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Editorial Review :
Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham will release his fifth solo album 'Gift of Screws' on September 15th on Reprise. The album is his first since 2006's acoustically focused 'Under The Skin'. Primarily recorded and self-produced at his home studio and on the road during the 'Under The Skin' tour, the album also features two songs co-produced by Rob Cavallo (Green Day, My Chemical Romance). Mixing the immediacy of the best of his contributions to Fleetwood Mac with experimental production flourishes, highlights of the set include 'Bel Air Rain', 'Time Precious Time', 'Underground, 'Love Runs Deeper' and 'Treason'. "You could certainly say this album is a distillation of a number periods of time, some false starts to make albums, certainly some songs that go back a number of years, that took a while to find a home here, combined with brand-new songs and a whole other outlook," explains Buckingham. "And the fact that there was a kind of tenacity and focus to want to bring all of this together in one place. The fact that as an artist I'm still, for better or worse, clinging to my idealism and to my sense that there is still yet much to be said. This is a culmination of that." "The first one was more of a boutique kind of album," he adds by way of comparing 'Under The Skin' with 'Gift of Screws'. "It's almost like the opening act and then the headline act in terms of the kind of approach. Here I'm bringing to bear many more aspects of what I can do - guitar solos, just rocking a lot more in addition to the other things. It does rock more! And they do seem to complement each other." The album also features the unmistakable sound of the Fleetwood Mac rhythm section, as John McVie and Mick Fleetwood contribute to several songs including the title-track and 'Wait For You'.
Customer Review :
Pop masterpiece
I am a more recent convert to Lindsey Buckingham's solo work having previously viewed his contributions to Fleetwood Mac as the high point of their albums (eg the song Tango in the Night). On this album of high class material there are two absolute pop gems in Love Runs Deeper and Bel Air Rain. From all the material contained within the CD packaging it's obvious his family features heavily in his creative processes and it's clearly working for him. He sounds passionate and focused and the results jump out of the CD at you.
I really enjoyed Under the Skin but this album is another notch above it and contains some Buckingham's best work from a career that continues to grow and surprise.
Rating : 
Gift To All Music Lovers
His latest cd does not disappoint - in fact, it is a masterpiece. I have not stoppped listening to this cd since the day I received it. I do believe that Lindsey Buckingham is at his third peak musically, the first and second being during Tusk and Out Of The Cradle. Obviously, this man still has a lot to offer so I'm really looking forward to his next album.
Rating :
life is musical
I have the DVD "Fleetwood Mac Live in Boston.
The music CD "Gift of Screws" disappointed me.
He is not a word smith, as he was too repetitive. His excellent guitar playing, well, it just wasn't like "Big love". To me he's not as good as when he was with FM.
Rating :
Truly Great
Lindsey Buckingham has been long-known as an enigma of sorts. The creative mastermind behind one of the biggest groups of all time, yet a relatively obscure solo artist. Simultaneously able to co-create one of the most radio-friendly and biggest-selling albums of all time (Rumours), yet unable to get his quirky solo work played on any radio station, much less to appear on any bestseller list. However, Lindsey's solo work is truly a gift that unfortunately goes unnoticed by many. Gift of Screws is his second solo album in less than two years, which is unusual for the same artist who took fourteen years between his last two solo records.
The album opens with the searing "Great Day," which features an unbelievable solo and an ingenious arrangement. "Time Precious Time" showcases Lindsey's trademark solo fingerpicking style in startling fashion. I have yet to come across a rock guitarist who can match Lindsey's fingerpicking abilities. The lyrics of this song are particularly impressive, focusing on the theme of the omnipresent and elusive nature of time. "Did You Miss Me" is a breezy pop song that exemplifies Lindsey's innate pop sensibilities, echoing Brian Wilson's influence on him. Lindsey jokingly refers to the fact that this song was chosen as the single for the album, since it got almost no radio play. "Wait For You" is a layered and very interesting track, starting off with an oozing guitar riff and staggered beat that leads into a very distinctive chorus. The lyrics are also quite interesting and poetic. "Love Runs Deeper" is in my opinion an example of Lindsey at his absolute best. Hard-driving guitars and tasteful solos are the foundation for some of Lindsey's best lyrics: "I loved you little child, how you mystified, just a blinding flash, we were parallel lines." Lindsey once commented on how having children made him a better lyricist, and these themes are obviously close at hand when he is crafting. "Bel Air Rain" is a shockingly beautiful creation, this time with rapid steel-string picking accompanying Lindsey's unique voice. Haunting is an adjective that perfectly describes several songs on this album, including this one. "The Right Place To Fade" sounds like it could have been on Rumours, and includes the rhythm section of Mick Fleetwood and John Mcvie. Someone commented to me after hearing this song, "You can definitely tell that this guy created the sound of Fleetwood Mac." "Gift of Screws" is a great rock song that includes several of Lindsey's quirky studio techniques, and exudes the joy that he must feel when he plays. It's completely obvious how much he loves doing what he does. "Underground" is a beautiful melody that betrays the resigned nature of the lyrics, which comment on the short attention span of the music industry. "Treason" is a great closer that features layered acoustic guitars in open tuning and comments on how lies can turn into the truth conveniently and easily.
This album is a wonderful creation that truly displays the talent and unique spectrum of talent that Lindsey Buckingham continues to offer. I can only hope that his increased volume of output indicates that there is more to come.
Rating :
Fan since the early days of Buckingham Nicks and going
I (as many of you do) remember Buckingham Nicks work before Fleetwood Mac. I was astonished that Mic Fleetwood picked them up and changed the format of his band, But when he did Fleetwood Mac where headed into Rock History, and in no small part to Lindsey Buckingham.
I've waited a long time for him to find himself again and with this new album believe he has. There are somethings that still remind me of Fleetwood Mac, but how many people would be disappointed if there wasn't a little reminder here and there?
In my humble opinion this is some the finest work he's done since he's left Fleetwood Mac, and equal to some of the feelings he had succeeded in emoting with much of his earlier works. Still wish it was just the two of them. They where amazing.
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