The Succinct Sound of Stevie! (The Soundstage Sessions - Stevie Nicks)

Member Name: Nar2

Product:	The Soundstage Sessions - Stevie Nicks
Date:	30/06/09 (70 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great sound quality, clear, some new songs, good arrangements, less airy fairy - at last!

Disadvantages: Only ten live songs on the album and Led Zeppelin's cover of Rock and Roll isn't one of them..

Fleetwood Mac is coming to the UK this year and it seems that they are on an all out tour coming to various parts of Britain; I'm looking forward to seeing them in October. Now the last time I bought a Stevie Nicks CD, it was another Greatest Hits type album and its no surprise or coincidence that the "Soundstage Sessions," are anything other than a series of hits with a few songs to fill out the album. But is it all hype and is it worth the purchase instead of the DVD that is currently also available as an extra purchase? Is this another Greatest Hits album? With the exception of two songs from Stevie's time in Fleetwood Mac, although it clashes with their return to the UK, fans of the band may be disappointed. For Stevie Nicks fans however there are some particularly good gems that have taken ages to come to the stage and about time too. The surprise is however that the quality of this album shouldn't automatically be discounted for the lack of Fleetwood Mac hits; it exudes a better sound quality than Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance," album ever did.

**This is a long review **


In 2001 Stevie Nicks embarked on what seemed a good idea at the time working with the likes of Sheryl Crow. "Trouble in Shangri-La," remains to be one of Stevie Nicks' solo successes, much more than the album that went before it and at best sounds credible against the cream of Fleetwood Mac. Largely down to technology Nicks who is now 60 years old isn't afraid to try new ways of improving her hits. In terms of drum beats, new elements of acoustic and reverb gadgets, the Soundstage Sessions show electronic voice added stability whilst returning back to Nicks' traditional styles of hard, soft and country rock.


Initially I felt bitterly disappointed to find only ten songs on the album, particularly when the album had cost me around £12 from Amazon. For most buyers though, the solo music has always taken a back step to the preference of style and indestructibility of Fleetwood Mac songs.


Of the songs that are more interesting though, Nicks' new band has made a decent stab at some songs. "Stand Back" which had its original analogue sound helped by "I Would Die 4U," type keyboards a la Prince/Symbol/Whatever looses its sound to a more Beth Orton inspired grunge style and trots back happily to the heavy rock associated with most live concerts of Stevie Nicks. It's a good starter song to bring the album crashing to the ears of fans, particularly when "Stand Back," was recently covered by Linus Loves in 2003 and still remains to be a familiar hand bag dance track on the music circuit.


"Crash Into Me," by Dave Matthews is an old country ballad that brings a different slow style to the rhythmic urgency of the first song and it's a pity that it just seems to go on forever and doesn't add that much interest unless you love old country style music. I'm at two minds with a lot of country music, but returning to Nicks' home style of guitar influences, it is clear to why she chose this song not just singing it in a style close to Bob Dylan. It has a wonderful feeling of "returning home," or a style that she had experimented in her early days with Lindsey Buckingham, sadly non-existent on many songs with Fleetwood Mac. Although largely acoustic it is evident that Nicks has had her voice mixed electronically in this song but it doesn't destroy the beauty of the lyrics or overall output. Harmonies are sweet and homely and I get the distinct feeling that the song was picked for its very sincere harmonies even though it can go on, a statement that seems to suffer badly when Stevie sings live.


Strumming guitars and glistening, glinting acoustic guitars bring in the third track and to those who love Fleetwood Mac will instantly recognize Stevie's voice as she sings about her best friend in the song, "Sara." Aside from some short reverb this version has many elements of warmth and silences between the verses much as the original has always done. Older and wiser however Stevie sings the songs well although it is surprising that she doesn't ad lib any other lyrics until the very end of the song, which gives a surprising and fresh element to a very old, and much loved hit. Early on in this album however it is not evident that Nicks' voice has been electronically adjusted but against the quality heard on Fleetwood Mac's album, "The Dance," the quality of instrumentals and the voices are excellent.


The next song, "If Anyone Falls," is one of Stevie's early singles from "The Wild Heart," album of 1983 and it has always been one of my favourites, the same album of which "Stand Back," appears on. Here the signature keyboards are evident against a much-needed backdrop of electric guitar power chords, off beat bass line and a trio of strong backing vocalists, something that seems to be lacking in many artists akin to Nicks' era. The song works well although some of the verses at the end are lost due to the power of the backing vocalists. Musically though it works well as a live song although Stevie doesn't get the high notes as she does on her original album but that's no loss.


