When I first heard it, I thought it was "have you come to find the Lord?"

My favorite line is: "we fall to earth together.


Michele

It's at #6 now:]

Oops! Thanks for the correction. I guess those weren't good examples after all. And I honestly forgot that Lindsey plays acoustic on "Songbird."

You know, the more I think about it, the more I realize that I expect more of Stevie. Yes, we knew up front that it would be 2-3 Lindsey songs and "Without You." But with Lindsey's comments about having written the songs to fit Stevie's vocal comfort zone, I guess I assumed that she would be singing lead on at least some of the songs. Maybe a true duet, alternating verses, etc.? I'd have loved to have heard them try something like that.

But, all in all, I think it's a good release, and I'm glad it's out so that people at the shows can get it. When they introduce the new songs at the shows, they should specifically tell people, "In fact, you can download this new song on your mobile device RIGHT NOW! DO IT!"

Since they presumably don't have physical CDs to see at the merchandise tables, another option would be to post QR codes at the tables and all over the venues. The QR code could link directly to the EP on iTunes.

matt

I really hope that the band takes this as good news. That's pretty awesome for a band well into their 60's. Especially on iTunes. Granted, there isn't a whole lot of competitive releases today. Maybe that was part of their strategy, set it up for success by dropping it on a week without a huge release to compete with.

Either way, good for them. I hope they celebrate a little.

Commenting specifically on their recorded voices:

I think Lindsey tends to overproduce his vocals on studio recordings, which lose the roughness of his current voice and in some ways try to mirror his much younger and higher sound. I actually think that Lindsey has a very feminine style of singing in his studio work (not that that is a bad thing). I see that here in Without You and It Takes Time (which in no way is Songbird #2 as a few people were saying). I had this reaction to Seeds We Sow and especially regarding Say You Will, where in particular the versions of Say Goodbye and Bleed to Love Her absolutely pale to their live performances. The songs became merely ordinary and much weaker than they actually are, arguably some of the best Lindsey has written, because they are missing the raw emotion he brings to his concert vocals.

And as I said about Stevie's vocals on an earlier page, there's something about her recent studio recordings that I don't like. They sound much lower here and In Your Dreams, very low actually and in a much more limited vocal range. Is it weird that I prefer the sound of Stevie's voice live much more than how it has sounded on recordings? Maybe she prefers it this way for some reason, I don't know. But there's a significant difference, I feel--and her live voice sounds freer and more flexible, and has a much more pleasant tone. Look at Landslide, a song that I think she has been performing exceptionally. The tone of her "I" vowel sounds when she sings "Can I sail through the changing ocean tides? Can I..." is gorgeous. I haven't felt that sound has translated to her recordings, which is especially disappointing because her voice IS still capable of creating magic. I wonder if anyone else has picked up on this or it's just me, that Stevie's voice hasn't translated well to recordings or that it too has been overproduced??

I had to work last night and suffer through the long wait until I got home this morning to download it - so far, I love it and it just makes me want more! I guess if they don't want to advertise, we'll have to do it for them. I've been telling everyone who will listen about the EP and tweeted it too :]

Love it. That is all. Not overthinking anything. New music from FM=tiny dream come true.

I love the EP
 

I love it. I don't think it's an album you could go on a huge tour with but its true to what most love in Fleetwood Mac.

Part of me wishes Stevie kept you can't fix this for this album. This way they could've done 10 songs, with maybe 7 of them being Fleetwood Mac-y and the rest few harder, darker rock songs like you can't fix this.

A song or two from Christine would fit beautifully in an album with this tone.

That 4 dollars was spent wisely. :laugh:

Also i'd like to point out that "Without You" sounds totally like a Buckingham Nicks track (cause it is haha).

I was really surprised to find that the EP had been released today, as I wasn't expecting anything to happen in regards to it (I was hoping they would scrap the idea in favor of a new album, but I guess I was wrong). My mother said no when I asked her if I could possibly take £3 to download it, but my dad agreed right away. And my dad hates Fleetwood Mac (I'm dragging him along to the concert in Birmingham)!

I absolutely LOVE "Sad Angel" - it sounds like classic Mirage-era Mac. Lindsey's voice sounds great for a man in his 60s, and I loved Stevie's background vocal. The lyrics were really nice. I hope they don't drop this from the setlist for Europe.

