Stevie versus the Mac.

[Zombie]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I'm not even a fan of Nick Cave, I can't say I'm very familiar with anything he's done, but I would have made the same choice, if only because people I respect respect him.

Well, my other car is a Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds obsession. I've been a rabid, ridiculous fan since high school, and I'd never before had a chance to see them live, so it was a very monumental occasion for me. One of the best nights of my life, bar none. They are simply magnificent.

Testify!



The guy on violin is Warren Ellis. He's like my own personal Jesus. There are just no words for how much I admire his work.

Sorry for the threadjacking, but I am compelled to preach the Gospel of Cave. My bad. But you will all forgive me if you watch that video, for it is made entirely of amazing.

[trackaghost]

^ I saw Nick Cave live for the first time this year too and he was magnificent.

[gold_dust]

I'll compromise and have Stevie in Fleetwood Mac.

Okay, don't get me wrong. I love, love, love her. But, some of her solo stuff can be a bit...meh. Like the piano version of Rhiannon. It never really got to me in the way the Mac version does. The way everyone rocks out - it's always been a trip for me. I'm willing to bet that if Stevie had had her way, that song would be a total piano-fest right now. I've never been a fan of the piano intro when Stevie did it live. It never really did it for me. Same kind of goes for the Stevie version of If You Were My Love. It's nice - beautiful, even. But the Mac version is absolutely stompin'! The way I see it is that Stevie's songs start off very simple, very pure, and then the Mac come in and add so many layers to it. I can take or leave the demo No Light, yet Planets of the Universe is amazing. The way it builds up is awesome. However, I'm not a fan of the TIS-G version. Never did it for me. The same principle also applied to Storms and Beautiful Child. With Stevie alone, they're sweet, pure songs, but they need the layers that the Mac give them.

I agree that Lindsey challenges her, and to be honest, sometimes I don't think she likes it. Think About It off the Rumours re-issue is my favourite take of it. It's got a little more punch, a little more energy, and carries a funkier tune. The Bella Donna one always seemed a bit placid to me. A little bit lackluster. And even when Stevie's solo stuff is on fire, I've always felt it was because it reminded me more of the Mac, than just Stevie.

Stevie makes great music. But she's a writer - a poet. She's not a musician, and from that point, Lindsey has one up on her. Lindsey is bit of a chameleon. He can do everything. He can write great music and write great lyrics. No one will forget Go Your Own Way in a hurry. Just like no one could forget Dreams, either. Stevie has freely admitted that Dreams was something Lindsey had a hand in dealing with.

The fundamental difference for me is that without the Mac, Lindsey's stuff would've had that same sound. He was writing, creating and producing. He knew the sound he wanted and was dedicated - fanatical, even - in creating it. Without the Mac, Stevie's stuff would've been more melodic. Relied more on atmosphere and creating an image. I think Stevie's known for a long time that having the persona she does can be very profitable. Hence her popularity. But in a way, I've always felt that she's gotten too caught up in that persona and now can't create music without that certain mistique and atmosphere. It can leave her limited. And I think that it also leaves her insecure. It can no longer be simple and pure, yet, just by herself alone, she can't pull off the layers that the Mac add. I remember reading a quote where she begged Bob Dylan to be a part of Just Like A Woman. I personally never thought she needed him there because she was recording his song. I always felt that it was because she needed someone else beside her, to hold her hand, if you will. She's done it with Don Henley and Tom Petty, as well. I personally think she was too scared to actually make it on 'her own', yet she wanted control over her songs and how she did her thing. Which is why I've always thought it was interesting that she referred to Lori and Sharon as 'her band' and not her backing singers. Because in theory, that is what they do. Plenty of bands have extra singers, but how many actually have them pretty much through every album, on album covers, through tours, etc? Not many - they wouldn't want the singers to take the focus from the band to them.

So, on that basis. I'm going with the Mac - Stevie included.

Of course, if Stevie were ever inclined to tour the UK, I may be persuaded to think otherwise...

[dnightshade]

Well said, gold dust. I agree completely.

[SteveMacD]

Originally Posted by gold_dust

The fundamental difference for me is that without the Mac, Lindsey's stuff would've had that same sound. He was writing, creating and producing. He knew the sound he wanted and was dedicated - fanatical, even - in creating it.

As I said on the Christine forum, I noticed the absence of Mick and John more on Out Of The Cradle than I noticed Lindsey's absence on Christine's songs on Time.

[gold_dust]

Originally Posted by dnightshade

Well said, gold dust. I agree completely.

Thank you

[gold_dust]

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

As I said on the Christine forum, I noticed the absence of Mick and John more on Out Of The Cradle than I noticed Lindsey's absence on Christine's songs on Time.

You'd probably be right there. I'm not a solo Lindsey fan, so I can't say what is missing and where, so I just merely assumed that because Lindsey played a more prominant role in the Mac's music, he'd also have the power of transferring that sound to his solo efforts. Mick and John are vital to the sound of the Mac and I can definately hear the difference (or their absence) when listening to Stevie's stuff (since that's the only solo artist I can compare them with).

[JbbyStew86]

I look at it a different way. I love Lindsey's solo career because to me, it's Fleetwood Mac taken to another degree. You do notice the lack of John and Mick on Out of the Cradle, but that's still his best, or second best solo record. There are so many themes of Fleetwood Mac in his music, because well, he is the architect of their sound.

With that being said, Stevie's solo work has always been a different beast. The Bella Donna LP would never have fit into the Mac paradigm. I think in a lot of ways, her solo stuff beats out much of her Mac catalog, especially after Mirage. I find myself listening to Stevie's solo stuff much more than her work in the Mac, where with Lindsey, I tend to go with his Fleetwood Mac stuff slightly more than his solo stuff. All in all, I listen to Fleetwood Mac much more than either artists solo work. Stevies has always been much more commerically aimed than Lindsey's but that's why Fleetwood Mac is always greater than the sum of its parts.

[kennation]

I went to see SYW and since have seen Stevie 3 times. In my opinion... I think that there are too many variables. The band is so different. Stevie is different once she is with the band. Honestly, it seems like two different beasts.

Ironically, I have never seen Stevie rock as hard as when she toured with Tom Petty. The woman went INSANE!

Honestly, I am a STEVIE FAN! However- I love my MICK! I think that his presence is one of greatness and that he is a caged animal. Let's face it... There is no one else like Lindsey Buckingham.

That being said: it is really difficult for me to say either way, but if I must: STEVIE SOLO... (Unless Christine's there.) I saw Stevie in Detroit at the Motor City Casino and Hotel and it was the most magical evening thus far! She grabbed my hand and looked me in the eye. I guess becuase I had ran into Sharon Celani in an elevator earlier and was like, "Tell Stevie to look for me, as I have driven HUNDREDS of miles to be here with you all tonight." It makes me VERY prejudice to Stevie solo...