Music review: Nancy Wilson – 鈥榊ou and Me鈥�
As the driving force of Heart, sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson burst on the music scene with the release of 1976鈥檚 鈥淒reamboat Annie.鈥�
鈥淟ittle Queen鈥� followed a year later, providing the spark that fueled the band to eventually go on to sell over 35 million albums worldwide and earn an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.
With 鈥淵ou and Me,鈥� talented guitarist and songwriter Nancy Wilson goes it alone for her first solo studio release of engaging original tracks and select covers.
Recorded in her California home studio during the pandemic, the album possesses a simplistic vibe created from the need to express a variety of emotions experienced over months of isolation and uncertainty.
The title track sweetly opens the album with Wilson highlighting her late mother鈥檚 continued influence as she sings, 鈥淚 need your face so that everything can fall right back into its place.鈥� It鈥檚 a touching testament to the unbreakable bond between mother and daughter.
Acoustic offerings 鈥淚鈥檒l Find You,鈥� 鈥淲alk Away鈥� and 鈥淲e Meet Again鈥� showcase Wilson鈥檚 impeccable guitar skills as well as her surprisingly strong vocal style.
A celebratory mood overcomes Wilson when special guests Duff McKagan of Guns N鈥� Roses and Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters provide inspirational backing on 鈥淧arty at the Angel Ballroom.鈥�
When it comes to interpreting other artists, Wilson infuses her own musical leanings to Bruce Springsteen鈥檚 鈥淭he Rising,鈥� Pearl Jam鈥檚 鈥淒aughter鈥� and the Cranberries鈥� 鈥淒reams.鈥� Additionally, Sammy Hagar joins Wilson for a marvelous version of Simon and Garfunkel鈥檚 鈥淭he Boxer.鈥�
The set gracefully closes with an instrumental tribute to the late Eddie Van Halen. 鈥�4 Edward鈥� serves as Wilson鈥檚 tender acoustic love letter to the guitar virtuoso who influenced countless musicians over the course of his iconic career.
鈥淵ou and Me鈥� demonstrates Wilson is as proficient in front of the microphone as she is behind the guitar.