I’ve been waiting for Lindsey Buckingham to release a proper follow up to 1992′s superb Out of the Cradle and he finally did it with the recently released Gift Of Screws. Yes, I know Buckingham made a “comeback” of sorts with Under the Skin in 2006 but the understated acoustic album didn’t really count in my book. To me, Buckingham’s solo outings are all about the “excess”- you know, the “going overboard” with song ideas and production techniques that he couldn’t find a place for under the “Fleetwood Mac” umbrella. His 2006 solo effort was more of an anomaly with its hushed-vocals and lack of hooks or strong melodies. But thankfully Buckingham’s signature “big hooks” are in full force on his new album. The one-two punch of the openers “Great Day” and “Time Precious Time” feature Buckingham’s unique style of fingerpicking. The stereo output that he gets from his custom Rick Turner model guitar sounds absolutely phenomenal. I DO have to mention though that beyond his amazing guitar playing on the first two songs, there’s not much else to take away from them. They’re essentially there to set things up for the third track, “Did You Miss Me” which *finally* kicks the album into gear. Tracks like “Did You Miss Me”, “Love Runs Deeper” and “Bel Air Rain” are great reminders of what a pop genius can do in four minutes. As an added bonus we get to hear the rock solid Fleetwood Mac rhythm-section (Mick Fleetwood and John McVie) on three tunes – “Wait For You”, “Gift of Screws” and “The Right Place to Fade”.
I love the uncertainty in the lyrics to “Underground” which is a dig at his record company (They heard fifteen seconds and that was enough, the idea was new but the business was tough, I think I might wander underground). And it’s interesting to point out that he didn’t end up going “underground” and is still with Reprise Records. The album ends strong with a nice strum-along tune titled “Treason” about moving forward from all the lies and deceit. Like most of Buckingham’s lyrics, the song is wide open for interpretation – it could be about a destructive relationship or the dynamics within Fleetwood Mac or a jab at George W. Bush. But with a title like “Treason”, I suppose it’s Buckingham’s take on Bush. In any case, the song works on all levels and a good strong finish to a solid effort.
retroGrade: B+
Gift Of Screws artist: Lindsey Buckingham
label: Reprise
released: September 16, 2008
Produced by: Lindsey Buckingham and Rob Cavallo
TrackList: 1 Great Day (3:14)
2 Time Precious Time (4:27)
3 Did You Miss Me (3:58)
4 Wait for You (5:02)
5 Love Runs Deeper (3:58)
6 Bel Air Rain (3:51)
7 The Right Place to Fade (4:04)
8 Gift of Screws (2:56)
9 Underground (3:01)
10 Treason (4:28)
I love the uncertainty in the lyrics to “Underground” which is a dig at his record company (They heard fifteen seconds and that was enough, the idea was new but the business was tough, I think I might wander underground). And it’s interesting to point out that he didn’t end up going “underground” and is still with Reprise Records. The album ends strong with a nice strum-along tune titled “Treason” about moving forward from all the lies and deceit. Like most of Buckingham’s lyrics, the song is wide open for interpretation – it could be about a destructive relationship or the dynamics within Fleetwood Mac or a jab at George W. Bush. But with a title like “Treason”, I suppose it’s Buckingham’s take on Bush. In any case, the song works on all levels and a good strong finish to a solid effort.
Lindsey's new album is probably one of my favorites of 2008. The man is an absolute genius. I heard he might rejoin Fleetwood Mac in 2009.
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