Disco de Heart: “Desire Walks On”

Upon listening to this on the in-store play at my workplace back in 1993, I sadly thought, this is it. Heart's second wind has officially entered the doldrums. They are no longer relevant. To use a phrase from a song, better they sail back to Avalon. I didn't even buy this upon first release--that's how I felt, and I was a big Heart fan then. Years later, I bought it and some of that feeling dissapated. This year, and I found myself thinking, "Man, what was I thinking? This was indeed a glorious last stand studiowise, albeit with a few flaws."

From the opening chugging guitar that had never seen the likes of since "Barracuda," "Black On Black II" seemed to be a promise that Heart was continuing back on the rock treadmill that defined Brigade. The dynamic of opposites is emphasized on the chorus, "pleasure and pain", "the sacred and the profane", "ice and fire". Ann really lets it rip on this one.

With "Back To Avalon", there seemed to be a slight return to the pleasant minstrel acoustic rock that defined Little Queen. There is also a bluesy feel in some of the guitars. However, the lyrics, "I can't stay here anymore, I'm leaving with the tide" might also reflect the feelings they felt with the new grunge sound emerging from Seattle. To the Nirvana/Soundgarden generation, Heart sadly seemed to be as relevant as Gerald Ford-brand toilet seats. The phoenix flying back to that mystical island of Avalon...nice image.

With the keyboard synth and Howard Leese's pronounced bass and haunting melody, the "The Woman In Me" sounds like a cross between a mellowed "These Dreams" and the Cars' "Drive."

The pounding rock rhythms of "Rage" seems directed against a frustrating and superficial world. "Addiction", "plastic", "styrofoam", "amphetamine vapors" are just some of the words to describe the sense of despair. Ann really does channel the rage in those throaty vocals of hers.

The power ballad "In Walks The Night" describes a nightmarish mental and emotional blackness that floods after remembering a former loved one. "In walks the night/in walks my fantasy/darkness all around me/and I'm dying for the light/I reach down for a little strength deep inside/I reach down for my sanity." Ann and Nancy's harmonies really shine out in this gem.

"My Crazy Head" is what one's wayward angel is to sanctify. Despite being by the Wilsons and Sue Ennis, it shows that even the best of collaborations can yield a duff song. Then comes two standouts, a cover of Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells" from his 1989 Oh Mercy album, and "Will You Be There" penned by Mutt Lange. With assistance from Alice In Chains' Layne Staley, Ann sings for bells to ring for souls for the good and the not so good. A slowed down rhythm similar to "All I Wanna Do" starts the power ballad "Will You Be There." The lyrics seem unsubstantial, which the pleasant piano and electric guitar riffs more than make up for.

Ann declares herself in control and no one's slave in the bizarre "Voodoo Doll." Then comes the proclamation of emotional support in "Anything Is Possible": "I know you're my friend/hold on and transcend/I know anything is possible." Bring out those lighters and wave! I can picture Aerosmith or Bon Jovi trying to do this... and failing. Only the Wilsons could make this so special.

After a reprise of "Back To Avalon" comes the title track, which is hard-driving, but lyrically unsubstantial despite the Wilsons/Ennis collaboration, which score a 1/3 here. Ironically, songs co-written with Dalbello and others do better; it's good to see the Wilsons go back to songwriting. Despite no new studio albums, the sun didn't completely set on Heart yet. There was still The Lovemongers, The Road Home, and Alive In Seattle to come.

1990's BRIGADE was Heart's "return-to-hard-rock" album after 1987's slightly keyboard-heavy BAD ANIMALS. While it definitely put some rocks back into Heart's sound, even that album had an air of unevenness, mainly due to the predominance of outside songwriters. For 1993's DESIRE WALKS ON, original material is the order of the day for the first time since 1983's PASSIONWORKS, and the return to in-house songwriting is indeed welcome. Yet there was still a sign that Heart was in need of an extended vacation from the music business.

Only three songs on the album come from outside of Heart, with one rather obvious tune & two more daring numbers. The big single was naturally a tailor-made power ballad, "Will You Be There [In The Morning]", from master producer Mutt Lange. It was his "All I Wanna Do Is Make Love To You" that nearly brought Heart back to #1 on the singles charts, so I guess Heart decided to try again. It only managed the top 40, which makes sense, seeing as how it's certainly not one of Lange's better works (saved by Nancy Wilson's passionate vocal, though). And of course, by 1993, the age of the power ballad had already come to a close.

Donna Summer's "The Woman In Me" was indeed an unlikely choice for Heart, but Summer's "Starting Over Again" was a huge country hit for Dolly Parton after all, so maybe it's not that unbelievable. Donna's version was only a minor hit, but Heart turns it into a "These Dreams"-styled ballad that I think would have made a better single than "Will You Be There". Indicating Heart's eventual return to their acoustic folk roots in the Lovemongers, they take on Bob Dylan's latter-day masterpiece "Ring Them Bells". This alone proves there was more to late-period Heart than airbrushed arena rock (not to mention the unlikely appearance of late Alice In Chains leader Layne Staley).

DESIRE WALKS ON does continue the more ballsy rock nature of BRIGADE with songs like the opening (after the short intro "Desire") "Black On Black II" (one of the few full-on heavy metal songs Heart ever did), "Rage", "Voodoo Doll" & the closing title track. Only "My Crazy Head" falls flat, sounding good while it plays, but not too memorable afterwards.