I enjoyed "Without You" - it was my first time hearing it, as I'd avoided the live versions in favor of hearing the studio version. I'll need to listen to it a bit more to fully appreciate it.

"It Takes Time" is the only song on the EP I didn't like - not a big fan of the lyrics and I'm not used to hearing Lindsey with just a piano; I miss his acoustic ballads. It could grow on me in the future.

"Miss Fantasy" is brilliant. It reminds me of the White Album era for some peculiar reason - I don't know, it just had that atmosphere to it.

You heard Lord, my wife heard Whore. Have I married the right woman? :D:laugh:

I really like this EP, but after thinking about it, I'm a little disappointed in Stevie.

I know what happened. She heard Lindsey songs and knew that she going to have to come up with some good songs. After Say You Will, she doesn't want to be on losing end again. And there is no REAL Fleetwood Mac without Christine.

She was already working on new songs with Dave and just didn't want to go there. She could of pulled out more songs than Without You. She has a big catalog. She should of just done one more song.

I feel mixed emotions about this EP.

First, Sad Angel is very good pop. I can hear all four of them on it and I really think it sounds like FM. Same for Miss Fantasy - it reminds me of the Mirage era.

Without You sounds like 70s Stevie. I like it.

It Takes Time, though, feels out of place. It strikes an imbalance. It feels like it belongs on an LB solo record, not an FM record. I am not a fan of these quiet, introspective, Lindsey songs where you aren't able to discern anyone else's involvement in the track. That's why I'm not a huge fan of some of his Tusk songs.

I'm sorry Stevie is not more prominent on this release. I feel as though she is just a guest rather than a full band member. I know the story about her involvement in this EP, but I'd love to hear her taking lead on a track with Lindsey firmly in the background.

Finally, it never seems right to me without Christine. I know, I know. She won't record, or they won't let her without also touring, but she really could have made Miss Fantasy and Sad Angel that much better. I probably won't ever get used to her not being there.

That said, so lovely to have new music from them.

The EP is sounds ok not really excited about for some reason it's sounds good but not thrilled with it.I heard the entire EP on You Tube.Sad Angel and Without You seem like the best out of these 4 songs.It's sounds more like a Lindsey EP you can barely hear Stevie in them.Not that it's a bad thing.Anything from them now is a treat awesome there is new music but I am not thrilled with it for some reason and won't buy it on Itunes because I don't do Ipad's,Ipod's.If they release a physical cd will buy it.I am old school..lol I prefer a cd in hand and listen on a cd player or cd walkman.I hope it does well so we do get an actual new cd.But I love the songs on 2003 Say You Will.Compare the Say You Will album with the Extended Play EP.I Prefer Say You Will.

"Without You" - sounds great - I prefer hearing it live but then I feel that way about all Mac songs - hope they bring out more unreleased BN songs for the full album

"Miss Fantasy" - wish it had Stevie more prominent on it like "Miranda" - definitely reminds me of "Mirage" period - I like it

"It Takes Time" - wow it is like Lindsey's "Songbird" - I like the lyrics of this song....kind of a "Yeah I know I was an ass....can you forgive me?" It goes well with "Say Goodbye" & the healing process between Stevie & Lindsey

"Sad Angel" - really enjoyed this in concert & the EP version is just as much fun - better than 95% of the songs that were on SYW - just needs alittle tambourine in it & it would be PERFECT!

Sure I would have loved a Stevie primary vocal song on the EP, but I see this as just a "teaser" for a full album :)

I"m glad you like Without You. I do too :). It evokes something and it was one of those really worked out Stevie songs that she really tried on.

It is the best song Cat Stevens never wrote!

This is something that was in the back of my mind when listening to the new EP. Sure, 10 years later I have my list of criticisms of SYW, but after listening to these new songs a dozen or more times, It struck me that they are not even in the same league as "Thrown Down", "Say You Will", "Peacekeeper", "Destiny Rules", "Bleed To Love Her", "Everyone Finds Out", or "Steal Your Heart Away". Not even close.

And I'm really disapointed in Mitchell Frooms production, yes I'm sure Lindsey had his nose in the knobs and mix as well, but this is not the lush and warm Fleetwood Mac sound I was yearning for - and I thought SYW sounded too cold:cool:. Overall these songs (sans ITT) sound too compressed. Not impressed:distress:.

