If you had to choose: MIRAGE vs. TANGO IN THE NIGHT

[redbird]

Originally Posted by Ulpian

I'm interested to hear the term "80s" used in derogatory fashion here by some in respect of TITN's vibe. I love it. For some of us, the sound produced at that time is second to none.

I also never get the vitriol directed at Little Lies and Everywhere. There are crimes far greater than writing a song with a killer hook, 'bland' as you might think the lyrics to be. If you're gunning for Christine, go for some of her Tusk songs - TITN was her moment to stand out. Lindsey, too; the darkness he conveys is marvellous.

I don't think it's an objectively wrong sound, it's just something that I don't love as consistently. That's personal taste, I don't think it's anything but subjective.

FWIW I'm a 90's kid, and the 60's and 70's came back in style before the 80's really did -- actually I think 80's retro is happening right now (maybe more in the fashion world than in the music world, I don't know really). But perhaps since the 90's followed the 80's, it was probably in reaction to it and when you define yourself against something else you push that something else away. I don't consciously reject anything just because of association, but still, at this point in my mental development certain things just appeal to me more. I tend to like earthier sounds than what I think a lot of 80's pop music explored, since a lot of technological innovations were happening then, and even in today's music scene I don't listen to that much electronica or techno etc while I often like lo-fi stuff. (Incidentally, HD TV sometimes freaks me out.)

I do like some songs with synthesizers and whatnot, don't get me wrong, and I like to keep my mind open. I think several of the Tango songs have a lot of things going for them, but somewhere inside I long to hear them with different instrumentation. "Everywhere" is a great example, I looooove to sing that song by myself but I hate the windchime effect and the super layering of the vocals in the chorus on the track. It pushes it from joyfully sweet to overly saccharine for me. I ache to hear that song with just the basic instruments and the three-part harmonies.

"Little Lies" OTOH I love just as it is. It's a case of an "80's" sounding song that I happen to appreciate.

[I'msoAfraid95]

Boy, the poll is almost dead even. I prefer Tango its more of my style of music.

[KenB]

Originally Posted by TrueFaith77

which is the better album!?

When Tango came out, I absolutely LOVED it. Today, it feels stuck in its time. "Isn't It Midnight" and "Family Man" are just dreadful, as are Stevie's songs, and "Big Love" is ridiculously overproduced compared to the version Lindsey does live. Why have drum machines when you have Mick? Granted, I do love "Little Lies."

Mirage, on the other hand, has only grown stronger for me over the years. It's always remained in my top 3 Mac albums. "Hold Me" and "Love in Store" are just perfect pop songs with the band dynamics at their best, and "Gypsy" is Stevie's best song with the band. I even love the songs many people see as throwaways, especially "Can't Go Back," "That's Alright" and even the much-hated "Empire State."

[starshine]

I missed this poll but I would've picked Mirage for sure cause I so hate Tango just not the 'best ' LP of there's period...for so many reasons.

[Jondalar]

I don't understand all the disdain for Tango in The Night. It was their big contrabution to the 80s and was a huge success around the world. Made way more of mark then Mirage.

[cantgoback]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

I don't understand all the disdain for Tango in The Night. It was their big contrabution to the 80s and was a huge success around the world. Made way more of mark then Mirage.

Yes, but the music on Mirage is a lot better than tango in terms of lyrics and in some cases composition.

[gypsy-sara]

I have always loved "Tango In The Night", I think that it's just perfect.
I don't understand the bashing of Stevie's Songs and her voice. "When I See You Again" is so pure, it is absolutely heartbreaking. And her other efforts on this album are just as great. I am absolutely melting away when she's singing: "The first cut is the deepest one of all" (Welcome To The Room... Sara).

On the other hand, I've never really gotten warm and comfortable with "Mirage". "Gypsy" is a timeless classic and my favourite FM-Song together with "Sara", but the rest only qualifies as "good" or "ok". Some songs are even really annoying, I have never liked "Oh Diane" and "That's alright".
In my opinion, "Mirage" is the weakest Fleetwood Mac-Album since 1970's "Kiln House". But even a bad Fleetwood Mac-Album is still better than most of the other music around... And the Artwork is really beautiful.

[redbird]

Judging by the poll it doesn't seem to me that either album is much more hated or loved than the other.

[MacShadowsBall]

I'm kinda surprised that Mirage is getting so many votes and winning. With that said, I think Gypsy is swaying Ledgies to vote for Mirage. Stevie's material on Tango just isn't strong/good enough, and let's face it Stevie's songs are most of the time the ones that are judged as it relates to an album.

[Jondalar]

Originally Posted by MacShadowsBall

I'm kinda surprised that Mirage is getting so many votes and winning. With that said, I think Gypsy is swaying Ledgies to vote for Mirage. Stevie's material on Tango just isn't strong/good enough, and let's face it Stevie's songs are most of the time the ones that are judged as it relates to an album.

That is what I think.

[elle]

Originally Posted by redbird

Judging by the poll it doesn't seem to me that either album is much more hated or loved than the other.

ah - you just had to be the voice of reason?!

