I grew up listening to Stevie Nicks, entranced by
this whirling divash who could spin her way right into
my heart. June Allyson and Glynnis Johns were
actresses that had the same effect on me. Something
about that "frog in their throat" sultry yet innocent
voice just hooked me. It pained me to see June dealing
Depends at the end of her career and Stevie seems headed
for the same end.
Where the throaty whisper was once endearing it now
sounds like a female version of Elmer Fudd singing. To
quote her own lyrics, "I'm sawwwy now." Not even Sheryl
Crow or Sara McLachlan can rescue her from the ravages
that time seem to have taken on her voice. I'm in the
minority here as Rolling Stone and others have said her
voice is in it's best form in years. I'm thinking
they've sat too close to too many speakers.
However her songwriting talents are still excellent
and if Sheryl Crow had been singing songs like "Trouble
in Shangri-la" or "Too Far From Texas" it might have
been a monster album for her. As it is this album will
still garner good sales and after the first 50 plays
I've gotten past the voice to the lyrics and a certain
level of enjoyment which is why the rating is as high as
it is. Yet, at this point in time, Stevie's major legacy
seems to be as a reference for goth clothing described
on eBay as "Stevie Nicks-like" meaning long, lacy and
with a shawl. A shame, as all the pieces are in place on
this album , solid production, songwriting, music and an
older market hungry for something besides golden oldies
and reunion tours.
To Stevie's fans, the waif that wafted her way into
their heart still remains and they'll surely put their
best spin on the album. James Hilton wrote the original
tale but the title cut sums it all up; there's "Trouble
in Shangri-la."
