Rate 'Time'

[d2brian]

I haven't posted in any Fleetwood Mac-related boards or been to any sites in quite a while - I've been too burnt out on their music after Stevie live twice and Lindsey's BTM and everything...but I had to step out of the shadows to say Time is a ****ing beautiful album. For some reason, it's always elicited feelings of peace and happiness in me - it's seriously my second favorite album behind Tusk.

For whatever reason, something clicked when I first opened the album itself. The photos, the layout - everything seemed to have a sort of genuine happy feel to it - in every photo, someone's laughing or smiling (well, except John - but I guess that's to be expected). The album also sort of gave me a taste of something I once detested - countrier, rootsier music. 'Talkin' To My Heart' is a great opener. I was closed minded in my music listening when I first started listening to the band in my mid teens in 1997. 'Tusk' sort of opened my eyes to the rawer, punkier side of music, and 'Time', and songs like TTMH and Winds of Change (regardless of whether no one in the band wrote it) sort of did the same for countrier arrangements in my mind - I admit I still can't stand full-on country like what's on the radio, but I love bands like 'Lullaby For The Working Class' and such.

Also, Christine's songs are absolutely impeccable. I think 'Sooner or Later' is hands down the best song Fleetwood Mac has ever done - just above the title track from 'Behind the Mask'. Another obvious one people love is 'All Over Again', and I also love 'Hollywood' because it just sort of drifts and rambles - something the songs on The Chain box set did in a boring way. It seems the new iteration of the band allowed her things to stretch more here without seeming pointless.

I feel like I've been rambling and I don't quite know how to end this - but... yeah. Time rocks.

~Brian

PS - Marty, you're welcome to use this as a review on the Time album page if you want to. I personally feel this ended up more of a ramble than a review, but uhh.... yeah.