Behind The Mask: Longplay Review

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by michelej1

Globe and Mail (Canada) April 30, 1990

BYLINE: ALAN NIESTER; GAM

BODY:


Warner Brothers 92 61114 ALAN NIESTER
Behind The Mask is Fleetwood Mac's first studio album in three years, and
the first work to feature new guitarists Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, the
pair who replaced Lindsey Buckingham.

It's easy to criticize the album by saying that it is simply a package
of solo works strung together with little regard for an over all
consistent sound. But that has been the case for the entire 23-year
Fleetwood Mac history. It used to be drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist
John McVie backing up the likes of Peter Green and Bob Welch. Now, the duo
backs up Stevie Nicks, Christine McVie and Rick Vito. The top changes, but
the bottom stays the same, so there is a sense of consistency.

That being said, it's unfortunate to note that Vito and Burnette are
probably the least interesting additions since Danny Kirwan. Their
contributions here are uniformly mediocre, the best of the lot being
Burnette's oddly pyschedelic In The Back Of My Mind.

But there are also a few highlights. Christine McVie's Save Me is a
sophisticated rocker, featuring a double-tracked vocal chorus and million
dollar hook. And Stevie Nicks turns in some of her nicest work in years on
Affairs of the Heart, which highlights her sexy drawl to good advantage.

Otherwise, there's not much going on here. Nicks contributes only two
more songs, and it certainly sounds like she's saving her best stuff for
her solo efforts. McVie's collaborations with both other band members and
outsiders are uniformly mediocre.

I agree with this review, except for the Danny Kirwan comment.