Review Summary: The most popular version of Fleetwood Mac make their entry a sure thing.
In their early years, Fleetwood Mac were a blues-rock act led by guitarist Peter Green. He left the band, however, and afterwards they went through a transitional period. Eventually, in '75, the two remaining original members, drummer Mick Fleetwood and bassist John McVie, to which the band lent its name, as well as McVie's wife Christine McVie, were joined by two American musicians, guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and his then-girlfriend, vocalist Stevie Nicks. Because of the influences that Buckingham and Nicks brought with them, the band was now turned into more of a pop rock act than a blues rock one. In the era that followed, Fleetwood Mac recorded their most successful material.
1975's self-titled album (the second one after their debut) perfectly shows the start to this era.
Fleetwood Mac is clearly a first try by a new formation, but yet, there are some stone cold Mac classics on it. What is perhaps the most interesting feature of this particular line-up is the fact that there were now three different singer/songwriters in the band. Nicks, Buckingham and McVie each write and perform their own compositions, and they all have a very distinct style. This does however not mean that it makes the band's work uneven. On the contrary, the material is only strengthened by the variety. It is the main theme that binds everything together: these are all stories of love and life, which is obviously such a dominant theme because there were two couples in the band at this time.
Buckingham is not your average 70's rock guitarist/singer. With his soft guitar lines and sweet vocal delivery, he comes across as a warm-hearted man, something which has remained his key appeal, and perfectly carries tunes such as
Monday Morning for this reason. Nicks is quite different: known for the mystical aura that surrounds her, she also commands utter control and calmth over her impressive singing voice, which resulted in absolute highlights such as
Rhiannon and the touching
Landslide. Finally, McVie is unique in her own sense, her relatively low voice for a woman and essentialy simple but effective lyrical content providing here with the necessary distinction, as showcased here best with
Say You Love Me.
Fleetwood Mac is an excellent and unique pop rock record, thanks to the combined songwriting abilities of the three leading band members. Though the new formation is still developing at this point, the appeal to this era of Fleetwood Mac is already very clear. There is not a single bad tune on the album, and it already contains some serious classics. Needless to say, any fan of this era of the band will want this.
Mac Classics:
Rhiannon
Landslide
Say You Love Me
![http://www.interestment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/stevie-nicks.jpg[/img]](http://www.interestment.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/stevie-nicks.jpg[/img]){kind=link}