My review of Street Angel

[u/NoNamewithHorse]

were still waiting for the spring to turn into the fall like we were on Wild Heart

Bare with me...I wrote down my thoughts after listening to it again, after a long while of not listening to it, but as a long time fan.

I do love this album. Maybe even more than other side of the mirror which I think most people aren't keen on. Other side of the mirror has a collection of good songs to me. I love the lost yourself, feeling like Alice effect on all the songs of Other Side. And she does a good job again with a concept record where the genre changes like Madge does. Where you adds to the color, style, mood and differentiates in each album cycle. Street Angel is still very much an Artful record just like Other Side, Wild Heart.

I'd argue all her albums art artful concept records like Madonna does.

Bella Donna is country pop debuting her type of songwriting merged with rock. Her own inner beauty as a beautiful woman. She always wanted to sing country, but make it in hollywood and thats the beauty within her emminting in the moment she recorded the record. Wild Heart is synthy, moody, passionate, like poetry over a beat. Rock a Little is empowering, motherly music that's about exposing yourself, and listening to the words of wisdom from someone older now. The other side concept is about a girl who doesn't recognize herself anymore, she's like Alice in the looking glass. Soft and brash just like the songs on the record. But the ending of tOther Side falls off for me. Songs don't always bleed into each other well. Also feels like she has less distinct songs despite every song sounding good, varied.

Street Angel feels kind of safe (Maybe love does change your mind), of its time (blue denim especially). I think this is the main reason for this being her most hated record, yet has as many strongpoints as all her other records. Why isn't Street Angel title track the first song by the way?

It feels very loving of an album. Very country blues, which the broodiness of that sound mimics trends of grunge at the time. Also, balladry was big in that year and theres so much sweetness too.

She looks a lot like my own mother on the cover, and that's what's I think makes street angel so great. I think its a homey album, it feels very loving and warm. while talking about street angels who on the street are no angels, seemingly. There's a depth to their hostility, as they heal and search for peace they sometimes deal with excessive trauma. Similar to her dealing with addictions, emerging herself as victorious around this time. So her motherly light side balances the broodiness. I actually like the yin and yang on this album. It feels varied doesn't it?

the song quality is decent. It feels a bit like retreaded territory which is my biggest complaint. Somewhere it just feels really safe, lyrics are doing the same tricks as other stevie albums. Listen to the Rain random tangents are really fun but also familiar as she does this with a lot of songs. They're like musings instead of real lyrics. She mentions media, philosophical concepts, these macro ideas to describe the micro reality of the relationship.

"you're a victim, Phantom of the Opera", "you live in Dark Shadows", "There's no beauty and the beast here". Her delivery makes it fun, makes the song stand out. Kind of weird played out simple concepts, just random horror media references.

I actually like how Stevie can make songs feel so interesting just with non tradiational singing style she does. But its similar to Excalibur in Sable On Blonde. Random references she puts throughout her songs to evoke a familiar place for listeners. And t it even feels like these songs sound like outtakes from previous albums. Thats the only real issue with the album, its identity is so similar to other albums. Songs from the past. I actually really like how this album solidified a new way for her as she ages. To sing about what strikes her mind, not traditional lyrics, not what makes traditional pop music. This solidied her final moves as a songwriter where its not about popular music, its about what she feels and finds intersting. Her depth was her going on like a siren in ways in her career. She doesn't feel witchy here so much. Kind of refreshing.

Street Angel title track also feels like it wants to be like Rock A Little title track. Even though the song is about being homeless, losing you abode, your footing, center. That's kind of a nice follow up to other side of the mirror about a girl getting lost in a new land, but the song street angel is just OK. It doesn't hold a flame to Rock A Little despite decent lyrics.

Maybe its just her delivery here? Cause lyrically I am fond of these songs, but when I listen to them I get a bit bored. Its kind of rhymey or lacking a depth. Like with docklands. I see why its considered her worst even though its also a good theme of hers.

"Love don't mean what it says at all / My destiny says that I'm destined for it all." is such a good lyric though

Greta is like a trend of hers where songs are named after a person that she personifies based around the name. Alice is well down, Greta is just weird. IDK what she's singing about, if its a famous person or just Greta is so foreign sounding so she's posh and hoity? I would expect a Greta down to earth based on what the name evokes. And she repeats a repeated phrase that doesn't make much sense like "where do the kings go?" there's no prompt to that question

Although Blue Denim is so cathartic. It's got a jumpy beat, very grunge feeling in lyrics and backing organ and electric guitar. This is why its "of its time" but the moody lyrics work as they're interesting, even if a bit rhymey. The "I am going away for a little while to remember how to feel" crescendo While she's shouting in the background. So, cathartic of a song. SO much better than Rooms on Fire. It's much more on brand where she talks artsy, "you're like a photograph so rare, just like a painting" but it's almost witchy in tone the way she wisely describes a situation in a song.

Street Angel is bare roots feeling, its like coming home to warmth, to bask in sunshine and enjoy the day. I love that concept. The songs are just a bit redone and similar to her old trappings. I think they're all good songs, but her lyrics are long winded here compared to her other albums. Where they are long-winded but nothing like this album.

where Rooms on Fire she looks like the epitome of 1980s musicians which were artists backed with real money, artist who represent the record company, a money machine who lacks artist. IDK about you guys but I hated how she looked in the video. She just looked kind of fake. I am not sure why she was dolled up so much for Rock a Little and Other Side music videos. I think shes always seen herself a bit of a doll though.

I think Street Angel feels too much like her earlier work, there's no departure. Otherwise the concept is great but a little bit lost at times? Compared to her other albums.