SteveMacD, I actually disagree in part. I do believe Christine's songs are definitely superior within the band context, often benefiting from Lindsey's guiding hand, particularly in terms of inventive arrangements. I also think that the three part harmonies lift her songs beyond the mundane. For example, imagine Little Lies without Lindsey's arrangement and the backing vocals during the chorus? It would have just blended in with the rest of the songs on the 1984 solo album - decent, but not earth-shattering. Little Lies as it stands is an enjoyable ditty, but majorly assisted by the flourishes afforded by the band.
However, I think that both Lindsey and Stevie (to a lesser extent) are more adventurous in their solo outings and often reap the rewards as a result. Stevie's collaboration with Dave Stewart certainly made for an eclectic album, whether you like the final result or not. By her normal standards, In Your Dreams constituted veritable experimentation.
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