Jyqm
09-23-2005, 11:59 AM
Just because that other thread is a bit unwieldy...
So I hardly ever think to read this forum, but I did today and found out that Soundstage is finally being aired, much to my pleasant surprise! Of course, as I'm living in Germany at the moment, I can't really watch it on TV, but I anxiously await the DVD and in the meantime downloaded the songs from buckinghamnicks.net (thank you, Nancy, for always posting such great files, and thanks to Brian for providing them).
After my first listen, I'm as impressed by the performance as most, I think. "Trouble" is a truly beautiful new arrangement; Lindsey really gets to the heart of the melody. The perofrmance of "Red Rover" gave me a whole new appreciation for that song. Ditto "Say Goodbye." Stevie's contributions were subtle and wonderful. "Big Love" and "Go Insane" were as powerful as they always are.
Of course I was also disappointed by the nicking of "I'm So Afraid" in "Murrow." I mean, come on, Lindsey, what's the point? Reusing a melody line or a lyric here or there is one thing, but a whole solo? Other than that, though, I thought the performance was great.
Oddly, one of the few let-downs for me was "Down On Rodeo," but that might just be because I've always been so enamored of the studio version.
Lindsey seemed incredibly appreciative of the audience (and vice versa). His comment about how much he enjoyed being surrounded by likeminded people suggested to me that he was surprised by the enthusiastic reception of unreleased songs like SGCYM and DOR, as well as older solo material like "Go Insane" and "Trouble," and that he would really enjoy doing more shows like this for appreciative audiences. So I have to wonder, why doesn't he? If this is really the best time of his life musically, why not finally put out an album and hit the road? He could do a short tour of small theaters, lure only his really hard-core fans, mix up his setlists for once and try out some stuff he hasn't played in a long time (or ever), and I feel like it could be a very eye-opening and rewarding experience for him. Rediscover the art of live performance, rather than just going through the same staged motions with Fleetwood Mac every few years. I'd even say he should bring Stevie along for the ride, but at that point you might as well bring along Mick and John and call it Fleetwood Mac, and then how could they resist playing to arenas full of casual fans who just want to hear the same ten songs every night? So I guess what a really want a Fleetwood Mac that isn't necessarily stripped down - after all, Soundstage includes most of the touring second-tier members of Fleetwood Mac, and it sounds fantastic - but just less bombastic, which is what the band really has become, as David pointed out elsewhere. Nothign wrong with bringing it down a couple notches, guys.
All right, I think that's enough rambling from me. I'm spent.
So I hardly ever think to read this forum, but I did today and found out that Soundstage is finally being aired, much to my pleasant surprise! Of course, as I'm living in Germany at the moment, I can't really watch it on TV, but I anxiously await the DVD and in the meantime downloaded the songs from buckinghamnicks.net (thank you, Nancy, for always posting such great files, and thanks to Brian for providing them).
After my first listen, I'm as impressed by the performance as most, I think. "Trouble" is a truly beautiful new arrangement; Lindsey really gets to the heart of the melody. The perofrmance of "Red Rover" gave me a whole new appreciation for that song. Ditto "Say Goodbye." Stevie's contributions were subtle and wonderful. "Big Love" and "Go Insane" were as powerful as they always are.
Of course I was also disappointed by the nicking of "I'm So Afraid" in "Murrow." I mean, come on, Lindsey, what's the point? Reusing a melody line or a lyric here or there is one thing, but a whole solo? Other than that, though, I thought the performance was great.
Oddly, one of the few let-downs for me was "Down On Rodeo," but that might just be because I've always been so enamored of the studio version.
Lindsey seemed incredibly appreciative of the audience (and vice versa). His comment about how much he enjoyed being surrounded by likeminded people suggested to me that he was surprised by the enthusiastic reception of unreleased songs like SGCYM and DOR, as well as older solo material like "Go Insane" and "Trouble," and that he would really enjoy doing more shows like this for appreciative audiences. So I have to wonder, why doesn't he? If this is really the best time of his life musically, why not finally put out an album and hit the road? He could do a short tour of small theaters, lure only his really hard-core fans, mix up his setlists for once and try out some stuff he hasn't played in a long time (or ever), and I feel like it could be a very eye-opening and rewarding experience for him. Rediscover the art of live performance, rather than just going through the same staged motions with Fleetwood Mac every few years. I'd even say he should bring Stevie along for the ride, but at that point you might as well bring along Mick and John and call it Fleetwood Mac, and then how could they resist playing to arenas full of casual fans who just want to hear the same ten songs every night? So I guess what a really want a Fleetwood Mac that isn't necessarily stripped down - after all, Soundstage includes most of the touring second-tier members of Fleetwood Mac, and it sounds fantastic - but just less bombastic, which is what the band really has become, as David pointed out elsewhere. Nothign wrong with bringing it down a couple notches, guys.
All right, I think that's enough rambling from me. I'm spent.