Review #7: Rumours, Fleetwood Mac
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#7: Rumours, Fleetwood Mac
For a nascent music lover, there is no greater gift than Fleetwood Mac. I spent an inordinate amount of time thinking about Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks in middle school. He was one of the best guitarists ever, and she was one of the most iconic songwriters ever, and they both had the best hippie hair of any rock musician couple, which is no small honor. Any two people who could write so many amazing and hateful songs about each other must be soulmates, I reasoned.
I’ve since realized that love is more than making a fistful of award-winning songs together. Still, this album moves my heart a little bit. It was definitely music that felt “right” in Kansas, if you know what I mean — the fingerpicking, the hillbilly harmonizing, Stevie Nicks’ sincere belief that she was a witch. The fact that Rumours also broke up two couples only makes it better, somehow.
FAVORITE SONGS:
“Dreams” — When I was a freshman in college I sang this song in the shower every day.
“Go Your Own Way” — An extremely annoying car commercial when I was a kid covered this song with a jingle. It still didn’t ruin the song for me. That’s how powerful Fleetwood Mac is.
“The Chain” — There is no cooler song than this. I’d just listened to Nevermind at this point on my road trip and I think Nirvana owes a bit to Fleetwood Mac, what with their loud-soft grunge dynamic here.
“I Don’t Want To Know” — I always forget about this song but it’s the best one to sing along to.
“Gold Dust Woman” — I love when Lindsey Buckingham just HOWLS at the end of this.
“Silver Springs” — I had no idea that she got the name of this song from a billboard for Silver Springs, Maryland! I’ve been there!
LEAST FAVORITE SONGS:
“Don’t Stop” — Spoiler alert: Christine McVie wrote just four songs on this album, and they are the four songs I don’t like. This one is pretty popular, and I’ll admit it’s a real earworm, but for some reason it just reminds me of Target commercials.
“Songbird” — Ugh.
“You Make Loving Fun” — This was a single? Why? And why do all Christine McVie songs sound like they wouldn’t be out of place on Barney & Friends?
“Oh Daddy” — From the creepy title (there is no way this song is about an actual father) to how it seems to plod on for way longer than it is, this song sucks. (Okay, maybe this one wouldn’t do so well on Barney & Friends.)
IS RS FULL OF IT?
Yes. I’m brave enough to say it. If Christine McVie had written one fewer song on this album, it might be appropriate to have it as #7. As it stands, she’s taking up too much space that could be used for Stevie and Lindsey to rail against each other, and it should be dropped by at least 10 slots.
(Obviously Christine McVie is a rock icon; I’m sorry I don’t like these songs, Christine! I still love you!)
