Say You Will

But there's something missing here, and it's Christine McVie. Both Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are what you might call extreme artists, and left to their own devices they can edge toward the self-indulgent. And in her absence, it becomes very obvious that the cool edge Christine McVie brings to the band with her rain-spattered blue voice and meticulously crafted pop melodies has been the artistic bridge between the two extremes; her sound--be it at the keyboard or her graceful and perfectly controlled vocals--is sorely missed here; without it, the band seems to lack a center.

All of that said, and while SAY YOU WILL falls short of the mark in Christine McVie's absence, it is still a solid Fleetwood Mac album--and perhaps more than any other of their albums it is one that requires several listenings before you begin to develop a feel for what Lindsey, Stevie, John, and Mick are creating here. Recommended--but if you're expecting the Fleetwood Mac of RUMORS, you'll be just as disappointed by SAY YOU WILL as you probably were by TUSK. And Christine McVie, if you're reading this, we all need you back with the Mac!

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

The title track, "Say You Will," seems to have a typical Christine McVie undertone and marks a title track that Nicks has written for the first time during her career with the band. However, Christine's absence has brought an earthy feel to this album, similar in sound to Tom Petty of old ("Steal Your Heart Away") alongside Stevie's tambourine contribution and BV’s by Christine in this particular song. In hindsight, "Say You Will" makes a good CD to have in your collections, and brings back hints from Buckingham's solo albums' creative content in this album with songs such as "Red Rover" and the excellent "Murrow Turning Over In His Grave," amongst other greats. "Miranda" features excellent guitar work again, similar to Buckingham’s' excellent live rendition of "Big Love" on the Dance live album. Stevie's song “Silver Girl,” brings memories of a style similar to Christine McVie in sound. "Destiny Rules" by Stevie Nicks has given John McVie a similar bass to her solo single release song from her album Trouble In Shangri La, "Sorcerer" as well as feel. So, to every fan that has got this album, there are songs here that everyone can identify with in feel, sound and creativity. It is apparent though that certain energies have been created to get messages across from the slightly bewildering "Illume (9/11)" contribution by Nicks displaying her thoughts surrounding September 11th tragedy as well as Stevie’s final thanks to Lindsey and to the band perhaps for their get together in producing this wonderful album ("Say You Will")

To sum up, this is an excellent album from the band and should be in every fan's selections as well as people who have loved Fleetwood Mac at some point in their life. Christine’s absence isn’t felt so much though as electronic effects have been added to suspend and collaborate with Buckingham’s guitar additions. This band has come a long way with Christine McVie, but her presence is still felt on this album. Stevie's farewell song, like a couple of albums before from Fleetwood Mac, ends with "Goodbye Baby," similar in style to her version of her song "Crystal" from the Practical Magic soundtrack album, leaving the listener with warm feelings and basking in the light that Fleetwood Mac's albums have done before. Not exactly another Rumours album, but very close to it. Excellent.