Live at McCabes Guitar Shop

epic

It might be easy to simply write this one off as another in a series of Unplugged-style records, where half of the sister act that makes up Heart decided to cut a CD of her favorites -- alone with her 12-string guitar. Except that unlike those MTV sessions, this one's more about appreciating what the artist has, rather than what she's done. Recorded in March 1996 and released a couple weeks ago, this 13-track greatest hits/faves compilation is a gem. Wilson is in great voice, and is clever and spirited on guitar, doing a few Heart rave-ups (Even It Up, These Dreams) covering some of her (and my) favorites (Joni Mitchell's haunting A Case of You, Simon and Garfunkel's Kathy's Moon, Peter Gabriels' In Your Eyes), as well as playing some new ones (the heartfelt Everything). There are no earth-shattering new renditions of anything, no starkly original moments, only Wilson's voice, guitar and the songs, and that's enough to make it work. Those who enjoyed MTV's Unplugged series will find this to be a pleasant companion.

-- Tim McMahan

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Originally published in The Reader, March 11, 1999.

Copyright © 1999 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Rating: Yes