Gift of Screws Reviews

gypsysoul · #1 08-20-2008, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTFLCHLD

did you have that chance to chat with baby?

Sadly not yet BTFLCHLD. The record company say they contact the US branch daily for news on interviews for the British press but have had no joy so far. Will let you know the minute anything happens!

BTFLCHLD · #2 08-20-2008, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gypsysoul

Will let you know the minute anything happens!

well, if it is meant to happen then it will...and you, my dear, will be very well prepared.

Betsy · #3 08-20-2008, 10:52 PM

I listen to 99.5 the Mountain.

I have heard "Did You Miss Me" 3 times since August 7th.

vivfox · #4 08-31-2008, 12:38 PM

Lindsey Buckingham is that increasingly rare beast in the pop world; an ageing rocker who still counts. For a man who has made indescribably large amounts of money with Fleetwood Mac, and who is the author of some of the finest soft rock songs of all time, it is refreshing to find him nearing his sixties and still releasing solo albums that stand up against his late '70s peak.
The follow-up to 2006's largely acoustic Under The Skin, a fine album in its own right, Gift Of Screws takes its title (an Emily Dickinson reference) and several tracks from an abortive late '90s session. Other tracks from those sessions cropped up on the Fleetwood Mac reunion album Say You Will, a 2003 release that indicated that Buckingham had relocated the songwriting genie that went temporarily absent during the previous decade.

Gift Of Screws is a thrilling album from the very first track. Great Day positively bursts out of the speakers with its aggressive acoustic guitar and daring vocal lines. Time Precious Time is even better, with rippling guitar arpeggios and a heavy echo treatment on the vocal (a common Buckingham production trick). This is challenging, thought-provoking music that you would expect from a younger artist.

Then again, this is the reclusive studio genius that unleashed the decidedly odd Tusk on the world at the height of Fleetwood Mac's fame. Buckingham is a devil for injecting quirky elements into his glossy soft rock confections, but in such a subtle way that his efforts are routinely overlooked (he opened his previous album with the line "Reading the paper saw a review/Said I was a visionary, but nobody knew").

Buckingham's regular band serves him well throughout the album, although Fleetwood Mac bandmates Mick Fleetwood and John McVie also pop up on several tracks. The duo lends a healthy commercial swagger to Love Runs Deeper and The Right Place To Fade. The latter track is terrific, the stacked harmonies and killer riff sounding like they could have been lifted straight from a Rumours session.

The dependable rhythm section also guest on the title track, a crazed rocker that features Buckingham yelping like a man possessed. It sounds like a companion piece to some of the more outré moments from Tusk, notably Not That Funny and That's Enough For Me.

Although this album is marketed as a return to a more direct rock sound Buckingham is far too smart an operator to sacrifice substance for style. Did You Miss Me is a whip-smart pop single good enough to already have landed on the US charts, and boasts one of the album's most direct lyrical pleas for connection and understanding. The contemplative lyrics of Bel Air Rain and Treason, meanwhile, are given added weight by strong melodies and delicately layered arrangements.

Written and recorded over a lengthy period, Gift Of Screws could have been a mess. Instead, it is a glorious statement of intent from one of pop's most misunderstood characters.

http://www.musicomh.com/albums/linds...ngham_0808.htm

trackaghost · #5 08-31-2008, 12:52 PM

I've had the album for a couple of weeks (I'm sorry, I can't share - it's watermarked) and I think it may be his best yet. It's a cross between UTS and SYW with little nods and references to his other solo albums I think.

Peestie · #6 08-31-2008, 01:09 PM

Best of just his solo albums or best of all the albums he's been involved in?

trackaghost · #7 08-31-2008, 01:14 PM

Of his solo albums. But I've only had it for a couple of weeks so it may just because it's fresh and new. But I like the balance between the acoustic, electric, oddball and pop/melodic stuff on the album. Plus it's only 10 songs so it's not overlong either, it's all meat and no filler basically.

vivfox · #8 08-31-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I've had the album for a couple of weeks (I'm sorry, I can't share - it's watermarked) and I think it may be his best yet. It's a cross between UTS and SYW with little nods and references to his other solo albums I think.

I would hope that even if you could share, you wouldn't.

trackaghost · #9 08-31-2008, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vivfox

I would hope that even if you could share, you wouldn't.

Honestly Vivfox was that holier than thou comment really necessary? I simply put that in as a way of saying "please don't ask me".
And given you've often requested free MP3s of commercially released songs on this board don't be a hypocrite about it.

vivfox · #10 08-31-2008, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I've had the album for a couple of weeks (I'm sorry, I can't share - it's watermarked) and I think it may be his best yet. It's a cross between UTS and SYW with little nods and references to his other solo albums I think.

watermarked.

trackaghost · #11 09-01-2008, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nico

Um, that's so awesome seriously. Would you mind posting a review of sorts, possibly brief. I am delighted when someone has it early and is generous enough to share details.

Thanks Nico, although I wish I hadn't mentioned it now to tell the truth.

Madness Fades · #12 08-31-2008, 05:13 PM

Time precious could possibly be the worst song I have ever heard, Now ive only heard it about 4 times and its just very hard to listen to. Its only my opinion and I already know loads of you will totally disagree and thats fine. I think i dislike it as much as chiliD dislikes (if thats a strong enough word) Lindseys version of Here Comes The Sun.
I just hope it grows on me over time. Like Not too Late did.

However its on a cd next one of the best songs I've heard in ages and ages.

TrueFaith77 · #13 09-01-2008, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madness Fades

Time precious could possibly be the worst song I have ever heard, Now ive only heard it about 4 times and its just very hard to listen to. Its only my opinion and I already know loads of you will totally disagree and thats fine. I think i dislike it as much as chiliD dislikes (if thats a strong enough word) Lindseys version of Here Comes The Sun.
I just hope it grows on me over time. Like Not too Late did.

However its on a cd next one of the best songs I've heard in ages and ages.

Meaning. . . "Did You Miss Me"?

Madness Fades · #14 09-01-2008, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

Meaning. . . "Did You Miss Me"?

Well yeah its great too, but love runs deeper is definately the best song on the CD, it and Right place to fade. Which still sounds like "Twist of fate" to me.