Do we really want a new Fleetwood Mac album?

[RockawayBlind]

I'm not sure how Stevie having a different producer would work in an FM context. Who would play guitar? Can you really see Lindsey arranging and playing guitar without taking control?

[BlueDenimLamp]

Originally Posted by RockawayBlind

I'm not sure how Stevie having a different producer would work in an FM context. Who would play guitar? Can you really see Lindsey arranging and playing guitar without taking control?

Lindsey would still play and arrange the guitar parts amongst other things...It worked on "Soldiers Angel" and even though he didn't produce SA his involvement is unmistakable...

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by RockawayBlind

I'm not sure how Stevie having a different producer would work in an FM context. Who would play guitar? Can you really see Lindsey arranging and playing guitar without taking control?

No, but he needs to learn how for my sanity. She says that for The Chain for once in his life he just went up there and sang the part just the way she told him. He should do that some more. I mean do his guitar parts, but don't get involved in the rest of the song.

Then, if she asks him to do one song of hers because it requires special brooding, mysterious, intensity, fine. He can produce that song and otherwise keep his paws on his and Christine's stuff and off of her.

I mean, I actually think Lindsey's going to produce the album and then in 2016 Stevie will say her demos sounded a lot better than his finished product. That's what I think will happen. But if I had a wish, she would be Lennon and McCartney with Dave, all over again.

I mean, in a sense I think Eddy and Christine were on their own and Lindsey had his own stuff which laid the groundwork for Tango and then they came together and made it into FM material and that worked out very nicely. With Stevie, I think a little more separation from Lindsey than that would be ideal.
No, it's not likely to happen.


Michele

[RockawayBlind]

Originally Posted by BlueDenimLamp

Lindsey would still play and arrange the guitar parts amongst other things...It worked on "Soldiers Angel" and even though he didn't produce SA his involvement is unmistakable...

But that wasn't Fleetwood Mac.

[RockawayBlind]

Originally Posted by michelej1

With Stevie, I think a little more separation from Lindsey than that would be ideal.
No, it's not likely to happen.

Michele

It won't, and I think that's for the best. If there is to be decent album, it has to be done in the FM way, which means there will be tension and squabbles. It's all part of the creative process. I believe the best option at this point would be to work with a producer who understands the band and can bring Lindsey down from the clouds, impose some discipline on Stevie and basically let Christine do what she does.

As I mentioned, I'd give the job to Jon Brion who produced Lindsey's songs on This Is 40 better than anything Lindsey has produced since Cradle. I would also suggest Brian Deck, who did a fabulous job on Iron & Wine's Kiss Each Other Clean. I bet he would have the right sensibilities to do this band justice.

There's been a lot of talk about whether there should be a Rumours II. If the band goes back into the studio with that intent, the outcome is likely to be subpar. If, however, they come in with the best songs they can contribute, regardless of whether they are songs written in the "Fleetwood Mac mold" or not, and they turn out to be Rumours-like, so be it. Forcing a certain style or mood is going to produce poor results. I believe it's what happened with the EP and to, some extent, with Mirage.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by RockawayBlind

Forcing a certain style or mood is going to produce poor results. I believe it's what happened with the EP and to, some extent, with Mirage.

I'd add "Behind The Mask" and "Time" to that list.

[sparky]

Originally Posted by michelej1

No, but he needs to learn how for my sanity.
Michele

Mine too.

As for the original question, I would like a new album. Before a tour, thank you very much. The problem of course being that these fools take too long to record. Even IYD took too long, so I can't just blame Lindsey and his studio tics.

Get Dave Grohl, get Lanois, or get Rubin to produce. Anyone but Lindsey.

Touring this summer strikes me as odd on so many levels. Christine cited travel as her main reason for quitting. Yet they are going to dive right back into it? Stevie is all about the 3 year cycle, and they are going right back out? I am sure tickets will sell. At a higher price, because the split is different now. I don't think anyone is going to take a pay cut. Still, I think some markets are going to be over saturated. The band does the same set list, virtually, every time. I know I will be hard pressed to go.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by sparky

Stevie is all about the 3 year cycle,

But she's not really.

I just can't imagine this being a full on tour. Not this year.

Michele

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by RockawayBlind

It won't, and I think that's for the best. If there is to be decent album, it has to be done in the FM way, which means there will be tension and squabbles. It's all part of the creative process. I believe the best option at this point would be to work with a producer who understands the band and can bring Lindsey down from the clouds, impose some discipline on Stevie and basically let Christine do what she does.

I think the album can be decent without them all having the same producer. And I don't just want a decent album anyway, I want 5 years more of them working together without a lot of baseless accusations. I'd like peace.

Of course, I don't think any outside producer will be likely to "bring Lindsey down from the clouds." I mean, he's always going to be dominant. It's like starting out with the Tango producers who the band probably knew wouldn't last very long.

He will be tempered more by forces coming from within FM than without and I think that's a good thing. In fact, on his own songs, he might be more "out there" than ever, just because Christine will be filling a certain role and he doesn't need to bring anything poppy to the table if he's not in the mood, because she'll already bring it. With just him and Stevie he needed to do things like Sad Angel and Miss Fantasy (and I like them well enough), but now he doesn't have to go there.

