The departure of Christine McVie might be regarded as a major loss by Fleetwood Mac fans but, ironically, it gives the band a far tighter focus without compromising their versatility.
What remains of Fleetwood Mac is basically a trio — drummer Mick Fleetwood, bassist John McVie and guitarist Lindsey Buckingham — fronted alternately by Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.
Whether present-day audiences will buy Say You Will (Gallo) in sufficient quantities to emulate Mac’s monster hit, Rumours, is open to speculation. But the band is clearly not prepared to take the smallest step back for anyone fancying themselves better creators of irresistible hooks.
Nicks and Buckingham contribute nine songs apiece, each singing his/her own compositions, with the total clocking in at a generous 76 minutes. Buckingham has confessed that his songs were initially intended for a solo effort, which, with the length of the album, accounts for the feeling that Say You Will is a merger of two albums.
Certainly, Buckingham’s compositions are the more original and adventurous, with trippy, tongue-in-cheek vocal and instrumental effects cementing his standing as one of rock’s great inventors.
Nicks, on the other hand, surprises somewhat as a singer of subtle power and distinction. Her songs on this album are consistently strong and shot through with grown-up wisdom and emotion that have not always been evident in her output.
And, of course, there is this truly great rhythm section…
Daring, diverse, smart, hip, inventive, honest, accomplished — Fleetwood Mac’s latest offering is all that and more, proving they are still the leaders in the field they created.