Taking Sides: 1970s Heart vs. 1980s Heart

But, "Barracuda" and "Magic Man" are definitely classic.

er clearly '70s Heart pwns

Why would I know that? I really wanna hear the new album. It's supposed to be pretty good. Hell, I really wanted to go see them this summer at the House of Blues here in Chicago, but the damn show sold out like a month in advance!

also Begs2Differ to thread

(please indulge me while I post this review of the new record, this is kind of Eddyish of me but if I just put the link you get like four pop-up ads, so you can go there if you want and here's the link: http://www.music-critic.com but here's the review:)

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest in the 1970s and 1980s, so you’re damn right I rocked out to some Heart in my day. I don’t think I ever owned a single album, because I didn’t have to—-everyone I knew had all their stuff, and the FM rock stations all had all the Wilson sisters’ songs on heavy rotation: “Magic Man,” “Barracuda,” “Crazy on You,” “Kick It Out,” “Bebe Le Strange,” “Even It Up,” “Straight On,” all these are just amazing massively emotional songs to me, and to everyone else from our area of the country. I mean, I sat through Mr. Mister as an opening act just to see Heart at the Memorial Coliseum when I was 20. I sat through Mr. Mister...tell me that ain’t some love for my homegirls.

In fact, I think Heart’s importance has been underestimated by every critic ever. Without Heart, no riot grrrl movement (Northwest girls always knew they could start bands), no Nirvana nor Pearl Jam nor maybe even Mudhoney. NO MUDHONEY, people! They’ve been dismissed as “the female Led Zeppelin,” but they weren’t, really, even if Ann does a kick-ass Robert Plant impression in concert; they’ve been dismissed as sellouts for their big hit powerballad years (late 1980s and early 1990s stuff like “Never,” which is an awesome song, and “All I Wanna Do Is Make Love to You,” which almost is, and “These Dreams,” which sucks), but they’d paid their dues, they deserved some big fat hits.

But I’m glad that time is finally over, because Heart is best at doing what they started out to do: folk-metal-pop with beautiful intertwining female vocals. And that is the triumph of Jupiter’s Darling: Ann and Nancy have figured out how to go back to being the kind of band they were in 1976, except in a good way—-it’s the same sort of band, folk-metal-pop, but it’s beefier, bouncier, shinier than ever. Big glam slammers like “Move On” and “Fallen Ones” would have been massive hits for them in either one of their previous identities; the easy witchy acoustic picking of “Things” would have nestled right in on Dreamboat Annie; I could even see “The Perfect Goodbye” leading off Brigade or Heart.

But don’t be thinking “Oh great, a nostalgia trip,” because it’s not. “Oldest Story in the World” draws on Heart’s history, but its big crunchy goodness could hit the radio pretty hard if allowed to. Hooks like this, beautiful singing like this, savvy guitar work by new guy Craig Bartock like this—-these are nothing at which to sneeze. “Vainglorious” has more blood in its veins than the whole Hoobastank catalog, and that’s no insult to Hoobastank. To me, it doesn’t get much better than Ann snarling out lines like “Slowly like a drop of tupelo honey / Rolling on down some little girl’s money.” And Nancy’s completely histrionic lead vocal on “I Feel Fine,” where she says “I’m okay, I’m okay, I’ll come around / Right after I have this little breakdown, breakdown, breakdown!” and then the music stops and they go right into “Fallen Ones”…oh, it’s gold frankincense and myrrh, with guitars. And it sounds new and vital rather than being lost and gauzy and “oh the old times were the best times.” Not only have Ann and Nancy “aged well,” musically, but they’ve also gained confidence and power. This might be their best album, EVER.

A lot is made of the special guests here, but I’m not sure how much they needed them. Sure, Mike McCready’s e-bow work on “Led to One” adds a great eastern drone texture, and yeah, it’s great to hear Jerry Cantrell rocking out on his one guest shot. (What band was he in again? Haha, just kidding.) But more important to me is the way new lead guitarist Craig Bartock fits into the new six-piece Heart, and more important than that is the fact that both Ann and Nancy can still write great songs and sing the holy hell out of them.

And, more importantly than any of these things, Heart has done what most bands can only dream of doing: they’ve gotten back to their roots without sounding corny or boring in the least. I am celebrating this by cranking the album now even as I write this. Pacific Northwest till I die.