The new tunes sound anemic and are a pale shadow of Fleetwood Mac's former glory's imo. Stevie's vocals sounds like she was recorded in a tin can:(. Her voice sounded so much richer and warmer on IYD by a mile:nod:

And Lindsey's 12-string rhythm guitar "accompaniment" on "Without You" completely obliterates the beauty & harmony of the vocals & melody with its prominece in the mix and sounding too brassy. Whoever the heck mixed these songs should be shot - It's a lost art, and makes one long for Caillat & Dashut.

Though I'm always happy to hear new music from my favorite band, I don't think these songs are a positive foreshadow of another FM record anytime soon.

All of the songs are good although they lack a little of the Fleetwood Mac feel with the exception of "Sad Angel". The mixing isn't very good on some of these songs though. "Without You" is a mess in that regard, imo. Their voices are mixed to where they don't blend properly, each stands out individually. I think these songs would be great for a Lindsey solo album. Actually, I think my preference would be for them to continue doing new solo music as opposed to a Fleetwood Mac album. :nod: SO happy for any new music though!!! :cool:

SYW vs. EP seems like a great poll idea ;)

I much prefer SYW in. every. way., but EP is sweet.

ITT is such a wonderful surprise. I'm glad u recognized that it's the only properly mixed song on the EP. Srsly. Bring in Dave (or the guy who did This is 40). Maybe everyone would be happy and the music would benefit as well.

If the album would be as mixed as poorly as this, then I agree. And I'm sure Stevie does too. It's embarrassing after the lush, gorgeous (sometimes downright Mac-y) production on IYD for a FLEETWOOD MAC release to sound this bad.

I'm glad you said that. I hear Peace Train all over this one, which is weird because I never really heard it on the old demo version or the bass heavy version.

Sad Angel is the shinning star. It is a great Fleetwood Mac song...great energy. I like it a lot.

Without You is ok, but ya can't beat that damn demo. The guitar is distracting me from the vocals. The vocals...are too separated..

Miss Fantasy is ok, little squeeky..the backing vocal is too low.

It takes time is a solo piano piece that would be lovely for Lindsey's next solo tour.

But I will support the EP and the tour, I'm a sucker.
Imho ;)

So after a few hours and a few listens, I really like Miss Fantasy and It Takes Time. Regarding the piano on It Takes Time - it sounds ok but is nothing stellar. But, I like the song, a lot.

Sad Angel is *just ok* for me. Stevie's vocals are...weird and muted and sound like they're coming through a tube. The song as a whole, however, sounds *very* Fleetwood Mac, a feat which the whole EP managed to pull off very well. These do not sound like solo tracks mashed into one release!

Without You is the biggest disappointment for me. The vocals come off like they were phoned in. I'm assuming they were recorded separately, but I can't tell for sure. It does not sound like they sang into the same mic, which would have given the song some much-needed feeling to it. If they were singing into the same mic...well, then I don't know what to say. :shrug: Maybe when I play it on the stereo through the floor speakers it will sound better. Lindsey's guitar playing is great, as usual, and saves the song from it's lackluster vocals.

Overall, I find Stevie's lack of signifigant presence to be a disappointment. She doesn't sound invested in the songs she provided vocals on, and a song with her on lead vocals would have been a very welcome addition to this EP.

And that brings me to my last point - Extended Play is the best title they could come up with? Really? REALLY? And the artwork...gah. Yuck.

All criticisms aside, I am grateful for this release. I hope it sells well enough to please Stevie. I'm a Stevie fan first, but this EP has certainly whet my appetite for a full album release from Fleetwood Mac.

And just from a marketing standpoint, calling it that doesn't make the search in Itunes any easier. Very short-sighted. Even "Fleetwood Mac 2013" would have been better than Extended Play.

Michele

It Takes Time (to make a Fleetwood Mac album) would have worked. :laugh:

It's Tusk 2--for the viagra set.

Is the gel or condom or whatever really called "Extended Play?" If it is, then I think it's true that Mick and Lindsey did that on purpose.

Michele

"Extended Play" just inched up to #5 on the Itunes album chart! :)

oh you know they did! :laugh:

Problem with that is you can only download it on your mobile device, if that device is an iphone! I have a Samsung Galaxy Note II and get the songs on it without downloading them to my computer, downloading a converter and then putting them on the phone.

