My nit picks for Tusk.

[Macfan4life]

Originally Posted by FuzzyPlum

Each to their own. For me the Tusk artwork was brilliant- epic, even (the ambition of the packaging matching the ambition of a double album).
The ceiling shots in particular were fantastic. The hours I spent pouring over that album cover and all the inner sleeves.

I should not say I dislike all of the Tusk photo shoots. Get this for irony....my current wallpaper on my computer is the photo where Chris is getting choked and Stevie is off to the side singing. Its just funny to me and I appreciate the photo. Although even from the side you can tell Mick is wasted

[ryan4136]

This is sacreligious!!! This is Tusk

[ryan4136]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I love Tusk and see it as a truly remarkable record. However, my concerns with it are more than mere nitpicks (unlike whatever unreasonable complaint I might have about some aspect of either of the the previous two).

1. The track sequencing is bizarre. That might be part of the point. But it does get in the way of the flow. .

This is largely because this wasnt intended to be a double album, but actually 2 companion albums released virtually at the same time. There was suppose to be a story between the two. When the record company shot it down they approved a single "double album" release. Which explains partly the sequencing.

[olive]

All this time i thought Stevie did it when really , really ,really, really high

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by Macfan4life

Unfortunately no.
I was referring to the album cover, back and album insert cover.
No album packing but there was a cool photo on the album sleeve of all 5 members almost painted.

Lindsey painted that.

Michele

[WatchChain]

Congratulations! We've just "nitpicked" to death the 2nd best Fleetwood Mac album ever recorded. Moreover, "Tusk" should have a place on The 100 Greatest Albums ever recorded. Many modern day musicians list "Tusk" as an overlooked masterpiece, thus given the record a new place in music history.

"Tusk" was Lindsey flipping the middle finger at the record industry....True renegade rock-n-roll.

[Wdm6789]

http://youtu.be/M_pRYcP7OyY

^ I really like the instrumental arrangement in this outtake of Sara. The piano is the most prominent sound, it doesn't get drowned out by the guitar at some parts like in the final version. My favorite part is the piano when Stevie starts singing "I think I had met my match, he was singing and undoing.... And undoing..." I wish we could hear the piano that much in the final version of Sara. I would also like to point out that the bass is not lost either in this outtake. The bass on Sara is so awesome. It's just the guitar that needs to be more subtle on the final version.

[olive]

Originally Posted by Wdm6789

http://youtu.be/M_pRYcP7OyY

^ I really like the instrumental arrangement in this outtake of Sara. The piano is the most prominent sound, it doesn't get drowned out by the guitar at some parts like in the final version. My favorite part is the piano when Stevie starts singing "I think I had met my match, he was singing and undoing.... And undoing..." I wish we could hear the piano that much in the final version of Sara. I would also like to point out that the bass is not lost either in this outtake. The bass on Sara is so awesome. It's just the guitar that needs to be more subtle on the final version.

since we're nit picking .... isn't it a Harpsichord not a piano ?

[Wdm6789]

Originally Posted by olive

since we're nit picking .... isn't it a Harpsichord not a piano ?

I could be. I always thought she was playing an upright piano when they played it live, so I thought they used a piano to record the song as well.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by ryan4136

This is largely because this wasnt intended to be a double album, but actually 2 companion albums released virtually at the same time. There was suppose to be a story between the two. When the record company shot it down they approved a single "double album" release. Which explains partly the sequencing.

I had never heard this before.

Are you saying each "single" album was originally differently sequenced? And then, when the label said no to releasing two companion albums they went in an resequenced? I'm confused.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by aleuzzi

I had never heard this before.

Are you saying each "single" album was originally differently sequenced? And then, when the label said no to releasing two companion albums they went in an resequenced? I'm confused.

There was a thread discussing Tusk as two albums a few years ago.

http://ledge.fleetwoodmac.net/showthread.php?p=1040674

[bombaysaffires]

Originally Posted by Wdm6789

I could be. I always thought she was playing an upright piano when they played it live, so I thought they used a piano to record the song as well.

it's a piano.

Chris talked about them using a grand piano of a particular brand (can't recall now if it was Steinway... not Bosendorfer.....it escapes me now). Onstage she said they placed a metal rod against the strings to give it that unique, almost metallic, sound. You're right, onstage she played an upright, which she also played on Not That Funny.

