Rumours vs. Tusk

[michelej1]

[By David Bowling for Blogcritics.com, this is the latest in his series of FM album reviews, November 9, 2010]

http://www.seattlepi.com/pop/429908_...itics.org.html

Music Review: Fleetwood Mac - TuskBy DAVID BOWLING
BLOGCRITICS.ORG

What do you do when you have just released one of the ten best selling albums of all time, which topped the American album chart for 31 weeks? This was the question and task that faced Fleetwood Mac when they returned to the studio during late 1978 to record their follow up album to Rumours.

The resulting Tusk would be a long and sprawling double album. It would receive some criticism at the time of its release and not have the commercial success of its predecessor. It would, however, reach number four in The United States and number one in England and sell four million copies worldwide, which would have been outstanding for almost any other band or release.

Unfortunately, it was considered a failure in many circles. In retrospect, it could not have lived up to the expectations which preceded it.

I remember being disappointed at the time of its release, but the album has grown on me as time has passed and as it escaped the Rumours shadow. Today it stands on its own as another brilliant pop/rock release by Fleetwood Mac.

If Tusk was originally one thing, it was ambitious. In many places the sound veers from the safe pop styling of their last two releases to a more adventurous rock direction.

Lindsey Buckingham wrote nine of the twenty tracks and takes the most chances musically. “Tusk” was a drum=based track featuring the USC Marching Band. It was released as the lead single, which quickly announced that this was a different Fleetwood Mac release.

While the song was one of Mick Fleetwood’s crowning achievements, his drumming is excellent throughout. Just check out “Brown Eyes” and “What Makes You Think You’re The One.” Songs such as “The Ledge,” “Not That Funny,” and “What Make’s You Think You’re The One” have a frenetic feel that was not what its fan base was expecting at the time but which seem fine today. His “Save Me A Place” returned the group to a more familiar place complete with tight harmonies.

Stevie Nicks contributed five songs that may have been her overall strongest group and were what the band’s fan base expected of her. “Sara” is one of the finest performances of her career and became a deserved hit single. The original album version was almost two minutes longer than the single and remains superior. It was written about Mick Fleetwood’s wife Sara and her effects upon the group. Its harmonies, overdubbing, and emotional vocal make it one of her better creations.

“Storms” is moody and quiet, while “Sisters Of The Moon,” and “Beautiful Child” continued to develop her mystical personality.

Christine McVie sort of put it on cruise control for this release. “Never Make Me Cry” is a nice piano-based ballad. “Honey Hi” is surrounded with beautiful harmonies. “Over & Over” may have a mournful sound but it is also well created pop.

In many ways, Tusk is the modern pop Fleetwood Mac’s most creative album. It is a release that has stood the passage of time well and bears repeated listens to be truly appreciated.

http://blogcritics.org/music/article...wood-mac-tusk/

[bluefox4000]

I'm going with Tusk. It's weird it's all over the place......I love it. Lindsey just shines in this. Just makes me love him even more. Love save me a place, It's Not That Funny, The Ledge, Walk a Thin Line. All his tracks are Great. Stevie's great here too. Angel, Sara, Storms, Beautiful Child.......Come on The only member who's below par.....and I will get flack for this......is Chris. I mean, I love Over and Over and Think About Me. But Brown Eyes and Honey Hi.......are like audio wallpaper. I KNOW they are loved. Lord I know...not by me Anyway Still love the album.

I Love Rumours. However for me sometimes it sounds a little too polished, which is the same problem I have with Steely Dan's Aja. If that makes sense. I listen to Tusk far more. My fav double album after The White Album.

Mick

[HomerMcvie]

As a musician, I know it's my duty to vote Tusk, but it's just not how I feel. Rumours is an absolute classic pop gem, and the album that changed my life, and cemented my obsession with music. Yeah, from overplay, I pretty much hate it now, but it still rules!

And I agree with Chili, Tusk should have been pared down to a single album...those record executives could have had a much better Christmas that year. Everyone could have lost two songs each, and it probably would've fit on a single album.

[KarmaContestant]

Originally Posted by HomerMcvie

I know it's my duty to vote Tusk, but it's just not how I feel. Rumours is an absolute classic pop gem, and the album that changed my life, and cemented my obsession with music. Yeah, from overplay, I pretty much hate it now, but it still rules!

What he said.

I know I'm supposed to think Tusk is better, because it's 'arty' and represents Lindsey's attempt to take back his presumed loss of creativity - and it works, it does. Tusk is an excellent album. But it's not Rumours.

I'm fairly certain that when Rumours was being recorded, the band was not trying to craft a pop-radio sensation - it just happened to turn out that way. It could easily have been the other way around had Tusk not been a double LP, which really did hurt it's prospects.

In the end, I would prefer to listen to Tusk if that were the choice, but only because I've listened to Rumours so much. In fact I'll put Tusk on right now in all of it's remastered glory.

My vote however has to go to Rumours. The songs are just better; everyone can relate to the subject matter on a personal level, and isn't that how music is supposed to be?

[jaycee]

Tusk all the way!
(I seem to be getting better at splitting hairs nowadays. )

[holidayroad]

I vote for Tusk.
Rumours is a fine album, it has great songs, I can't deny that. Like others have said though, it's been done, and done, and overdone to the point where it's hard to go back and listen to it at face value. I've tried going back and listening to it and saying to myself 'Listen to this like you've never heard it before' but that is almost impossible to do.
Tusk is overall an excellent album. It is different in a way that, even now, I can listen to it and get something new out of it. (I still feel that 'Save Me a Place' could have been dropped from it, though! That's the only LB FM song I can't stand.)

[MikeVielhaber]

Originally Posted by holidayroad

I vote for Tusk.
Rumours is a fine album, it has great songs, I can't deny that. Like others have said though, it's been done, and done, and overdone to the point where it's hard to go back and listen to it at face value. I've tried going back and listening to it and saying to myself 'Listen to this like you've never heard it before' but that is almost impossible to do.
Tusk is overall an excellent album. It is different in a way that, even now, I can listen to it and get something new out of it. (I still feel that 'Save Me a Place' could have been dropped from it, though! That's the only LB FM song I can't stand.)

If there's one song on Tusk I'm not too fond of it's "That's All For Everyone". I love "Save Me a Place" though.

[Musicman408]

Tusk without a doubt!!!