"Landslide," takes the original theme from Fleetwood Mac's album, "The White Album," and features a very similar Lindsey Buckingham-esque glinting acoustic guitar plucking and singing out its basic accompaniment. Its not until the chorus that you get to hear a decent string orchestra in the background and similar harmonies that the Dixie Chicks had done previously with Stevie's excellent homely song. Just like the verse where Stevie sings that she is getting older, this song is very old, but it is a very sweet country song that doesn't sit out on its own for being different and lacking any threat from electric guitars. Less dramatic and more poetic this version is well executed, particularly against the false drama that "The Dance," live reunion album by Fleetwood Mac gives.


The next song is a surprise and comes from Stevie's first album in the 1970's, from her best selling album, "Bella Donna." I've always had a soft spot for "How Still My Love," and the way in which it has been done live is very similar to the album version albeit with a lot more reverb and a certain hush from the guitars, bass guitars, drum kit and keyboards. Here is where the "easy listening, turn the lights down low," track comes into play but its chorus will definitely hit you back to remind you who you are listening to. Amped up and suitably addressed with plenty of hard rock drumming, light jazz, creamy piano solos that could so easily be done by the much missed Christine McVie is also given in some Hammond organ. The dips and arcs in this song is more than just a simple love ballad even though it is a clear fusion of styles, the live version is excellent here.


The next song is one I've fallen for simply because it's a brand new track and one that Stevie has taken from Bonnie Raitt. "Circle Dance," shows off how well Stevie is good at singing another pop female's work that isn't Sheryl Crow based! Not only slightly poetic helped by a solo country style violin, the song exudes warmth and sadness in proper string accompaniments that seems to be a new trait Nicks is fiddling with. With Vanessa Carlton at the helm as a duet partner, this song works extremely well and gives a different light to the usual Stevie Nicks material if not slightly reminiscent of Nicks' own song, "I Miss You," from "Trouble in Shangri-La." It is not the first time however that Carlton has duetted with Stevie; her own solo album shows off the inspirational similarity in the song, "The One."


Sadly the disappointing track on this live album is the song of revenge, "Fall from Grace." It doesn't work well live simply because the reverb doesn't sound as if it belongs there. Half the time it sounds as if Nicks is battling with supremacy against the electric guitar and her backing vocalists. This is a great pity because on the album "Trouble in Shangri-La," it has a tighter precision despite the middle bridge of phaser keyboard that gets lost towards the end of the song. Despite extra amped electric guitars and a bass that sounds too wooden, it doesn't do this song to sing it live.


Last but not least, "Sorcerer," from "Trouble in Shangri-La," works surprisingly well even though its clear that this two beat tap song lacks the gloss of Sheryl Crow on backing vocals. Bouncing and dripping with guitars around, the vocals are clear and crystal like, which for a live version is a general improvement.


Undoubtedly the best has been kept to the last and in true Stevie Nicks fashion, the typical song of saying goodbye is heard in a piano solo and combined string orchestral arrangement of "Beauty and The Beast," much like the original but in a fuller and more welcomed way. At last as documented in the linear notes on "Timespace", the Greatest Hits of Stevie Nicks, Stevie gets her wish as granted; the song gets a decent orchestra to accompany Stevie on this song live, and in its production is a lot better than the Melbourne Orchestra version that suffered from flat and sharp out of tune notes. Although slower than the original song, Stevie's voice just seems to sound better as the years go by whilst the precision of this song live is warmer, almost tear inducing and will undoubtedly touch many who hear the accompaniment and tight vocals.


At last, here is a live album that can be trusted without going into overly dramatic lyrics, harmonies that are lost and words that fall by the wayside. The Soundstage Sessions is an ideal album for Stevie Nicks fans giving crystal clear vocals, tight and precise accompaniments and a surprising array of hits and songs from albums that were never made into singles. The inlay booklet is awash with colour photos and very little extra text whilst the lack of an audience can be forgiven here although quite why Stevie never put her excellent cover of "Rock and Roll," by Led Zeppelin remains a mystery. Over the poorly engineered "Fall From Grace," the latter song would happily warrant me five stars for this album. Thanks for reading. ©Nar2 2009

The Soundstage Sessions: Stevie Nicks
Released 2009
Reprise Records
Prices from £8 and upwards.

Samples can be heard at:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soundstage-Sessions-Stevi e-Nicks/dp/B001AW9DKU
Also available at Spotify.org

Summary: For a live album by Stevie Nicks, this is better than The Dance by Fleetwood Mac.