heart

German metal powerhouse Primal Fear covered a Heart classic that will be part of the upcoming "Best of Fear" album. "If Looks Could Kill" belongs to the best Heart has ever written and Primal Fear's interpretation is at least as good.

(8/10) The Wilson sisters, better known under the header Heart, have played a show on December 12th 2013 in the Benaroya Symphony Hall in their hometown Seattle.
It was a remarkable moment since it was the only show like this. Ann and Nancy Wilson decided to play some holiday/Christmas classics, some of their own hits and personal favorites of the band. The result was a very special show, since the two ladies also invited some friends. Richard Marx, Shawn Colin, Sammy Hagar and Pat Monaham (Train) have joined and performed some songs together with Heart.
What happened on this magic night can be watched on DVD and listened to on CD. Frontiers Records released this show, which was a good decision.
Since I only have the CD I can't say anything about the visual impression. So let's focus on the music.
The setlist covered many different songs. There are typical holiday/Christmas tunes on the album. Most of them are more silent ones as you might also expect. However "Love come down on Christmas" and "Please come home for Christmas" are great songs. The more rocking Christmas was also part of the show. "Santa's going South" is such an example where also rock voice Sammy Hagar contibutes. I pretty cool version.
Next to those seasonal highlights the live Album also contains THE Heart hit "Barracuda" and the Led Zeppelin cover "Stairways to heaven".
The production of the album is great which means that from a sound perspective everything has been done right. It's a pleasure to listen to it.
"Home for the holidays" is a great soundtrack for Christmas time. Everybody who is fed up with the traditional versions of Christmas songs and also Wham's "Last Christmas" should go for this album.


(8/10)


Tracklist:

1. The river
2. Seasons
3. Rocking (feat. Shawn Colvin)
4. Love come down at Christmas
5. Poem
6. All through the night (feat. Richard Marx)
7. All we need is an island (feat. Sammy Hagar)
8. Santa's going South (feat. Sammy Hagar)
9. Please come home for Christmas (feat. Pat Monaham)
10. Remember Christmas
11. Barracuda
12. Even it up
13. Stairway to heaven
14. Ring them bells

Label: Frontiers Records
Genre: Rock
 

(8/10) Something new from Heart yes and no. It's a new live album of one of the biggest rock bands. The Wilson sisters, who also got a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, recorded a new live album in 2012. Heart taped the magnificent show at Ceasars Colosseum in Windsor, Ontario and release it in these days as a CD/DVD.

For the setlist the band could choose from a huge and comprehensive archieve based on an almost 40 years (Heart started in 1976) long history in rock music. The band played newer songs like "Fanatic", the title track from their latest release with the same name. Next to that there are the older classics like "Barracuda" (oh man, who I like this riff) and "Dog and butterfly". But they put also all of their commercial highlights from the eighties on the setlist. "What about love" and one of the best Heart songs ever "Alone" are performed in an great and motion touching way. The only tune I missed actually, as being a kid of the eighties is the rocking "If looks could kill". Remarkable the still cristal clear voice of Ann Wilson and the top production of the album. Both deserve the highest rates.

You could discuss if this live album was needed or not, since the band has already 4 of them in their discography. In the end it is to each of you to answer this question. For me it was definitely worth to go for this album. It's a great perfomed compilation of the best Heart songs, the last live album was from ten years ago and the new one is a signal that the band isn't tired of good rock music - even after such a long time in business.

Thumbs up.

PS: Since I only had the CD I can't talk about the visual impression of the show on DVD/BluRay.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Fanatic
2. Heartless
3. What about love
4. Mashallah!
5. Even it up
6. 59 crunch
7. Straight on
8. Dog and butterfly
9. Walking good
10. These dreams
11. Alone
12. Dear old America
13. Crazy on you
14. Barracuda

Label: Frontiers Records

Genre: Rock

Eagle’s new series Eagle Classics brings together two original Eagle Records CD releases into a single set for the first time. In this case it is about records from Heart (“Jupiters darling & Red velvet car”), Jethro Tull (“Living with the past” & “Nothing is easy”) and Peter Green Splinter Group (“Time traders” & Reaching the cold”).

Heart put a EPK on YouTube for the coming live CD/DVD. The release is called "Fanatic live from Caesars Colosseum" and was recoeded in Windsor, Ortario. The released date will be February 2014.