Heart - Strange Euphoria Box Set (Disc 3): Part 4

This third and final disc kicks off with these lovely ladies doing a song under The Lovemongers banner called "Kiss". Modern popstar tarts can try all they want, but there is no way they can ever top the erotic power of this song! In fact there is just something amazing about when these two pick up an acoustic guitar that you just know it is going to be the highest of quality. So many female artists end up sounding contrived and overly pretentious, but with Ann and Nancy Wilson this is never the case. So although I prefer it when they get into some serious heavy rock tunes, I enjoy their acoustic material more than most artists out today. It doesn't seem to matter if it is the sensual "Kiss", "Sand", "Everything", or "She Still Believes", it is down right mesmerizing.

The 4 song intro of acoustic leads into something I don't think I have ever heard them do before...Blues! "Any Woman's Blues" is another track listed as a demo, but I'm really confused as to why it would be just a demo. I have never listened to the final studio version, but I just do not see how it can be any better than this down right stunning version. This however leads into a song that I have to admit I just can not get into. The strange thing is that it is the title track to this box set! "Strange Euphoria" comes off like an experiment that just did not work out. It does however show why they have been around for almost half a century, they are not afraid to experiment. Which is why they pull it off so well most of the time. This sadly leads into my least favorite Heart song in their entire catalog, "Boppy's Back" is just annoying. The vocals are bad and the lyrics are monotonous and uninspired. I am sure I will get hate mail for saying so, but I just do not like that song.

The band snaps back with a vengeance with another song recorded under The Lovemongers name, "Friend Meets Friend." Interesting, it's another acoustic song. The duel vocals are a major reason why this song works so well. We then get a live recording of the band doing a more raw Blues song called "Love Or Madness". The recording is rough, but it adds to the nasty attitude the song has and I love it! "Skin To Skin" is listed as previously unreleased and I can tell you why. It is a little weak and lacks the timeless nature of the majority of material they are known for. It goes back and forth from a really bad rap vocal to this annoying vocalization. Some may love it but this is one of my least favorite songs on this disc.

"Fallen Ones" is the heaviest song on the disc and just might be my new favorite song by Heart. How did I not hear this song before? "Enough" is another song that proves that wimpy can be done without it coming off as lame. Sure the song is mellow as hell, but it is also cool as hell. The difference is talent and passion. "Lost Angel", "Little Problems, Little Lies", "Queen City", and "Hey You" all continue this same pattern to greatness. "Avalon" ends this third disc with a 34 second teaser of a song that ends with that same feeling of your favorite tv show doing a cliff hanger before they know if they are renewed.  

So after three discs I have a few thoughts. This is more a box set of the career of Ann and Nancy Wilson instead of Heart, but that is a good thing to me. I also am reminded of why these box sets are such a great idea. Even if there is a song or two that you do not like per disc, you still end up with hours of great music you love! In this day of disposable mp3 files a box set like this creates a great back up. What if your hard drive fails? What if that cloud service goes under with no warning? Always keep a physical back up. Plus, this box set looks much better on a shelf instead of an mp3 on a hard drive. I have discovered some great new songs from this duo that I never knew about. I know have more Ann and Nancy Wilson songs that I can enjoy over and over again. Even without the dvd I will review next, this box set is well worth the money. Buy it or you are seriously missing out on some awesome.

For part one where I talk in depth about the packaging and art work go to:

http://www.rockmymonkey.com/cd-reviews/2012/6/17/heart-strange-euphoria-box-set-review-part-1.html

For Part 2 where I review disc 1 go to:

http://www.rockmymonkey.com/news/2012/6/19/heart-strange-euphoria-box-set-disc-1-part-2.html

For part 3 where I talk about disc 2 go to :

http://www.rockmymonkey.com/news/2012/6/21/heart-strange-euphoria-box-set-disc-2-part-3.html

Heart - Strange Euphoria Box Set (Disc 2): Part 3

You remember back when you were a little kid and your parents would be ranting about something they thought was important, but your brain was drifting off to something you cared about more? They would say that although you could hear them, you were not really listening to them. Well, that is what we do to music now. It's just background noise. I think what makes Heart so special is that they have four decades of releasing music that would grab you and make you listen the way our parents wish they could have more often. So here I am on the third installment of my adventure to give the most detailed review of the Heart box set available.

When I started listening to this at work I ended up listening to the first few songs of this second disc a few times before I figured out it was the second disc. The song that stuck out the most was "Bebe Le Strange". I have no clue why, but that hook got a hold of me and just would not let go. The guitar riffs in the song "City's Burning" have to be some of the most over looked guitar riffs in Rock history. I'm not a guitar player, so maybe I am missing something but people should be talking about this song way more than they do. The live version of "Never" is amazing. Just like with the demo tracks, this is stripped down to it's core. Maybe they had an extra dose of energy because John Paul Jones was playing with them? Either way, I still wonder if they meant "You're banging your head again, somebody won't let you in" as a masturbation reference. I have always thought so but have never seen them confirm or deny it in interviews. "These Dreams" and "Alone" are just the standard studio versions we have all loved for the past couple decades, but it is still nice to hear them both again and have them in this collection.

I have to admit that this is the first time I have heard the songs "Nobody Home", "High Romance", and "Under The Sky", but I really like them. Although I like it best when these girls kick ass, some of their softer songs are great because soft songs from modern bands of today seem to lack any passion and these ladies have always been overflowing with it.  This disc did has two weak spots in "Lucky Day", and "Unconditional Love" but two weak songs amongst such a strong catalog is a pretty good track record in my book. My wife did get mad at me when I played the track back to back with a Beyonce song and asked her if she heard any similarities. I think I ruined that song for her for life.

With this disc being pretty full of the softer side of Heart, I was glad to hear that the final song was a bit heavier. It is 80's cheese all the way, but nobody did that with more integrity than Heart. It is the perfect statement to describe their entire career. It never mattered if it was one of the heavier rock songs of that era, a soft ballad about love, or an 80's style track about empowerment, they always did it with their integrity intact. That is clear with this disc, even with the songs I don't like.

For part one where I talk in depth about the packaging and art work go to:

http://www.rockmymonkey.com/cd-reviews/2012/6/17/heart-strange-euphoria-box-set-review-part-1.html

For Part 2 where I review disc 1 go to:

http://www.rockmymonkey.com/news/2012/6/19/heart-strange-euphoria-box-set-disc-1-part-2.html