Music Review: Stevie Nicks – Street Angel

If you are a fan of Stevie Nicks, you can probably find something worthwhile about Street Angel. If you are not familiar with her work, this is not the album to provide an introduction.

Street Angel is one of those albums that’s okay but pales when compared to the rest of her catalogue. It was recorded during a difficult time in her life and career. She was not a part of Fleetwood Mac at the time and her dependence upon prescription drugs had worsened. She would enter rehab at the end of the recording process. It was against this background that she put together this May 23, 1994 release. The album would produce no big single hits and only reach number 45 on The United States album charts.

The album is not as mystical or magical as are most of her solo releases and especially some of her material with Fleetwood Mac. She remains grounded which makes the approach different from the rest of her work, which in this case was not necessarily a good thing. Another issue is the production was not as slick as one would expect from a Stevie Nicks album. Finally her voice is a little lower or huskier than on most of her material of the time period.

What it all adds up too is the weakest solo album in her catalogue. All is not lost, however, as there are some good performances scattered throughout the album. “Rose Garden” is a simple but haunting country type song that is free from the clutter of much of what surrounds it. “Maybe Love Will Change Your Mind” is a nice gentle rock song. “Love Is Like A River” is a representative Nicks rocker. “Unconditional Love” may be the best track as it is an emotional ballad. The title track has some problems but the harmonies with David Crosby are first rate.

On the other hand, her cover of Bob Dylan’s “Just Like A Woman” never takes off and the Trevor Horn/Betsy Cook composition, “Docklands,” is pointless. Songs such as “Listen To The Rain,” “Greta,” and “Destiny” all fall into the average range at best.

Street Angel is an album for Stevie Nicks or Fleetwood Mac collectors who want everything. There are some nice stand alone performances, but if you want to listen too Stevie Nicks, your time can be better spent elsewhere. It all ended well, hoever, as there were better times and music ahead for Stevie Nicks.