#31
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Oops, still a few thoughts bubbling up...about the albums and what they reveal about Lindsey.
I don't feel like any one of his albums doesn't represent him in a very tangible way. In fact, I think Law & Order, Go Insane, and Out of the Cradle all communicate a similar sort of almost socio-political view that says a lot about Lindsey the person, even though each album is dressed up quite differently from its predecessor. Take Law & Order's songs collectively and see how many of them touch upon the idea of personal integrity - committment to family, friends, values, trying to do the right thing. The title is all about that. The covers he selected for that album are all about that. "Mary Lee Jones" is about a woman who has lost that because she's lost herself. "Johnny Stew", an incredibly funny/goofy song, is, at its heart, about the cruelty of a world that has left a man of integrity, John Stewart, out in the cold. Given this context, I think "I'll Tell You Now" is also indirectly about Lindsey's own feelings about wondering how to fit in a world that doesn't much reflect what he thinks is important. Look at the songs from Go Insane. In microcosm, they're about a painfully failed relationship. In a broader sense, they're also about valuing committment, responsibility to self and others & love, and trying to deal with the feelings of the loss of control when those things don't last - when those core values and desires don't seem to be able to find a foothold in the crazy world. None of these are preachy songs in any respect, but they're very internal conflicts about the successes and failures he seems to see in himself in pursuing these values. Even for all the sexual innuendo in a song like "Loving Cup", it is still a song about wanting committment reciprocated in the same strong way that he feels it. Out of the Cradle does this too. So many of the songs seem to touch upon the idea of rediscoverying himself, his values, after a period of having felt like he lost touch with them. I'd say this one is more sober than Law & Order, certainly, but not nessecarily more "serious" - as I think Law & Order was just as serious about its underlying values too. Again, Cradle seems to touch upon the pressures of life that intrude upon what he wishes it could be, and he ruminates on the successes and failures against the measuring stick of committment, family, friends, values, responsibility. I think a similar type of theme can also be seen underlying many of his Mac songs. That's how I see them anyway.
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madness fades |
#32
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Re: Very random & very long.
Wow, excellent post, Gaius!
Many of the points you made are the exact reason I tell non Mac-fans that if they'd just get over the prejudice that Fleetwood Mac is some outdated pop band, they'd realize that there truly is something for just about everyone in this band's catalogue. It's another reason I don't get into the bashing that sometimes occurs, and why I don't like to pit Stevie & Lindsey against each other, or Christine. It's no secret that I have a preference towards Stevie, but there's so much to love about Christine & Lindsey too. And as a group, they're damn-near unstoppable. A few comments on your post.... I can see why you, and anyone, would feel that Lindsey's music is the most diverse within Fleetwood Mac. I tend to think sometimes that he's too self-conscious in his attempts at diversity though, but that's ok. I've told my friend Anne that she's "self-consciously non-conformist," and sometimes that seems to fit Lindsey too. Individuality is a VERY good thing, but it's always best when it's not forced or over-thought. Stevie was once quoted as saying (I'm paraphrasing here), "If you tell Lindsey something he's working on sounds similar to something he's done before, he'll tear it apart and go in a completely different direction." I love that Lindsey has an offbeat approach to making music... in fact, I don't think you can be a Buckingham fan without having an appreciation for that aspect of his creativity... but I've always felt that production touches... even the most avant-garde ones... should be done to benefit the song. Not just for the sake of being different. Quote:
I think the mercurial nature of their relationship has made for some great music and performances, and for that reason I dig it... but I'm not hoping they someday get together, or wondering if they're carrying on a clandestine affair. Not that there's anything wrong with the folks who do that... we all need a little romance in our lives, after all! Also, "When I See You Again" isn't my "favorite" song... though I can see why people might think that! It is definitely in the Top Five though. Even still, that wasn't the song I had in mind when talking about "Say Goodbye." I was thinking more along the lines of "Never Going Back Again." Something that could give the vocal melody and harmonies room to breathe. Again, terrific post, Gaius! VERY insightful, and a must-read. (By the way, you might be surprised to know that one of my favorite L.B. songs has always been "The Ledge." )
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"Although the arrogance of fame lingers like a thick cloud around the famous, the sun always seems to shine for Stevie." -- Richard Dashut, 2014 Last edited by Johnny Stew; 12-06-2003 at 03:15 PM.. |
12-06-2003, 06:05 PM |
trackaghost |
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#33
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Re: Re: Very random & very long.
Ah, the Christmas rush. No time to post when you want to. And the Ledge can be down sometimes too. Sorry about that; I won’t be digging up this old stuff anymore.