It bugged me so I found the article where she talks about her set up playing it live with the metal bar: http://bla.fleetwoodmac.net/index.ph...x_v2&id=11&c=2

I haven't been able to find the article where she talks about recording it, but will keep looking.

[secondhandchain]

Originally Posted by Wdm6789

Tusk:

I think the Tusk album could have been cut to 11 or 12 songs.

1. I like the live album version of Over & Over better. The Tusk Over & Over should be more like the live album version.

2. The Ledge is okay, sounds like filler to me, could have been cut.

3. Think About Me is good, but Lindsey like hogs all the vocals away from Christine in the second half of the song. It's also too short. It should be at least three minutes.

4. I like Save Me a Place, but I don't like the other low male voice doing backup vocals. The backup vocals should have been Stevie and Christine. Save Me a Place is also too short of a song.

5. The piano on Sara is my favorite thing about the song, but it sounds like it needed tuned or something. The piano track should be tighter and sharper and just slightly more prominent than it already is.

6. I don't really like What Makes You Think You're the One. I know everyone else loves it. I could do without it.

7. I like the live version of Not That Funny better. It doesn't need to be 10 minutes on the album though. I like it when it's more piano prominent like this video on YouTube

http://youtu.be/1Fi3NGwnE3c

I think this video cut out too much guitar though. I like the guitar on Not That Funny, but it seems to overpower the piano when you listen to other live versions. The piano should be less subtle.

8. I guess I just like their 1979-1980 live arrangements better. Same for Sisters of the Moon.

9. I could do without That's Enough for Me

10. Brown Eyes is good but I don't really like the clicking. I would rather have a subtle drum beat. Maybe Mick could have used brushes like he did on Sara.

11. Never Make Me Cry is also too short. It's a great Christine song, but if I had to cut one of hers, it would be this one.

12. I also don't care for I Know I'm Not Wrong.

13. Honey Hi is okay, I love the ending, but the rest of the song is just okay. It needs more to it.

14. Beautiful Child is a beautiful song, but if I had to cut one of Stevie's songs, it would be this one. There is already Sara and Storms.

15. Walk a Thin Line is really good, but it needs Stevie and Christine on it. Like the rest of Lindsey's songs on Tusk.

16. Tusk is okay. I could do without all the extra sound effects and the USC band and have it be more Fleerwood Mac-y.

17. Never forget is also just okay. It needs some more energy. It needs more bass and drums and get rid of the Brown Eyes clicking. The guitar and keyboard need to be more rocky and poppy

To summarize: Stevie's songs were good, but too many slow teary songs. Lindsey needed Christine and Stevie on his songs. Christine's songs were too laid back, they need to be poppier and rockier.

My Tusk track list would be:
(I used the same order and just cut out songs. This is not the order I would have put the songs in. I didn't feel like going through them again.)

1. Over & Over
2. Think About Me
3. Save Me a Place
4. Sara
5. Storms
6. That's All For Everyone
7. Not That Funny
8. Sisters of The Moon
9. Angel
10. Brown eyes
11. Walk a Thin Line
12. Never Forget

(But with all the changes I suggested.)

That's way more then nit picking. Hardly agree with anything you've said except I don't care for That's enough for me.

[PenguinHead]

Originally Posted by ryan4136

This is sacreligious!!! This is Tusk

Yes! I see no reason to de-tusk it. It is what it is. THIS IS TUSK.
Wishing that it was more palatable to one's personal taste or expectations just supports all the confining artistic principles Lindsey was aiming to defy.

It took several decades for the album to achieve its status of lauded distinction and appreciation. Lindsey made the bold move to push the envelope, and it eventually paid off. The album's context has benefited from space of time, and now stands out from the pack for all the right reasons. It's odd, unexpected, indulgent, challenging, unconventional...everything art is meant to be.

But go and think what you want, I know that you have the need.

[FuzzyPlum]

Originally Posted by PenguinHead

It took several decades for the album to achieve its status of lauded distinction and appreciation.

But go and think what you want, I know that you have the need.

Lets put things into a little context. The albums appreciation has grown- there's no denying that. I'd still say its far from universally lauded though. There are plenty of people out there that still find a lot to be desired- a spectrum that stems from full 'de-Tusking' as you put it, to little gripes here and there.