Music Review: Heart 鈥� 鈥楤eautiful Broken鈥�
There are probably a lot of us out there who wish we could have a do-over or two from the 鈥�80s. On Heart鈥檚 16th album, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members get a second shot at recording a handful of tracks previously released on 1980鈥檚 鈥淏ebe le Strange,鈥� 1982鈥檚 鈥淧rivate Audition鈥� and 1983鈥檚 鈥淧assionworks.鈥�
Fronted by sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson, Heart has been a favorite of mine since purchasing a copy of 鈥淒reamboat Annie,鈥� which produced the hits 鈥淢agic Man鈥� and 鈥淐razy on You鈥� more than 40 years ago.
Originally a bonus track on 2012鈥檚 鈥淔anatic,鈥� the title track is a rough-and-tumble treat fueled with a special guest appearance by Metallica鈥檚 James Hetfield.
鈥淪uch a drama queen/A hot mess/Underneath her temper, underneath her dress/Like a raw flame/She got a secret mind/Getting your attention each and every time,鈥� sings Ann.
As is the case with most Heart performances, hot drama indeed.
In addition to the back catalog redos, 鈥淏eautiful Broken鈥� features three new arrangements.
On 鈥淭wo,鈥� a piano-led ballad written by R&B artist Ne-Yo, Nancy gets a shot to demonstrate her vocal talents while the weighty guitar riffs delivered by her on 鈥淗eaven鈥� and 鈥淚 Jump鈥� accentuate Ann鈥檚 muscular vocals, giving the tracks a throwback style.
鈥淪weet Darlin'鈥� spotlight鈥檚 one of Ann鈥檚 best singing performances of the album as lush strings tenderly orchestrate the number鈥檚 mood and message.
Heart fanatics will certainly savor the new album as they patiently wait for more original material to come.
With over 35 million albums sold, I鈥檝e always regretted not catching one of heart鈥檚 electrifying live performances.
The opportunity presents itself again when Heart rolls into Pittsburgh on July 21 with Cheap Trick and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts.
Now that鈥檚 what I call a real Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show.