Just to recap:

It's back and to the left.

Back and to the left.

Back and to the left.

Back and to the left.

Honestly, the term for Stevie's abilities on guitar and keyboards IS amateur. It's not a slight or dismissal of her abilities as a musician (she is a unique songwriter and equally distinctive singer who can also harmonize like no other). While it is true that she can manage to work her way around a keyboard or guitar to get the right chords for structuring songs, she can't really play either of these instruments beyond base-level proficiency, which is the definition of an amateur.

Moreover, she has a VERY difficult time singing and playing piano at the same time. Whenever she steps towards a piano to accompany herself I want to yell out, Noooooo, don't do it! Her performances of Rhiannon at the piano are embarrassing because she can't get the coordination right to both sing and play at the same time.

All this aside, she has gone far, very far, with what she does know. Her amateur instrumental skills have actually helped her find inventive ways to maneuver for chords, and thus have contributed to her unusual harmonic and melodic styles.

But Christine's 1979 interview is an example of Christine either being magnanimous and/or passive aggressive in a back-handed complement kind of way. The assessment of Stevie's abilities there seems indulgent, a tad condescending, which is how the entire band has made her feel at one time or another. I can't say I really blame them: Stevie has had plenty of time and opportunity to learn an instrument more fluently.

Any links to her playing guitar? I've only seen pictures of her with one, never heard her play it.

*Applause from Kevin Costner* ;)

I believe if Stevie had the ambition, she could have been a professional musician. But her main focus was to be a singer/songwriter/visual performer. I find her solo outings singing and playing piano to be interesting, but a bit disconcerting. She has found the confidence to do it, but she just doesn't have the chops.

Just got it today. Haven't had time to actually read it but I skimmed through and was disturbed that the section about Chris was titled Enter Christine, Perfectly. :laugh:

It takes a lot of practice and patience. I don't think she could go beyond a beginner level. I've heard her piano enough to want her to write the way she knows how. She is much better suited writing the way she started her career.

I just got mine today, at a Wallgreen store. Lots of great photos - some that are familiar, and others I've never seen before. The article was a fair assessment, if not a comprehensive compendium of the band's history.

"Consider 1988 to 2013 to be the vacant years for the band. Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, surely capable musicians, joined, and the forgettable Behind the Mask was released in 1990. The equally forgettable Time was released in 1995 with (sorry forgettable) new members Bekka Bramlett on vocals and Dave Mason on guitar."

Though I appreciate and enjoy both of those albums for what they are, I can't strongly dispute those facts. Although many solo albums and several compilations filled those vacant years, it's rather disappointing to be reminded of their scant album output.

Their Dance tour, as well as their two recent live tours have given them paychecks, and have given their fans some great live performances. Yet, they have been resting on those laurels for a very long time. But those shows are a brief moment in time. Those memories fade in time, while their albums become lasting objects of their artistic legacy. I hope the last opportunity they have to give life-long loyal fans one more album of new music isn't lost.

Say You Will was released in 2003. it's their second most progressive album, right after Tusk. i wouldn't consider that part of "vacant years" by any stretch.

I don't think Tusk was artistically disappointing, and the outright dismissal of Mirage and Tango is neither a fair nor accurate assessment. I also agree with Elle--Say You Will, despite the absence of Christine, was still a substantial record--hardly "underwhelming" as said in the article.

I do agree, however, that too many years separate the very few records we do have, and thus the growth and viability of the band as the makers of new music has been seriously undermined by their own lack of sustained effort.

Say You Will is certainly the anomaly -- the band's only Buckingham Nicks-like album, released in the "vacant years." Like Tusk, it might get more recognition and appreciation in later years. However it is an easily overlooked album, especially now that Christine is back in the band.

It was implied it would take a lot of dedication to become a professional player and that Stevie never had that ambition. Her skill level is enough for her to form the rudimentary basis of her songs.

So that's why all her songs are in "F" or "Am"?:lol:

Oh wait, there are other issues...

#range

Well, fans aren't the only ones who thought it wasn't exactly fantastic...

Just read the Life Magazine article on Fleetwood Mac.I was there.(Although you wouldn't know it from reading life.)Tabloid crap!Really Ken??

— Richard Dashut (@RichardDashut) May 14, 2015

Oddly enough, Christine called it "wonderful" on her IG account. :shrug: Maybe whoever is behind her account didn't take the time to read it.