OMG. No way. Now the Tusk comment (for the viagra set) posted earlier makes sense!

here it the proof :)

I love "It Takes Time." Kind of makes me weepy. In a good way. I know it's recycled but I really like it. And the piano is...such an odd choice. But, really effective, I thought.

So is that the artwork they were waiting for.

It took a while for me to warm up to it, but I'm loving "Sad Angel". At first I think it was a bit too "straightforward" for Lindsey post-Tusk, but then I realized this is a great opening rocker, a la "Monday Morning" or "Second Hand News".

I also really dig "Without You". When I listened to the '70s Buckingham Nicks version I gotta admit I didn't really care for it. But this recording kicks ass. I love the sound of Lindsey on guitar and I still think Lindsey and Stevie sound great together, and I hope that if they do indeed do another album that they share more lead vocals like they do on this, because it definitely makes it feel more like Fleetwood Mac rather than a Lindsey solo project and a Stevie solo project mashed together. I'm still not totally sold on "It Takes Time", but it's growing on me. Obviously I feel that it could fit on a solo album of his, but I d feel that it is a strong song. Lastly, I really dig "Miss Fantasy", and have since I first heard it. It's the most Fleetwood Mac-y type song of the whole EP, although I definitely think it has the pure pop songwriting and sound Law And Order had on a lot of it's songs. I love the mellow sound and I think it might have been a better song to push than "Sad Angel", but whatever, I still got it now.

Overall, I definitely feel a Mirage vibe, in that it seems like the group (mostly Lindsey) is trying to get back to what a large section of the public perceive as their strengths. However I think this time it was Lindsey's decision to try this kinda thing, and that's why these songs are much stronger than his work on Mirage ("Oh Diane" and "Eyes of the World" excepted). It's also neat that since this material reminds of Mirage, they also use the same logo that they did for that album.

Also, I don't know if anybody has mentioned it yet, but this is my guess at the story of how Extended Play came about:

You had Lindsey, Mick, and John working on the eight songs Lindsay wrote. They got 'em recorded, minus Stevie's parts. Stevie comes in and chooses "Sad Angel" and "Miss Fantasy" to work on. She also figures since Buckingham Nicks is gonna be re-released (yeah right) that they do "Without You" to add to that album. I wouldn't doubt that they considered just putting out another greatest hits album with the two new songs, but then they probably realized that it's not quite time for another one of those yet. So they decide the three songs will be an EP. Maybe then Mick and John add bass and percussion to "Without You" to make it more "Fleetwood Mac". Then somebody (iTunes, management, one of the members?) and says, "hey guys don't you think three songs is pretty skimpy for an EP". So at the last second they ask Lindsey to see what he has on his hard drive, and he pulls out "It Takes Time" and even though the rest of the band isn't featured, it is "finished" and easily takes up the fourth spot. I have to assume this song was a major last minute addition because none of them did as much as mention it in passing. And I think that explains the lack of Stevie. I'm surprised that they didn't have any Say You Will outtakes penned by Stevie they could have used.

Free Listen
 

There is an interview with Mick Fleetwood on NPR.org and it includes a free listen to the 4 songs on the EP. The free listen is for a limited time. I was thrilled since I don't know what I'm doing with the itunes site. LOVE it especially Miss Fantasy.:]

i'm with you. something about Miss Fantasy strikes me.. i love it!

I love LB's solo work, but this EP reveals once again that there is a special magic to this group of people.

even seeing them perform Sad Angel Live to me has the say you will sound like it was an outtake from Say You Will type of a song.It's the strongest Song on the EP,I love the entire Say You Will Album love it.I am not overly thrilled with this EP it's just ok.
:shrug::distress::(

I'd be surprised if Without You has Mick and John on it. Sounds like Lindsey playing around with GarageBand. That the most notable irritation I have with this release. You don't put out a digital clicktrack in place of Mick and John under the Fleetwood Mac name. Shame.

Besides that, the acoustic guitar sounds positively horrid. I don't understand why Lindsey has to mess around with one of the most beautiful-sounding instruments in existence. Just sit down with the guitar, aim the condenser mic at it, and get a nice, clean, pure recording. It's kind of irritating.