Now, I don't think his FM stuff is ever going to sound like his This is 40 tracks and, for that, I'm very grateful.

Michele

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by RockawayBlind

But that wasn't Fleetwood Mac.

But if you put Lindsey and Christine's voices and playing on something like Moonlight, A Vampire's Dream, I don't think it would sound like something that was completely foreign to FM. I think it would fit in.

And for the FM album as long as the producer was working the Stevie-written song as a FM song from the beginning (and not just tacking the FM band on at the end of the creation), I really could see the tracks sounding much more like FM than Stand Back , for instance, does.

But if it comes down to that, even with Lindsey producing, I don't think EFO sounds that much like FM, but I like it anyway and, for me, it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb on SYW, not as much as Come does.

Michele

[Matt Lucas]

Hello all---

There’s been all this discussion about the new album, but do we know for sure that there will be a new album? Lots of articles have confirmed Mick’s announcement, but has anyone commented on new recordings? The band’s publicist told Billboard, “We are hoping to make an announcement about a possible tour for the full tilt Macsters sometime in 2014.”

I’m hoping that she means the announcement will come in 2014 and not the tour itself. That would leave time in 2014 for recording. But I haven’t seen any official confirmation of an album. Did I miss something? Or are we all just assuming an album is on the way?

Man, I hope it’s an album first, then the tour. A tour first would just be a another money grab, one to which I admit I would contribute for the chance to see the full band for the first time.

Originally Posted by michelej1

I think the album can be decent without them all having the same producer. And I don't just want a decent album anyway, I want 5 years more of them working together without a lot of baseless accusations. I'd like peace.

Of course, I don't think any outside producer will be likely to "bring Lindsey down from the clouds." I mean, he's always going to be dominant. It's like starting out with the Tango producers who the band probably knew wouldn't last very long.

He will be tempered more by forces coming from within FM than without and I think that's a good thing. In fact, on his own songs, he might be more "out there" than ever, just because Christine will be filling a certain role and he doesn't need to bring anything poppy to the table if he's not in the mood, because she'll already bring it. With just him and Stevie he needed to do things like Sad Angel and Miss Fantasy (and I like them well enough), but now he doesn't have to go there.

Now, I don't think his FM stuff is ever going to sound like his This is 40 tracks and, for that, I'm very grateful.

That’s a good point about Lindsey being more likely to be influenced from within the band than from without. But I still say that a producer he respects would carry some weight with him.

Personally, I thought the THIS IS 40 songs sounded undercooked from a songwriting standpoint, but I loved the production on them.

That’s an interesting point about Christine’s presence allowing Lindsey to shift a little further off-center. But the thing is…he’s always done his weird experiments side by side with some lovely pop songs.

Originally Posted by michelej1

But if you put Lindsey and Christine's voices and playing on something like Moonlight, A Vampire's Dream, I don't think it would sound like something that was completely foreign to FM. I think it would fit in.

Umm…even adding Lindsey’s and Christine’s voices and instruments couldn’t make “Moonlight” a good song. I’m just saying. In terms of its subject, “Annabel Lee” isn’t really a FM-style song, but to me, that one sounds more like FM than a lot of Stevie solo songs.

Originally Posted by michelej1

But if it comes down to that, even with Lindsey producing, I don't think EFO sounds that much like FM, but I like it anyway and, for me, it doesn't stick out like a sore thumb on SYW, not as much as Come does.

Well, this is getting well offtopic, but even I have to agree that “Come” sounds out of place as a FM song. Don’t get me wrong---I love the song---I just don’t think it really fit on SYW.

This is another off-topic subject, but since someone mentioned “Stand Back” and other solo songs, I have to say that I hope they stay away from the solo tunes. I’ve always had a problem with FM doing the solo songs. “Stand Back” is not a Fleetwood Mac song, and neither is “Go Insane.” There are hundreds of real FM songs they can play at concerts…Stevie and Lindsey can play their solo material at their solo shows.

matt

[Matt Lucas]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

EP was not really a good representation of Mitchell Froom’s work, IMO. His work with Richard Thompson on “Daring Adventure,” “Rumor and Sigh,” and “Mirror Blue” are sublime, and has a sound reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac, IMO. He is an acceptable producer if Caillat and Dashut can’t/won’t do it.

Thanks for posting those links, Steve. It's been a while since I've listened to Thompson, so I'm going to have to pull out those Fromm-produced records on the iPod and give them a spin.

Here are some links to tracks produced by Daniel Lanois and Jon Brion, respectively.

