Customer Reviews

Street Angel

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I have to admit that I only liked a few songs when this CD came out in 1994. I have all of her CD's plus everything Fleetwood Mac since 1975, however, I just could not get into "Street Angel" when it was first released. Listening to it today, I realized that I did not give this album a chance. I liked and still like Blue Denim, Greta, Rose Garden and Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind (which is great in the UK remix if you can get it, called Maybe Love) and still don't like Just Like A Woman. Although Stevie did TV spots like Leno for Blue Denim (which is amazing, still reminds me of Lindsey Buckingham), it was the Sandy Stewart penned Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind that became a Billboard Top 100 charter, mostly because former Los Angeles powerhouse KIIS-FM added it to their playlist. Ten years later, I really appreciate Street Angel, Listen To The Rain, Kick It and the beautiful closer Jane. It's interesting that Stevie's vocals are so clear and youthful on this record, even though she was having personal problems and has said that this was a troubled record. Considering that you can get this CD for a pretty decent price now, it's worth buying to get a glimpse of Stevie transitioning from beautiful rock queen to unhealthy and unhappy person back to beautiful rock queen. This is one artist that we need to be grateful for coming back to us.

I'm always surprised and intriqued to hear what people have to say about this cd. When it was released in '94, it was met with utter indifference by critics and the public in general. It's such a shame, because this record has some very strong work on it, and fans who were put off by the reviews are missing out altogether. As has been noted in other reviews, no, it isn't like any of her previous albums. It stands far and above as her most earthbound, grounded effort, ignoring alot of the mystical allusions and references that pepper much of her solo work. It's also her least-slickly produced effort, giving it a very rough-around-the-edges and rootsy feel. This also marks the point at which a slight change could be heard in Nicks' voice, which had grown more ragged and seemed as though it had dropped a register, adding to the previously mentioned "rough" sound the record displayed. 'Blue Denim' starts the proceedings off with a bang, and the uptempo rockers(the song style that best represents her)don't end there. Among other highlights are her tribute songs, 'Greta' and 'Jane', as well as the electric 'Listen To The Rain', the country-tinged 'Rose Garden', the gently rocking 'Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind', and one of her best ballads,'Unconditional Love'. The only missteps in my opinion occur with the unnecessary cover of Bob Dylan's 'Just Like A Woman, the overwrought 'Destiny', and the title track, which is just plain bad. Skip over those three and you've got a flawless set of songs.

Her first, and only, album of the 90s, Stevie delves more into rock than pop this time around. Except, unlike the album that would proceed it 17 years later, it sound entirely unique, and not like some generic rock music album, which come a dime a dozen. Unfortunately, Stevie doesn't like this album at all, and calls it her worst work. Well, Stevie, you're wrong. Why are you wrong? Because this album is still you. I mean, yeah, with songs like Listen To The Rain and Destiny, it can sound quite weak. And even Unconditional Love can sound a bit cheesy, but it's cheesy in a good way. Some people tend to criticize it for the old songs that it has on it; well, both the albums that proceed it have old songs, and no one complains. Plus, Rose Garden is quite possibly Stevie's most poignant love song ever, and Jane is one of those songs that take you somewhere else when you listen to it. For rocking music, look no further than Blue Denim and Love Is Like A River, as well as Kick It.

The album debuted at #45, selling only 38,000 copies it's first week. It's her only album not to chart in the top 15. However, it ended up going gold, meaning it sold 500,000 copies, and that is a testament to how endearing it is. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is Stevie Nicks and her music: endearing.

Length:: 3:08 Mins

Stevie has often expressed her disdain for "Street Angel," describing it as "broken and not fixable." Clearly, she had a rough go of it for the first half of the 1990's, but she should cut "Street Angel" some slack. While clearly not her best album, much of the material is straightforward and the arrangements simple. The two singles, "Maybe Love will Change Your Mind" and "Blue Denim" are quite good, and the title cut is a clear glimpse into Stevie's lonely Soul. Stevie is rarely awful, but when she is awful she is REALLY awful. "Docklands," Jane," and her dreadful remake of Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman" are right up there with "Alice," "When I See You Again," and "Sister Honey" as her most wretched songs. Skip them and a couple others and you have a pretty good six or seven songs. Give it a chance.

I loved this CD when it first came out in 1994 and I still love it. Stevie has been too hard on herself. I especially loved the simplicity of "Rose Garden" and the cover of Dylan's "Just like a woman".

The Stevie Nicks I know considers putting an album together to be a labor of love. Every part of it, choosing the songs, the jacket design and art, setting the tone, even song order, Stevie is very particular, to ensure that each album has a personal and distinct place in her fans' hearts.

Unfortunately, for _Street Angel_ Stevie relied on far too much outside help. The overall mood this album gives is despair and sedation. Nearly every song is over-produced, and the quality is actually worse than that of albums released earlier on more primitive technology. This album contains more songs not written by Stevie herself than any other: big mistake. "Docklands" has no point, no message, I really don't understand why she even recorded it. "Unconditional Love" is unconditional fluff, and the same can be said for "Maybe Love..". These songs don't fit the Stevie Nicks image. The cover of Dylans "Just Like a Woman" sounds so heavily medicated it's hard to listen to, she shouldn't have attempted that.

Many of the songs written by Stevie also stand outside of typical Stevie. "Destiny" adds to the album-wide tone of desperation, and "Kick It" adds to the sedated/heavily medicated feel. "Blue Denim" is decent, but would have worked much better in the '80's.

There are good points; unfortunately, they are out of place on this album and while they stand alone as decent songs, they don't add to the overall integrity of the album.
"Rose Garden" is remeniscent of Buckingham Nicks days, very simple, country influenced. But it should have been released on a much earlier album, doesn't fit this album's "electric rocker" feel. The use of David Crosby in "Street Angel" is beautiful (Stevie is at her best when she harmonizes with men), but it also doen't fit the "electric rocker" feel. I much prefer the remastered and simplified versions of both of these songs that can be found on Enchanted: The Works of Stevie Nicks. Also noteworthy is the final song "Jane." It still adds to that hopeless sensation, but but it pays great homage to Jane Goodall, someone we all can respect.

Overall, I can honestly say that I own this album so that I have a complete Stevie Nicks collection, but it literally never comes off my shelf. This is very atypical of Stevie Nicks: she'll tell you herself that she was always very unhappy with this album. It shows.

Yes, she was tired in the early 90s but you can hear that the energy started to come back to her. Stevie has a good voice on the album and especially Love is like a river, Jane, Kick it and Greta are outstanding tracks. I am happy to see that she is well again and I am looking forward to hearing the new album. But you shouldn't miss Street Angel. It's a step back to Rock and Roll. Give it a chance and listen twice you won't be dissapointed

though some of her albums may have been better, this one tops them all! She is a great songwriter and singer. Album after album it has gotten better and better. the best songs on this album are blue denim rose garden and docklands. All i have to say is she is the bst and her work will never get worse.

This is by far Stevie's best album since 1983's the Wild Heart. After two weak, uninspired releases, Stevie has found her voice again. Standout tracks are "Greta," "Docklands," and "Rose Garden." There are many excellent songs on this album, but those are my personal favorites.

I hope her upcoming album is as good as this one. I've been a loyal fan for almost twenty years, and it's been way too long since Street Angel. I can't wait!