Friday, July 31, 2009

THE POWERFUL, ENDURING PRESENCE OF STEVIE NICKS

STEVIE NICKS
The Soundstage Sessions (Reprise)
US release date: 31 March 2009
UK release date: 30 March 2009

By Christian John Wikane
PopMatters Contributing Editor

I miss new albums by Stevie Nicks. Tearing the plastic off a Stevie Nicks record that contains completely unknown material is a thrill that listeners have only truly experienced six times since her 1981 solo debut, Bella Donna. Compilations occasionally fill those long gaps with a new song here and there, but they do not summon the same charge as a whole set of songs that Nicks is introducing for the first time.

Scanning the track list of The Soundstage Sessions, portions of a concert Nicks recorded in October 2007 for the PBS Soundstage program, there are eight titles familiar to anyone with a cursory knowledge of Nicks or Fleetwood Mac, plus a cover of “Crash” by Dave Matthews Band and Bonnie Raitt’s “Circle Dance”, which Nicks sings with Vanessa Carlton (a misstep). How does it all add up?

First, irrespective of current record sales, Nicks has every reason to record a new album. She has a wealth of material and her voice remains a uniquely expressive instrument. Whatever the record label prognosticators may argue, there is a demand for a Stevie Nicks album that doesn’t include “Stand Back” or “Landslide” for the umpteenth time. The Soundstage Sessions has both but, to its credit, it also includes gems like “How Still My Love” and “Fall From Grace”, songs that have not yet been tossed into the compilation spin cycle. Disregarding the missed opportunity of a new Stevie Nicks album, The Soundstage Sessions is mostly satisfying. Nicks sounds damn good on all of these tracks, even if the world did not necessarily need another version of “Landslide”.

CONTINUE TO FULL REVIEW

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

RUMOURS REVISITED

Fleetwood Mac's Rumours
Records Revisited
By Jason Andreasen
Tigerweekly.com

When Fleetwood Mac released Rumours in February 1977, it was an immediate hit. It perched itself atop the Billboard charts for a staggering 31 weeks and garnered four top-10 singles. But not everybody loved it. Some dismissed the album - and the band - as nothing more than a practice in pandering to mainstream pop audiences.

But why? The album has all the quintessential rock storylines caged within its 39 minutes including love and betrayal, sex and drugs, hatred and optimism - all delivered with an expertly orchestrated peek-behind-the-curtain touch. How could an album with such groundwork have been seen as just pandering to pop?

Full Blog Article

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

STEVIE NICKS AND MICHELLE BRANCH ON THE BEACH

I was looking for the actual published photo from this photo session - but couldn't find it. I also can't recall what magazine this photo session was for... Was it Instyle just a few years ago? This is an outtake shot from that session on the beach. Posted by Michelle Branch

Monday, July 27, 2009

PEACEKEEPER ALTERNATE FLEETWOOD MAC VIDEO

Well this is new! I think I like it... The video's a little bit busy with the constant split screens, but the live footage from what looks like either a live show or the live dress rehearsal they performed at before the Say You Will Tour, is really great to see!!



[NOTES FROM YOUTUBE]
Fleetwood Mac- Peacekeeper Video. Directed by Lindsay Buckingham, Matt Baumann and Kyle Einhorn. The team that brought you FLEETWOOD MAC- DESTINY RULES. This gem has sat on a drive since 2004. Edited by Matt C Burnett. Assistant edited by Ryan Zuttermeister.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

FLEETWOOD MAC MEADOWLANDS, NJ REVIEW


FLEETWOOD MAC REVIEW Meadowlands, NJ.

This 27 year old review from a 1982 show in New Jersey is almost identical in content compared to reviews written about Fleetwood Mac shows in 2009.

Interesting that not a lot changes with these reviewers!

SARA WATKINS COVERS FLEETWOOD MAC

Fiddle player and vocalist Sara Watkins, formerly of the Grammy Award-winning group Nickel Creek with her brother Sean Watkins and mandolin player Chris Thile cover Lindsey Buckingham's "Steal Your Heart Away" live on Mountain Stage.

Steal Your Heart Away appears on Fleetwood Mac's 2003 release "Say You Will". This is quite different from the Fleetwood Mac version, but enjoyable nonetheless.

