Quite an interesting album this was. Fleetwood Mac blends the California polished sound with an R&B down and dirty style. They almost seem to alternate every song between these two competing styles. But then again, they alternated songwriters on nearly every song, except The Chain which they all wrote.
Another captivating aspect of this album was the emotional state that the band members were in while composing the album. Check this out: Mick was in the middle of his divorce. John and Christine got divorced during the album. Lindsey and Stevie (Lindsey is the guy, Stevie is the girl) also broke up during the making of this album. This of course led to all the band writing songs about the break-ups of their significant other, who were in the band (hence the title of the album, Rumours. You see they all thought the others' were spreading rumours about them....oh you get it? OK.) But after the album was done, they all kind of realized that the highly emotional writing had helped them to get through their tough times, and oh yeah, there was the great album as a record of their recovery.
So given that background, it's easy to hear the tension throughout the album, hard to explain but you definitely feel that raw energy running throughout the album, emotionally charged would also be a good way to describe the aesthetic. And of course you can hear a mature Nicks ready to move on, her voice and writing are different from the rest of the band, you get the sense she a rising star in the making.
Overall, I liked the album. I liked the style they have, the songs vary just enough to keep me interested, but they don't stray too much from their California roots(Think pre-Walsh Eagles). If there is one problem with their sound, it's that I don't think they every resolve the tension built throughout the entire album. For me, it just ended, keeping me in the edge of my seat. I just want a rock out song somewhere in there. But then if it did, I'm sure I'd complain that "it all sounded great except for that one lazy rock out song". So let's just agree to disagree, Rachel Ray is on TV which is making me hungry.
Take some time, take a listen, post your thoughts.
Artist: Fleetwood Mac
Year: 1977
My Favorite Song: The Chain
Tomorrow: U2
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