger. So mainly it will be about getting the word out (which should be easy enough based on Stevie's iconic legacy) & of course that is dependant upon promotion / television appearances...etc., but sales beyond the 3rd and 4th week is anyones guess. But I do get the distinct impression from Stevie's interviews last Aug. that she is not daunted by the prospects of whether it sells well or not, which for me is refreshing, because after Bella Donna, Stevie has been chasing that success, sometimes with misguided advice and missteps in choosing collaborator's & song choices, all to get the almighty top 40 hit. Stevie was always one to say she wrote accidental hits, and never wrote with that in mind during the early years...and it seems that she has settled down with that mindset and hopefully has a realistic new wisdom with this new record.

As much as I loved TISL when it was released, and still like it today, I do not want another repeat of it. Looking back it was a bit contrived with all the guest appearance's to grab a bigger audience base ala Santana's "Supernatural" success in 2000. But thankfully it remained a very Stevie record despite all those distraction.

I also expect that Stevie's voice will be even deeper sounding on this new record. And her ever changing instrument in essence is another one of the major game changers that has dogged Stevie's entire career. When RAL was released, though I loved every bit of it, I remember a lot of people thought her voice was tattered and trashed and it was yet another reason for some fans to stray. I am not as fickle and have loved or grew to love pretty much all aspects of Stevie's voice through the years. So in conclusion I just don't care anymore if the general audience gets Stevie or not, Don't really care if she has a top 40 single anymore. Her fans are there and waiting & I simply just want a solid record that I will cherish for years to come, and that's as basic as it gets.

[bluefox4000]

All I ask for is a shorter more concise album. Nome of this just short of an hour stuff. It's not her friend. Please at least 42 minutes to at the most 45.....Please Stevie

Mick

[baboles]

Originally Posted by bluefox4000

All I ask for is a shorter more concise album. Nome of this just short of an hour stuff. It's not her friend. Please at least 42 minutes to at the most 45.....Please Stevie

Mick

I always end up appreciating albums more if they contain 9-12 songs. When I listen to an album, I tend to sit through every track and it can get a little tedious if I'm listening to a 14-15 track album. That's just me though. lol. I hope the album has a simple, straightforward, classic rock sound mixed in with her mystical imagery and poetic lyrics.

[bluefox4000]

I hope so too. About the album duration. Some people can pull off the long thing.....not Stevie.
I know It sounds like I bash her a lot.....But I really love Stevie, and I'm really pulling for a wonderful record

Mick

[HejiraNYC]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

An interesting factoid, Lucinda won the 2001 Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance... a category our very own Stevie Nicks was nominated for. It was quite an upset for us Stevie fans at the time, because Lucinda was a relative unknown, her album was largely considered Country NOT rock, and TISL was Stevie's long-coming triumphant solo return.

So the question remains, could Lucinda pull another upset on Stevie if they release their albums at the same time? It's absolutely possible. Lucinda's last studio album cracked the US Top 10 2 years ago. This past decade she hasn't gone more than 2 years without releasing new material, and each of her albums have charted higher than it's predecessor. Point is, she's been building and focusing her fanbase, whereas Stevie has largely let hers atrophy because she has neither been retaining her current fans nor recruiting new ones via releasing new material.

I personally don't paint an especially rosy picture for the sales of Stevie's upcoming album. But I do have a distinct feeling it'll be her turn in the sun for critical acclaim and industry awards. The Recording Academy has been smiling on older artists for some time now, especially older artists who collaborate with other musicians (a la the Santana collaboration albums, Robert Plant/Allison Krause, etc). Plus these kind of award shows love nice round numbers like '30 years since her first album' and '10 years since her last album.' To me, it just seems like a giant oversight that Stevie's not received a solo Grammy... if her album is any good, the timing might just be right for that to be rectified. I guess we'll see what happens!

The bar for charting in the Top Ten in recent years has been especially low- Lucinda Williams' first week sales were only 35K. It is absolutely a given that Stevie will chart in the Top 10. For crikeys sake, Heart went Top 10 this year after their last album barely cracked the Top 100. Stevie's new album represents a confluence of so many things that push it beyond merely just another collection of songs: her first in ten years, her first collaboration with someone else, goodwill from the mainstream media, a documentary, a duet with Lindsey and an astonishing 40-year career/legacy to ponder. That is all in addition to Stevie's considerable built-in diehard base plus a larger, extended group of casual fans of the Mac. Lucinda Williams is purely a figment of the music critics' imagination. She. is. not. all. that. Perhaps the most obscenely overrated artist in the history of music. She's a niche artist at best- someone who is not at home on mainstream country radio or on adult alternative formats, let alone rock and pop. She has never had a hit single, she has no identifiable public persona to speak of and she comes across as decidedly uncharming in live performance. And I'll just come right out and say what everyone is thinking: she ain't nothing to look at either. Yes, I'm sure she has her fans. Yes, I'm sure some of her music is not unpleasant. But the hype machine can only take an artist so far. I can see the empress wears no clothes and I can't be the only one.

[joe68]

But she does need to act. Avril Lavigne announced today that her new album is coming out March 8. For Stevie to start a streamroller of publicity for this album - and if it still is coming out in March - then girlfriend needs to get crackin'!

Maybe she doesnt need to release a single as yet, but certainly an announcement is in order if she still plans on releasing this record in March.

[SapphireSister]

My expectation is simple - at least 2 songs from the vaults that we have demos of, one of which I love. Like she did with Planets and Sorcerer on TISL. Since I've only been a chiffonhead since 2002 I would like to experience this for the first time after falling in love with so many of those old demos.

[LukeA]

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Lucinda Williams is purely a figment of the music critics' imagination. She. is. not. all. that. Perhaps the most obscenely overrated artist in the history of music..

She kicked your ass in a bar fight, didn't she?

[silvasprings]

Originally Posted by baboles

I always end up appreciating albums more if they contain 9-12 songs. When I listen to an album, I tend to sit through every track and it can get a little tedious if I'm listening to a 14-15 track album. That's just me though. lol. I hope the album has a simple, straightforward, classic rock sound mixed in with her mystical imagery and poetic lyrics.

I'd like about 12 tracks, but if there are other studio outtakes she should release an expanded/deluxe version of the album too, perhaps with some live tracks from the tour too??? Assuming that she tours, which of course she will. (she better come to Australia!!!)

[lacesundone]

Originally Posted by CreepingDeath

And an amazing one at that. I for one would be quite pleased to have a new album from her and Stevie on the same day.

I'm all about having two new albums from two of my favorites!!!