In Your Dreams vs. 24 Karat Gold

[Musicman408]

So, which do you prefer?

IYD felt like a NEW album, 24 felt like a rehash. I've maybe listened to it 5 times. A couple good tracks on the deluxe version which wasn't available in stores, which stunk. What do you think?

Much Love,
Ethan

[gssmith]

Love both but went with 24 KG because of it's classic rock sound and lots of atmosphere. Makes me want to light up. IYD a tad too modern pop. Both great though!

[BlueLight]

A hard choice, because I love IYD. But for me, 24KG is her best album since WH (or maybe RAL). Pure perfection, and I still can't stop listening to it. The best of Stevie from multiple eras.

[mitzo]

IYD was full of songs basically created by Dave Stewart and it therefore seems so much less Stevie than other work of hers. It also has no "wow" track to me, just a flat glossy sheen of Dave pop and often tortured Stevie lyrics. 24KG on the other hand is wall to wall Stevie interpreted straight up. It has several "wow" moments and takes you back to what makes you love her. The songs and voice.

[Frankenstein]

Originally Posted by mitzo

IYD was full of songs basically created by Dave Stewart and it therefore seems so much less Stevie than other work of hers. It also has no "wow" track to me, just a flat glossy sheen of Dave pop and often tortured Stevie lyrics. 24KG on the other hand is wall to wall Stevie interpreted straight up. It has several "wow" moments and takes you back to what makes you love her. The songs and voice.

Agree with all of this. While it was awesome to finally get an album after ten years, I just never really "connected" with IYD. 24K to me ranks just behind Bella Donna and Wild Heart. I'm partial to Stevie's older songwriting rather than her modern writing, so that's also a major factor.

[PenguinHead]

For me it's like comparing apples and oranges. I value both albums equally for different reasons.

In Your Dreams is very enjoyable, and a fine contribution to her musical legacy. I have no issues about Dave Stewart's influence on the songs; he gave the album it's own distinction, but it's still very Stevie. 24 Karat Gold benefited from his inspiration and production in a dissimilar capacity.

[Jondalar]

24K Gold is the kind of music that made Stevie famous. It's her best album since the album since the Wild Heart. I like it better than the Wild Heart. 24K Gold also seems more Stevie to me. I will be listening to it for years.

[jcalzaretta]

I love 24 Karat Gold. Most of it. Not a fan of I Don't Care or Carousel but I agree that this is classic Stevie. Just love this record. Cannot wait for volume 2.

[TheWILDheart]

For me, this is easy, IYD hands down. 24kg is such a half-assed rush job of songs she didn't know what else to do with and it shows when listening to the album. The muddy production, mixing and distorted and muffled vocals just make it worse. Aside from a few songs, I never listen to it and prefer 90% of the original demo's over the finished tracks.

[Artemis]

24 Karat Gold has some of the best songs of, perhaps, Stevie's whole career on it. The title track, Mabel Normand, All The Beautiful Worlds - simply stunning. However, as an album? I find it very hard to listen to.

IYD on the other hand flows wonderfully as an album, and there are some fantastic songs on there. I like the idea of modern songwriting to see where Stevie is in life now.

[Jondalar]

I think that some fans marinated in the demos for too long. If they weren't so used to the demos, some of which are just god-awful, they would of liked this album a whole lot better. Too much bias against 24K to give it a fair shake by some people.

[mitzo]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

I think that some fans marinated in the demos for too long. If they weren't so used to the demos, some of which are just god-awful, they would of liked this album a whole lot better. Too much bias against 24K to give it a fair shake by some people.

Absolutely. That is what has affected "fan" appreciation of a lot of Stevie's other work too. How often do we hear that the demo was better the demo was better the demo was better.

[michelej1]

Definitely, if she couldn't release both and you had to choose one or the other, I'd choose IYD. I think it's a very solid album. Cheaper than Free is the only dreadful song on it. I think 24K has more clunkers, but I can't say that IYD is better than 24K. I just think it gets the edge because it had new music on it and, if worse came to worse and there was no 24K we would still have the demos. I know the finished songs are quite different from the demos, but still ...

Michele

[soul_drifter333]

IYD only has a couple of songs that I can bear to listen to and ranks her 2nd worse album (Soundstage Sessions #1) for me. The lyrics and production are sub-par at best. Even the documentary is tiresome and self indulgent. 24 Karat came out a lot better, even though I was nervous having Dave produce another album. Stevie you definitely need a producer who will offer more constructive criticism, especially in your writing. She has produced some of her best work with strong producers like Lindsey and Jimmy who are not afraid to offer some advice and opinions on the material, unlike Dave.

[Jondalar]

In Your Dreams is a sympathy lay...