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Jupiter's Darling [UK Bonus Tracks]

 
Album Review: Jupiter's Darling [UK Bonus Tracks]
 

  • Artist: Heart [1]
  • Rating: StarStarStarStar
  • Release Date: July 06, 2004
  • Type: Lyrics are included with the album
  • Genre: Rock

Review

In the decade since their last studio outing, Heart's Ann and Nancy Wilson have apparently done some soul-searching and meditating on what made Heart such a great band in the first place. At their peak, they were a powerful, obsessively compelling rock band that could knock off hit singles and consistently fine albums that appealed to album rock radio junkies and studious types. Jupiter's Darling is the result of that reflection. It's easily the band's finest moment in over 20 years. Ann and Nancy have gotten their confidence back as bandleaders; the obvious control they exert over these proceedings is one of the album's chief strengths. Guitarist Craig Bartock (who co-produced with Nancy and collaborated as a songwriter on most of these tracks), bassist Mike Inez, drummer Ben Smith, and Darian Sahanaja on keyboards are all wound deep into the Wilsons' sonic tapestry that combines tough, edgy, riff-based guitar rock with textures and motifs from Eastern music, the blues, and psychedelia, à la their influences from Led Zeppelin as well as vintage pop. Over 16 cuts and 62 minutes, Jupiter's Darling does not feel overly long; the sheer diversity of its songs and production makes for a wonderfully labyrinthine listening experience. On "Make Me," the acoustic flamenco-cum-rag-blues intro opens out into a rocker that bears the traces of "Crazy on You." Ann's voice opens up the words of a love song that demands resolution. The urgency in the lyric is carried to the edge of the abyss by the triumvirate of guitars. "Oldest Story in the World" has all the grit of "Magic Man," and wrangles out pumped-up riffology. Nancy's country vocal on "Rings" feels a bit like Zeppelin's "Going to California," though it's less serious. There's adventure in tracks like "Enough," with its flutes and dulcimers, and "I Need the Rain," with its mandolins, as well as in the engaging radio pop of "The Perfect Goodbye" and the trippy, grungy rock of "Move On." The funky rawness of "Vainglorious" has a smoking refrain. Pearl Jam's Mike McCready joins the band on "I'm Fine," the scorching blues-rocker "Down the Nile," and "Led to One," as does former Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell on the grunged-out crunch of "Fallen Ones." Jupiter's Darling delivers far beyond expectations; it proves in spades that Heart is a vital and creative rock & roll unit and a force to be reckoned with. [This U.K. version of the album includes bonus material.] ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Make Me Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock, A. Wilson Heart (4:00)
Oldest Story in the World Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock, A. Wilson Heart (3:51)
Things Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock Heart (2:43)
The Perfect Goodbye Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock, A. Wilson Heart (3:37)
Enough Craig Bartock, A. Wilson Heart (3:23)
Move On Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock, A. Wilson Heart (5:00)
I Need the Rain Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock Heart (4:20)
I Give Up Sue Ennis, Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock, A. Wilson Heart (3:50)
Vainglorious Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock, A. Wilson Heart (3:57)
No Other Love Chuck Prophet Heart (4:00)
Led to One Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock Heart (2:57)
Down the Nile Nancy Wilson, A. Wilson Heart (4:49)
I'm Fine Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock Heart (2:59)
Fallen Ones Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock, A. Wilson Heart (3:41)
Lost Angel Nancy Wilson Heart (6:54)
Hello Moonglow Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock Heart (1:54)
How Deep It Goes [*] A. Wilson Heart (3:07)
Fallen Ones [Acoustic] Nancy Wilson, Craig Bartock, A. Wilson Heart (3:47)

Credits

Heart (Main Performer), Dave Dysart (Engineer), Patrick MacDougall (Engineer), Patrick MacDougall (Mixing), Ann Wilson (Vocals), Ann Wilson (Poetry), Ann Wilson (Harmony), Ann Wilson (Group Member), Darian Sahanaja (Keyboards), Darian Sahanaja (Stylophone), Darian Sahanaja (Group Member), Craig Bartock (Guitar (Acoustic)), Craig Bartock (Guitar), Craig Bartock (Marimba), Craig Bartock (Producer), Craig Bartock (Engineer), Craig Bartock (Mellotron), Craig Bartock (Organ (Pump)), Craig Bartock (E-Bow), Craig Bartock (Orchestration), Craig Bartock (String Arrangements), Craig Bartock (Mixing), Craig Bartock (Harmony), Craig Bartock (Group Member), Mike Inez (Tambourine), Mike Inez (Group Member), Ben Smith (Drums), Ben Smith (Group Member), Nancy Jo Wilson (Dulcimer), Nancy Jo Wilson (Guitar (Acoustic)), Nancy Jo Wilson (Harmonica), Nancy Jo Wilson (Mandolin), Nancy Jo Wilson (Piano), Nancy Jo Wilson (Strings), Nancy Jo Wilson (Guitar (Electric)), Nancy Jo Wilson (Vocals), Nancy Jo Wilson (Producer), Nancy Jo Wilson (Mandocello), Nancy Jo Wilson (Megaphone), Nancy Jo Wilson (String Arrangements), Nancy Jo Wilson (Mixing), Nancy Jo Wilson (Harmony), Nancy Jo Wilson (Group Member), Kam Dahlin (Engineer)
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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more