another Rumours review

[ThePenguin]

“Rumours” by Fleetwood Mac (1977)
Rating:8
Best Song: The Chain
Fleetwood Mac might best be described as the Mammas & the Pappas of the 1970’s because like the Mammas & the Pappas, the soap opera-style love affairs between group members were often just as interesting as the musical product coming out.
At the time Rumours was being made, bassist John McVie and keyboardist Christine McVie were in the middle of a separation. Not only that, but guitarist/vocalist Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks (oddly enough, Lindsey is the guy and Stevie is the girl) were breaking up at the same time. Add to that monkey-faced 6’7 drummer Mick Fleetwood standing by and snorting as much cocaine as his large nose could handle and you’ve got quite the soap opera.

And it’s this soap-opera flavour that dominates this record. Right off the bat we have Lindsey singing “I know there’s nothing to say/someone has taken my place/when times go bad/when times go rough/won’t you lay me down in the tall grass/and let me do my stuff” in “Second Hand News” with Stevie responding “now here you go again/you say you want your freedom/well who am I to heep you down/it’s only right that you should/play the way you feel it” in “Dreams.” And so on and so on. The lyrical content is all very much in the broken relationship vein, with Stevie, Lindsey as well as Christine dominating the songwriting.

Aside from the lyrical battles going on, musically the album is a pop masterpiece. Almost. Occasionally, the album gets a little too commercial, particularly on Christine’s sappy “Songbird” Otherwise, though, the combination of catchy as Bob pop melodies and smart and snazzy arrangements make for a great listening experience. Highlights include the dark closer, Nicks’ “Goldust Woman”, the former Mrs. McVie’s bouncy “Don’t Stop”, the mega-hit “Go Your Own Way” (with great against the beat drumming from the Giant on the drums) and the full-band collaboration “The Chain”, which has not one, not two, not three but four hooks (the verses, the chorus, the bass interlude and the coda). Lindsey sings with a great deal of passion while Stevie’s delicate leads contrasts Christine’s powerful vocal attempts. Mick’s simple but unpredictable percussion work (often, he’ll let a big fill pass by and instead, just hit a conga drum or something) keeps things interesting in the rhythm section and Lindsey’s guitar solos are economic and satisfying.

You’ll often see Rumours trashed as the commercial crap for the masses when big-shot music critics are claiming the punk invasion as the saviour of rock and roll but you’d be hard pressed to find a punk record packed with this much tension and emotion. Days of Our Lives: The Musical; can you ask for anything more?

found at http://www.angelfire.com/ab/reviews/single1.html


--Lis