Customer Reviews

Red Velvet Car [+video]

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Ann and Nancy Wilson have a strong, delicious set of tunes with their tastefully titled new record "Red Velvet Car." Heart is back in fine form with fine-honed grooves, verve and sass.

Frequent commercial comeback attempts from artists with long-established careers provide little more than lame, tired proof that they have been listening to the radio. Musicians with credibility as well as clout, the Wilson sisters not only bypass any cloying updates of their sound but serve up their signature bold, attitudinal vocal rock with ease and grace.

This is an album that feels precise yet organic, simple yet dense, straightforward yet moody. This set of songs was clearly not patched together in a mad rush to compile an LP.

"Queen City" is a rough, fresh-sounding song that coasts well off its bouncy, effortless grooves. The same goes for the tense, rocking "Wheels," which glides by with giddy anticipation with dreams of the open road steering the way for its broad, boisterous electric guitars.

"Safroniaus Mark" has some of the most compelling vocal work on the record, with the lyrics landing with preciseness and biting wit as they propel the song onward with its awesome mandolin accenting it beautifully. It is a major highlight bursting with old school rock and roll energy. The same can be said of powerful lead single "WTF," which sounds ready to combust with its searing guitars and heavy-handed arrangement.

The foreboding "Death Valley" also contains a great deal of energy, powerhouse vocal work and toothpick-precise studio work, evidencing this album that was labored over with great love and fondness.

Other selections such the intense, slow-burning title track, which leaps in and out of verses without missing a beat, seems like one of them, and the lo-fi, unadorned album opener "There You Go," which has such a melody that it corkscrews slowly like a seductive snake sneaking up, writhing and twisting, providing contrast for the less subtle moments.

Heart is in fine form on the elegant, well-chiseled, highly impressive "Red Velvet Car." This is the kind of album that results when artists are true to themselves, thereby producing output that is clearly natural and marked by integrity. It feels unforced, raw and second-nature for these two find ladies and is sweet pleasure for the ears.

For those of you that are big HEART fans I would like to let you know that this CD rocks. Also 2 extra brand new songs not listed on the description of this CD can be found if you buy this CD at "TARGET" since the band made a special deal with the retailer it looks like. $9.99 gets you 2 extra songs worth the money.

Don't miss out on this excellent CD. This is Heart's first CD in 6 years and it is well worth the wait. As usual, Ann and Nancy have taken time to share some hard rocking as well as softer and/or ballad songs on Red Velvet Car. All tracks are strong.
"WTF" and "Wheels" are tough rocking songs with great guitar riffs that make you want to break out your air guitar. "Hey You" is sung by Nancy and has quite a catchy chourus. "Red Velvet Car" is the title track and is a sultry rock ballad sung with emotion as only Ann Wilson can pull off. "Sand" is wonderful homage to a friend that has passed. I'm telling you ....go and pick up your copy today!

Since many folks have written reviews detailing the strengths (and perceived weaknesses) of each song on "Red Velvet Car", I just want to contribute my opinion of the "feel" of the new album. It is a kind of deja-vu: at once, fresh, progressive and still thoroughly familiar to me. The "musicality" of the songs is wonderful; while I have always loved Heart's barer or even acoustic performances, the lush mix of varied instruments on RVC make it almost caress the listener with rich, complex layers of sound. Additionally, the guitar-heaviness of many of the tracks is so reminiscent of the "classic" Heart sound, and it brings back fond memories while presenting the new material.

It seems that Ann and Nancy have been able to elegantly update their sound without sacrificing its core brilliance. I must admit that while I have been an avid Heart fan since the 70's, I didn't connect with their last effort, "Jupiter's Darling", in the same way I have with this new album, but I feel that it definitely deserves another listen. Thank you, Heart, for a fantastic new album. Rock on, ladies...

This CD doesn't hit me between the eyes like some of their 80's songs did, but the more I listen to it, the more I think some of this material may have more staying power. Songs like 'Safronia's Mark' and the beautiful 'In the Cool' are very well-crafted. And there are several others, but I won't analyze them track by track. Ann's live delivery of 'In the Cool" was one of the highlights of their Albuquerque concert a few days ago, and the live rendition of 'WTF' could melt the paint off walls. That said, this CD doesn't rock as hard as many of their past works, but that's OK. They've been there, done that, and have moved on to a more introspective, simpler sound; because of that, many of these songs sound more sincere, more personally felt than some of their past recordings. And yes, they still kick butt live. I've enjoyed all of their different styles of music since the seventies and as long as they are touring, I will pay to see them perform and probably enjoy the hell out of it.

