I just learned to drive when Tango was released. I'd been a die-hard Mac fan since I was twelve and was anxious for this long-awaited LP. I was, on first listen, disappointed. Lindsey and Christine's songs were strong--this I could easily see; but the production was too cold, too slick and, to my way of thinking, derivative of so much synth pop of the time. I remember being annoyed with the way Christine's excellent voice was manipulated a bit in the stuido to sound more sugary than seductive, more breathy than smooth.
Stevie's songs were an all-out disaster. Seven Wonders was good--as many have already noted, but it wasn't hers. The "additional lyrics" credit she gave herself was embarassing, as if she were trying to claim some right to her only solid contribution. As ChilD had noted, Rock a Little was quite a good record. At least half of the songs were hot. So why the sudden drop in writing and performance?
I eventually warmed up to the record. I realized some of my criticisms (where Chris and Lindsey were concerned) were the result of my holding them to a standard that,, by then, was a decade old. There was no GYOW on Tango, but all of Lindsey's songs were meaty contributions. And, as an immediate fan of "Litttle Lies," I soon realized Chris struck gold. Her live performance of "Isn't It Midnight" was even better than the studio one.
Poor Stevie. No amount of spin could save her two songs, which sound inserted, inorganic to the proceedings. I was pleasantly surprised to see she returned to top form on Behind the Mask.
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