My Amazon Reviews: Heart "Red Velvet Car"

Baby, They Can Still Drive Your Car  
3 Out of 5 Stars

"Red Velvet Car" is Heart trying to revert to the days of "Dog and Butterfly" and "Little Queen." There's plenty of songs here that hearken to the classic sound, but for the most part, don't hold up. Thankfully, they've abandoned the overproduced pomp of the Capitol years entirely.

Most likely culprit is aging; you can't work up that hormonal rush at 60 that you could at 20. And lordy, is "Dreamboat Annie" really almost 40 years old? Time has not taken their vocal prowess away, as Ann and Nancy still sound terrific. It's also not for lack of effort, as songs like "Sand" and "Safronia's Mark" could be from the 70's. Like so many bands still slugging it out after decades, "Red Velvet Car" bears the sweet smell of polished professionalism. I enjoy it, but there's nothing here that made me think Heart was pushing themselves.

Which leaves the review at three stars for average, with a little extra credit to Heart for at least trying to do something new. Consider the alternative ala Journey or Rod Stewart; reduced to albums of hackneyed classics or re-recording your own material. "Red Velvet Car" may not be a fully restored model, but it's also not a false re-creation.