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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Buckingham Mac, 10 Jul 2003
There's no question that this is a Lindsey Buckingham album, given that he virtually dominates the guitar and keyboards, not to mention all the writing. Nicks seems to be happy (and doing quite well) with her writing contributions which are far more mature. Fleetwood and McVie hang in there loyally and belt out some very, very typical Fleetwood Mac rythyms, but overcome it with some superb percussion and some fairly innovative bass work. Of course, the public MUST have that Fleetwood Mac drum/bass combo.
"What's The World Coming To" and "Say You Will" are classic Mac songs and fare well, and "Peacekeeper" is also a winner, although the lyrics a tad gruesome. Nicks hits the jackpot with her already classic, "Silver Girl", a true gem of a song and Buckingham's "Steal Your Heart Away" actually produces a great love song with a wonderful mood.However, some artists still feel that with 84 minutes available on a CD, they need to fill it up. "Murrow Turning Over In His Grave" and "Red Rover" are non-sensical fillers. Probably meant to be creative and avant garde, they simply annoy with repitition and poorly mixed instrumentals. Nicks vocals stay in the lower range and can sound monotonous at times and Buckingham's screeching is still not a surprise - he's better in a normal range. Christie McVie's vocals and clever keyboards are missed here, most notably her contributions of moods to her songs. But if this is the worst one can find about this album, that's not too bad and Fleetwood Mac comes out shining after all these years. It's good to hear Nicks and Buckingham singing harmony again. It's been missed for a long time.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A UK Fan review, 27 April 2003
If you’re thinking that this is another Tango In The Night album, like 1987's release, then perhaps think again. This album heralds Fleetwood Mac's new album, "Say You Will" after their successful Reunion album, "The Dance" and features a special edition CD album as well as its mass released version. Although there is an apparent absence of keyboard contribution by Christine McVie, this album seems to be able to blend McVie's characteristics from the past;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.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fleetwood Mac's Edgiest Release Since Tusk, 15 Nov 2003
There has been some complaint that SAY YOU WILL doesn't sound like a typical Fleetwood Mac album. The irony, of course, is that there really isn't any such thing as a "typical" Fleetwood Mac album. With a history stretching back to the 1960s and line ups that have included Peter Green, Jeremy Spenser, Bob Welch, Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, the band has never really generated a consistent sound. And that has even been true of the "golden" line up of Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood, whose work has run from the folk-hard rock fusion of their blockbuster RUMORS to the angst-ridden and anxious art rock of TUSK to the chime-like pop gloss of MIRAGE. So if you expect the same thing you've heard before, you're out of luck--and that's pretty much true regardless of which Fleetwood Mac albums you happen to be comparing at the moment.
SAY YOU WILL is easily the most edgy album the band has done since TUSK: at times grating, jarring, and incredibly dissonant, at times lyric and liquid and smooth. At it's best, it is Fleetwood Mac at their best; at it's worst, it's at least interesting. The CD is a bit slow to start, with a streak of four selections ("What's the World Coming To," "Murrow Turning Over In His Grave," "Illume," and "Throw Down") more interesting than actually enjoyable--but the Mac hits its stride with the fifth cut, "Miranda," and from there it never lets up, belting out one memorable selection after another.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
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