Lindsey Buckingham - “Lindsey Buckingham” Album Review

Story posted September 23, 2021 in Arts & Entertainment by Fernanda Lopez.

Lindsey Buckingham, former guitar player for the iconic band Fleetwood Mac, released his first solo project in over ten years. During those years, Buckingham took a break from music and decided to find a new and refreshing sound for himself.

This new sound incorporated a diversity of music genres without blending into the recognizable sound that Fleetwood Mac once had.

After the commercial success of his first solo album, “Law and Order,” fans kept asking for more, but when the bar is set that high, how do you please fans whilst being experimental with your sound? After multiple heavily criticized albums, where Buckingham attempted to venture into country with insipid lyrics, Buckingham pleased both parties with his new self titled album: “Lindsey Buckingham.”

This pop-folk record, with some hints of classic rock and blues, was beloved by both critics and Fleetwood Mac fanatics.

From the first track, “Scream,” Buckingham establishes a signature sound and lyrics about both love and heartbreak, popular topics in Fleetwood Mac's discography as well as in his previous albums. Followed by the most popular track on the album, “I Don't Mind,” this extremely enjoyable yet safe tune meshes “synth pop'' with various harmonies that sound like a track off an ‘Abba’ album.

Buckingham didn't stop there, as he experiments the most on his track “Swan Song,”  a fast paced EDM track inspired by the likes of Thom Yorke, with his signature distortion vocals and gentle snippets from his characteristic acoustic guitar.

“On The Wrong Side” is another win for Buckingham, with melodic harmonies and lyrics about learning how to recover from failure. This track showed Buckingham’s potential to be a strong lyricist.

However, the album becomes less interesting as it reaches its second half, with low points like in “Blind Love,” a ballad with repetitive acoustic sounds and lyrics about a love that was not meant to be. The song, despite being pretty, reminds fans of old tracks that did not stand out, such as: “Treason,” from his forgettable album “Gifts of Screws.”

Buckingham closes the album with an enjoyable yet underwhelming ballad called “Dancing.” His raspy vocals and gentle guitar make this song extremely touching, but very forgettable in comparison to other stronger tracks on this album, due to his weak lyrics and repetitive instrumentals.

Overall, despite the album having many lows and underwhelming elements, the positives out-shined them, as this album ended up being one of Buckingham’s more enjoyable albums since his solo debut in 1981.

After this success, fans and Buckingham’s skeptics wonder if he will ever top this. Hit after hit, Buckingham reinvented his sound while remaining loyal to the folk essence that he shares with his former beloved band, Fleetwood Mac.

Despite the fact that Buckingham explored new genres and introduced new lyric topics, how different will his future projects be?

More experimentation and risky instrumental choice is what fans around the globe are looking forward to, such as ditching the guitar for a synthesizer and writing songs that go beyond love and heartbreak.

Those are going to be Buckingham’s new goals for his future work.

Rating: 6/10

Reviewer’s Favorite Song: “Swan Song”

Reviewer’s Least Favorite Song: “Blind Love”

 

Fernanda Lopez is a first-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact her, email lfl5339@psu.edu.