Customer Reviews

Gift of Screws [180 Gram Vinyl w/ Bonus CD]

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

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.

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!

"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".

Last year Lindsey released his "Under My Skin" album, an album that was pretty much just him and his guitar. I hated that album. Now comes "Gift Of Screws", an album of the same name was supposed to have come out back around 1996 or so. The songs from those sessions got split up and became Fleetwood Mac's "Say You Will", last years "Under The Skin" and now "Gift Of Screws". Lindsey has returned to form here, his solo stuff has always been a little harder to swallow (read; less commercial) than his work with Fleetwood Mac, but there is a lot to like on "Gift".
Once again Lindsey is playing most of the instruments himself, however he is joined by fellow Mac members, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie on a couple of tracks.
The best tracks for me are "Did You Miss Me", "Love Runs Deeper" (which sounds like it could very well be about his ex-lover Stevie Nicks), "Gift Of Screws" and my personal favorite "The Right Place To Fade".
There is nothing on here that sounds like his past masterpieces, "Go Your Own Way" or "I'm So Afraid", but Lindsey has shown that he can still write a great hook and play the heck out of the guitar.

Life's unfair. Want proof? Just look at Buckingham's solo career. "Out of the Cradle," almost ignored when it came out in the early 90's, is now belatedly considered by many rock critics as one of the ten best cd's of that decade. Perhaps burned by that poor reception, LB didn't release another solo cd until '06's Under the Skin, and now this year's Gift of Screws. I connect the 2, with Screws (title based on Emily Dickinson) a more electrified sequel to the acoustic Skin. And like Skin, it shows Buckingham's superior skills as a songwriter, arranger and master guitar player. His guitar work, alone, is enough to have him in the pantheon, but he is constantly overlooked on "best of" lists. As a muscian, Buckingham simply plays circles around most other guitarists, and I certainly put him in the class of great ones like Steve Morse or Pat Metheny. He's that good, and it's on full display on Screws. Lindsey is back rocking much harder than he has in years, I liked every song. Fleetwood Mac fans should realize, however, this is a Buckingham album, which is far more out there and eccentric than a mac cd--but that's the great appeal and charm of a Buckingham solo work, and he's firing on all cylinders on this very enjoyable, rockin' cd.

Length:: 2:03 Mins

I don't know how he does it but every single time he's more incredible than the last. Probably the most creative, most gifted artist around. This newest collection of songs left me speechless.

Simply put a wonderful album that takes on an emotional journey. I felt it was easy to connect with these songs upon first listen. It just sucks you in. Its hard not to be taken into Lindsey's world, the picking is beautiful, and I bow down before him, in sincere admiration for his artistry.

Age has nothing to do with it, this is the Lindsey we have alway known, full of passion, and with killer tunes to match, but I dig this most because its his most rocking!

I wish you many more years of such emotionally engaging output, you are an inspiration.

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.

But this one is totally different. Lindsey has always had a strange, dark streak -- "Go Insane" anyone? -- but on Gift of Screws he takes that impulse and really runs with it.

Although there are several melodically gorgeous, beautifully arranged songs that recall the best of Out of the Cradle ("Underground," "Bel Air Rain"), I would say there are no tracks as spectacular as the best pop songs from that groundbreaking album ( "Countdown," "Soul Drifter," "Don't Look Down"). Instead what you have here for the most part is a somewhat self-obsessed, remarkably talented guitar-picker using his prodigious gifts to go wherever it is his id takes him. And who knows where that is?

If you liked tracks from 2006's Under the Skin like "Not Too Late" you will especially enjoy this album. Lindsey's impeccable timing and sense of ryhthm are at the forefront, and his amazing plectrum picking lift songs such as "Time Precious Time" into the realm of high art. Along with pop gems sprinkled throughout like "Did You Miss Me" and "Right Time to Fade" (with Mick on drums!), the album percolates along at an intense pace, where it apexes on the title track -- a strange rocker that demands to be played at maximum volume. Yet the closer "Treason" brings us all down to earth in a stately, dignified manner.

In all, a shining, carefully constructed piece of art, by a master musician. At this breakneck pace (two albums in three years) Lindsey seems to be on a roll. Having seen the man live in Fort Lauderdale on the Under the Skin tour, I can definitely say I am enjoying every minute of it.