Trouble in Shangri-La - Stevie Nicks
Metascore
70 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Offering her strongest material since her 1982 landmark, Bella Donna, Nicks is radiant as she vamps through guitar-charged rockers that deftly balance her signature poetry with sticky pop hooks.
  2. Nicks' sixth solo album is her strongest since 1983's The Wild Heart.
  3. Nicks and her sundry producers also baste her songs in gravy-thick arrangements that reduce a few of them to sludge. [4 May 2001, p.70]
  4. A crafty update of California pop, shot through with the insights and ravings of a sometimes-lonely desert mystic.... Still, the disciplined songs of Trouble occasionally scream "Warning! Career Rehabilitation in Progress." [May/June 2001, p.105]
  5. Though her newfound confidence mostly allows the disc to transcend the safe "comeback" label, her trademark witchy-poo persona is what actually makes the album so welcome.
  6. All told, eight producers (including Nicks) were involved in the production of Trouble in Shangri-La, and not everybody is up to the challenge.
  7. 60
    It's not a perfect album, and it's second half plays too openly with synth pop elements. The subtle beats and loops feel forced. But it has its moments of beauty, its songs worth listening to more than once.
  8. Shangri-La is one of those archetypal "it takes a few listens" albums -- although even songs like the meandering title track do eventually make an impression.
  9. 40
    The rich studio gloss and unmistakable vocal mannerisms she's cultivated over 30 years cover nicely for the weakness of her new material. [Jun/Jul 2001, p.114]
User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 15 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 11
  3. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. 10
    Trouble In Shangri-La is one of Stevie Nicks' best solo albums, probably her best since 1980's Bella Donna. Whereas Nicks had great moments on her albums The Wild Heart, Rock A Little and The Other Side Of The Mirror, Trouble In Shangri-La is a very consistently good album. "Planets of the Universe" is a great Nicks-written track (and was a #1 Dance hit on Billboard's charts). "Trouble In Shangri-La" offers a killer chorus, "Sorcerer" is a Sheryl Crow-produced 1970s era song, "Every Day" hit #17 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary charts, "Bombay Sapphires" offers a moody meditation on relationships and the ocean, and "Fall From Grace" is a sizzling rocker. This album hit #5 and went Gold in the U.S. Full Review »
  2. joshl
    10
    stevie nicks is always great!!!!!!! loving her...........
  3. JyotirmayaD
    7
    Stevie Nicks' voice sounds a little better than it has lately on this CD. I think there are one too many stinkers on this album -- some songs are too polished to hide their bad quality; some songs are just plain horrible - why did she decide to put the Tom Petty inspired "That Made Me Stronger?" yech! But being a Stevie fan, I enjoy listening to the one's I like and skip over the one's I don't. Full Review »