Nobody was more excited about the prospect of a new Fleetwood Mac album in 2003 than me, so even if the Mac put out a relatively "bad" album, it would still have been alright because it is "The Mac," as I have always known and loved them. But if they had put out a phenomenal album, and if they garnered a new generation of admirers as well as the commercial success they so richly deserve, I would have been downright ecstatic. That said, I am very happy if not exactly ecstatic about the new album.

New albums by superstar rock artists entering the fourth or fifth (as is the case with the Mac) decades of their careers are not entirely scarce. Bands like CSN(Y), Yes, Boston, and the Rolling Stones continue to issue [bad] albums that usually prove to do little more than to tarnish their bodies of work and provide excuses to go on nostalgia tours. Then there are the rarer veteran artists who continue to create relevant, challenging music- like Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Patti Smith, etc. With "Say You Will," I can rest assured that the Mac belongs in the latter category rather than the former. This newest album has drawn comparisons to the Mac's legendary 70's output such as "Rumours" or "Tusk." But those comparisons miss the point entirely. As brilliant as "Rumours" was, it was a by-product of the lite-FM California sound at the time. "Tusk" was Lindsey Buckingham's reaction to punk and new wave. I can say with confidence that "Say You Will" seems to exist in its own timespace that stands apart from everything they have done in the past. While obviously taking cues from contemporary music and the Mac formula of triumphs past, on "Say You Will" Lindsey pushes the envelope in terms of production and arrangement. There is not a producer/musician/songwriter today who can create the orchestra of guitars that Lindsey has painstakingly framed around each of these songs. And where past Mac efforts may have sounded a bit too sweet or overproduced, "Say You Will" contains enough of a raw edge and space that keeps it from being too comfortable.

While the production and sonic texture push the envelope musically, the material is sometimes not up to par. Where Lindsey has been a solid, if not particularly profound songwriter in the past, his newest compositions are either very generic ("Miranda") or very abstract/impressionistic. There are quirky moments that actually work, such as "Red Rover," which is a fragmented sketch of a song, but is salvaged by Lindsey's layered production and virtuoso guitar technique. But other songs like "Murrow..." seem self-indulgent and unfocused.

Stevie Nicks's contributions also run the gamut from solidly sublime ("Say You Will," "Thrown Down") to subpar ("Everybody Finds Out," "Silver Girl"). But Nicks does manage to knock it out of the ballpark completely with the propulsive 80's rocker "Running Through the Garden," which is perhaps the strongest Nicks vocal since her "Rock a Little" days. Another song that gets better upon repeated listening is "Destiny Rules," with its haunting backing vocal arrangements and sparse arrangement. In general, Nicks's voice seems to have rebounded somewhat from the years of drug abuse and smoking. But her croaky, sheepish lower register is problematic. As such, some of her songs could have benefitted from a key change a couple of full steps higher.

In summary, this is a full, challenging, satisfying effort from the Mac. It is certainly not their best effort as a group, but it is definitely superior to their recent solo outings. As the old saying goes, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. If there is any justice in the world, this album will attract a new generation of listeners and sell a bazillion copies. But the main hurdle to that is the fact that it is simply too bold for total mainstream acceptance and does not feature any duets with Justin Timberlake and Michelle Branch.

Too many people have misjudged this record by summing up their evaluations after a preliminary listen. With a jaw-dropping 18 song track list, this album needs to be played a few times before one can appreciate its brilliance. I, too was lukewarm when I first heard the album. Having had it for over a month, I can honestly say that it is one of the best Fleetwood Mac albums ever, second only to Rumours. I find myself wanting to listen to it every day, it's that good. Every song is a standout as if the album was a collection of greatest hits. Equally amazing is the excellent musicianship is in the band after all these years. Both Stevie and Lindsey are in fine form, vocally and musically and have written some of their best material ever. This is Fleetwood Mac's Supernatural and should go on to multi-platinum success. I'm willing to bet that this album will win big at next year's Grammy and American Music Awards.

With so many great songs, it's hard to pick favorites. However, Peacemaker, Say You Will, Murrow Turning in his Grave, Say Goodbye, Thrown Down, Flowers in the Garden come to mind. Peacemaker benefits from Stevie's gorgeous background alongside Lindsey's. A beautiful melody, it should be higher in the charts. An appropriate choice as the lead-off single given the tie-in to modern times and also because it's catchy and positively proclaims the Mac is back. The title track promises to be a big hit, especially in the crossover and country charts. This is the song that will draw audiences to Fleetwood Mac.

Of the two albums I was looking forward to, the other being Madonna's, I can honestly state that this is the better record. The harmonies and slick production are perfectly in sync with the mood and tempo of the songs. This album proves that FM is not content to ride on the coattails of their past glory. Though some songs have a characteristic FM sound, many others explore new areas, partcularly Lindey's Murrow and Come.

