Lindsey's Mirage Songs [Archive]

Fleetwood Jack

10-01-2016, 10:06 AM

elle

10-01-2016, 10:12 AM

Hello, hello. This is actually my first ever post in The Ledge, so you are witnessing great history right now. :]

Any who, I was curious as to what you guys thoughts were on Lindsey's Mirage songs. I've read on many reviews that these songs are considered some of his weakest, so I'm curious on what you think. Do you think they're weak, and what is your favorite and least favorite of the bunch?

yay, we have a new board member and your first post is in Lindsey forum!! :woohoo:
welcome! :wavey::wavey:

about your question - are you asking about his original Mirage songs, or these alternate versions that just came out?

Fleetwood Jack

10-01-2016, 10:50 AM

Thank you, thank you!

I meant the original songs on the album. But, if you feel like commenting on the demos and alternate versions that would be cool.

bwboy

10-01-2016, 01:03 PM

Fleetwood Jack is a great name!

I love Eyes of the World and Book of Love, like Can't Go Back, tolerate Empire State, and hate Oh Diane. That song always makes me think Lindsey is trying to sound like Christine!

As for being his weakest songs, yeah, they might be, compared to Tusk, Rumours, and the white album. I might say the same thing about Christine, when compared to Tango and Behind the Mask. But even a weak Lindsey or Christine song is music to my ears.

How about you, Jack?

AlexD

10-01-2016, 01:53 PM

I think they are just alright. He was kind of forced to play the kind of more mainstream stuff for his album to my understanding. They were trying to emulate Rumors and he's more into trying new things it seems like. Also, welcome to the Ledge and glad to have you in the Lindsey section haha.

Fleetwood Jack

10-01-2016, 04:36 PM

Thank you for the compliment on my name. I thought it sounded pretty good myself.

As for my thoughts, weeelllll.

Can't Go Back and Eyes Of The World-To me these are the best of the bunch. I think the lyrics and instrumentation are quite good.

Book Of Love-I don't know about this one. I think it's sort of funny how hammy Lindsey's voice sounds on this one. But, it's probably my least favorite off of Mirage.

Empire State-I used to find this one O.K., O.K. I say! But I love the demo of it, mainly because it sounds like how it would have been if it were on Law and Order.

Oh Diane-O.K., hear me out. I love this song. Don't shoot! I just love how cheesy and cornball it sounds, especially with the simplistic lyrics and the "woah-oh Diane"s. I just think it's a fun song, that doesn't over stay it's welcome. It makes for a good song for drunk karaoke though I'll tell you that.

I probably just lost my Ledge membership with admitting my love of Oh Diane.

Macfan4life

10-01-2016, 06:44 PM

Welcome to the ledge.
When I first joined this forum, I was almost afraid to admit I liked Mirage and that it was probably my first or second favorite Mac album. There was even a poll about album covers and Mirage was not even an option to vote for it. I am thrilled about how much love Mirage is getting and the re-release.
I don't know why but some on this board love to beat up on Lindsey's Mirage songs. I don't think any of them seem out of place IMHO.
Of course Lindsey was under pressure to be more pop which probably drove him crazy. But his Empire State and Eyes of the World could have easily appeared on Tusk. The production quality is just much better and other band members are playing on the songs. Empire state would have been recorded in his bathroom with Kleenex boxes or something. Book of Love, Cant go back, and Oh Diane are pure pop greatness but have some creative Lindsey arrangements. One part that gets over looked is Lindsey did some fantastic writing on his songs. He is more of a guitar player and producer than prolific song writer. His writing is strong and good. The songs have so much more depth than Go Insane or Big Love, or Caroline, etc.
These Lindsey songs were the last before he swallowed the 80's programmed music hook line and sinker.

Fleetwood Jack

10-01-2016, 08:28 PM

Thank you.

Yeah, I would be lying if I said Mirage hasn't grown on me over the past few months. I would agree it was probably pretty hard for Lindsey to be mainstream on this album. I think the album sort of has a nice charm to it, you know with the retro production and all.

