Heart - Jupiter's Darling

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Sovereign Artists
Catalog Number: 1953
Format: CD
Total Time: 58:04:00

I am so happy to see that the Wilson sisters have finally decided to go back into the studio to record an album. It has been a long 10 years. I knew after hearing Alive In Seattle last summer that they had successfully recaptured the energy and sound that made them rock legends and had hoped that this album would become a reality.

Jupiter's Darling is some of their finest work since Heart (1985) and Bebe La Strange (1980). Ann and Nancy really turn on the juice with every track, all 16, that is a lot of music to record all the while making every track a winner. Yes, this is a 5 star release from start to finish.

From lush ballads "Enough," flat out rockers "Move On" and smoldering bluesy tunes like "Down The Nile," the ladies have it goin' on non-stop. Craig Bartock is fabulous guitar player and the rhythm section of Mike Inez (bass) and Ben Smith (drummer) really kick it up a notch to match the intensity of Bartock's hot licks. Darian Sahanaja (keyboards) is also a key factor in making the Heart sound like it was on previously successful albums.

Ann is still one of the most powerful and dynamic woman lead singers in rock music and sister Nancy can still back sis nicely with her steamy vocals and also provide some hard fast licks of her own on the six-string. They still like to pull out a few Led Zeppelin riffs here and there, add the mystical mandolin-check out the mid section of "I Give Up," its filled with irresistible hooks, the kind that have hit single written all over it. Another tune that is bound to become a signature tune live is "Vainglorious;" what a rocker.

I simply cannot say enough how vital and uncompromising this album is. It is Heart at its very best, and to say this is one of their best albums is not an exaggeration at all. If I don't list this in my top ten albums of the year in December, somebody please give me a kick in the pants!

Tracklisting:
Make Me Listen (3:57) / Oldest Story in the World (3:53) / Things (2:45) / Perfect Goodbye (3:37) / Enough (3:25) / Move On (5:00) / I Need the Rain (4:20) / I Give Up (3:50) / Vainglorious (3:57) / No Other Love (4:02) / Led To One (2:56) / Down The Nile (4:49) / I'm Fine (2:59) / Fallen Ones (3:42) / Lost Angel (6:56) / Hello Moonglow (1:56)

Musicians:
Ann Wilson - poetry, vocals, harmony vocals, spoken word
Nancy Jo Wilson - string arrangements, harmony, dulcimer, guitars, harmonica, mandolin, vocals, mandocello, megaphone, piano strings
Mike McCready - guitars, e-Bow
Darian Sahanaja ? keyboards, stylophone
Terry Davison - pedal steel
Craig Bartock ? guitar, marimba, mellotron, pump organ
Jerry Cantrell ? guitar
Mike Inez ? bass, tambourine

Discography:
Dreamboat Annie (1976)
Little Queen (1977)
Magazine (1978)
Dog & Butterfly (1978)
Bebe Le Strange (1980)
Heart Greatest Hits: Live (1980)
Heart (1981)
Private Audition (1982)
Passionworks (1983)
Heart (1985)
Bad Animals (1987)
With Love From (1988)
Brigade (1990/1991*)
Rock the House Live! (1991)
Desire Walks On (1993)
The Road Home (1995)
Definitive Collection (1995)
Greatest Hits (1997)
These Dreams: Heart's Greatest Hits (1997)
Greatest Hits (1998)
Simply The Best (2000)
Greatest Hits: 1985-1995 (2000)
Heart Presents A Lovemonger's Christmas (1998/2001/2004)
Ballads: Greatest Hits (2001)
Definitive Collection (2002) single disc
Essential Heart (2002)
Alive In Seattle (2003)
Jupiter's Darling (2004)
The Collection (2005)
Love Alive (2005)
Love Songs (2006)
Dreamboat Annie Live (2007)
Red Velvet Car (2010)
Night At Sky Church (2010)

Heart (VHS) (1986)
The Road Home (VHS/DVD) (1995)
Alive In Seattle (DVD) (2003)

*deluxe CD package

Genre: Rock

Origin US

Added: August 8th 2004
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.heart-music.com
Hits: 2456
Language: english