Trouble in Shangri-La

1	Trouble in Shangri-La 4:50
2	Candlebright 4:41
3	Sorcerer 4:55
4	Planets of the Universe 4:47
5	Every Day 3:36
6	Too Far from Texas 3:49
7	That Made Me Stronger 4:19
8	It's Only Love 3:32
9	Love Changes 4:24
10	I Miss You 4:16
11	Bombay Sapphires 4:05
12	Fall from Grace 4:31
13	Love Is 4:30

Barnes & Noble

Stevie Nicks's new album could very well be called "Stevie Nicks and Friends." Aided and abetted by Sheryl Crow, Macy Gray, Sarah McLachlan, Dixie Chick Natalie Maines, and the Heartbreakers' Mike Campbell, Trouble in Shangri-La is a friendly affair, indeed. Crow proves to be Nicks's greatest pal, grounding Nicks in no-nonsense arrangements. (In the past, Nicks has occasionally let overproduction eclipse her stellar songwriting.) The rootsy but spooky "Sorcerer" and "Candlebright" meld Nicks's mysticism and Crow's earthiness especially well. As for the other guests: the throaty Gray adds even more resonance to Nicks's darn-near-Marianne-Faithfull-low vocals on "Bombay Sapphire"; Maines is right at home trading verses on the twangy "Too Far from Texas" (a song that finds Campbell echoing his signature guitar work from "Stop Dragging My Heart Around"); and McLachlan's lofty harmonies prove a pretty foil for Nicks on the closing ballad, "Love Is." Despite all the input, Nicks seems very much in charge here, her songs suffusing the album with her deeply personal reflections on love, loss, and triumph. "That Made Me Stronger" -- inspired by Tom Petty, who turned down Nicks's plea for collaborative help, saying, "You write your songs yourself" -- is typical of her candor. Whether she's on her own or with her friends, the songs on Trouble in Shangri-La make Nicks strong indeed. Bill Crandall

All Music Guide

Stevie Nicks calls in a few friends on this one. Trouble in Shangri-La enlists some of music's most popular females, including Macy Gray, Sarah McLachlan, and Dixie Chick Natalie Maines. If Nicks hadn't been doing it for years, this might feel like a calculated attempt to follow the trend set by Santana's Supernatural. Her liner notes have always been star-studded. Over the years she's gotten help from the likes of Don Henley, Don Felder, Bruce Hornsby, Mike Campbell, and Tom Petty. Most prominent on this album is Sheryl Crow, who co-produced five of the album's 13 tracks. Her signature guitar sound shines through on many of the songs. Maines performs the album's only true duet on "Too Far From Texas." The other guests are noticeable, but act mostly as backup voices and musicians. Make no mistake about it -- this is a Nicks album from beginning to end, and she's at the top of her game here. It's not a departure, but a renewed energy makes this her best work since 1985's Rock a Little. Titles like "Sorcerer" and "Bombay Sapphires" preserve her mystical persona, and despite their mythical sound, they touch on human and very personal subject matter. Her deliberate lyrics sometimes feel a bit more like prose than verse, but the conviction in her voice adds legitimacy to her words. While Nicks' voice has matured, it is just as strong as it ever was. She shows great range, from the heartbroken tenderness of "Love Changes" to the aggressive rock of "Fall From Grace." Trouble in Shangri-La not only reminds listeners what Nicks has meant to music, but it finds her a place in modern-day pop. ~ Brad Kohlenstein, All Music Guide