[michelej1]

Sunday Herald Sun (Australia)

HEADLINE: -BYLINE- BRYAN PATTERSON

BODY:
Fleetwood Mac - Time (Warner Brothers)THERE was some justifiable groaning when Fleetwood Mac, the classic 1970s soft-rock band, reunited to perform at Bill Clinton's inauguration.After all, this was the band that was technically near-perfect, but often safe and without character. Surely the world could do without another Mac attack.There was more groaning when the band started working on an album without Lindsay Buckingham, the hard-working oddball behind the Mac's best moments.Well, some of us must eat our words. Fleetwood Mac has turned out an eminently playable work which has more to do with celebration than studio technique.Mick Fleetwood, John McVie and Christine McVie are the only survivors of the original band. But you do not miss Buckingham, nor Stevie Nicks, because their replacements - vocalist Bekka Bramlet and guitarists Billy Burnette and Dave Mason are so good.Mason, formerly of Traffic, is an asset as a songwriter on three tracks, and his playing and singing are sparkling.The best of Mac - good hooks and clever arrangements - have finally been matched by enthusiasm and ingenuity.END OF STORY