(03 June 2001) The first solo album from Stevie Nicks on Reprise Records is entitled Trouble In Shangri-La (9 47372-2, 2001). Joined by singers Sheryl Crow and Sarah McLachlan this lushly produced 13-track collection of her own material produced by John Shanks has once again heightened the attention of Stevie Nicks' worldwide audience.

"My music often unfolds like the book of my life," declares the legendary rock poet. "I believe in telling the truth ... actually, it's the only way that I can exist as a writer." She continues, "Every step along the path of my life, I've been writing it all down, taking incredibly detailed notes. Instead of partying, I run back to my room, open my journal, and pour out my heart onto paper. It can take minutes, or it can take all night. But it's always deep. And it's always real."

It's to that end that Nicks created the sterling, often confessional Trouble In Shangri-La, her first solo collection since 1994's Street Angel and her first musical voyage with Reprise Records. She says, "The project has been slowing percolating for several years, taking different shapes and forms. But it never seemed quite right until recently. I needed to live my life. I needed to replenish my well of life experiences." The track "Every Day" is a heartfelt reflection of these feelings.

Nicks mixed things up inviting an array of new friends and musicians to participate in Trouble In Shangri-La. Macy Gray vamps with seductive soul on "Bombay Sapphire," while Sarah McLachlan harmonizes on the stately, piano-driven ballad "Love Is," seasoned with a splash of funk percussion. Dixie Chick Natalie Maines is a complementary presence on the country-spiced rocker "Too Far From Texas" complete with slide guitar. Classic Stevie Nicks-style tunes, including the acoustic-based "Candlebright" and the gentle ballad "I Miss You," are tempered by the pop accessibility of the album's opening and title track. The anthemic "Planets of the Universe" is a standout featuring lovely backing vocals by Lori Nicks and Sharon Celani whose voices grace a majority of the album's tracks.

Stevie worked with Sheryl Crow on five of the album's tracks ("Candlebright," "Sorcerer," "Too Far From Texas," "That Made Me Stronger," and "It's Only Love"). Among the more satisfying results of their kinetic creative union is "Sorcerer," on which Nicks scales to a rich falsetto during the song's mystical verses. "She was completely open and in-the-moment while we were working," Crow told us. "She never stops working or striving to be a better artist."

You can find further information on Stevie Nicks at her website or at the Reprise Records website. Read further reviews, hear soundbites and order the album from amazon.com here. Clearly the latest album from Stevie Nicks is worth a cross-country journey. Our readers should agree it is a must listen!