What's weird is I actually really love Go Insane and Tango In The Night. But, hey everyone has a different opinion. I'm not saying yours is right buuuttt...:D

bwboy

10-01-2016, 08:49 PM

Book Of Love-I don't know about this one. I think it's sort of funny how hammy Lindsey's voice sounds on this one. But, it's probably my least favorite off of Mirage.

Oh Diane-O.K., hear me out. I love this song. Don't shoot! I just love how cheesy and cornball it sounds, especially with the simplistic lyrics and the "woah-oh Diane"s. I just think it's a fun song, that doesn't over stay it's welcome. It makes for a good song for drunk karaoke though I'll tell you that.

I probably just lost my Ledge membership with admitting my love of Oh Diane.

Lol not quite, I think a lot of people like Oh Diane!

You mentioned the instrumentation of Can't Go Back, and I agree, the outtake is incredible and makes me appreciate the song more.

I think Book of Love tends to be the forgotten LB song... it's hardly ever mentioned, so I think few people hate it and few people love it. I love it and can totally relate to the lyrics. Who hasn't been in unrequited love, you know? It might verge on whiny, but that doesn't bother me. I love the early version, as well.

Fleetwood Jack

10-01-2016, 10:31 PM

I know right!?! I thought Suma's Walk was really beautiful, and yeah I think the lyrics on Book of Love are really relatable. Although, i think the earlier version of it is a lot better than the album version. You have to love that added lap harp in the intro.

Fleetwood Jack

10-01-2016, 10:38 PM

That is quite comforting to know I'm not the only one who loves Oh Diane though.

elle

10-02-2016, 01:43 PM

That is quite comforting to know I'm not the only one who loves Oh Diane though.

haha i think there are lots of UK-based peeps who love Oh Diane.

as far as my opinions - i don't care much for Mirage as an album, although i love and adore Hold Me and Eyes of the World.

so Eyes, i've never heard a bad version, and i think it's a great little rocking song. there are several demo versions of the Eyes jam floating around and i adore those.

Can't Go Back is like a Lindsey's throwback Elvis imitation, and i think it's fun.

i don't care for his other Mirage songs. but i disagree that Oh Diane sounds like a Christine song. it's a clear throwback to rockabilly era, and i think it was his tongue-in-cheek response to being forced back in the formula: "you want formula? i'll give you as formula as one can get!"

Macfan4life

10-02-2016, 02:21 PM

Book of Love and Cant Go Back have great melodies.
Oh Diane is a 50's sounding tribute. I love it because there are few Lindsey songs that demonstrate his influences like Oh Diane.
Lindsey contributes the most songs and there is so much variety.

jbrownsjr

10-02-2016, 04:40 PM

haha i think there are lots of UK-based peeps who love Oh Diane.

as far as my opinions - i don't care much for Mirage as an album, although i love and adore Hold Me and Eyes of the World.

so Eyes, i've never heard a bad version, and i think it's a great little rocking song. there are several demo versions of the Eyes jam floating around and i adore those.

Can't Go Back is like a Lindsey's throwback Elvis imitation, and i think it's fun.

i don't care for his other Mirage songs. but i disagree that Oh Diane sounds like a Christine song. it's a clear throwback to rockabilly era, and i think it was his tongue-in-cheek response to being forced back in the formula: "you want formula? i'll give you as formula as one can get!"

Agreed... sounds a little rockabilly.. and I believe it was sort of a "up yours" tune..

bwboy

10-02-2016, 05:17 PM

i don't care for his other Mirage songs. but i disagree that Oh Diane sounds like a Christine song. it's a clear throwback to rockabilly era, and i think it was his tongue-in-cheek response to being forced back in the formula: "you want formula? i'll give you as formula as one can get!"

No, I didn't mean Lindsey was trying to write like Christine- I meant it seemed like he was trying to sing or sound like Christine. Really, I understand that wasn't his intention, to sound like her, but singing in that range or doing whatever he did to his voice on that song really put me off.

shackin'up

10-02-2016, 05:39 PM

But his Empire State and Eyes of the World could have easily appeared on Tusk. The production quality is just much better and other band members are playing on the songs.

I agree on the Tusk-ness of those songs, but that does count for Can't go back and Book of Love too. Where I disagree is that the production is better. I love the production on Tusk. It's different and warm. On mirage it is more slick, but is that better?

