no respect?
 

I've been thinking of a way to state this opinion over the years, and I think I have it. One of the observations I have having listened to Fletwood Mac for so long is that while I'm not saying that they dont get respect from the media, I think perhaps the overall view of them is of a "LIGHT POP" sound from the 70's I mean you have these bands like the Grateful Dead, Led Zepplin, Kiss from that era that have these cult followings. I wouldn't put Fleetwood Mac in the class of the Beatles in terms of overall impact on rock and roll, even though I much prefer the Mac, just a tip of the hat to the fab four. I guess what I'm trying to say is where do people think they fit in in the realm of true rock and roll greats, and why they sometimes get that"LIGHT POP" rap :distress:

It's hard to say really. Their commercial success is definetely something no-one can deny, but most of Fleetwood Mac's singles are in fact "light pop" or "light rock" and not suitable for some Rock stations. Most stations would never play say "Over My Head" or "Gypsy" after a Kiss tune. So, it's kinda weird.
I've found that in order to truly appreciate Fleetwood Mac's place in the rock world, you have to go past the radio singles and MTV videos, that were often oversaturated with sugar..lol... Also I think it's important to note that now since the Dance really they have established themselves as legends in rock, and no-one can deny Lindsey's genius rock star qualities after seeing the SAY YOU WILL TOUR.

Chris

Well, it is also about putting out SINGLES:

Little lies, Everywhere, Seven Wonders, Peacekeeper, Say you Will.... sorry, but their PR has not been the strongest "Rock and Roll-Campagne" ever...

They're capable of more than *light pop*, but when it comes to hungering for a hit single, they don't show it. It's always been this way (with this incarnation) and still is. Even after the WA and Rumours garnering only "pop" hits as successes and Lindsey complaining about it, they did the same thing with SYW. It really is a great cd, but Stevie herself said about the title song "I prayed to the commercial gods". So, I think that says it all. :shrug:

Alot of casual fans I know would say they are light pop, or easy listening...until I make them listen to live Fleetwood Mac. I play an old Rhiannon or I'm So Afraid to show them that light pop they are not!

Nobody in his right mind would put the Mac in the class of the Beatles in terms of impact. That's just nuts -- there's no comparison in those terms. The Beatles were & are monumental: their influence stretches light years beyond pop music into many other arts & even beyond the arts into other cultural realms.

However, many rock critics have -- with solid reason -- compared some of Fleetwood Mac's best pop music to that of the Beatles. Fleetwood Mac's achievements in production, instrumentation, vocal arrangement & engineering have been noticed in that sense -- by critics like Stephen Holden, Robert Hilburn & Ken Tucker.

I think all in all, though, that Fleetwood Mac's reputation among large numbers of people is that of a "light rock" or even insubstantial pop band, & that reputation keeps them from attaining the ranks of bands like the Doors & the Who.

I tend to agree with Hilburn, who once said that Mac's music wasn't consistently top-level enough for the band to be called great, but that they were nonetheless a "fascinating, vital attraction." He was specifically referring to the band in performance, but I would expand it to include both studio & stage activity. I would also call the band intermittently great, but a group that has been fouled up often by its own inherent flaws -- flaws in conception, direction & execution.

Me, too. For instance, my mom doesn't really like them because she mostly remembers Christine's hit singles. Of which there were many, and which were very light pop. You really have to dig a little deeper to get the full impact of their rock-ness. Chain and GYOW hint at it, Rhiannon vaguely waves over it, but still - Even those sound so great and nice and even that you may overlook the super rockingness of it all. :shrug: Sad.

I don't think the "Greatest Hits 88" helped much. No GDW, SOTM, World Turning, SHN, Think About Me....

Maybe if they would have released a song like Running Through The Garden from their latest album things would be different. I think that song is rocking but also has enough commercial appeal to be a hit.

Maybe if it was released in like, 1985. :) The sound is way to eighties to have been a hit in 2003.
I always thought a song like Miranda or EFO, remixed to be dancier, would have been a good choice. Alas, they went with the something else.

I think the 80's vibe is the appealing part of RTTG. A couple years ago when this album came out, the 80's were all the rage... Remember those I Love the 80's shows and Cabbage Patch dolls were back on the shelves and stuff. I think FM could have cashed in on the 80's madness!

I think we should bring back everything about the eighties, except the clothes or I'd have to become a nudist. :woohoo:

The eighties kicked ass.

There was alot of ****ty music, but the eighties has been my favorite decade yet.

Yeah, because not many had the audacity to wear pachouli, thankfully. :laugh: