Album review: Heart, Brigade (1990)

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT, AUG. 16, 1990

By Steve Newton

I’ve been an off-and-on admirer of the Wilson sisters for many years now—heck, they used to play teen dances when I was a kid in Chilliwack, and I loved ’em. I loved ’em a lot more than I do now, that’s for sure.

Ann Wilson is still a powerhouse singer with emotion to burn, but Heart’s latest mix of rockers and ballads just doesn’t have that special something that the early albums had. As a matter of fact, I’m afraid the band’s been steadily losing it since its self-titled comeback album of ’85, which had some sparkling moments. I hope the inspiration that gave us such great tunes as “Barracuda”, “Crazy on You”, and “These Dreams” will return to these former faves.