All Music Guide Review of Say You Will

[jeffles]

Just thought I'd post the review of Say You Will from All Music.
They gave it a 3 (out of 5) star review. Not bad, but not glowing either.
You can access that website at www.allmusic.com

Lindsey Buckingham hadn't recorded a studio album with Fleetwood Mac in 16 years when Say You Will was released in April 2003. His partner, Stevie Nicks, had been missing in action from the group since 1990, and while both joined the reunited group in 1997 for a tour and live album (The Dance), not to mention Bill Clinton's 1993 inauguration, it had been a long, long time since the two made new music for the Mac. They were lured back into the fold for...well, the specifics — whether money, prestige, status, publicity, or creativity — don't really matter, since the end result is the same, it's that Buckingham and Nicks have come home. This doesn't qualify as a full-fledged Fleetwood reunion, since Christine McVie isn't here, choosing to opt out of this high-profile return to the breach (although her playing is occasionally heard on the album). This results in a record that never quite sounds like Fleetwood Mac. Mick Fleetwood and John McVie are so grateful to have the two superstars back in the group that they cede ground to Buckingham and Nicks, who never collaborate as much as share space. Each singer/songwriter is given nine songs apiece, a move which, in itself, would not necessarily be a problem, but over the course of this lengthy, lengthy album, the evenhandedness starts to give the impression that this is two solo albums presented as a group effort. An assessment that's a little harsh, since the group can still conjure echoes of their classic sound, but the division of work is so deliberate and their work so dissimilar, it can't help but feel like two separate pieces pushed together to make the whole. Which is where Christine McVie becomes a critical factor. While never a star like Nicks, nor possessing the mad genius of Buckingham, McVie was a strong, likeable songwriter whose gently melodic works balanced the extremities of her bandmates while also forcing them to choose the best material to fit the record. Add to this that Fleetwood Mac have decided to run wild with the length of a CD, producing a record that is significantly longer than the messy, chaotic Tusk, but without its inspired insanity or depth of sound and character. Here, even if most songs are in the four-minute ballpark, they all feel longer, partially because the album clocks in at nearly 80 minutes and the sequencing flows as it was designed by committee. So, Say You Will winds up occupying a strange middle ground, often feeling as if it was Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks' albums bouncing around on shuffle play, but also occasionally flashing moments that are purely, satisfyingly Fleetwood Mac. Although there are occasional misguided attempts to modernize the songs — most notably drum loops on some of Nicks' songs — none of the songs sound as if the band were forcing themselves to sound contemporary. Sure, it sounds commercial, but that's the band's idiom — what's important is that it never sounds compromised, it sounds as if the band is at once trying too hard while being unwilling to sacrifice individual moments for the greater good. So, Say You Will straddles many lines at once. Nicks' material is better-realized than many of her recent albums, but Buckingham's always sounds as if it should be wilder than it is (it should all sound as unrestrained as his guitar, which is continually surprising throughout the record). It never sounds like classic Fleetwood Mac, nor does it sound modern. It often sounds like solo albums, but without the freedom that allows. Most of these problems derive merely from the length. Cut out half of the record — have it weigh in at nine or ten songs and run no longer than 45 minutes — and it would have been a good, solid comeback, perhaps even eclipsing the uneven Tango in the Night. But there are too many songs, simply too much to make Say You Will work, even if there is enough to admire to make you wish it did. — Stephen Thomas Erlewine

[CarneVaca]

How silly that the critics keep harping on the length of the CD. Do they really think people buying this thing would have wanted less music? I suspect folks just skip through the songs they don't like, but are happy to have all the music. Sure, I would have cut three songs, but then again, a lot of people like them.

Other than that, this is a pretty sober review. The dude makes some excellent points, namely about the differences between Lindsey's and Stevie's songs and the restraint shown by John and Mick. Mick's drumming is so restrained to the point of being boring. Where's the fun, off-beat drumming of Go Your Own Way, Tusk and World Turning? John shines a little more, as he lays down some interesting bass lines on Stevie's songs.

[Janet]

The length is fine! I mean more music!!!

But I guess it's just hard to have it as one of your regular cd's. I think most people have the Dance and Rumours in their car to put on while driving or whatever...but SYW is too long for that, too long to ever be a classic album.

And the songs do NOT go together. It's not an album to me. As a fan, I appreciate all the differences. But I jump around so much that I don't even think of it as an album, but as two solo efforts.

Its a good "album", but not great...and that's why NO ONE is giving is more than three stars.

[rianbay1]

I jump around a lot on this CD too, as much as I do LOVE it. Thanks, ________ for the s@!#ty running order. That's the only beef i have with this album.


BRIAN

[squealy]

You know, even though this album started out as Lindsey's solo project, I think it actually sounds more integrated than any FM album since Rumours. I can't understand why so many reviews say it sounds like two solo albums mixed together. To me the main factor is that Lindsey actually lets Stevie sing on his songs. For years all of his FM tracks have sounded like solo recordings, but on this record they have prominent harmonies from Stevie, and strong playing from John and Mick. And Stevie's tracks have the same instrumental flavour as Lindsey's. So I don't understand reviews like this.

[wondergirl9847]

Welcome to the Ledge, squealy!

I agree with you, it sound perfectly fine to me in terms of Stevie being on Lindsey's songs and vice versa. Okay, I'll give ya that on songs like Murrow, Come (hey, he ASKED her to sing on it. hehe) and Red Rover, she's nowhere to be found, but it would've thrown those songs for a loop and I don't think it would've worked. That said, Lindsey would have been SOOOO outta place on Goodbye Baby.

Folks, this is Buckingham Nicks + Mick and John. It's like on Lola (My Love), Stevie doesn't sing on that one. They BOTH don't HAVE to sing on EVERY SINGLE song. This is a TOTALLY different dynamic to FM and people STILL just aren't used to Chris being gone, I think. JMO.

[tamaraluvsFM]

I will agree with the reviewer on one point. Yes it does sound like at times two solo albums pushed together. The funny thing is that I play the album and NO ONE ever guesses that its Fleetwood Mac....cause the sound is so different then what they put out before. But I like it. I like the new sound. I do have my couple of songs that I still can't bear to listen to, but all in all I think its a great album.
Oh and this length thing is annoying. I mean there was one album out a few years ago that everyone complained it was too short...and now this one packed with tons of music..gets complaints. Reviewers just need to shut up sometimes and listen with an open mind.
Oh well..babbling is over...lol

Tamara

[BombaySapphire3]

I think there are more great songs on this one than any FM lp since Tusk .Stevie was quoted in a recent interveiw that she thought it was still too long,and remember she was vehemently opposed to Tusk being a double back in 79, and at times it does have the feel of both writer's solo projects which is really what it is in part.Still I am happy to have it.To me the most cohesive and probably best CD i have gotten this year is Rosanne Cash's "Rules of Travel' which clocks in at less than half the length of SYW.

[squealy]

And why does the writer criticize the album for having an equal number of Lindsey and Stevie songs? Isn't that fair? Doesn't it make up for 5 other Fleetwood Mac albums in which Stevie always had the fewest tracks?

If Lindsey had more songs Erlewine would probably write "Buckingham tries to dominate the band as usual" and if Stevie had more he'd probably say "Buckingham falls over backward making concessions to Nicks."