585 Heart - Dreamboat Annie (1975)

 585 Heart - Dreamboat Annie (1975)

Studio Album - Art Rock



About the Act:

Formed in 1967, Heart have been an American Rock band almost continuously, except for a couple of short breaks. They have had quite an impressive turnover of members, and several different names to start with, but sisters Nancy and Ann Wilson have been the mostly constants since the mid 70s. Despite all this turmoil they have had widespread world-wide success, and 16 studio albums.

About the Album:

This was their first album and sold really well.

My History with this Album:

None

Review:

I can't believe this is a debut album, it's too assured and mature. 

So there is a mixture of styles here. If, like me, your knowledge of Heart is the song Barracuda, you might expect this to be a rock album. Well there are rock songs and elements, but the style is broader than that. There's acoustic folky-rock, there's twangy country-rock, and there's rock, and one track that's quite Prog and reminds me of the band Yes.

Ann Wilson's vocals are great, she has a versatile voice that can sound rocky and high, and gentle and medium-ranged, and she reminds me of Joni Mitchell at times. I was really impressed. 

I was also impressed with the variety and musicianship throughout. The music is great, nicely implemented. The songs are a mixture of things. I'm not sure if it is meant to be a concept album or not, it keeps coming back to the song "Dreamboat Annie". It kind of hangs together, but not totally, and actually at times feels a little disjointed in the flow, as if it has not quite been framed right as an album.  And that's the sum of my criticism, really.

In overall feel and effect I was reminded of Fleetwood Mac, but broader in stylistic scope. I enjoyed it, it is thoughtful, well-written and has quite a bit of depth to it musically and lyrically.

8/10


Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/2N0AgtWbCmVoNUl2GN1opH

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6ogdCG3tAWhM_NlNC6GRLegDFhkiQvn7

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreamboat_Annie



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