This is the classic 11th studio album by British-American rock band, Fleetwood Mac. While their previous self-titled album garnered them the success that they were waiting a decade for, it’s Rumours that everyone knows, and everyone loves. Songs like Dreams, Don’t Stop, Go Your Own Way and The Chain have become staples in classic 70s rock and they’ve since appeared in movies, TV, commercials, Bill Clinton’s first presidential campaign and most recently, that TikTok trend with the skateboarding dude drinking V8. While I’m sure Fleetwood Mac quite enjoy this unfathomable level of success spanning almost 50 years, making it was nowhere near as fun for the band. Vocalist Catherine McVie and bassist John McVie were married for 8 years but were headed for divorce. They only talked shop when they were recording, but otherwise they weren’t on speaking terms. Meanwhile, guitarist and vocalist Lindsey Buckingham and vocalist Stevie Nicks had a relationship that ended around the same time. They only stopped arguing with each other to record takes. On top of that, the drummer, Mick Fleetwood, discovered his wife cheated on him with his best friend. The making of Rumours had become one of the greatest soap operas in rock music history! But despite the splits, affairs and screaming matches, with considerable help from copious amounts of pride and drugs, Rumours was finished, and the rest is history. As for why I chose this album to listen to, a friend of mine was disappointed by the fact that he couldn’t find Rumours on vinyl, so I went and bought it for him, then bought a copy for myself before hearing it. A calculated risk. I also really liked The Chain, because how could you not? It was the sad part in the second Guardians of The Galaxy movie and it fit in BEFORE I fully knew what the song was about.
Once I finally listened to the whole album, I was properly blown away! This album was both lovingly and hatefully made and I was along for the ride all the way! I didn’t know Don’t Stop was a Fleetwood Mac song until I heard this album, I just heard it on various commercials all the time, but still love that song. One of my detractions from this album initially was how many times I’ve heard Don’t Stop and Go Your Own Way in commercials, but then I realized, oh yeah, those songs are great too, as is the rest of this album! Production is solid with the classic 70s soft rock vibe with jangly clean guitars, in you face drums and clean bass. This album has a teensy bit of effect pizzaz, but outside of stereo sound and the reverb on Gold Dust Woman, there’s not much of that pizzaz, as this is a more stripped back, folksy album. Composition is where things really get interesting. Bass is groovy, drums are punchy, if a bit dark for my tastes, pianos are pretty, and guitars are immaculate in playing ability and more importantly in mood. Song structure is 70s folk pop and rock, complete with the dreaded, cowardly fade out that I don’t like. But these songs are still incredibly catchy and fun because of that. Everyone’s doing their part to make a solid album, but they’re all hiding something beneath that fun, poppy veneer. Album structure contributes to this with the fun pop songs are the beginning and more sincere, emotional songs beginning with The Chain. Lyrically, this is not a fun pop record, but a musical argument where the band takes passive aggressive shots at each other. It doesn’t blow up in anger, but these subtle jabs about love or lack thereof are what make this album fun. Guided by a trio of a light and breezy Stevie Nicks, a controlled and poised Catherine McVie and of course, a potent and passionate Lindsay Buckingham (On Go Your Own Way, he sounds like he’s saying “fine, go!”), Rumours really sells the stories of love lost and love regained. The band is not always jabbing at each other like on Go Your Own Way or I Don’t Want To Know, but they are emotionally vulnerable with each other like on Oh Daddy and The Chain, and I really like that rawness pouring through. This album is a raw, emotional piece of work with some insanely catchy songs on it. It is not just an album about people experiencing the fallout of failed relationships, but an album with people actively going through said fallout. I’m surprised this album even got to tape or that Fleetwood Mac even stayed together afterwards, but the end product speaks for itself! This album is amazing!
Don’t date your coworkers.
I’m giving this one a Light 9/10.
FAVOURITE TRACKS: Second Hand News, Dreams, Never Going Back Again, Don’t Stop, Go Your Own Way, Songbird, The Chain, You Make Loving Fun, I Don’t Want To Know, Gold Dust Woman
LEAST FAVOURITE TRACK: Oh Daddy
Comments