Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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22 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Totally underrated!, March 10, 2001
I'm sorry but I just do not agree with the general consensus that Lindsey Buckingham was this brilliant producer. The more control he took over the production, the more bland the albums got. Can anyone honestly say that most of "Mirage" was anything but mediocre soft rock? Does anyone really like more than half the songs on side two of "Tango in the Night"?"Behind the Mask" to me is the proof of where Mac's strengths really are. They sound like a cohesive group again for one thing! McVie and Fleetwood seem to have had a leash taken off them on this CD. There's more bass and thump than on any Mac disk since "Rumours", and Rick Vito's guitar work is a welcome shot of unadorned rock and roll. Also, the vocal harmonies are arranged better than they had been on the last three Mac studio albums. All this creates energy that was largely missing after "Tusk". Lindsey is a terrific guitarist and good singer so you do miss him, but the remaining writers step up to the challenge with remarkable strength. Stevie and Christine contribute some of their best Mac songs in years. "Freedom" and "Love is Dangerous" have Stevie singing ominous lines they way she was meant to. Christine's work is good pop without getting sappy ("Skies the Limit" is a stand out). I also enjoyed Vito and Burnette's songs ("Stand on the Rock" is a charming peek at what Mac would sound like doing a bar band song) and the wierd stuff on "Back of My Mind". I like Fleetwood Mac, but I really feel that after "Rumours" each album had plenty of filler. Song for song, this underrated album is their most solid and consistent post-"Rumours" effort.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
FM Fans Can't Afford to Miss This, September 9, 2004
Unless Lindsey Buckingham's music is your only reason for listening to Fleetwood Mac, this item is a must-have. Christine and Stevie showcase some of their best work here, including Affairs of the Heart, Freedom, and The Second Time by Stevie, and Skies the Limit and Save Me, excellent efforts by Christine.
One thing that did take me by surprise is how much I really did like the music of the "new" guys, Billy Burnette and Rick Vito. Their music fits very well with what we have come to know as Fleetwood Mac - highlights include Hard Feelings and Stand on the Rock.
In summary, listen to the clips at the bottom of this page; you will not be disappointed.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
You make loving fun, February 18, 2000
Reading allmusic.com's embarrassing review of this album (1.5 out of 5 stars), I was really shocked. Obviously, this is a record which polarizes both critics and fans, but I think we ought to be fair. The reality is that "Behind the mask" is a delightful exception to FM's later-era sound. "Tango in the night" was inconsistent and weird, showing that Lindsey's influence was probably becoming too big. However, "Behind the mask" is an attempt to go back to a more organic and less lightweight sound. "Save me" and the title track are among Christine's best songs ever, and "Affairs of the heart" proves that Stevie's voice is still good. Billy and Rick add some new color to FM's sound with the rockabilly of "When the sun..", the psychedelic "In the back..", and the classic rock of "Stand on..". All in all, there's absolutely no reason for bashing this album as 'uninspired' or 'lackluster'. I recommend you to check out Rick Vito's solo album "King of hearts", with backing vocals by Stevie on two songs.
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