[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

It never ceases to amaze me, at how down you are with this new lineup.

Really? Why would that surprise you? I’ve always been a fan of all the different eras of Fleetwood Mac, and Neil Finn and Mike Campbell are certainly beyond worthy additions. I probably wouldn’t be as down with it if they had gotten subpar talents (and I was very worried/skeptical about who they’d get for second new guy), but they didn’t this time, which actually surprised me. For all they do wrong, I cannot think of better choices to bring into Fleetwood Mac.

Lindsey and Stevie were never the main attraction for me, which isn’t to say that I didn’t love what they brought to the band or that the Rumours lineup wasn’t the best overall version of the band. But, the English contingent were the primary draw for me, and I think the other versions were also great.

I don’t know enough of what went on behind the scenes to know how it all went down to have an absolute, definite opinion about what happened, but I’ve been around or a part of enough bands to know that band politics is a reality for all bands. I’m open to there being a scenario where they just wanted different things and couldn’t resolve their differences.

I also have to say that a little Lindsey goes a long way for me these days. His sui generis production style seems to have been stunted after “Go Insane.” My big gripe with LBCM is how you couldn’t really hear their voices together. Ditch the effing Fairlight already! Be old and mature! Listen to later Peter, Paul, & Mary. They might not sound as good as when they were in their prime, but their voices still had the passion in what they were singing and still sounded great together. Top 40 waved bye-bye long ago, so quit trying to make Pet Sounds. And, I get lots of bands do it, but I never want to ask if it was live or if it was Memorex during a Fleetwood Mac-related show, or worse, know the answer.

His excessive use of psychobabble for banter is brutal for me as a social worker, but even moreso as a friend of someone who has the greatest banter in rock (he has two albums of just his banter). Just say thanks for coming to the show and rock. Nobody cares. He comes off less as enlightened as he does pompous and oblivious. At least Mick waits until the show is over!

And, it’s not like we wouldn’t have gotten near note-for-note versions of IAS, Tusk, SHN, Big Love, GYOW, and probably NGBA that we’ve been hearing for decades now. Maybe a slight variation here or there, but those variations have been sketchy for me, especially Tusk. Going softer isn’t rock! I’m okay with not hearing those in lieu of other songs and having a scenario where the band can’t be on autopilot.

If anything, I’m more surprised by your reaction. I remember when you felt that SYW was basically just Buckingham Nicks II, that it wasn’t Fleetwood Mac without Christine, and that “Mystery…” was the Mac at their pinnacle. I didn’t realize you were such a Lindsey fan. If nothing else, for sixteen years, but really more like 23 years, I wanted Christine back on stage. She’s back, now, and still has a great band up there with her. Good enough reason for me.

You know this isn't 1987, right?

Yes. This time around, they got guys who’ve had legendary careers, not glorified sidemen.

Do you realize the attention span of the average person, now? 98% of people couldn't give AF about Station Man, or ANY of the other songs you listed.

I don’t think it’s that static, and I don’t think it really matters. A good show has a flow to it.