Regards,
matt

Daniel Lanois productions:

Daniel Lanois – “The Maker”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-JtAcpKtYQ

Daniel Lanois – “Lotta Love to Give”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeGJwe5nEhA

Robbie Robertson – “Somewhere Down the Crazy River”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KP9PNSUME4

Emmylou Harris – “Where Will I Be”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YpE47V1AHE

Emmylou Harris – “Goodbye”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_3v...F58A1C9EF2728E

Bob Dylan – “Not Dark Yet”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZgBhyU4IvQ

Neville Brothers – “Yellow Moon”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTJyExd4dmw

Peter Gabriel – “Digging in the Dirt”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5fOvcta3Ws

Peter Gabriel – “Big Time” [co-producer]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxUFYNZm5oU

Black Dub – “Love Lives”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10uMDXRqLAI

U2 – “A Sort of Homecoming” [remix] [co-producer]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO1NRA43Nls

U2 – “Running to Stand Still” [co-producer]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvUI-s4Azw4


Jon Brion productions:

Jon Brion – “Strings That Tie To You”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhIUdfedmRw

Jon Brion – “Here We Go”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8ZNCQTFJvs

Jon Brion – “Knock Yourself Out”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z500MGW-WNw

Jon Brion – “Her Ghost”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RDgDiyGnGo

Rhett Miller – “Come Around”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwBhjxeG_1s

Rhett Miller – “Our Love”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZdCaduIS7M

Aimee Mann [with Squeeze] – “That’s Just What You Are”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ArXL7uEQsEg

Aimee Mann – “Wise Up”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcIs3rAEytk

Aimee Mann – “Deathly”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nay5ybrUEEY

Aimee Mann – “Build That Wall”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLCvZ2CNNUM

Kanye West – “Diamonds From Sierra Leone” [co-producer]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92FCRmggNqQ

Kanye West – “Bring Me Down” [instrumental] [co-producer]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DOIqgeb4q1k

Punch Brothers – “You Are”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CGhj...F2B58A621BEAA2

Best Coast – “The Only Place”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoPoRuNTo9U

[Macfanforever]

Originally Posted by Matt Lucas

Hello all---

There’s been all this discussion about the new album, but do we know for sure that there will be a new album? Lots of articles have confirmed Mick’s announcement, but has anyone commented on new recordings? The band’s publicist told Billboard, “We are hoping to make an announcement about a possible tour for the full tilt Macsters sometime in 2014.”

I’m hoping that she means the announcement will come in 2014 and not the tour itself. That would leave time in 2014 for recording. But I haven’t seen any official confirmation of an album. Did I miss something? Or are we all just assuming an album is on the way?

Man, I hope it’s an album first, then the tour. A tour first would just be a another money grab, one to which I admit I would contribute for the chance to see the full band for the first time.



That’s a good point about Lindsey being more likely to be influenced from within the band than from without. But I still say that a producer he respects would carry some weight with him.

Personally, I thought the THIS IS 40 songs sounded undercooked from a songwriting standpoint, but I loved the production on them.

That’s an interesting point about Christine’s presence allowing Lindsey to shift a little further off-center. But the thing is…he’s always done his weird experiments side by side with some lovely pop songs.



Umm…even adding Lindsey’s and Christine’s voices and instruments couldn’t make “Moonlight” a good song. I’m just saying. In terms of its subject, “Annabel Lee” isn’t really a FM-style song, but to me, that one sounds more like FM than a lot of Stevie solo songs.



Well, this is getting well offtopic, but even I have to agree that “Come” sounds out of place as a FM song. Don’t get me wrong---I love the song---I just don’t think it really fit on SYW.

This is another off-topic subject, but since someone mentioned “Stand Back” and other solo songs, I have to say that I hope they stay away from the solo tunes. I’ve always had a problem with FM doing the solo songs. “Stand Back” is not a Fleetwood Mac song, and neither is “Go Insane.” There are hundreds of real FM songs they can play at concerts…Stevie and Lindsey can play their solo material at their solo shows.

matt

I agree with you Matt.Its like putting the buggy in front of the horse as they tour first and record.

[MrStevie]

Originally Posted by michelej1

there's no point in her and her fans being unhappy and complaining about how he ruined her stuff for the next 10 years and beyond. I just don't think it's worth it anymore. Stevie and Lindsey should be able to work together and feel like its a collaboration, but she obviously didn't get that feeling from SYW (although I'm sure Lindsey feels differently). If the friction exhausts her and she feels her opinion is discounted and he's overriding her, then enough. Whether that's the reality or just her perception, I'm really tired of it happening.

Michele

Maybe it's your perception? Can we be tired of it happening?

Please show me where Stevie complained Lindsey ruined her stuff, or where she said HE was the cause of her unhappiness with the recording process during SYW. Thanks.

[Johnny Stew]

Some of Lindsey's 'Say You Will' tracks were co-produced with Rob Cavallo and John Shanks, while Lindsey was the sole producer on Stevie's tracks. Fleetwood Mac could very easily do the reverse for the next album: Lindsey as the solo producer on his tracks and possibly Christine's as well, while he co-produces Stevie's tracks with someone else.

Stevie knows and has worked with both Cavallo and Shanks, for example, and would perhaps feel comfortable with either of them as "mediator" between her and Lindsey during the production stage. I'm not necessarily suggesting either gentlemen -- just using them as an example of producers who could serve as a bridge.

Personally, I would love for the band to work with Patrick Leonard. Although I suspect he's not eclectic enough for some fans, his work on "Love Shines" and "Heart of Stone" is pure Fleetwood Mac, without sounding like clones of their past work.