Trouble In Shangri-La

aprilsrain · #1 03-12-2011, 01:13 PM

In anticipation of the new album, I've gone back and started listening to my whole Stevie collection, which started with TOSOTM when someone on this board wrote an excellent analysis of the album, which I'm hoping my post will spur another for this one.

I've found other than the playlist I've had on my iPhone with several of my favorite Stevie songs to begin with, lot of her songs on her albums really suffer from dated 80s production and synthesizers which drown out a lot of very nice songs. This changes with Street Angel, but the album is so flat and muted for the most part, it's a little boring.

At the time TISL came out, I didn't like it at all. I thought it was an odd mash up of current pop production (of which I was a big alt-rock fan at the time so I didn't like) and Sheryl Crow sounding tracks. I was really disappointed when it came out, and shelved the record. This is the only Stevie album I haven't really listened to in its entirety until this week. I also found that her older voice was a little hard to listen to.

10 years later, what I said on the production seems to still be the case, but I don't find it a bad thing. The majority of the songs on this album are stellar and up there with the best of Bella Donna I've found. The fire isn't there in her voice, but she's aged and mature and I don't mind that (I've gotten used to it by this point with SYW and a couple live albums over the last 10 years).

What I don't understand, is why in the middle of the album she has all these songs written by others! The Stevie written songs are by far the strongest on the album, was it a lack of confidence on her part?

mikebise · #2 03-12-2011, 01:22 PM

I don't think it was lack of self~confidence in her song writing on Stevie's part. I think it was just a commerciality thing. "Too Far From Texas" got a lot of airplay on country stations here in Dallas, a big part of the reason going to Natalie Maines being on the song.

"Every Day" was there to be "the single" and "It's Only Love"? Well, I am guessing that Sheryl played it for Stevie, and Stevie just loved it and wanted to sing it. And she does a beautiful job!!!

Or, maybe it was like the thing with Tom: Sheryl gave Stevie "It's Only Love" and "Stevie gave her "You're Not The One". I don't know.

Stevie's song writing is stellar on Trouble In Shangr~la, IMO. "Love Changes", "Trouble In Shangri~la", "Thrown Down" and "Fall From Grace" are in my TOP Stevie Favourites of ALL~TIME!

Jondalar · #3 03-12-2011, 01:35 PM

This album was a "good try" to me. I got into the first 4 tracks but then it just fell apart. What I really took from this album is the Title Track. That song is epic and stellar and has a killer chorus. It's also rock. Over the last 10 years, that song has stayed with me. I guess I also took the cover from the album. The album cover for that album is one of the best in the history of rock and roll.

Christopher · #4 03-12-2011, 02:45 PM

TISL is going to be hard to top. Without getting into it too deeply, IMO it was her best record since her trilogy of Bella Donna, Wild Heart & Rock A Little. But I have a feeling In Your Dreams will be better on every level than TISL & more cohesive. Stevie is bringing it all back full circle & in your face with the Stevie-ness feel of this record. She is finally fully embracing her gothic and fantasy side with this record and documentary/film. A side she subtly ran from after all the "she's a witch" gossip - that freaked her out so much that she started wearing more white around the Bella Donna era. Stevie still touched on that mystical mood & themes in a song here and there, and while The Wild Heart was indulgent and gothic-lite, to me the mood was more fairytale romance. IYD is all out there in its gothic & supernatural references: vampires, ghosts & Poe. The cover conveys it all. And I'm loving every bit of it so far!

aprilsrain · #5 03-12-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

TISL is going to be hard to top. Without getting into it too deeply, IMO it was her best record since her trilogy of Bella Donna, Wild Heart & Rock A Little. But I have a feeling In Your Dreams will be better on every level than TISL & more cohesive. Stevie is bringing it all back full circle & in your face with the Stevie-ness feel of this record. She is finally fully embracing her gothic and fantasy side with this record and documentary/film. A side she subtly ran from after all the "she's a witch" gossip - that freaked her out so much that she started wearing more white around the Bella Donna era. Stevie still touched on that mystical mood & themes in a song here and there, and while The Wild Heart was indulgent and gothic-lite, to me the mood was more fairytale romance. IYD is all out there in its gothic & supernatural references: vampires, ghosts & Poe. The cover conveys it all. And I'm loving every bit of it so far!

