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41 of 45 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Yet ANOTHER Great One!, September 16, 2008
Thank God for Lindsey Buckingham. Only a couple years after his last "come-back" album (his albums are usually so far apart that they're all considered come-backs), and one year after the live offering from the Bass Performing Hall, Buckingham's back with another great one. He'd said in recent interviews that he was feeling very inspired, and I guess he wasn't kidding, because here are 10 more rock solid songs from the master.
In many ways, this is a continuation of Under the Skin, which was masterful if a bit subdued. Anyone who's seen Lindsey in concert knows that, while folk and accoustic-based songs are a large part of his musical persona, so too is his inclination for harder rock and blues. Gift of Screws, led by the absolutely incredible title track, shows Buckingham indulging his rocking side more than Under the Skin did. So, while it feels like a natural continuation of Under the Skin, it nevertheless has its own unique flavor.
In short: This is a great time to be a Lindsey Buckingham fan. He's back on the road (and will be touring with Fleetwood Mac in '09, so I hear), and his output is as good as ever. Gift of Screws is definitely a must hear for Buckingham fans, and, indeed, any fan of great pop musicianship.
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15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buckingham's Gift, September 18, 2008
Guitarist/Singer/Songwriter/Producer Lindsey Buckingham has often been called a "mad genius." Never before has Buckingham's brilliance, creativity, intensity, and outright weirdness been more on display than on Gift of Screws. "Great Day," written by Lindsey Buckingham and his son, Will, gets the cd off to a rockin' start. Buckingham's punk and new wave influences shine here as they have in his past work (from Fleetwood Mac's Tusk in 1979 to present). "Time Precious Time" is almost an incantation with gorgeous guitar work. "Did You Miss Me," written by Lindsey Buckingham and his wife, Kristen, is the most straight-ahead pop song on this cd. "Wait for You" is a bluesy rocker (the rhythm section of Fleetwood Mac makes an appearance with Mick Fleetwood on Drums and John McVie on Bass). Buckingham wrote "Love Runs Deeper" again with his wife, Kristen, in which he shows his pop sensibilities to great effect. "Bel Air Rain" is, simply, gorgeous. In this track, as he looks back over his life, he sings that he was "mistaken for a whore" by some for Fleetwood Mac's great success. Buckingham's genius guitar work and singing and songwriting and producing on all of these songs show just how foolish those who doubt Buckingham's many talents are. "The Right Place to Fade" finds Lindsey Buckingham rocking again with Mick Fleetwood on Drums. The title track,"Gift of Screws," (with Fleetwood and McVie again) is a weird tilt-a-whirl of a song with Buckingham's penchant for the oddness of punk well on display. It's the funnest song I've heard in a very long time. "Underground" and "Treason" end the cd. Both are thought-provoking meditations: the former on the state of the record industry and the latter on love, loss, and redemption. This is one Gift you'll never regret!
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Deep down there is freedom., September 26, 2008
"Gift of Screws" is literally the fastest album Lindsey Buckingham has produced since starting his solo career in 1981. Only two years elapsed between 2006's "Under the Skin" and "Gift of Screws". I have been a Fleetwood Mac fan, and a Buckingham fan. To me his best, five star work, is 1981's "Law and Order", 1984' "Go Insane" and 1992's "Out of the Cradle".
"Gift of Screws" and "Under The Skin" are similar musically, with the former being more acoustic than the latter. But, you can tell they are both from the same recording sessions and time period. "Gift of Screws" is a more rock oriented album and there are some songs that take multiple listens to get used to such as "Time Precious Time" or "Gift of Screws". There are no duds here, every song fits nicely alongside the next. The flow of the album is uninterrupted. It's a nice effort, but not his best. I'd debate whether "Under the Skin" or "Gift of Screws" is better than the other.
I am looking forward to the next Fleetwood Mac album, hopefully next year. At 59, Lindsey Buckingham is far from retired or out of ideas. If you like Buckingham's other works, you will like "Gift of Screws".
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