Fleetwood Mac: Classic or Dud

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Not all messages are displayed: show all messages (979 of them)

Little Lies is amazing. Talk about baroque. There are so many moving parts, and still so much space. And the fragility gets smashed on every chorus with that absurd WHONNG synth stab.

― g.cannon (gcannon), Friday, 21 March 2003 06:56 (twenty-three years ago)

Yes this is absolutely why I love Little Lies.

― Tim Finney (Tim Finney), Sunday, 23 March 2003 11:28 (twenty-three years ago)

I second their having a god-like rhythm section. Mick Fleetwood may be the most underrated drummer ever.

― Burr (Burr), Sunday, 23 March 2003 19:24 (twenty-three years ago)

Classic classic classic classic classic. I was all prepared to hate or at least dislike them when I finally sat down and listened to _Tusk_, and it completely blindsided me. I also highly recommend _Then Play On_--incredibly dark bitter late-night stuff inspired by the spirit rather than the form of electric blues.

― Douglas (Douglas), Monday, 24 March 2003 11:16 (twenty-three years ago)

one year passes...

RUMOURS IS THE GREATEST LP EVER RELEASED. FLEETWOOD MAC IS THE GREATEST BAND IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!! STOP DISSING ON THEM!!!!
NIKAYLA~

― Nikayla Crews, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 22:45 (twenty-two years ago)

why do random googlers always assume we're dissing things? and who the fuck in their right mind would diss fleetwood mac anyway?

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 22:49 (twenty-two years ago)

and why does massive cocaine abuse MAKE YOU UNABLE TO FIND THE CAPS LOCK KEY?

― noodle vague (noodle vague), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 22:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Not much dissing on this thread, honey... For the last week, I've been putting on repeat 'The Chain' just to hear that slight reprise with the awe-inspiring guitar freak-out..

― Baaderoni (Fabfunk), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 07:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Stevie Nicks rocks: always did always will. A punk goddess among hippie has-beens.
-- mark s (mar...), July 3rd, 2001.

Yes hahah well Lindsey B is an androgynous punk god (just check the photos in the Tusk CD booklet - next to the other four he looks like he's wandered in from the Blitz Club). Stevie N is a hippy through and through but only an inadvertent punk goddess, which usually are the best ones.

― Marcello Carlin, Wednesday, 21 April 2004 07:21 (twenty-two years ago)

Lindsey's punk-godhood seconded! Recently found the live double lp from 1980 and the inside photos in the gatefold album sleeve are worth the price alone. Everyone else sports either a beard or feather-cut soft-focus hippie hair while LB's all skinny, jacket-wearing, staring wired-up...

― Janne (Janne), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 13:14 (twenty-two years ago)

Those photos are highly disturbing. Haven't owned a copy of that album in a while, but LB's contact lenses are highly visible if I remember correctly. "What the fuck is up with his eyes? Oh.. I see."

― retort pouch (retort pouch), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 13:56 (twenty-two years ago)

For the last week, I've been putting on repeat 'The Chain' just to hear that slight reprise with the awe-inspiring guitar freak-out..

The freak-out sounds very proto-postpunk to my ears! At least until the more bluesy part toward the end of it. I can imagine JD or The Sound making something similar...

― Clarke B. (Clarke B.), Wednesday, 21 April 2004 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

Fleetwood Mac without a doubt have more energy on stage STILL!!!! than any of the new acts around, they keep the speed of the songs up without a breath, or a brick in the wall...

Even in the recording studio they can still write songs
that are fresh and up-lifting, Still years left in them yet.

Only The Kinks are equal to the LIVE! performance
you will see on the Fleetwood Mac - Say You Will World Tour.

ROCK ON... THE Mac

― James Knight Miller, Monday, 26 April 2004 17:21 (twenty-two years ago)

two months pass...

Early (Green era) Fleetwood Mac albums remastered and reissued

― Macman, Tuesday, 20 July 2004 02:29 (twenty-one years ago)

three months pass...

I recently picked up a copy of "The Best of Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac" and was very impressed. I really only a couple of these earlier songs by the Santana and Judas Priest/Melvins covers and from hearing the original "Black Magic Woman" a couple of times on the radio, so it was a suprise how familiar some of the other songs like "Albatross" and "Oh Well" sounded.

Danny Kirwan's song "Dragonfly" sounds not unlike the music that FM did with Buckingham/Nicks in the mid 70s. That song has that Byrds/Jefferson Airplane folk rock sound, which is something "Rumours" era FM expanded upon.

The compilation was great. Are any of the individual albums or records of the mid period with Bob Welch worth checking out?

― Earl Nash (earlnash), Thursday, 11 November 2004 02:37 (twenty-one years ago)

Wait a goddamn minute, Geir hates Fleetwood Mac?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 11 November 2004 02:41 (twenty-one years ago)

Wait a goddamn minute, Geir hates Fleetwood Mac?

not according to the exit polls! someone must have fucked with his ballot.

― fact checking cuz (fcc), Thursday, 11 November 2004 06:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Mostly dud. Both early Mac and later Mac.