Many unfair things have been said about Heart over the years and, in the end, it comes down to the music. That's it. Personal attacks are made by small-minded people. Ann Wilson has a true God-given talent in her amazing pipes and I consider her to be a very beautiful woman, always has been. If her voice reflects her soul, then everything else is just icing on the cake, and I know that many others feel the same way. The Wilson sisters ROCK.

I saw Heart back in August of 2010 right before this CD was released, and I was really looking forward to it. They performed Red Velvet Car and WTF and I was impressed with those tracks...and then the rest of the tracks are released. Yawn. Ann did a version of the Who's "Rain on Me" at that show which completely blew me away and I don't even like that song! How could this release be so utterly boring when Ann and Nancy have such incredible talent? I've loved Heart for many years, even through their more commerical period, which, at least for me, did not represent their best music. Compared to Jupiter's Darling, these songs put me to sleep. Total snoozefest except for the two tracks previously mentioned. Maybe the Wilsons are feeling a little more mellow and content these days and the music reflects that. Okay. I guess just as a fan who has always appreciated their talent, I was hoping for just a little of the fire and lightning they can bring to their music. No other female rock artist has been able to match Ann's voice, even now (Amy Lee? Good, but not better than Ann) her voice is still in great shape which is very surprising considering her age. I'm glad I saw Ann and Nancy live, maybe for the last time (hope not!) because the songs on this CD do not show what they are still capable of.

I am NEVER disapointed in any release that either Ann or Nancy Wison are involved in. I have been a fan since I got "Crazy On You" on a 7" single! We were ALL younger but the girls have never faultered in the following years. "Red Velvet Car" was well worth the wait! I heard songs from the album live prior to it's release and was anxious for the release! The title track's lyrics touched my soul and is very uplifting for someone like me who has felt in a funk. Ann again reached out to my inner soul with lyric's, " Don't sit crying in your room stealing candy from the jar". "Safronia's Mark" sounds like classic Heart with a mandolin intro, into a rip, roaring rocker with mystical lyrics. Nancy takes over vocals on "Hey You" and sounds just as good as always. Closing with the beautiful "Sand" that has been a live staple now a great studio version to own! If you love Ann & Nancy, you will LOVE "Red Velvet Car"! Simply put!
~Kevin

I stayed up late to download the entire album, after seeing Heart bring the house down at Sandia! I am loving the new music!

If you are a big Heart fan, this is more than worth the $8 street price it is selling for. Ann, Nancy and this version of the band (yet another one) do sound great.

This album is OK but not as good as Jupiter's Darling. It rocks but lacks songs that measure up to Heart mega-hits. Also there are no fantastic covers like the ones on recent Heart releases.

And once again Heart music production and output seems confused: producer and band dujour.

Remember Jupiter's Darling? It was released in June 2004 about 2 years after they were touring and playing 4 GREAT new songs that they were saying would be on the upcoming new album. Ann ended one concert saying "let's go make a record". Two years later when Jupiter finally came out, the 4 new songs were gone as was the GREAT version of the band that had been playing them. To add to the confusion, Heart released a 2 year old Alive In Seattle DVD at the same time as Jupiter. That DVD is the only place you can see and hear the former version of the band and the 4 new songs that had disappeared.

Red Velvet Car's release does seem far less bizarre than Jupiter's, but still...... Red Velvet Car was released 8/31/10 with 10 tracks. Then up pops Red Velvet Car Deluxe Edition. It seems to be exactly the same as the first CD but with 2 more tracks and a street price of about twice as much. Say what!! Why not just one good 12 track CD?

Wouldn't the world of music be a far, far more exciting place if Heart's music plans and production even came a little close to matching their enormous talent. I know I'd get chills from what they should be capable of producing, with less seemingly constant change.

This album was a surprise to me. Track 10 gives a mountain feel... and the others are just as good. There a few low points but... the more you listen to the songs... the better they get. Very pleased... I have listened to this album since I purchased it.