By the way, to my knowledge the only one of the Nine lindseysongs without the band is the Ledge. That is also the only song that really as a lo fi quality. The rest is tasteful and layered. The story of him doing everything on his own was true for the demo's. But he brought them to the band, and they provided the definate recordings of those songs. Or am I wrong?

Macfan4life

10-03-2016, 05:22 AM

I agree on the Tusk-ness of those songs, but that does count for Can't go back and Book of Love too. Where I disagree is that the production is better. I love the production on Tusk. It's different and warm. On mirage it is more slick, but is that better?

By the way, to my knowledge the only one of the Nine lindseysongs without the band is the Ledge. That is also the only song that really as a lo fi quality. The rest is tasteful and layered. The story of him doing everything on his own was true for the demo's. But he brought them to the band, and they provided the definate recordings of those songs. Or am I wrong?
Maybe "better" was not the correct word. How about more of a group effort that sounded like Fleetwood Mac? I would not use the word "slick" though.
Half the songs on Tusk are slow tempo. That is not a bad thing just an observation. Mirage is more pop but love to hear Mick's up-beat drumming. The songs are more crisp. Maybe crisp is a better adjective than slick LOL
Songs like Cant Go Back and Book of love would have been a digital programmed slick productions on Go Insane.

Stormwind

10-03-2016, 09:55 AM

I guess Lindsey knew he had to play safe that time: Tusk wasn't the success the company expected, so Mirage was his "Ok, ****".
There are good moments on the record and the whole album was a jewel of production, but Lindsey's songs on it are overall his weakest. Oh Diane was awful, Eyes of the world a good one with a boring arrangment (Live version was much better). Said that, I truly believe he was into the whole "50s vibe" (Law And Order was truly a testament of Lindsey's approach).

Ps: Empire state (the early mix) has some sick guitar lines

sanders8323

10-14-2016, 07:22 AM

Law & Order was recorded in between sessions for Mirage, and you can tell that he brought some of his retro vibe from the L&O sessions to Mirage, so I think that sound was certainly inspired and was his main direction for his songs. I remember somewhere reading that Mick said on the first day of the Mirage sessions, Lindsey showed up wearing his best Elvis attire, or throwback attire, something to that effect.

I like Lindsey's songs on Mirage. But Lindsey was forced to be more more mainstream, which is apparent in Book of Love, Can't Go Back and especially Oh Diane. Those songs are fine (Book of Love is my favorite of his 5 songs). But in Empire State and Eyes of the World, you can see that Lindsey is still pushing the musical boundaries as far as he could and still be able to get away with it. Love those two songs too. The demo version of Empire State is probably how he really wanted it to sound on record but had to use a more polished and toned down version for the final product, but even that is pretty left field.

My main question is, what would Lindsey have to say about his 5 songs on Mirage. That would be interesting to hear.

bwboy

10-27-2016, 06:20 PM

So, I was listening to the Buckingham Nicks CD this week for the first time in years and noticed something I don't think has been mentioned here before- Lindsey's instrumental song Stephanie sounds a lot like his song Eyes of the World from Mirage. A lot! Anyone else ever notice that?

Fleetwood Jack

10-28-2016, 11:35 AM

BWBoy, yes I noticed that. My guess is since he was planning to leave after Mirage it would be sort of neat to end his time in Fleetwood Mac with the first song he ever recorded. Or another interpretation I've read is that it's to emphasize that Eyes Of The World is aimed at Stevie Nicks, since Stephanie was named after Stevie.

ryan4136

11-03-2016, 10:24 AM

I always viewed LB's contributions to Mirage as a more radio friendly attempt at a solo album. Only exception would be eyes of the world, to me that sounded like a Fleetwood Mac focused song. I've always thought of Mirage as a Fleetwood Mac album from SN, and CM, with LB trying to sound like a solo artist. As an album I think it fails. (the same could be said about Tango which I believe is exactly the same with SN songs to a lesser degree)

Mirage is just a 1/2 Fleetwood Mac 1/2 Law and Order Part 2 album to me.