IF ANYONE is the epitome of the beautiful and the damned world of southern California in the 1980s, it is Stevie Nicks.
With her haunting, husky voice, her obliquely personal lyrics and her destructive cocaine habit, Nicks placed herself at the heart of the decaying American dream. 24 Karat Gold, produced by the Eurythmics’ Dave Stewart, is a reminder of those turbulent times containing, as it does, 14 self-penned tracks from her journey to hell and back.
While none of these songs are as immediate or as spine-tingling as Dreams or Sara, they do come from the heart. As she says: “Each song has a soul. They represent my life behind the scenes, the secrets and the broken hearts.”
The stand-out track Mabel Normand tells the story of silent film actress who battled drugs, just like Nicks, and whose “heart was quietly crying. I guess she even felt guilty about even dying”.
Nicks herself has survived and 24 Karat Gold, with other highlights including the snarling I Don’t Care and the introspective ballad Hard Advice, is a brutally honest reflection on her turmoil.
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