Monday, July 20, 2009

SECOND HAND NEWS REVISITED BY HOFFS AND SWEET

Lindsey Buckingham appears on Matthew Sweet and Susanna Hoff's take on Fleetwood Mac's Second Hand News a remake from their songs of the 70's CD "Under the Covers Vol 2"

You can listen to the track at the Sid and Susie Myspace page

Mentions of Stevie and Lindsey from a recent Magnet Magazine Interview with Matthew and Susanna:

MAGNET: Why did you move to L.A. from New York, Matthew?
Sweet: I came out here to record Altered Beast with Richard Dashut, and Dashut severely turned me on to L.A. He was like this magic leprechaun that showed me all the groovy, classic L.A. factors. He took me to all the different areas. He showed me the old clubs on Sunset Strip and took me by where Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham and him rented a house together (when Dashut produced Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours and Tusk). And Stevie would go down to Ben Franks on Sunset Boulevard and work all day, and they would sit at the house and smoke pot. He turned me on to the California dream sort of thing.

Any feedback from the original artists on your Under The Covers sets?
I know Mike Nesmith liked “Different Drum” from the first one. Who else? I’m sure the Raspberries will be thrilled (with “Go All The Way”). We met them when they played out here about a year ago. It would have been great to have had Wally Bryson and Eric Carmen play on that. We did get one of the original guys to play on the Fleetwood Mac song and the Yes song, and that was really fun. We got Lindsey Buckingham to play on “Second Hand News” and Steve Howe from Yes to play on “I’ve Seen All Good People.” He played a Portuguese 12-string and the crazy electric lead.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

PAULINE DOUCETTE MEETS STEVIE NICKS... FINALLY!


Fleetwood fabulous


LORI A. MAYNE

SUMMERSIDE – Pauline Doucette tried to bring back more than memories when she met her Fleetwood Mac idols.

She tried to bring back the band.

Doucette, 44, had the chance to chat with Stevie Nicks backstage at the band’s recent concert in Edmonton. Doucette wasted no time after learning Nicks needed some down time.

“If you want a nice, quiet place where there’s not a lot of traffic, why don’t you come to P.E.I.?” Doucette suggested. “Everybody loves Fleetwood Mac, but we’ll give you your space.”

Doucette fulfilled a lifelong dream seeing Fleetwood Mac perform.

The former Summerside resident, who now lives in Chelton, gained the name “Black Cloud Polly” for notorious bad luck. That unfortunate streak continued when she travelled to Edmonton for the Fleetwood Mac concert in May and it was postponed. Doucette, a single mom on disability pension, saved for months to cover the flight.

Hearing her story, the band promised an unforgettable concert experience.

An Alberta woman had donated air miles for Doucette’s flight this time. So the band ensured Doucette had luxury hotel, special seating, memorabilia and time with both Mick Fleetwood and Nicks.

Doucette and friend Shannon “Sugar” Doyle met Fleetwood on stage before the show. Doucette marveled at the drummer’s height and the casual way he sat on a stool, chatting and joking about insurance on his hands.

“He kissed me on the cheek twice!”

Doyle and Doucette got ushered backstage after the show to meet Nicks, who greeted Doucette with a big hug.

“She was exactly what I expected her to be.”

Doucette found Nicks’ voice sultry, her eyes like “black jewels.”

When Doucette asked for an autograph for her daughter, Jessica, Nicks noted she had a niece by the same name.

“I know that already,” confessed the die-hard fan.

Nicks held Doucette’s shaking hands as they chatted and said she was glad Doucette returned for the show.

Doyle teared up seeing Doucette fulfill her dream because she’s always the type to worry about others.

“This trip was all about her,” Doyle said.

Now back on the Island, Doucette has new nicknames.

Friends ask if they should call her Silver Lining Polly.

“A few of them call me Gold Dust Woman,” Doucette quipped.

STEVIE NICKS - A ROCK GODDESS SINCE THE 70'S


NewNowNext Icons: Stevie Nicks

A rock goddess since the 1970s, Stevie Nicks sits down with NewNowNext to discuss the origins of her bewitching persona, the devotion that fuels her fans, her take on Stevie drag queens, and the annual party that pays homage to her, Night of 1,000 Stevies.

Full 5 Part Feature can be viewed at the link below:


Watch