― Geir Hongro (GeirHong), Thursday, 11 November 2004 10:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Excleese me? When did Geir ever have taste?

― Masked Gazza, Thursday, 11 November 2004 13:18 (twenty-one years ago)

five months pass...

Revived, b/c I'm convinced that Rumours is the single greatest springtime, sunny, driving-along-water-with-the-windows-down album of all time.

Utterly perfect (well, maybe not "Oh Daddy"...)

― PB, Monday, 11 April 2005 00:40 (twenty-one years ago)

Not often emphasized is how deserved its gargantuan success was. "Rumours" is the summit of pop music.

I've been listening to "Mirage" lately and am reminded of how a great band -- Christine's harmonies, the McVie/Fleetwood rhythm section, say, working in tandem -- can give the frothiest of confections unexpected and even subversive undertones ("Book of Love," "Can't Go Back," "Eyes of the World").

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 11 April 2005 01:03 (twenty-one years ago)

The wierdest thing about Rumors is the non-inclusion of Silver Springs one of Stevie Nicks' greatest songs, one which so suits the themes of the album. Glad I wasn't the one to tell her we can't fit it on.

― me, Monday, 11 April 2005 01:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Has anyone read Cath Carroll's book on the band in general and Rumours specifically?

― john'n'chicago, Monday, 11 April 2005 01:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I still think the s/t is better than Rumours.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 11 April 2005 01:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Christine McVie is my girl.

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Monday, 11 April 2005 03:38 (twenty-one years ago)

NO! she's MY girl. You can't have her.

― Stormy Davis (diamond), Monday, 11 April 2005 04:40 (twenty-one years ago)

"Oh Daddy" isn't on 'Rumours.'

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 11 April 2005 08:01 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh yes it is. Penultimate track, between "I Don't Wanna Know" and "Gold Dust Woman."

Also, "Silver Springs" was added to the remastered reissue last year.

― Marcello Carlin (nostudium), Monday, 11 April 2005 08:38 (twenty-one years ago)

the Carroll book is too long on Stevie-the-witch-goddess, too short on Christine (the best songwriter in the group), has some very good stories and repeats its points a lot. if you're a big big fan you should read it once.

― Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 11 April 2005 08:50 (twenty-one years ago)

Christine (the best songwriter in the group)

okay. i'll bite:
she may be a better songwriter, but her arrangements are soundalike snorefests.

― john'n'chicago, Monday, 11 April 2005 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

She didn't arrange them: Lindsay did. And I guess you haven' t listened to "Little Lies," "Hold Me," or "Brown Eyes," which are anything but soundalikes or snorefests.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 11 April 2005 17:17 (twenty-one years ago)

"Little Lies," "Hold Me," or "Brown Eyes,"

shivers please don't make me.

having just listened to Fleetwood Mac, i am again amazed at how alike "Sugar Daddy" and "Say You Love Me" sound.

― john'n'chicago, Monday, 11 April 2005 17:25 (twenty-one years ago)

I agree, but how does that make them bad? And you don't have ears if you think "Hold Me" sounds like either one of the songs you cited.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Monday, 11 April 2005 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

i didn't say that "hold me" sounds like those.

anyway, i hear the same chords, bass riffs and vocal inflections all over her songs. even the songs of hers i dislike less (eg. "over and over") suffer from this.

― john'n'chicago, Monday, 11 April 2005 17:51 (twenty-one years ago)

xpost

Sorry, dunno what I was thinking when I wrote that. Obviously wasn't.

― Rickey Wright (Rrrickey), Monday, 11 April 2005 21:45 (twenty-one years ago)

For the last week, I've been putting on repeat 'The Chain' just to hear that slight reprise with the awe-inspiring guitar freak-out..

The freak-out sounds very proto-postpunk to my ears! At least until the more bluesy part toward the end of it. I can imagine JD or The Sound making something similar...

You're right. I'm listening to it for the first time and it sounds a lot like Joy Division, particularly the tone on the bass line. I can see the OK Computer comparison too with this track.

― the fucker that will burn you (sundar), Monday, 11 April 2005 23:23 (twenty-one years ago)

"Don't Stop" is a song that sounds as fresh and exhiliarating now as it did when I first heard it on classic rock radio...even after years and years. Great, simple hook; great traded-off vocals between Lindsey and Christine; Spector-like percussion; etc. It's just pop perfection -- can you imagine the A&R guy hearing it for the first time? I cannot imagine someone hearing this song (or the band putting it down on tape) without KNOWING it's a hit.

― PB, Monday, 11 April 2005 23:30 (twenty-one years ago)

Is there anyway who actually argues this by the way:

Stevie > Christie

???

Don't Stop is amazing duh.

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 01:27 (twenty-one years ago)

yes i do. my favourite FM song is stevie, and she accounts for three of my top five.

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 01:43 (twenty-one years ago)

by stevie, obv

― shine headlights on me (electricsound), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 01:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I just thought about it, and my FM top 5, nay, top 10, is all Stevie. Landslide does it for me.

