Washington Post Review of Rumours: Safe

[michelej1]

Newsweek, February 14, 1977

BYLINE: J. M. (JANET MASLIN)

BODY:

Fleetwood Mac's previous effort hit the charts 81 weeks ago, and it's still there. With a runaway hit at hand, it's no wonder that the group is playing it safe: this new release is perhaps catchier than its predecessor but still very much in the same vein. The group continues to combine English folk harmonies with rock instrumentation and to thrive on vocal contrast, especially between the female leads, Christine McVie and Stevie Nicks. This time, though, McVie's doleful protestations of love are less a match than ever for Nicks's playful sensuality. The group's reluctance or inability to settle on a composite style gives the album the fragmented feeling of a greatest-hits collection, and the consolidated energy, too.