Where is everyone hearing this IYD stuff is my question.

Christopher · #6 03-12-2011, 03:29 PM

^^^
My post is what I am anticipating with In Your Dreams. I based my thoughts on hearing the production on Secret Love and Stevie's superior sounding vocals on it, as well as the mood that the album cover and outtakes are conveying so far. I think it will be cohesive sounding because Stevie collaborated so closely with Dave Stewart and did not have 3 or 4 producers involved besides Glen Ballard who already works closely with Dave anyway. Other than the 2 Ledgies that were at the IYD album preview in Feb at Sunset Sessions radio industry gig, no one else has credibly come forward saying they have heard the album.

bluefox4000 · #7 03-12-2011, 03:38 PM

Mixed bag and FAR to long. I really Like The title track, Candlebright, Sorcerer, Everyday, It's Only Love, and Love is. The Rest is just ok to bad

. Once again, I've said it before many times. Stevie needs shorter albums. Can't stress it enough. Short of an hour does not work. Never has.....never will.

Mick

mikebise · #8 03-12-2011, 05:05 PM

No, Stevie does not need shorter albums.

You can make your own edited CD of the few tracks you enjoy. Or hit the "skip" button.

For me, the more Stevie, the better.

markolas · #9 03-12-2011, 05:47 PM

TISL is almost flawless, IMO. The only really bad song is That Made Me Stronger. Too Far from Texas makes me cringe b/c of Stevie's vocal, but it's a good song.

The album was easily the best thing she did since RAL (which is another favorite of mine). It'll be hard to top, for sure.

Jondalar · #10 03-12-2011, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markolas

TISL is almost flawless, IMO. The only really bad song is That Made Me Stronger. Too Far from Texas makes me cringe b/c of Stevie's vocal, but it's a good song.

The album was easily the best thing she did since RAL (which is another favorite of mine). It'll be hard to top, for sure.

I totally agree with that statement. That song was solid and she didn't put any effort into singing it. Her vocal ruined that for me. I also think that her vocal ruined My Heart. When I heard that song, I could barely listen to it because of her vocal. However, it's very well written and it was another missed opportunity. I love the song but hate the vocal. Sigh. I hope that doesn't happen on this album.

**mylittledemon** · #11 03-12-2011, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aprilsrain

At the time TISL came out, I didn't like it at all. I thought it was an odd mash up of current pop production (of which I was a big alt-rock fan at the time so I didn't like) and Sheryl Crow sounding tracks. I was really disappointed when it came out, and shelved the record. This is the only Stevie album I haven't really listened to in its entirety until this week. I also found that her older voice was a little hard to listen to.

I felt the opposite. I was very excited, I enjoyed the record, and I thought her voice sounded better than it had in ages.

bluefox4000 · #12 03-12-2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikebise

No, Stevie does not need shorter albums.

You can make your own edited CD of the few tracks you enjoy. Or hit the "skip" button.

For me, the more Stevie, the better.

Different strokes. If IYD is over 45 mins....which it most likely will be...I will scream. I can't handle a long Stevie record. I could skip...point taken. But still it's just discouraging to me....terribly long records. Weird quirk I guess.

Mick

**mylittledemon** · #13 03-12-2011, 08:32 PM

Yeah 40 min is a good album length... I reckon she'll only have 10 or 11 songs on it anyway.

darklinensuit · #14 03-12-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markolas

TISL is almost flawless, IMO. The only really bad song is That Made Me Stronger. Too Far from Texas makes me cringe b/c of Stevie's vocal, but it's a good song.

I'm in minority again, this time for thinking that her vocal on TFFT is far superior to the one on POTU - or most of the rest of the album.

- Jake

Jondalar · #15 03-12-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluefox4000

Different strokes. If IYD is over 45 mins....which it most likely will be...I will scream. I can't handle a long Stevie record. I could skip...point taken. But still it's just discouraging to me....terribly long records. Weird quirk I guess.

Mick

That's because those albums had a lot of bad songs on them. What if this is an album with all good songs on it. And what if she actually carries the album with her vocals. The only time she did that was with Bella Donna.