Music Review: Stevie Nicks ~ "In Your Dreams"

Grab your leather, lace and 6 inch boots because Stevie Nicks twirls back to the music scene with her best solo album in 25 years.

"In Your Dreams" is Nicks' 7th CD and her first since 2001's uneven "Trouble In Shangri-La." While that CD suffered from "too many cooks" syndrome with producer credit going to 8 people and songwriting credits going to 9, "In Your Dreams" is more focused and - in case you're wondering - yes, it rocks!!

The album was produced by Dave Stewart (Eurythmics, Mick Jagger, Jon Bon Jovi) and Glen Ballard (Alanis Morissette, Goo Goo Dolls). This time, Nicks has kept the writing to herself and Stewart (with the exception of Edgar Allen Poe on "Annabel Lee.")

The album is just about perfect and can easily sit along side "Bella Donna," "The Wild Heart" and "Rock A Little" as one of her best releases. Among the 13 songs you'll find ghosts, vampires, secret lovers and almost any mystical reference that long time fans have come to expect and love. The first single, "Secret Love," kicks off the album and right out of the gate the CD is off and rocking. Other standout rockers include: "In Your Dreams," and "Ghosts Are Gone."

The band is tight. Guest musicians include Mike Campbell of The Heartbreakers as well as Fleetwood Mac bandmates Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham who plays guitar and sings on "Soldiers Angel" a song based on a poem Nicks wrote and distributed to soldiers injured in battle during the Iraq War.

The album comes to a close perfectly with a duet called "Cheaper Than Free." The song is about the loving bond between two people and is sung with sweet sincerity by Nicks and Stewart. They may not be a couple romantically, but professionally and musically they have produced a collection of songs that gets better with every listen.

With this release Nicks has once again crafted the kind of album that has made her just as popular a solo artist as she is with Fleetwood Mac. To have two successful careers in music is a feat not done by many and, to be honest, other than Ms. Nicks, only the name Phil Collins comes to mind. Her success is a testament to her dedication as a song writer as well as her talent and determination to succeed.

Drumroll please… 8 out of 10 white winged doves!!