Search - Lindsey Buckingham :: Out of the Cradle

Best solo work of his career

R. Moser | Virginia | 12/16/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If there were any lingering doubt about who best shaped the Fleetwood Mac sound of the 70's and 80's, this album should remove it. Out of the Cradle is a phenomenal achievement by the former frontman of the Mac. Lindsey, from what's been reported, spent three solid years writing, arranging, producing and performing this disc, and the efforts paid off. There are several upbeat tracks, but just as many slower, more introspective cuts that really showcase his intensity as a performer. Except for some help on two or three songs, Lindsey was the sole musician on this album. His acoustic guitar playing has never before been captured this well, and the overall production is crystalline. The best upbeat cuts are Don't Look Down, Countdown and Doing What I Can, which all have hints of production techniques employed on Fleetwood Mac's last studio album, Tango in the Night; such as the layering and sampling of vocals, and the emphasis on the aural presence of the drums and percussion. But the slower songs, again, are the most impressive. All My Sorrows, Soul Drifter and Street of Dreams show the deep emotional commitment Lindsey brought to making this disc. As is usually the case with music this strong, it was completely ignored by American radio stations."

One of the decade's greatest pop albums

12/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many call this the greatest record Fleetwood Mac never made. Song for song, this is Lindsey Buckingham's masterpiece. It is no wonder that he spent years in his home studio crafting these little works of genius. By far the best of Buckingham's three solo records, Out of the Cradle shows huge growth in his songwriting and more jaw-dropping guitar work. The fact that this album only sold a few hundred thousand copies is a testament to the sad state of radio in this country (or a lazy record company). This album is just as much a requirement for serious music fans as Pet Sounds and Rubber Soul. The only negative -- we have to wait way too long for his next release."

The "Prince" of adult comtemporary rock...

Thomas Moody | STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS United States | 07/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Having just seen the 2003 Fleetwood Mac tour in Dallas, I was most impressed by the strength and intensity of Lindsey Buckingham's performance. At 54 years old, he can still "bring it" with the best guitarists around today, so I felt compelled to re-listen to his (still) latest solo work "Out of the Cradle" and share a short review.Most fans of Buckingham discuss his virtuoso guitar performance on this CD, but few speak to his overall musicianship...he's one of the few latter day musicians that can walk into the studio and walk out with a complete album all on his own (he gets minor help on three songs). Prince of yesteryear was also one of these types and the similarities between these two brilliant and enigmatic artists is striking. Visionary music while still maintaining "listenability" is truly a gift that both has had over the years (in my opinion) and Buckingham certainly has maintained this on all his solo albums. This one still maintains a freshness and immediacy ten years following it's initial release.Certainly his guitar performances stand out on this work (I'd say moreso than his previous solo works), but his song structure and production capabilities most impress me on this album. The underlying driving rhythm on songs like "Wrong" and "Countdown" coupled with the layered guitar work (both rhythm and solo) make this CD delightfully different than "Law and Order" and "Go Insane"...and much different than anything that I've heard from Fleetwood Mac (I haven't heard the new album yet,however). These facts further solidify what I've felt for years...that Lindsey truly is THE artistic backbone of Fleetwood Mac and is equally responsible for their remarkable success over the years.If you get a chance to see the "Mac" in this latest tour, I'm sure that you'll agree that Lindsey Buckingham is still a standout performer and hopefully it will compel him to release a follow-up to this intriguing CD. Highly recommended!!"