Album Review- Lindsey Buckingham

 I’m a big fan of Lindsey Buckingham and maybe not because why you think. You see, growing up, I loved the handful of Lindsey’s solo radio hits which were a bit more esoteric than standard pop fare.

Like many other creative types, I think Lindsey is sometimes his worst enemy. His production tricks, in my mind, often overshadow his work. But in the framework of Fleetwood Mac, he usually is forced into restraints that work for his benefit.

I’m a big fan of 2003’s Say You Will (the Fleetwood Mac album without McVie) and 2017’s Buckingham/McVie ( the Mac without Nicks) but although it’s “interesting”, I’m not as excited by 2011’s solo Seeds We Sow.

The new self-titled album is infamous (though it pales in legend to other Buckingham records of course) as leading to a irreparable rift between Buckingham and Nicks.

It has been met with some very positive reviews. It probably should- Buckingham was always a talented writer. Is what you might expect? Yes and no. At its best, it recalls FMac, but it also has its introspective side.

On the Wrong Side is an example of a song that is as good as anything he ever wrote. It is surrounded by strong songs like I Don’t Mind and Swan Song. The second half of the album has some mellow moments in Time and Dancing. They’re well chosen enough (Time is a 60s Folk tune) but not as attention grabbing. House of Blue Light is fairly throw away but succeeds in that it’s fairly typical Buckingham.

But as always Lindsey tends to overdo it. Power Down wouldn’t be so bad, but the overtracking is too much and turns it into a throw away tune.

I tend to classify this record as I would so many recent records of established artists that are getting outstanding reviews. At the end of the day, this is still a niche record. I like it quite a bit, but I’m a fan. I do think if you like Lindsey even just a little, you will be happy with this. But it’s still a Lindsey Buckingham record. I doubt this record in off itself will make you a fan if you weren’t leaning that way already. Still, that’s okay. Fans, go enjoy the record.