Dog & Butterfly

iTunes Review

As its title indicates, Dog & Butterfly is both earthy and ethereal, balancing crunchy rock tracks with billowing, mystically tinged acoustic ballads. Ann Wilson comes on strong in hard-pumping tunes like “Straight On,” “Cook With Fire” and “Hijinx,” unleashing her trademark shivery high notes as the band swelters behind her. “High Time” stands out for its swaggering groove and optimistic lyric. Following these upbeat tracks are a series of atmospheric numbers that show off Heart’s more contemplative side. A sense of personal exploration and poetic reflection runs through “Nada One” and the title song, while “Lighter Touch” is a string-wrapped, slightly grandiose confession of love. Heart wraps up this ambitious song-cycle with “Mistral Wind,” a lyrically vivid narrative that frames Wilson’s yearning voice against a shifting backdrop of serene and stormy textures. Filled with rich instrumental colors and fiery vocal flights, Dog & Butterfly may be Heart’s most unified artistic statement.