This is really interesting. The Mac's a very tough band to get into at first -- but once you get just an inkling and then get hooked in, you're totally swept up. I got into FMac when i was a senior in high school when The Dance came out. I picked it up just to be cultural, haha, believe it or not. Then I realized I knew tons of these songs and they all grew on me - songs I never thought twice about had suddenly transformed to huge favorites. Then you realize how often you hear them on the radio and wonder how you ever passed them up. I think the main problem that younger folks have is that group is just too adult contemporary at first. And that's because we tend to hear "Little Lies" and "Gypsy" in the grocery store and dentist office more than we hear them at their best - pure, emotional rock. It's subconscious!
Point is, that when people first hear their songs, they respect them & realize that they're a good band, but won't go and buy a CD. But when they start really learning the history and seeing the variety of the songs (the first time I heard Lindsey's "I'm So Afraid" solo, Stevie/his staredown during Silver Springs after learning the meaning behind it all, Christine play "Songbird", etc.) it's an ocean of details that opens up! Lindsey's artistry, Stevie's lyrics, the band's soap opera - that's why they really are the best band to be a fan of, there's SO MUCH there!
But the thing is, you have to get over that first hurdle. SOMETHING in the band won't work for you. Either you get turned off by Lindsey's quirkiness, Christine's adult contemporary vibe or Stevie's... well, I think to younger people she's kind of a joke. SERIOUSLY I don't want to start any arguments here, but she has a reputation that's a little hard to get by. That's just the way I've seen it with people. If "Stand Back" or "Edge of 17" comes on the radio, most people I know would chuckle. I think you just need to find what part of the band DOES work for you. It's so odd how that worked for me - to find certain things you like, and then everything else you disliked/overlooked suddenly grows on you and solidifies you as even more of a fan. I know I hated Lindsey at the start, but now he's my alltime favorite artist hands down. Funny how that works.
That's just how I see it. Gotta let it grow on you at first and then find the aspect of the band you dig, then suddenly the parts you didn't enjoy totally change. After being a fan for years throughout high school and college, it's really opened up my eyes to music appreciation - and for other people too. Can't say I've gotten anyone to buy all their albums, but there's definitely a lot of people out there who now can happily sing along to "Tusk" or "The Chain" that couldn't before