The album does contain its share of ballads, of course, but the blow-dried production of HEART (1985) & BAD ANIMALS is sacrificed for a more stripped-down yet still anthemic style. "In Walks The Night" & "Anything Is Possible" are the ballads Heart should have specialized more in during this time. No over-the-top keyboards to date them into a specific era, just slightly bluesy, guitar-driven anthems that harken back to the album that started it all, 1975's DREAMBOAT ANNIE. "Back To Avalon" is another song that could have been at home on that legendary debut, and is an acoustic-driven rocker that hints at 1995's THE ROAD HOME (the reprise later in the album wasn't exactly necessary).

While the music Heart had been making for the better part of a decade was no longer in vogue, it was clear they hadn't yet wanted to fold like the younger bands that had been raised on the stuff. They would return 2 years later with the acoustic live album THE ROAD HOME, again proving to be a better example of a band returning to their roots. But when the Wilson sisters formed the Lovemongers to make that kind of music albeit under a pseudonym of sorts, Heart was, for all intents & purposes, defunct.

Not to fear, though. Heart's recently released ALIVE IN SEATTLE album seems to have the Wilson sisters going back to the arena-ish style and, better yet, with some new songs. A full-scale studio return of Heart may just be around the corner, so until they grace our presence again, DESIRE WALKS ON will keep the listener occupied (if they can find this currently out-of-print album), even if it does remain a second-level purchase for Heart fans.

Black on Black II: This song starts with Ann screaming out title, then the guitars begin to chug along a la Barracuda, one of the band's most enduring hits from the 70's. Unfortunately that what helps sink the song as it just does not compare to Barracuda. 6/10

Back to Avalon: An acoustic based song written by the Wilsons. Song features upbeat lyrics and arrangement as they sing about how they are returning to their musical roots. 8/10

The Woman in Me: A cover of a minor hit song from 1983 by Donna Summer. Ann delivers a sultry, soulful vocal and it's always a treat to hear Ann tap into that side of her vocal ability rather than always rocking out. 8/10

Rage: An angry, socially conscious rocker where Ann wails away. The song revisits the same themes as "City's Burning" the rocker that kicked off Heart's 1982 album City's Burning. 7/10

In Walks the Night: A power ballad, but this has a more epic feel than the power ballads that crowd Brigade. Ann turns in an emotive performance singing the words of how loneliness gives her fear of the night. My favorite song on the album. 9/10

My Crazy Head: Ann turns in a restrained vocal in this mid tempo rocker. For years after the album was released, I was unsure if Nancy or Ann did lead on this vocal, but this is Ann. The song is more filler than a standout, but a pleasant track. 6/10

Ring Them Bells: A cover of a Bob Dylan song. Ann, Nancy and Layne Stayley of Alice in Chains each take a verse and harmonize on the chorus. One of the most unique recordings in the entire Heart catalog and a sign to longtime Heart fans that the power ballad era was over. 8/10

Will You Be There in the Morning: Or should I say the power ballad era is almost over. This is a Mutt Lange penned power ballad and obviously designed for radio airplay. Nancy is on lead on this catchy anthemic song. The song lacks the substance or ambition of Rage, Ring Them Bells, In Walks the Night or Back to Avalon, but it's Heartily (pun intended) sung and performed. 7/10

Voodoo Doll: Another change of pace song for Heart. Voodoo Doll emphasized drums and rhythm. Though the production puts too much emphasis on keyboards and it might have benefitted from a more naturalistic production as found on Heart's 70's albums produced by Mike Flicker. 6/10

Anything is Possible: A very sincerely written song addressed to a friend/lover to bring hope, but it's too sappy for my taste. This might have worked if the production wasn't so bombastic and had been arranged as a simple acoustic number like "Cry to Me" found on 1977's Little Queen album. 5/10

Desire Walks On: The album closes with a big rocker. Here the bombastic production works in its favor, especially when Ann wails out at the end. 8/10

Ann Wilson has always had one of the most powerful voices in rock. This collection showcases not only her voice, but thier enduring talent.

From the opening, hard driving guitars of Black on Black, the girls from Canada reclaim a rightful position. They follow up with a number of great songs that never really got the recognition they deserve.

Back to Avalon, In Walks the Night, Woman in Me, Will You be There, Anything is Possible.... all great songs that cater to the softer side of Heart.

Rage and Voodoo Doll both meet again with the harder side of the sisters and the remaining songs play to the mystical side of these talented women.

I think that when this CD was released the modern listeners were beyond true rock and into other genres, therefore this one got lost in the shuffle. Listening to this again I am still quite pleasantly suprised at the talent they showed.

Sadly, the girls tried some other avenues... The Lovemongers, which failed, and Jupiters Darling, which I never could warm up to.

Ann's new release throws things back to classical cover type rock, which was carried off well. But alas... I miss these chicks. They had the look, the talent.. and most of all they had Ann's voice! I doubt there will ever be this kind of talent again in the history of Rock.

I have to disagree with the comments that this album signaled Heart's time was up. Rather, I felt like it was a stunning return to form after a very forumulaic (though great) decade.

I think this is a very strong album, full of great melodies, killer hooks, and innovative instrumentation and unique percussion.

I've heard Ann and Nancy are working on a new Heart studio album, so this won't be their last studio album after all. I don't know if the new stuff can live up to "Desire Walks On", because I think it's one of their career highlights. Definitely their best since 1985's comeback album, "Heart", and one of my top four Heart albums of all time.