But Johnny Stew deserves a proper answer, as usual: Quote:
Yes, individuality can be “forced or over-thought” (God knows how many times I’ve been guilty of that). But when you’re doing works of art, plenty of them, you’re bound to start repeating yourself if something/someone doesn’t shake you up once in a while. Stevie is very natural in her writing but I’ve always felt that she too often presents the same thing from a different angle and it can wear me off. But it’s my problem, I have my preferences in this band’s canon too. Quote:
Les said it better and in a much more up-to-the-point way than I ever could, but I’ll try this again: Lindsey can often work like an abstract painter. He may not try to create a portrait with a single song; he’s just trying to grab a particular random/senseless/significant moment into a recording. In Les’ site LB says the following on the “Artwork” page: Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
And I think it’s also about the vocals too. Stevie is more convincing in slow ballads of this type than Lindsey; “When I See You Again” appears as simplistic with those lyrics, but when that woman is using that voice of hers it immediately clicks, because she has that songwriting-voice-and-lyrics relationship. If Lindsey was to approach “Say Goodbye” in a very stripped-down manner then I would probably lose a lot of my interest. The same goes for “Save Me A Place”; if it didn’t have those harmonies the tune would be a time-waster on Tusk. So, “Say Goodbye” communicates sadness, loss, things like that. The fact that he put it in a faster tempo immediately makes clear that this isn’t your usual “sad song”. The “rush” of it all tells me that the two lovers have to separate quickly; that the whole song and the whole separation is just a natural thing to get over with. That’s what life can be like; we don’t always have the time to wallow in a certain emotional state like “When I See You Again” seems to suggest. The fact that Lindsey put these weird harmonies and these percussive sounds to the song is similar to a way a cameraman would use a filter on a camera. “When I See You Again” shows us Stevie with no filter at all, completely bare before us. LB hides behind his arrangement and shows us that he’s not totally through with the separation. These “bells and whistles” give us a distorted picture, one that’s not as clear as the one in “When I See You Again”. But it’s not any less moving for me. Yes, I definitely read too much into things there. I honour Les’ posts. She obviously reads into Lindsey’s music more than I do; a song that I may brush off as “fun” or “lightweight” will mean more to her. And the fact that she’s capable of looking at Lindsey’s albums as a whole, as a continuation of the same thread, is impressive. So, even “Steal Your Heart Away” isn’t that obvious, even though I still may think so. In the end I agree with Johnny Stew; pop music shouldn’t be that easily brushed off as “shallow” or “just-for-kicks”. Quote:
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Gaius ^ - "a selfindulged, but funny butthead of a Fin" - Shackin'up Last edited by face of glass; 12-10-2003 at 02:59 PM.. |
#34
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Quote:
Also, ironically enough, I hate "The Ledge."
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#35
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#36
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*sings*what I (don't) like about you..."
Well, you can all gang up on me and talk smack, but I love every damn thing he's ever done. I have this crazy, twisted mind that finds the good in every song he's done.
He's the ONLY artist that I feel that way about. I can find fault with other singers/songwriters/guitarists/groups (etc.), but with Lindsey, he's really captured my heart (in more ways than one obviously. LOL). Even on Mirage, which is STILL a terrific album despite all the smack talked about it, IMO, I love his songs, even Empire State, which has the coolest plink plink sound and his voice is really unusual too. Totally off topic: One of the coolest things that I heard at all the concerts I went to on this tour was his voice, the way he breaks his voice. Seteca knows exactly what I'm talking about. It's the way a country artist sings, if they are PURE COUNTRY. It's like a yodel, but not a full on yodel. So, if I were to dig deep and say what I don't like about Lindsey's music, I'd say that I don't like that he only has THREE solo albums out. What a cop-out, eh? I'm so friggin enamoured by this man, and after seeing him in concert 6 times and getting to strum his guitar, getting pointed to, eye contact and smiles from him, my admiration is even MORE intense now. No, he's not the Messiah, he's just my favorite artist in the world.
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**Christy** |
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Re: *sings*what I (don't) like about you..."
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Welcome back girl.. |
#38
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Thanks!!
Thanks MFM!! I've missed so much, but now I'm back with my crazy commentary and blatant positive fandom of Mr. Buckingham...or Buckinghum.
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**Christy** |
#39
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Re: *sings*what I (don't) like about you..."
Quote:
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(Private joke) |
#40
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Re: *sings*what I (don't) like about you..."
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welcome back!
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**Christy** |
#42
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Re: *sings*what I (don't) like about you..."
"I don't think he's the greatest thing since sliced bread and I don't believe he's the next Messiah, but he is a musical genius and my favourite artist of all time."
© Seteca, 2003. |
#43
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Well.
*sticks tongue out*
Nah nah. LOL So, to all Ledgies, if you use the Lindsey = Messiah comparison thingy (LMAO!!), please credit Seteca with a copyright.
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**Christy** |
#44
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Re: *sings*what I (don't) like about you..."
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