#216: Don McLean - American Pie (1971)

Zack: I first tried to listen to this album like four months ago, but got bored and just sort of game up halfway through. American Pie – the song – is epic enough in its storytelling to hold your attention with its twists and turns and good ol’ boys drinking whiskey and rye (trick statement: Rye is a type of whiskey. Almost had me, Don McLean!). But some songs, even though they’re all much shorter, just sort of don’t have that pizazz. As has been the case with several of the folk albums we’ve listened to, you really have to focus in on the lyrics to appreciate the music, because everything else is just so no frills. I liked Vincent and The Grave a lot for that reason. But other songs just sort of blended together if they didn’t have something lyrically to stand out.

Favorite Tracks: American Pie; The Grave; Vincent

Emily: Every time I hear American Pie, I automatically start singing the Weird Al version about Star Wars Episode 1. As Zack will begrudgingly admit, I haven’t even seen a single Star Wars movie, but that version was played on Radio Disney all the time during my childhood so I know it way better than the real song. And who can deny the awesomeness of a song that starts, “A long long time ago, in a galaxy far away”? Regardless, Don McLean’s original American Pie is an American folk classic commemorating the untimely death of Buddy Holly. The rest of the album doesn’t quite fit the rambling storytelling style of the title track, but focuses on a more quiet style of folk. Unfortunately, that style just isn’t as engaging as the album goes on. A few tracks stood out for their lyrics, but otherwise the album seemed long and a bit sleepy. I’d rather listen to American Pie a few more times…or perhaps just The Saga Begins.

Favorite Tracks: American Pie; The Grave; Crossroads

#215: Fleetwood Mac - Rumours (1977)

Emily: It's been quite a while since I've written one of these, so forgive me if my usual eloquence (or semblance thereof) is lacking. I thoroughly enjoyed Rumours. Of course I knew Go Your Own Way, and a few other tracks sounded familiar, but as a whole the album was unfamiliar to me. It's beautifully crafted from the melodies to the harmonies to the lyrics, with honesty and emotion that runs throughout. It's tough to believe the infighting and tension that stemmed from the creation of Rumours, though perhaps the album's beauty stems from these problems as well. Each member of the band has their own style that shows through in the tracks they each wrote, from the upbeat harmonies of Go Your Own Way (by Lindsay Buckingham) to the more simple and soulful Dreams from the mind of Stevie Nicks. Each member could be a solo artist in their own right, but together they shine brightest - even in the midst of that shine burning out.
Favorite Tracks: Dreams; Oh Daddy; Don't Stop

Zack: Literally minutes before I started listening to this album, a buddy of mine put on a song and remarked “I think I like Fleetwood Mac more than a 20-year-old boy should.” He then started to sing along with Stevie Nicks and there might have been one or two tears. And while there certainly is some cliché to go with that (something about truer words, I suspect), I can commiserate. Because I am a 22-year-old boy and I like Fleetwood Mac. I’d never listened to all of Rumours, but now I have and it is a damn fine album. Dreams is my favorite song by them, and that’s right there. Tremendous. Then there are plenty of other goodies. They vary the song styles from track to track, no doubt a consequence of the multi-writer approach, and I can certainly appreciate that. This is, frankly, just a great album and I’m so glad I finally had occasion to listen to it all the way through.

Favorite Tracks: Dreams; The Chain; You Make Loving Fun