Customer Reviews

In the Meantime

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

An eternally youthfull and radiantly beautiful CHRISTINE McVIE shines on the cover of her third solo album. Likewise - inside and on the disc, her consistently melodic, catchy and vibrant pop-rock compostions remain as impressive as ever. Her rich, seductive, soaring vocals complete this perfect pop album. We always come back for those CHRISTINE lovesongs, and she delivers plenty here! Her deep well of pure water(originality) remains densely full of rich minerals(creativity)and after three decades, will never stale - Chris is gifted with productive talent and reinvention. CHRISTINE PERFECT McVIE's music has ALWAYS been the main reason I became a devoted Fleetwood Mac fan! Let's all hope her next musical offering doesn't take another twenty years - WELCOME BACK CHRISTINE!

Well, when I first heard about Miss McVie was coming out with a new
CD I was really looking forward to listen her new music and did not dissapointed me at all. As a Fleetwood Mac & Christine fan (I am also a fan of Nicks, Buckingham, Fleetwood & the rest of the band) it is somewhat hard to be objective but I have to say that Christine hit the nail with this one. In respond to some people that had make some comments in regards of that it's hard not to compare the solo works of FM members with the actual band, I think that is inevitable but at same time unfair. The solo works of each members is basicly that, a solo project, so you have to see it as an individual. Saying that, I think that Christine has come up with a cohesive album. She stands out all on her own, and she really shines all over. Working with almost the same band from her self titled 84 effort, their playing in this CD is outstanding. Christine's nephew is a very talented guitar player & producer. Christine's singing is sublime and so invigorating; her voice sounds better that ever. She soars from the opening cut "Friends" through one of her best ballads ever, the song, "Givin' it back". The three first songs are classic pop jewels. Friends & You are are perfect pop songs, as well as Dan Perfect's Northern Star which is somewhat reminisence of Annie Lennox. But that is not all, songs like "Bad Journey" & 'Anything is possible" are uptempo funky style songs, where Christine experiment with new musical territories. Her keyboard playing is very noticeable as well. And finally, you can never forget Christine for her harmony vocals which are enchanting all over this musical journey. Summimg up, this is perhaps one of the best (if not the best) solo releases from a Fleetwood Mac member (and that is saying a lot, and don't get me wrong, I like Nicks & Buckingham). Get this CD, I guaranteed you that won't be dissapointed.
My best & congratulations to Christine. (also, check the iTunes site. They have an acoustic version of the song "Friends" and it's very good). Enjoy.

This is a really solid effort from Christine McVie! Hard to believe it has been 20 years since her last solo outing. I have five favorite songs out of the twelve, which are "Friend", "You Are", "Calumny" (never heard this word..looked it up in the dictionary & got enlightened), "Sweet Revenge", (the music in this song is great with outstanding guitar work), and "Givin' It Back". "Givin' It Back" was co-written by former Fleetwood Mac member Billy Burnette who also adds his vocals. This song has a great acoustic guitar and you can hear Burnette's influence by the country flavor of the song. Christine looks and sounds great and I highly recommend this CD to anyone. An interesting note....Christine's nephew Dan Perfect had a lot of input in this CD by writing, producing and mixing...not to mention playing great guitar! Where has this guy been hiding?

You can really tell when someone is writing a song just to write one and when they are writing a song because they have learned something about life or themselves and feel they MUST express it and share this revelation with the world. For several years it seemed as though Ms. McVie was writing songs simply to have something to contribute to albums for the Mac. Then her husband for more than a decade left her and she had to deal with the emotinal turmoil so she could go on with her life. This album documents that experience. The first somgs on Meantime are about the beginning of their relationship when they were deeply in love and it seemed asthough the happy couple would live happily ever after. And then WHAP! everything changes, leading to songs like "Liar". McVie even writes about getting revenge on her ex-husband including putting a gun to his back (tounge in cheek of cource)! Finally she forgives him for his trechary and writes what in my opinion is the best song of her carrier called "Forgiveness". Lyrics from that song include "I forgive you and the spell that you cast/And that loneliness, well that's a thing of the past" and"I forgive you and the ties that bind/And all that emptiness yes I've left it all behind" This album is a VAST improvement over the songs that have ended up on Fleetwood Mac albums over the last 15 years and a thousand times better than her last solo album.

Christine McVie's beautiful voice & keyboards were an integral part of Fleetwood Mac for 27 years. Much of that time was spent providing much needed balance between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham during the most successful Rumours era incarnation. In The Meantime is her 3rd solo album(her first in 20 years)and the first since leaving Fleetwood Mac in 1998 after the very successful Dance album & tour. Christine has described this album as an accident since she had planned to stay retired. This album is largely a collaboration with her nephew, Dan Perfect, who played guitar, added some backing vocals & co-produced the album with Christine. He also wrote 2 sons on his own & co-wrote quite a few more with Christine. She has also used the same, very effective rhythm section from her last solo album, George Hawkins & Steve Ferrone. The production is very low key but very effective. Christine's keyboards & Dan's guitars work together here very well, but the dominant focal point of this album is Christine's fantastic voice. This is the best she's ever sounded. Unlike her former bandmates, Buckingham/Nicks, Christine's voice has actually gotten better through the years.

Now to the songs. Most of these songs are about a relationship that Christine had after she moved back to England. This album is like a story of that relationship from beginning to end. Many of these songs remind you of her best songs with Fleetwood Mac.

"Calumny" is the best. This song was actually written by Dan Perfect. It's a gorgeous ballad with a beautiful, gentle guitar. This is Christine's best vocal ever.

"Friend" compares very favorably to Christine's Rumours hit, "You Make Loving Fun". "Friend" is the first single from the album and has gotten some decent radio play here in the U.S. as well.

