Which Album Should I Buy / SYW and DVD Questions

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by iamnotafraid

Do yourself a favor, unless you're a completest, stay far, far away from Street Angel.

I have to disagree on all the Street Angel bashing. Agreed, there are some real stinkers on it, but what Stevie album DOESN'T have it's share? To me, Street Angel is the album where Stevie put aside her shawls and airy fairieness and made a simple, straightforward, rock based album that she had always needed to make. Blue Denim sounds as good to me today as any of Stevie's songs, past or present. Greta is a fun little song; the title track is heartbreaking; Listen to the Rain, Love is Like a River, and Kick It are great little rockers. Destiny and Unconditional Love are real soft rock stinkers, and Jane is just plain embarassing to listen to ("the children of the world, the forgotten chimpanzee..." UGH!). But overall, Street Angel is a solid, undervalued part of Stevie history. I wish people would give it more of a chance, including Stevie herself. I hate the fact even she writes off this album, because there really is some good stuff on there.

[David]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I have to disagree on all the Street Angel bashing.

Street Angel is pretty cool. My favorites are DESTINY & LISTEN TO THE RAIN.

As for the original question: Just buy RUMOURS. That's all you need. That's the classic late '70s Mac album right there.

[aleuzzi]

Originally Posted by David

As for the original question: Just buy RUMOURS. That's all you need. That's the classic late '70s Mac album right there.

Buy Rumours first. But then buy Tusk! You need both of those albums to get a clearer picture of the capabilities of THAT lineup. (We need not mention the five or six other necessary FM records from previous lineups.)

Similarly, one couldn't figure out the Beatles with Sgt. Pepper alone, the White album shows the more experimental side of that group.

[iamnotafraid]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

I have to disagree on all the Street Angel bashing. I wish people would give it more of a chance, including Stevie herself. I hate the fact even she writes off this album, because there really is some good stuff on there.

I respect your opinion about Street Angel, but for me the album just makes me sad. After I heard the album and saw her on TV during this time I really thought it was over for her.

[nicepace]

I recommend you buy 'Mystery to Me' and 'In the Meantime' by Christine McVie.

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by nicepace

I recommend you buy 'Mystery to Me' and 'In the Meantime' by Christine McVie.

I agree with that fully! Mystery To Me is absolutely the best quality Mac record. Each song is worth it's weight in gold, and can hold water on it's own. The album itself has more continuity and better flow than even Rumours Era Mac to me.

In The Meantime is much the same way... very high quality songs, one of the best Mac member's solo albums. The only Mac member's solo album that's in the same league quality wise is Lindsey's Gift Of Screws. For Christine anyway, there is some real envelope pushing material.

And Matt, I didn't discourage anyone from buying Behind The Mask . Much like Street Angel, it's kind of a mixed bag for me though. However, there are some truly great songs... Freedom and Save Me are amongst Stevie and Christine's strongest Mac career offerings in my opinion. I do like Billy and Rick's harmonies on songs like Hard Feelings and Do You Know. But overall they just never seemed to really assimilate into the band... on this album they simply feel spliced in. Their own material seems totally unrelated to the rest of the album, much like I'm a Roadrunner and The Derelict were out of place on Penguin. Stevie's offerings here are almost sad too... but how terrible they are kinda shows just how low she was when this album came out, and makes them great artistic expression to me. But truly, I wouldn't discourage anyone from buying this (or any other) album. I wouldn't necessarily recommend anyone buy it first... but it's definitely a chapter of Mac history that is very interesting, and must not be looked over.

In the end I can't say I DON'T recommend ANY Mac offering, from any Mac era, or from any of their solo members. I can't say I've ever really warmed up to Bare Trees, but still it's a link in the chain that every hardcore Mac fan should have, simply because it's another piece of the puzzle. And these are my rambling, unabridged thoughts lol.

[Street_Dreamer]

Originally Posted by louielouie2000

And Matt, I didn't discourage anyone from buying Behind The Mask . Much like Street Angel, it's kind of a mixed bag for me though. However, there are some truly great songs... Freedom and Save Me are amongst Stevie and Christine's strongest Mac career offerings in my opinion. I do like Billy and Rick's harmonies on songs like Hard Feelings and Do You Know. But overall they just never seemed to really assimilate into the band... on this album they simply feel spliced in. Their own material seems totally unrelated to the rest of the album, much like I'm a Roadrunner and The Derelict were out of place on Penguin. Stevie's offerings here are almost sad too... but how terrible they are kinda shows just how low she was when this album came out, and makes them great artistic expression to me. But truly, I wouldn't discourage anyone from buying this (or any other) album. I wouldn't necessarily recommend anyone buy it first... but it's definitely a chapter of Mac history that is very interesting, and must not be looked over.

My comment wasn't directed toward you, but to another person who said to not even bother purchasing BTM. But I definitely agree with you about Billy and Rick being "spliced in" on the album. It's sad because both guys are so talented and could have really done some great things in the band had they been allowed more freedom within the band. Oh well...

Matt

[louielouie2000]

Originally Posted by Street_Dreamer

My comment wasn't directed toward you, but to another person who said to not even bother purchasing BTM. But I definitely agree with you about Billy and Rick being "spliced in" on the album. It's sad because both guys are so talented and could have really done some great things in the band had they been allowed more freedom within the band. Oh well...

Matt

My bad! I must have missed that post. I just know we've 'butted heads' over the years regarding the 1990-1994 years, so I assumed that was aimed at me lol. I agree with you that Rick and Billy were absolutely talents which probably weren't given the fresh page they deserved. Rick's solo song "Intuition" is proof alone for me, and shows where the band really could have gone with him as a member. Billy, to me, however is always going to be a bit of an odd fit in my eyes. That's not to denigrate him at all... it's just how he fits in the context of the band, past and present members and their combined music included. But again, he and the 16 other members of the band past and present, are what keeps the Mac marching on (well, hobbling these days... I'm just waiting for them to Hoveround on LOL).

[Madelow]

Hello All-- I firmly believe that BTM is the most under-rated CD in the FM legacy. "When the Sun Goes Down", "Do You Know", "Behind the Mask", "Save Me", and "Hard Feelings" are all good. I also think Christine's songs from the "Time" CD are teriffic. Just my humble opinion, of course. Best wishes, Madelow.