I'll take the 80's, for the brilliance of 'What About Love' and 'Alone', which are two of my more favourite power ballads. They're also almost the same song, coming in at exactly 3:39 apiece, iirc, not to mention the similar progression.

As for the '80s stuff, I wish I could be charitable, but aside from "Never", all those power-ballads really annoyed me, as do 90% of all p.b.'s everywhere, and I don't see my opinion changing anytime soon. (It didn't help that 1985-'87 struck me as particularly lousy years for rock radio, largely due to the ubiquitous Phil Collins and Sting.) But the Wilson sisters will always have a warm place in my heart (no pun intended, I SWEAR!), and who knows: maybe I'll check out that new one. Begs2Differ's enthusiasm's contagious, even to a seventies snob like me.

On my wedding day?

No, I really just decided to stop kidding myself and fully re-embrace all the music I loved in my teens. Heart first and foremost.

80's Hearts! These Dreams is their best song.

As to the TS: '70s definitely, but don't miss 'Who Will You Run To' (great 'you-can-leave-but-you're-gonna-crash-and-burn' song) and 'Nothing at All'.

....they played my highschool back in the seventies[guess i am old enough to be your dad,heh.] 70's heart without a doubt. anyone that got to see them belt out the led zep covers back then still rave about how great they sounded. i ♥ 70's heart.

i got into 70's heart later. all the songs mentioned here: 'crazy on you', 'magic man', 'baracuda' etc. are classics. and i love all that NEARLY as much!
but i think it's the opposite to what the guy quoting alanis said. 70's heart are cool enough to say that you like them to most people, without fear of looking dumb or 'ironic'. but because of the bad haircuts, and the silly lace&leather clothing, i think it takes someone genuine stand up and say they prefer 80's heart.
not only are me and johnny fever right, but we're practically heroes too!

I will stick up for 90's Heart as the Lovemongers allbum is pretty great.

Oh, Jeff! Visit us more often! It's safe to talk about Heart around me. Especially since there are so few female-fronted rock bands being played on the radio nowdays. I was listening to "Dog and Butterfly" last night (my favorite Heart album)and it was really helping me though a rough night, and that's what brought me to ILM this morning on my breaktime to see if there were any Heart threads to contribute to.

I would have to say that 70s is my favorite Heart, but that I don't mind 80s Heart in small doses. "These Dreams" being my favorite from that time. (I'm NOT a power ballad fan, but I love Ann's voice, so if I'm going to have to listen to power ballads in the dentist's office, it's better to hear Heart than, say, BonJOvi).

I can't choose a favorite song from the 70s -- there's just too many excellent Heart singles. And probably knows them all because they're all still in heavy rotation on many channels and shows. But my favorite non-single from that time would probably be "Hijinx" (where Ann's voice is very whispery and almost scat-like, and you can hear her smiling and sighing while she sings)-- if only because it shows a different side of Ann's singing. It shows that she knows how to be subtle too. I wish there were more tunes like it, but maybe the rarity is what makes it so special. Also love that blues-type guitar.
And I'll agree with whoever nominated "Love Alive" --it's perfect for fans of Led Zep who want to hear the woman's side of the equation for once!

Glad to hear good things about their latest albums -- I'll have to investigate (after payday naturally).

That band the Wilson sisters had was amazing. The lead guitar on Magic Man and Crazy On You? C'mon! That is top notch playing! And the weird slinky funk of Little Queen? To die for!

OTM

80's Heart is categorically indefensible. Even the Wilson sister themselves can't stomach it.

Alex you so crazy.

I just picked up The Road Home, their semi-acoustic live album from 1994 with mandolin and string quartet arrangement by John Paul Jones...holy SHIT is Ann's voice amazing on this release. Really, honestly, one of the best vocal performances I've ever heard.

never noticed the ann wilson/chan marshall resemblance until this
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyR-HmJS2qQ&feature=related

dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga
dunh-DURRRR-DURRRRR-DURRRRR
dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga
dunh-DURRRR-DURRRRR-DURRRRR
dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga
dunh-DURRRR-DURRRRR-DURRRRR
dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga
dunh-DURRRR-DURRRRR-DURRRRR
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooh....

BARRACUDA!

I would rock out with all this white chicks.

I love "Barracuda." I love "Never." I don't see Robert Forster's name here, even though he did a fine version of "Alone."

guys, Heart!!!!

Whatever happened
to Haikunym-slash-Begs2
Differ, anyways?