"Forgiveness" is another terrific song. I love how the song changes at the end. Again, this song is among her best ever.

"Anything is Possible" seems to have a bit of a Steely Dan influence with very funky keyboards.

"You Are" was the first song Christine wrote for this album and it was the first single when the album was released in the U.K. It has a terrific melody & it was the only song on the album that Christine wrote by herself.

"Northern Star" is another beautiful ballad with fantastic vocals. Like "Calumny", this song was solely written by Dan Perfect.

"Givin' It Back" is the last song on the album with beautiful lyrics and a nice, gentle guitar. It also contains the only Fleetwood Mac connection on the album. Billy Burnette co-wrote the song and provided backing vocals as well.

Fleetwood Mac's album from last year, Say You Will is really nothing more than 2 solo albums on one disc. While Say You Will is cold & distant, In The Meantime is a warm, intimate album. If you remove three Buckingham songs & three Nicks songs from Say You Will and add six songs from In The Meantime, then you could come up with a truly great Fleetwood Mac album. However, In The Meantime as is stands alone on its own merits. It's a beautiful pop/soft rock album. If you enjoy the White Album/Rumours era of Fleetwood Mac you'll probably enjoy In The Meantime too. Hopefully, this is not the last we'll ever hear from Christine.

Christine, you are a beautiful flower that graces this planet each day with your talent and wonderment. This solo disc is INCREDIBLE and proves that a 60-ish (she looks early 40s to me) pop star can still write and produce music that puts most twentysomethings to shame! Don't expect too many thrills or radio savvy throwaways, instead you will discover nothing but beauty and talent throughout the course of a listen. That being said, my fave tune has to be "Calumny." Gorgeous and hotter than ever!

Like any CD, this one has ups and downs, tho definitely more strengths than weaknesses. However, there two main points to make:
1. Christine McVie is still in FINE FORM after 'retiring' from the mainstream music business. She hasn't lost any of the touch that has made so many of her older songs memorable and stalwarts of classic rock/adult easy listening radio. Many great tunes on this album.
2. If you took the best from this CD and combined it with the best from Mac's "Say You Will," you'd have an astounding classic-sounding FM album. For example, the first two songs on this CD are begging to have the Mick-John rhythm section behind them. I didn't realize how much I missed having Chrsitine in the Mac mix until I heard this CD. The miracle of modern technology will let everyone rip & burn their favorite combinations!

In summary, if you're a Mac fan then you must get this CD.

I also picked this up overseas when it first came out and have
had it in the mix since mid July. Nice change of pace. Chris has a way
of looking at life through her songwriting, hell, shes now in her early 60's, she sounds great and give us songs from "this" time in her life
and it rocks and soothes and has many touches of her contributions to that band she once was such a big part of. Her
nephew helps out and give these songs some great sounds.
I don't look for her to be put out to pasture anytime soon, she
still has much to offer and is a classic performer. This one grows on you if you just take the time to listen to it more
than once. Great vocalist.

As smooth as silk and gentle as a breeze through a field of tall grass, all descriptions that can be drawn as a comparison to this fabulous collection of songs. And whilst 'Say You Will' by Fleetwood Mac was a fine effort you couldn't help missing the kind of songs that are on offer here. There are no suprises on offer here but they are not necessary. 'Friend' has the well trodden McVie formula applied in its playful lilt and gentle words. 'You Are' is equally as good as it tells of the discovery of true love. Other early highlights are 'So Sincere' very eighties in the best kind of way with its warm guitar style which melts around you like chocolate, no I mean it, and 'Liar' that conjurs to these ears the late Robert Palmer being simply irresistable indeed. I can see this CD getting heavy rotation in our household and although realistically I should say four stars for the slight lesser moments I wont because despite not being the newest pop flavour true artists work will still inspire many years later. I have a strong feeling as I type that this CD sits easily within that category.

(3 & 1/2 stars) Christine McVie's singing is as smooth as ever, but this new solo album was a disappointment. I came to realize two things listening to In The Meantime. First, that Ms McVie's songs are excellent when mixed in with songs by other band members (of Fl. Mac), but over the course of an entire album they wear a bit thin. Second, that without the backing of her Mac colleagues, her music tends to be on the bland and toothless side. Sure, the new tunes are pleasant enough, but they lack the bite of her work with Fleetwood Mac. (Let me say right now for those who think it's unfair to compare this album to Fleetwood Mac -- I guarantee you there are ten of thousands who will listen to this CD and compare it to Fl. Mac! It's silly to expect anything else.) Only a few of the new songs have any punch -- maybe "Liar" -- but beyond that there's "Over My Head" Lite ("Sweet Revenge"), Brit Blues Lite ("Bad Journey"), etc.

Christine is also known for some of Fleetwood Mac's most moving ballads, and there are many ballads on Meantime. But they tend to be the meandering type, like "Northern Star." Her songwriting just isn't all that great on this CD. Often a song starts out fairly promisingly, such as on "Forgiveness," but then peters out into a boring chorus.

Regarding the importance of the support of L. Buckingham, J. McVie, M. Fleetwood, and S. Nicks, I'd like to suggest that you go back and listen to some of Christine's best work with them, perhaps "Warm Ways" or "Oh Daddy." As much as her great voice and keyboards made the songs what they are, they would not have been as wonderful without the amazing rhythm section, Buckingham's inspired guitar work, the arrangements and production, etc. The accompaniment on In The Meantime is highly competent, but not distinctive in any way. There's was just about NOTHING on this CD that excited me or made me think "Wow! that sounds great!" Hate me for my opinion if you want, but that's how it sounded to me.