Fleetwood Mac - Say You Will

Given their overarching history, Fleetwood Mac's 15-years-after studio reunion seems as unlikely as their initial, era-defining nova of success. Even cynics leery it's just another geezerfest payday should find this stripped-down edition of le Mac Classique (singer/songwriter/keyboardist Christine McVie opted out) bristling with a wealth of fresh, ambitious musical ideas. The responsibility for that creative renaissance rests squarely on the delicate shoulders of Lindsey Buckingham, more involved and motivated than he's been in any Mac project since the monumental Tusk. His crypto-folk structures and adventurous, Brian Wilson-inspired sonic textures are anything but predictable, illuminating "Miranda," "Red Rover," "Come," and even the mildly pedantic harangue "Murrow Turning Over in His Grave." With Christine McVie's poignant pop sense out of the mix, Stevie Nicks steps up with solid songcraft that rises beyond "Ilume"'s expected folk-mysticism to encompass other melancholy, age-defying feats like "Silver Girl," "Smile at You," "Goodbye Baby," and the title track. That duet with Buckingham argues that their vaunted creative axis may have lost its personal friction only to spin ever freer. And, like firm ground beneath the feet, it's too easy to take for granted the legendary Mick Fleetwood/John McVie rhythm section that gave the band its very name. Cut to its core dozen tracks, it's an album that easily stands comparison to their mega-platinum past. --Jerry McCulley Amazon.com

Great Pop Album and Ghosts from the Past

Simply love this album and I am a huge fan of the Mac going back to the pre-Rumours era. Stevie and Lindsay's songs sparkle, this is NOT a going through the motions venture whatsover. You can tell that gallons of time and effort were poured into "Say You Will". Both Stevie and Lindsay brought top tier songs to the table on this one, nary a dud. When Mick and John add their efforts to the mix the results are amazing. Lots of muscle that you havn't really heard going back to Tango. Its too bad but on thier last 2 Studio efforts before this, these guys get buried in a haze of crappy production. These albums may have been saved with more of an emphasis on one of the Mac's obvious strengths, the rhythym section.

Its a very Poppy album, I won't say the songs have the depth and breadth of a Rumours or Tusk but again , they are finely writen and played.

Miranda, Say You Will, Red Rover, Whats the World Coming to, Bleed to Love Her and Peacekeeper are all pop gems, well writen, hooky and played with authority by the boys. Lots of magic still kicking around here.

Forget the term "comeback album", its unfair to refer to it as that, its just a good album. I'm not giving it a 5 although it is one of my favorites.

I hope there are more to come like this, bring in Christine and try for the 5. I could see that happening at some point in the near future. This is an album that has its place in the Fleetwood Mac legacy and I think its something they can be very proud of.

ML



July 14, 2008

Classic Fleetwood (But I miss Christine)

Okay Guys (and gals)...any of you familiar with Fleetwood Mac's work during and through the Buckingham / Nicks era will be psyched to hear this album. It's chock full of the two of them. But, I still miss Christine. Her songs were usually peppered into the albums like a rare spice that was refreshing after Lindsey and Stevie had their way with you musically.
That said, the album is fantastic in a ( "Oh God, they still have it" kind of way). The "Say You Will" album is like Tusk minus La McVie. But it's shorter (slightly...) and still a great "roll down the windows / or open the house up and blast the stereo" kind of way...plenty to sing along to and plenty to make you think that in her lyrics...Stevie might just know your story too... July 7, 2008

Say You Will is a deeply welcome addition to Fleetwood Mac's rich catalogue of great music

Say You Will is fast becoming one of my absolute favorite Fleetwood Mac albums. The bewitching Stevie and egregiously underrated Lindsey are creatively on their best form collaborating on such a fine body of work here, with highlights including the shimmering, instantly listenable Thrown Down (my favorite song on the album), Peacekeeper, Say You Will, Running Through The Garden, Silver Girl, Bleed To Love Her, Steal Your Heart Away, Miranda, Murrow Turning Over In His Grave, and Goodbye Baby. I love this entire album. It comes highly recommended from me. June 8, 2008

Never count this band out.

You know, if Fleetwood Mac had thrown in the towel when everyone said they should, the band would have died 30 years ago. That's how many times the critics and "fans" have left them for dead. Face the facts...this is one band that will never really go away. Since 1967 there has been a band called Fleetwood Mac. Sure, they've taken long vacations from each other, and they have seen people come and go, but somehow or other, they always seem to come back, in one form or another. Sometimes without Lindsey Buckingham, sometimes without Stevie Nicks, sometimes without either. This time, they came back without Christine McVie. But you know, every version of this band has had something to offer, and every version of the band, and every album should be counted. If time has taught us anything about Fleetwood Mac, it's that they should never be counted out and left for dead. They will surprise you. February 25, 2008

Absolute Garbage!

Lindsey really put the nail in the coffin of Fleetwwod Mac with this one. I've been listening to FM since 1970, and I can take their ups and downs. Lindsey first tried to destroy them with Tusk. They actually synthesized Stevie's voice on this junk! Screaming guitars, poor playing, and poor recording make this a gigantic dissappointment.
I love Stevies music and even she sounds terrible on this. But I recently saw her in concert and she still sounds great! So the recording, synthesizing and overdubbing (or whatever) ruined even her on this abomination. I have to think LB did this on purpose (he produced the album, right?) in attenmpt to put the Mac (and Stevie) out of business to make more room for his mediocre solo efforts. Unfortunately, he may just have finally succeeded.


Rubbish. July 8, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...