― VegemiteGrrl (VegemiteGrrl), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 01:57 (twenty-one years ago)

i am amazed that people would argue the inverse.

― john'n'chicago, Tuesday, 12 April 2005 02:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Christine has more soul. I guess if Christine sang "Seven Wonders" it would b my favorite Mac song evah.

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

TUSK, for the hours and hours I spent in my room trying to figure it out as a kid. I actually had the Stevie / Christine debate with myself, but decided that I didn't have to choose, I was Catholic but also catholic

haha "figure it out"...no, really, I was listening to the music you cynical bastards

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 13:12 (twenty-one years ago)

What was there to figure out, tho?

― A Viking of Some Note (Andrew Thames), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 13:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Stevie obviously rules, although Christine's 'Over and Over' is a gem. What I heard of Stevie's solo output did not impress me much however.

― Baaderonixxxorzh (Fabfunk), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 13:17 (twenty-one years ago)

TUSK, for the hours and hours I spent in my room trying to figure it out as a kid. I actually had the Stevie / Christine debate with myself, but decided that I didn't have to choose, I was Catholic but also catholic.

haha, perfect

― PB, Tuesday, 12 April 2005 13:20 (twenty-one years ago)

"What I heard of Stevie's solo output did not impress me much however. "

"Stand Back"! "If Anyone Falls"! "Edge of Seventeen"! "Talk to Me"!

― Alfred Soto (Alfred Soto), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 13:22 (twenty-one years ago)

what is there to figure out about "Tusk"? well, for me, "why isn't this like the other Fleetwood Mac that I've heard?" "is this album complete chaos or tightly controlled?" "is this album actually ABOUT the chaos/control duality?" (I was a weird kid) and "is it okay if I think Buckingham is a genius even if he's already hogging that feeling for himself?"

― Haikunym (Haikunym), Tuesday, 12 April 2005 13:38 (twenty-one years ago)

six months pass...

I absolutely can't get enough of this band right now. Do any other groups exist that mine a similar vein of slick 70s production with a bite of angst and a dash of weirdo mysticism? Or am I going to have to start buying Stevie Nicks solo albums?

― Ozbash (stickthrower), Thursday, 3 November 2005 18:09 (twenty years ago)

Skipping 879 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

future games is my favorite pre-buckingham/nicks album

― akm, Thursday, 1 December 2022 20:29 (three years ago)

Relistening to the pre Buck/Nicks LPs for the first time in ages tonight, that cover of Roadrunner off Penguin bangs. I mean, maybe it's such a great song you can't fuck it up, but it is very much in the pocket.

― his cartoon heart expands, then he relaxes by smoking crack (stevie), Thursday, 1 December 2022 20:37 (three years ago)

xp Absolutely. I think Christine's songwriting was pretty much fully developed by the time they made Bare Trees (and even before then she had at least a couple of gems). The most audible difference is what Buckingham brought as a producer.

i agree she already had her songwriting style down, but i’ve also seen both christine and lindsey make reference to the hours they’d spend jamming and writing stuff together. so his contribution wasn’t just production. the guitar keyboard interplay on christine songs post-lindsey joining is the best

― flopson, Thursday, 1 December 2022 22:59 (three years ago)

I just learned he played guitar on "Got a Hold On Me."

― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 1 December 2022 23:02 (three years ago)

― flopson, Thursday, December 1, 2022 5:59 PM (thirty-two minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

I mentioned in the other thread (lol) how the 2017 album, he said, reminded him how in awe he was over her chops. As far as we know their bond was as two musicians, and they understood each other as far back as "World Turning."

― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 December 2022 23:33 (three years ago)

I mean:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbZZEzq94d8

― Malevolent Arugula (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 1 December 2022 23:35 (three years ago)

Made me realize that when Stevie Nicks finally dies I will -- after the mockery has passed -- be totally devastated.

Same.

― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Friday, 2 December 2022 00:00 (three years ago)

In one of the two Ken Caillat books, he mentions that Buckingham was always helpful when working on McVie songs, without any drama arising.

― Halfway there but for you, Friday, 2 December 2022 00:56 (three years ago)

That's clearly her backing vocals on Station Man too

Listening again to Kiln House this afternoon, it sounds like she's harmonizing on "Mission Bell" too.

― an icon of a worried-looking, long-haired, bespectacled man (C. Grisso/McCain), Friday, 2 December 2022 21:41 (three years ago)

The live version of "Tusk" sounds a lot more dire than the studio version, even with the accordion.

― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 3 December 2022 02:21 (three years ago)

I think McVie and Buckingham were creating better material

In the main, maybe, but then there are "Dreams" and (especially) "Landslide," which are peerless.

― immodesty blaise (jimbeaux), Saturday, 3 December 2022 02:25 (three years ago)

four months pass...

https://www.discogs.com/master/1352330-Fleetwood-Mac-The-Alternate-Tango-In-The-Night

Worth hearing?

― calstars, Wednesday, 5 April 2023 20:23 (three years ago)

six months pass...

This was a good listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhMmI32LKtY

― earlnash, Saturday, 4 November 2023 21:41 (two years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.