Gift of Screws dusted off with new offerings
Posted By DAVID REED
Lindsey Buckingham -- Gift of Screws (Reprise Records, 2008)
As a creative and innovative musical force in Fleetwood Mac since 1975, Lindsey Buckingham has written and performed countless classic songs, including "Second Hand News," "Never Going Back Again" and "Go Your Own Way."
Gift of Screws is Buckingham's fifth solo release, but another solo album of the same title was set for release in 2001. Reprise Records convinced Buckingham to hold back that album and use some of the songs on forthcoming Fleetwood Mac recordings. "Bleed to Love Her" and a handful of other tracks appeared on The Dance and Say You Will. A number of bootlegs of the 2001 Gift of Screws are floating around on the Internet, having been leaked somehow.
The 2008 release titled Gift of Screws features a few of the original songs including the visceral title track (named after an Emily Dickinson poem). All of the material has been newly recorded. The title track and the swampy "Wait For You" both feature the unmistakable sound of Mick Fleetwood on drums and Fleetwood Mac bassist John McVie.
"Great Day" is the utterly compelling opening track, with clipped percussion and other bleeps and blips beneath rippling guitar lines.
"Time Precious Time" and "Bel Air Rain" have ghostly vocals floating amidst layers of shimmering guitars awash with delays and reverbs.
Other highlights include "Did You Miss Me," "The Right Place to Fade," "Treason" and "Love Runs Deeper."
Unlike many guitarists, Buckingham does not use a guitar pick but rather plays fingerstyle. The resulting waves and arpeggios seem to envelop some of the songs with an unfamiliar and truly unique sound.
Gift of Screws is a thought-provoking and sonically-unique album that deserves serious attention.
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