That one of my favorite ILM one-line posts ever.

:D

"There's the Girl" is pretty good!

Has that album been remastered/remixed yet? It needs it more than most.

Bad Animals?

Robert Forster has a pretty good cover of "Alone," btw.

I was thinking "There's the Girl" was on the s/t, but they probably both need it.

'80s Heart for me. The histrionic vocals marry better with triumphant booming overproduced powerjams than with warmed-over Zepisms.

Speaking of Heart, I have been enjoying the vocal chops of "Almost Paradise" lately.

Oh god help me I love that song.

That said, 70s Heart is blowing my mind lately. Like the whole albums. That said, I gave "What About Love" a whirl and it didn't leave a bad taste in my mouth like a lot of eighties power ballads.

"Nothin' At All."

― lihaperäpukamat (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, November 2, 2009 11:10 PM (2 years ago) Bookmark Suggest Ban Permalink

I am so down with Dreamboat Annie

I've picked up and ogled the new Strange Euphoria box set several times in the past few weeks. It looks so awesome, and the live DVD from 1976 might just kill me. It also has Ann and Nancy's track by track thoughts in the accompanying booklet. Anyone given into temptation? Only $38 on Amazon, with a short bonus disc of Zep covers...

Okay, that thing looks pretty dope.

I know! So tempting...

Saw them under the arch in St. Louis on the 4th of July and they totally sold me on some of the 80s hits...even the obligatory new stuff wasn't too bad. I love how unabashed they are about being Zep worshippers - their play-on music was "In the Light" and they encored with "Misty Mountain Hop."

I think I love their misty mountain hop as much as the original, if not slightly more

I bought it for a friend for her birthday and we're having a listening party tomorrow!

Let us know just how much it rocks.

Demos are amaaaaaaaaaaazing, Zep covers sound basically exactly like LZ in a good way. Booklet has great pictures. Worth it!

Aaargh! I kinda wanted to hear that it sucked so I wouldn't want it so much.

Sorry :( Even the 80s songs I didn't know (ie not the singles) were surprisingly good. Demos made us stop talking and just sit there and listen. Magic Man was my favorite, I think.

How dare it be worthwhile!

need to get this - they were my first Favorite Band

I just bought the box set from Amazon - it's a $23 "cyber Monday" deal for the next few hours.

ooh tempting

I got a gift certificate for my birthday so it was a no brainer.

itchy mouse finger right now

Amazon must have shipped it from the same town because this came today. La Lechera wasn't kidding about the demos. Astounding. 5 songs in and already totally worth $23.

Only bummer is not getting the Zep bonus CD. Such is life.

oooooh....

Watched the DVD tonight. They were damn good live in 1976. Damn good.

God, what I would give for a remastered/mixed version of the 1985 s/t album. It's the thinnest sound ever.

On this terrific choogle of a catalog.

Please. PLEASE. UNDERSTAAAAAND.

That song is hilarious.

dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga
dunh-DURRRR-DURRRRR-DURRRRR
dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga
dunh-DURRRR-DURRRRR-DURRRRR
dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga
dunh-DURRRR-DURRRRR-DURRRRR
dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga-dunh-digga
dunh-DURRRR-DURRRRR-DURRRRR
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooh....

BARRACUDA!

― The Reverend, Friday, March 28, 2008 2:28 AM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

I would rock out with all this white chicks.

― The Reverend, Friday, March 28, 2008 2:30 AM Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

:D

On that catalog....

wow ann wilson was some kind of singer

this band was always background to me, but i had an urge to listen to barracuda and now i am listening to a ton of heart

NEVER is amazing, WTF. Rock out with the windows rolled down sometime!!!

Anyway, I can’t decide

God, what I would give for a remastered/mixed version of the 1985 s/t album. It's the thinnest sound ever.

If it did please LMK!

didn't realize the s/t album had some decent deep cuts until a bearded guy on a Twitch channel played some of it!

The Wolf!

While investigating how they got from A to B, I stumble across this:

"This Man Is Mine" (1982)

...a supposed hit that I don't remember at all. And it's so oddly uncharacteristic, maybe suggesting a Rickie Lee Jones influence?

this video, simple as it is, brings me such joy. the hair! Ann glaring at the screen with badass menace. spins! flashy clothes!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWzy5q_M5Ho

Alone carries a colossal emotional heft, which eclipses everything else in their catalogue, it's seriously silly.