Originally Posted by MacShadowsBall

I'm kinda surprised that Mirage is getting so many votes and winning. With that said, I think Gypsy is swaying Ledgies to vote for Mirage. Stevie's material on Tango just isn't strong/good enough, and let's face it Stevie's songs are most of the time the ones that are judged as it relates to an album.

another voice of reason lol - agree, especially looking at any poll and how much SN fans outnumber the fans of CM or LB on these boards. just look at all the hate for Christine's songs in that best and worst hit thread! it's almost all Christine's songs that are named the worst by various people - i was completely shocked when first reading that tbh. guess all those Christine-penned hits dispel the notion SN was always the main linchpin for FM success.

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by MacShadowsBall

I'm kinda surprised that Mirage is getting so many votes and winning. With that said, I think Gypsy is swaying Ledgies to vote for Mirage. Stevie's material on Tango just isn't strong/good enough, and let's face it Stevie's songs are most of the time the ones that are judged as it relates to an album.

I think Mirage is a spectacular album, for reasons having nothing to do with Gypsy. I simply think it's more consistent than Tango, though I love Tango as much, for different reasons. I love Gypsy, but while it wouldn't even make my top 10 Stevie songs, Hold Me is one of my top 5 Fleetwood Mac songs.


Michele

[MacShadowsBall]

Originally Posted by Jondalar

That is what I think.

Originally Posted by elle

ah - you just had to be the voice of reason?!


another voice of reason lol - agree, especially looking at any poll and how much SN fans outnumber the fans of CM or LB on these boards. just look at all the hate for Christine's songs in that best and worst hit thread! it's almost all Christine's songs that are named the worst by various people - i was completely shocked when first reading that tbh. guess all those Christine-penned hits dispel the notion SN was always the main linchpin for FM success.

I'm fairly certain that you can put any good Christine hit against Stevie's worst songs, and Stevie will win or at least not loose by a landslide!

Examples...

You Make Loving Fun vs That's Alright
Say You Love Me vs Angel
Hold Me vs When I See You Again

Obviously Ledgies are intitled to their opinions and I think most Ledgies "like" all FM songs regardless of the singer/writer. Even me, Lindsey's songs are always my least favorite, and yet I have several Lindsey favorites - including all of his songs from the white album and Rumours.

Getting back to Mirage vs Tango in the Night. If you don't like songs from the '80s that sound too much like songs from the 80s, then yeah you're not gonna like Tango, even if you did like it back in the day when the album came out!

[michelej1]

Originally Posted by MacShadowsBall

You Make Loving Fun vs That's Alright
Say You Love Me vs Angel
Hold Me vs When I See You Again

Neither Angel nor That's Alright are among Stevie's worst songs.

As for Hold Me vs. When I See You Again

I doubt things are that unbalanced.

Michele

[redbird]

Mirage isn't my pick just because of Stevie. As I said, I just don't care for the whole super 80s sound of Tango, it's not my thing, it doesn't float my boat. I get the appeal of the title track, although I find the transition from verse to chorus really overdramatic, but "Caroline" entirely befuddles me. The chorus is okay, but the verses make me cringe. "She's so cagey she's so stagey, she's so crazy she's so lazy" - it doesn't work for me. "Family Man", well I'm certainly not the only fan to find that song less than enjoyable. It's my least favorite FM song, nothing about it appeals to me except the pretty little guitar interlude, which most of the song sounds nothing like. "You and I pt II" is harmless but nothing more, for me. "Isn't It Midnight" is bordering on guilty pleasure, only I don't believe in being guilty about music. As it is there's things I like about the chorus, but overall it reminds me of an 80's exercise video, or that part in Rocky/Flashdance/etc where the main character is practicing in leg warmers and headbands for the big fight/competition/etc. It dips into cheesiness for me. "Everywhere" is too synthetic for me. The whole production value of the album is just in that direction, with different instrumentation and less technology I could love it more because that's just what appeals to me vs what doesn't.

Lindsey's Mirage songs OTOH, I really enjoy them. The hated "Empire State" I find a ton of fun, it reminds me of a Billy Joel song with a better sense of melody. "Oh Diane", like I've said before, reminds me of a Chris Isaak song, it's got that throwback malt shop/Roy Orbison feel. Sure it's pretty basic, but a lot of rock'n'roll is. "Can't Go Back" just through the sound of the vocals has an automatic humor to it. "Eyes of the World" honestly sounds like a poppier version of some of Lindsey's Tusk songs to me. Christine, for sure I prefer her Tango songs, but even then it's only "Little Lies" that I love.

"Oh Diane" and "Empire State" seem to be some of the most hated songs around here, but that doesn't bother me. I get it, it's just different tastes. I grew up on country radio and the oldies station, so "That's Alright" is actually one of my most favorite Stevie songs ever, and the retro 50s thing Lindsey has going on is right up my alley. Obviously a lot of people here disagree, that's fine. For me, it's the opposite, it's things like synthesizers and drum machines that turn me off. I was never into it, when I was young the big contemporary stuff I liked was Nirvana and Pearl Jam and REM, Alanis, Fiona, Sheryl, and for all the progress in technology they're all a step down from the super slickness of 80s pop.

To each their own.