Do we really want a new Fleetwood Mac album?

[elle]

Originally Posted by Matt Lucas

It kinda cracks me up that some of the same people who complain about Lindsey’s production style---particularly the way he often slaps a lot of effects on vocals---are also saying that the THIS IS 40 songs sound unfinished. The thing I like most about those recordings is that they sound so intimate…it’s the best Lindsey’s voice has sounded in years. I pulled out the last few studio solo albums and also listened to some of his old stuff, and as much of a fan as I am, I think he ruined some very good songs with poor production on his vocals. “Cast Away Dreams” is a recent example.

Now, in the case of the THIS IS 40 songs, I like them all, but I think they sound undercooked from a songwriting point of view. For instance, “She Acts Like You” is a very good song…till it gets to the bridge section. Instead of going in a new direction, which is essentially the purpose for a bridge, he just sings a bunch of “ahhhhhhhs.” Opportunity lost.

But I think the production on those songs is great.

i am one of the people who absolutely hate what Lindsey does to his vocals in the studio (many of SWS songs, particularly SWS and TTWLG are some of the good examples).

my problem with This is 40 songs is not his vocals - they are intimate and natural, like he's talking to you. my problem is that the songs seem to be slapped together in 5 minutes without too much thought put into them. the songs can be just a voice and the guitar and still sound great and finished. i would love if WATL was recorded like that, for example. but as you pointed out (and She Acts Like You is actually the warmest and my favorite of This is 40 songs), there are barely any bridges and a lot (lot lot lot) of repetition in these songs. Brother and Sister would be great if it was cut in half... instead it goes on repetitively forever.

the other thing that i find interesting is that some of the people who complain about uneven production on GOS or SYW like it's the worst crime in the universe have no problem with very unevenly sounding songs on This is 40, if one actually listens to the whole soundtrack and not just LB's songs.

yes, SWS is very evenly produced and very finished. but i'd 1000 times rather have the original She Smiled Sweetly than the evenly produced one that ended up on the album... because i skip the album one so many times since it's nowhere near as sublime as the original GOS version.