I own both the Special Edition and the DVD-Audio. The DVD-Audio is worth getting for improved clarity of the stereo mix but I found the 5.1 Dolby Digital performance to be lacking. The mix is bright and lacking in bass. I don't have a DVD-Audio player so I can't comment on the DVD Audio performance. The other misgiving I have is with the menus on the DVD Audio disc which don't allow you to pause or fast forward. However, the stereo performance more than makes up for the deficiencies. All in all, an awesome album and highly recommended in any format. I'll conclude with a listing of my top 5 FM albums::

1 Rumours
2 Say You Will
3 Tango in the Night
4 Tusk
5 Fleetwood Mac

OK, where do I start with this album? Like just about everybody I know, I have been a Fleetwood Mac fan just about all my life. This album delivers a good solid Fleetwood Mac performance, with their edgy, ever interesting - and ever changing - sound. None of these tunes hit it big as singles, but they are great songs nonetheless. My personal favorites are Say You Will and Say Goodbye, both of which are excellent!

My one and only complaint against this wonderful album is that they laid some protection on it, to keep the pirates off, but it also keeps me from playing it on my computer. I listen to CDs on my computer at work, but I cannot listen to this one. :-(

But, that said, this is a very good Fleetwood Mac album, one that I enjoy listening to every chance I get. I highly recommend this album.

There has been some complaint that SAY YOU WILL doesn't sound like a typical Fleetwood Mac album. The irony, of course, is that there really isn't any such thing as a "typical" Fleetwood Mac album. With a history stretching back to the 1960s and line ups that have included Peter Green, Jeremy Spenser, Bob Welch, Billy Burnette and Rick Vito, the band has never really generated a consistent sound. And that has even been true of the "golden" line up of Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie, and Mick Fleetwood, whose work has run from the folk-hard rock fusion of their blockbuster RUMORS to the angst-ridden and anxious art rock of TUSK to the chime-like pop gloss of MIRAGE. So if you expect the same thing you've heard before, you're out of luck--and that's pretty much true regardless of which Fleetwood Mac albums you happen to be comparing at the moment.

SAY YOU WILL is easily the most edgy album the band has done since TUSK: at times grating, jarring, and incredibly dissonant, at times lyric and liquid and smooth. At it's best, it is Fleetwood Mac at their best; at it's worst, it's at least interesting. The CD is a bit slow to start, with a streak of four selections ("What's the World Coming To," "Murrow Turning Over In His Grave," "Illume," and "Throw Down") more interesting than actually enjoyable--but the Mac hits its stride with the fifth cut, "Miranda," and from there it never lets up, belting out one memorable selection after another.

But there's something missing here, and it's Christine McVie. Both Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks are what you might call extreme artists, each in their own way working in opposite directions, and left to their own devices they can edge toward the self-indulgent. And in her absence, it becomes very obvious that the cool edge Christine McVie brings to the band with her rain-spattered blue voice and meticulously crafted pop melodies has been the artistic bridge between the two extremes; her sound--be it at the keyboard or her graceful and perfectly controlled vocals--is sorely missed here; without it, the band seems to lack a center.

All of that said, and while SAY YOU WILL falls short of the mark in Christine McVie's absence, it is still a solid Fleetwood Mac album--and perhaps more than any other of their albums it is one that requires several listenings before you begin to develop a feel for what Lindsey, Stevie, John, and Mick are creating here. Recommended--but if you're expecting the Fleetwood Mac of RUMORS, you'll be just as disappointed by SAY YOU WILL as you probably were by TUSK. And Christine McVie, if you're reading this, we all need you back with the Mac!

--GFT (Amazon reviewer)--

First off let me say that I am a big fan of the way Lindsey Buckingham can craft tunes. With striking lush vocals and intricate guitar parts he is appreciated by many a fan and deserves much respect for putting this disc together. That said however, no one in the current Fleetwood Mac is dragging their feet either. Stevie has written some great songs for this album and her delivery is strong and heart felt. The grooves that John McVie and Mick Fleetwood assemble could make the most lethargic drone tap their feet in joy, ie; the title track 'Say you Will'.
There's alot of music on this disc with eighteen songs clocking in over 76 minutes. Most of the songs are stellar while some don't do much for me, like the song 'Come' with a chorus that sounds like it belongs in a Audioslave tune. I felt it took a few tunes until the record caught it's stride. Favorites for me include: 'Thrown Down' a catchy Nicks tune with a sweet chorus. "Red Rover" is a frantic Buckingham gem with a bit of a disturbed chorus, the only gripe is that I thought it needed bass from McVie to give it more bottom. "Say you Will" is a perfect pop tune delivered compliments of Stevie. "Peacekeeper" is the haunting first released single. "Smile at You" is an understated Nicks tune draped in lush vocals and melodic bass from John. "Running through the Garden" I thought is a good uptempo tune but with a keyboard part that sounds a little too 80's like. "Steal Your Heart Away" is a beautiful sunny tune with lyrics "all alone we go all day after day/all alone we suffer oh to steal your heart away". My personal favorite track is "Say Goodbye" penned by Buckingham. It's some of his most divine guitar playing wedded to some of his most self revealing lyrics. It's so sadly beautiful you'll find the images evoking strong emotions. You'll have to hear it to believe song crafting is still this good. This record leaves me optimistic about the state of popular music today and points to finely crafted songs not marketing hype.