No secret that we’ve been anxiously waiting for Under The Skin, LB’s first solo release in fourteen years. The king of travis picking floored us with Out Of The Cradle, then pissed us off by rejoining Fleetwood Mac (again) for a where’s-Christine reunion tour and half-hearted protopolitical comeback album, Say You Will. That said, we’re thrilled Lindsey Buckingham, finally, is back with Under The Skin, released yesterday on the singer/songwriter’s 57th birthday. He addresses the absence from Stereogum’s iPod in opening track “Not Too Late.”
?Reading the paper, saw a review
Said I was a visionary, but nobody knew
Now that?s been a problem, feeling unseen
Just like I?m living somebody?s dream?
But listening to Under The Skin (which we’ve done 20+ times in the last week) it’s like he never left. Frenetic octave-hopping fingerpicking abounds, as does LB’s penchant for eschewing any traditional percussion. This time, however, lame drum machines have been replaced by the more organic tones of Lindsey tapping on the furniture of hotel rooms in which the album was recorded. If this album came from a new artist — maybe a Ray LaMontagne, as opposed to the mastermind of Rumours — we think it might find love among the indie kids (Buckingham is to guitar what Joanna Newsom is to harp). But this won’t be climbing up the elbo.ws charts, and neither we nor his label expect it to. Which is why there was no new media campaign for the CD. Or maybe they’re just clueless how great this album is.
As expected, a married-with-children confessional lyrical theme pervades most of the album. (Attn: baby-boomer rockers … we get it.) Lindsey’s breathy vocals would be lost in the mix had he not over-and-overdubbed them, but we can’t complain because we’re so enthralled by his virtuosity. “Shut Us Down,” which you could’ve heard if you were one of the 100 people who saw Elisabethtown, is prime show-off material, with blues licks in 6/8 time that take our breath away. The Stones’ Aftermath deepcut “I Am Waiting” gets a twee bedsit makeover. Donovan does too (“Try For The Sun,” previously leaked via Gift Of Screws). But if anyone could make us care it’s Lindsey Buckingham. He made a Rodgers & Hammerstein tune cool!
Moved as we are by Lindsey’s solo prowess, we’d be remiss not to give props to Fleetwood Mac rhythm section’s cameo on “Down On Rodeo.” It’s the one track that could’ve been a hit for the group if Stevie was singing and it came out a quarter century ago. All about the chorus on that one.
Not that we’re surprised: if you’ve heard “Countdown” or “Holiday Road” you know Lindsey is fully capable of crafting infectious pop tunes. “Countdown” used to be on heavy rotation on VH1! Although, that was when they played Ottmar Liebert on Sunday mornings.
Also worth mentioning is Gift Of Screws cut “Someone’s Gotta Change Your Mind” featuring Memphis horns arranged by David Campbell. That’s Beck’s dad, if you’re still with us.
We miss the anxiety and insanity of older tunes like “Wrong” and, well, “Go Insane,” but we’re told an electric record is on the way. Hopefully it won’t take 14 years.
To put this in proper (i.e., your) perspective, we give this album an 8.5, whereas Out Of The Cradle was a 9.5. That means buy both. Amazon | iTunes
Your gift for reading the whole post: Jordan from Snowden covering Fleetwood Mac.
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Thank you for being basically the only website to promote Lindsey’s album. It’s a shame more people won’t hear it. Out of the Cradle IS his best, but this one isn’t shabby at all.
Good post.
another lindsey buckingham post! you guys fucking rock! (not sarcasm)
The TV ads for this album appear to be Lindsey staring into his webcam – so any extra promotion is good. Thanks for the post and the excerpts.
Right on, Gummers. I’ve got some heavy-duty Lindsey love going on at Jefitoblog right now, including “Gift of Screws,” if’n you’re interested.
i love reading about lindsey. his work is mesmerizing. whether its the new material or the fairlight cmi backed work on go insane and the recorded on weekends pieces on trouble. this makes me so happy.
Scott,
Do you know anyone who got this CD from Barnes & Noble? They have a “special edition” that’s got a live version of “Say Goodbye…” I think that’s all.. I bought it on itunes and have been very please, but I’d love to hear the live version of Say Goodbye…
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/search/product.asp?z=y&WRK=11685230
57th b-day, not 52nd
3 days til his show at the Ryman… I’m pumped!!!
seriously. i always get hyped when there’s a post about Genesis or Fleetwood Mac. or Kaki King, who got a ridiculously bad review on Pitchfork today (4.7?!!). oh well. happens to the best of em (The Weird Weeds- 5.7!?).
and just to make things interesting, i’ll say cats like Lindsey Buckingham and (gasp!) Phil Collins are better songwriters than 90% of the indie and/or major label dudes out there today.
Well, it’s about time, that’s all I gotta say.
Many of these songs, including the sublime “Down On Rodeo” were sneak-released as the internet album “Gift Of Screws” quite a few years ago. Like the Matthews Band’s “Lillywhite Sessions” and subsequent “Busted Stuff”, it’s good to have these songs out and legal.
And anyone who has the nerve to rag on Buckingham because of his past glories has got to be an idiot. When did Indie Rock culture get so anal that the devotees could possibly shun plain, good music because the things actually sold a few? “Rumours” remains an incredible bit of pop/rock and thank God Lindsey’s still in the game.
DwD
Lindsey sounds great on this disc & he’s touring again. If you go see him live, show some respect and keep your mouth shut during the songs. I mean it. Thank you.
i got the barnes & noble version. i had requested the regular one, but i guess b&n won’t put it in the store until the exlusive is done. i would have preferred the version without Say Goodbye tacked to the end, but if you haven’t checked out lindsey’s pbs soundstage performance, then you might enjoy hearing stevie nicks join him for the last track. however.. in my opinion, when flying down juniper ends, the cd should end, without the unfortunate interruption of applause at the beginning of the live Say Goodbye cut and an the applause that ends the cd. it was a full work (maybe a bit short, but still) with a nice theme and flow, and say goodbye kind of ruined that for me.
Is My Little Demon on this album? Or did he decide to give that garbage exclusively to Fleetwood Mac?www.mydailyzen.com
he’s SUCH an underrated guitarist. it’s a shame.
So happy to finally have this disc. I love it and I’m very much looking forward to seeing him live for the first time in a couple of weeks (from the front row, no less).
Great stuff. I LOVE Out Of The Cradle and think this album is even better. Tasteful and tasty production.