Fleetwood Mac - Penguin

Better Than You Think

Unlike many of the other reviews, my FAVORITE songs on this album are the two Dave Walker tunes, "Derelict" and his cover of "Roadrunner". These two songs seem to me to be closest to the classic blues/rock sound of their best pre-Stevie album, 1970's "Then Play On" (think "Show Biz Blues" and "Rattlesnake Shake"). But I'm a big Savoy Brown fan and Dave Walker I believe was the lead singer for 1972's "Hellbound Train".

Bob Welch adds 3 dreamy mysterious songs - the best I think are "Bright Fire" followed closely by the 6 minute "Night Watch" which very nicely builds in intensity. Welch's "Revelation" is faster tempo but doesn't quite come together.

I don't care for Christine McVie's songs but they are decent to listen to. "Did You Ever Love Me " sounds too much like a Jimmy Buffet song with the steel drums and "Remember Me" is really just a quick fluff song - but not a whole lot different IMO than some of her later songs such as 1975's "Say You Love Me", 1977's "You Make Loving Fun" and 1979's "Think About Me". Her song "Dissatisfied" is probably the weakest on the album but again is easy to listen to.

Finally the closer, the instrumental "Caught In the Rain" is a perfect ending with great acoustic guitars and choral vocals.

So, all in all this album is easy to listen to from start to finish. There is not a dog song on it. I think it is their second best pre-Stevie album after "Then Play On". It doesn't have a big hit but is FAR FAR superior to "Mystery to Me" which is too over-produced and boring, and "Heroes are Hard to Find" which is just bad. It is on par with "Future Games" and "Kiln House" and is slightly better than "Bare Trees". Highly recommended but I give it only 4 stars because it doesn't compare to contemporary classics such as "Dark Side of the Moon" or "Who's Next". October 13, 2008

Interesting album...

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3VPVVFK7NST67 My name is Jeremy Gloff. I am a musician (check me out on Amazon!) and retro music enthusiast. If you enjoyed this review make sure to check out my Amazon user profile to check out my other reviews. I am always up for making new friends and discussing the music I love!!! July 29, 2008

k roll

I think most of the reviewers are looking for a stevie nicks song in this album and its not there. To me this may be the best of there early albums.
If you sit and listen to it all the way thru i think you too will see the
depth of the music and song writing.I for one bought the album in 1975 and
then the cd in 1990 i think its great!!! May 31, 2007

NOT THE BEST MAC'S ALBUM BUT "BRIGHT FIRE" IS ON IT.

i basically bought that album because i'm a huge bob welch's fan, i think he was the best member that fleetwood mac ever had (except for peter green of course), and i thought that this one was not as good as "future games" or "bare trees" but still have maybe my all-time favorite mac's song ever "bright fire", typical from bob welch, very recognizable style, something californian about it cause it's very fresh and something about the 70's but most of all a beautiful melody that will live through the years and remain as magic as it's always been. February 14, 2007

EXCELLENT

VERY UNIQUE ALBUM. THE BAND ADDING NEW PLAYERS. BOB WESTON IS GREAT ON GUITAR..AS HE WOULD PROVE TO BE ON MYSTERY TO ME. DAVE WALKER'S TRACK " THE DERILICT " IS THE SLEEPER TRACK ON THE CD. BOB WELCH'S TRACK " REVELATION" , AND "NIGHT WATCH" ARE INCREDIBLE". CHRISTINE MCCVIE'S TRACKS ARE PREETY GOOD TO. January 7, 2007

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