Heart's Triumphant Return!

Artist: Heart
Title: Jupiter’s Darling
Genre: Rock
Label: Sovereign Artists

I am so happy to see that the Wilson sisters have finally decided to go back into the studio to record an album. It has been a long 10 years. I knew after hearing Alive In Seattle last summer that they had successfully recaptured the energy and sound that made them rock legends. I was hoping all along that this album would become a reality.

Jupiter’s Darling is some of their finest work since Heart (1985) and Bebe La Strange (1980). Ann and Nancy really turn on the juice with every track, all 16, and that is a lot of music to record. They make every track a winner; it is a five star release from start to finish.

From lush ballads "Enough," flat out rockers "Move On" and smoldering bluesy tunes like "Down The Nile," the ladies have it goin’ on non-stop. Craig Bartock is a fabulous guitar player and the rhythm section of Mike Inez (bass) and Ben Smith (drummer) really kick it up a notch to match the intensity of Bartock’s hot licks. Darian Sahanaja (keyboards) is also a key factor in making the Heart sound like it was on previously successful albums.

Ann is still one of the most powerful and dynamic woman lead singers in rock music and sister Nancy can still back sis nicely with her steamy vocals and also provide some hard fast licks of her own on the six-string. They still like to pull out a few Led Zeppelin riffs here and there and add the mystical mandolin for more Zep like effects. Check out the mid section of "I Give Up," it’s filled with irresistible hooks, the kind that have hit single written all over it. Another one that is bound to become a signature tune live is "Vainglorious," what a rocker. This is jam packed with Heart classics, no doubt one of the most memorable performances in their wonderful careers.

I simply cannot say enough how vital and uncompromising this album is. It is Heart at its very best, and to say this is one of their best albums is not an exaggeration at all. If I don’t list this in my top ten albums of the year in December, somebody please give me a kick in the pants!

© Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com

August 6, 2004

01. Make Me Listen

02. Oldest Story in the World

03. Things

04. Perfect Goodbye

05. Enough

06. Move On

07. I Need the Rain

08. I Give Up

09. Vainglorious

10. No Other Love

11. Led to One

12. Down the Nile

13. I'm Fine

14. Fallen Ones

15. Lost Angel

16. Hello Moonglow

Rating-10/10

Credits:

Ann Wilson -Poetry, Vocals|Harmony Vocals|Spoken Word

Nancy Jo Wilson-Producer|String Arrangements|Design|Mixing|Photography|Harmony, Dulcimer|Guitar (Acoustic)|Harmonica|Mandolin|Guitar(Electric)|Vocals|Mandocello|Megaphone|Piano Strings

Mike McCready -Guitar|E-Bow|Guitar (Leslie)

Darian Sahanaja -Keyboards|Stylophone

Terry Davison-Pedal Steel

Craig Bartock-Guitar|Marimba|Mellotron|Organ (Pump)

Jerry Cantrell-Guitar

Mike Inez -Bass|Tambourine

Sovereign Artist-Heart Link
Band Site