Few can disagree that Lindsey Buckingham’s involvement with Fleetwood Mac, particularly during the mid 1970s to late 1980s, helped to shape the group into a successful pop music machine, churning out hit albums such as Fleetwood Mac, Rumours, Mirage, and Tango In The Night. While Fleetwood Mac represented the more commercial side of Buckingham, his solo career, with a few exceptions, represents his more artistic side. His first three solo albums had hit singles (Law & Order had Trouble, Go Insane had its title track, and Out of the Cradle had Countdown), but the bulk of the material was much more personal and experimental. His latest solo effort, Seeds We Sow, is a continuation of more personal and experimental artistry, and makes up the bulk of his latest concert video, Songs From The Small Machine - Live In L.A.
Lindsey Buckingham: Songs From The Small Machine - Live In L.A.
Studio: Eagle Vision
US BD Release Date: November 1, 2011
Original Release Year: 2011
Rated: Not Rated
Running Time: 108 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: PCM 2.0 Stereo, Dolby Digital 4.0, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles: English, German, Spanish, French (bonus materials only)
Movie: 4.5 out of 5
Videotaped before a sold out audience at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on April 22, 2011, Lindsey Buckingham proves his mastery as a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter in Songs From The Small Machine - Live In L.A. The concert opens with Lindsey performing acoustical solo versions of Shout Us Down, Go Insane, Never Going Back Again, and Big Love. The performances are extremely intimate, with very soft-spoken introductions to the songs. Go Insane is even more haunting here in its slower, acoustic version compared to its much faster and more electronic (and heavily produced) album version.
Lindsey is then joined on stage by his touring band, consisting of Brett Tuggle on Bass and Keyboards, Neale Heywood on Guitar, and Walfredo Reyes, Jr. on Drums and Percussion. The quartet literally rock the house down with a mix of older solo favorites (All My Sorrows, Turn It On), Fleetwood Mac hits (Second Hand News, Tusk, Go Your Own Way), and new songs from Seeds We Sow (In Our Own Time, Illumination, Stars Are Crazy, That’s The Way Love Goes). Lindsey closes the show as he opened, with an acoustical solo performance of Seeds We Sow.
The full set list of the concert:
The lighting, videography, and editing keep the concert visually entertaining, capturing the nuances of the performances of Buckingham and his band, providing the viewer with, perhaps, the best seats in the house. This is an incredible concert by one of rock’s more understated musicians.
Video: 4 out of 5
Compressed with the AVC codec in 1080i, black levels are excellent, with vibrant colors and exceptional detail. As the concert progresses, one can see the beads of perspiration on Buckingham’s forehead, as well as his beard stubble. In addition, the wood grain on the guitars are also clearly visible. There is some occasional noise during some of the long shots from the cheap seats, particularly during darkly lit sections of the show, but this is hardly noticeable.
Audio: 4.5 out of 5
The audio is available in three flavors, uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo (at 1.5 Mbps), Dolby Digital 4.0 (flagged as 5.1 at 448 kbps), and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (maxing out at 5.6 Mbps). The obvious choice is the DTS-HD MA track, with incredible dynamic range and bass response. The track accurately captures the quieter passages of Go Insane and Never Going Back Again as well as the rocking Tusk, End Of Time, Turn It On, with no distortion. Mixed by Lindsey Buckingham and Neale Heywood, this is a very warm-sounding recording, with all of the instruments and performances possibly more audible than they would have been at the venue.
Special Features: 3.5 out of 5
Interview With Lindsey Buckingham (31:20): The only special feature is a candid interview with Lindsey Buckingham. The musician discusses his upbringing and teaching himself how to play guitar, Buckingham/Nicks, how he and then-girlfriend Stevie Nicks were invited to join Fleetwood Mac, the label and band’s disappointment with the sales of Tusk, and his solo career.
Overall: 4.5 out of 5
The disc is a must-have for any fan of Lindsey Buckingham or Fleetwood Mac, with one of the best sounding live recordings I’ve heard on a concert video. Highly recommended.
US BD Release Date: November 1, 2011
Original Release Year: 2011
Rated: Not Rated
Running Time: 108 minutes
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Audio: PCM 2.0 Stereo, Dolby Digital 4.0, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
Subtitles: English, German, Spanish, French (bonus materials only)
Movie: 4.5 out of 5
Videotaped before a sold out audience at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on April 22, 2011, Lindsey Buckingham proves his mastery as a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter in Songs From The Small Machine - Live In L.A. The concert opens with Lindsey performing acoustical solo versions of Shout Us Down, Go Insane, Never Going Back Again, and Big Love. The performances are extremely intimate, with very soft-spoken introductions to the songs. Go Insane is even more haunting here in its slower, acoustic version compared to its much faster and more electronic (and heavily produced) album version.
Lindsey is then joined on stage by his touring band, consisting of Brett Tuggle on Bass and Keyboards, Neale Heywood on Guitar, and Walfredo Reyes, Jr. on Drums and Percussion. The quartet literally rock the house down with a mix of older solo favorites (All My Sorrows, Turn It On), Fleetwood Mac hits (Second Hand News, Tusk, Go Your Own Way), and new songs from Seeds We Sow (In Our Own Time, Illumination, Stars Are Crazy, That’s The Way Love Goes). Lindsey closes the show as he opened, with an acoustical solo performance of Seeds We Sow.
The full set list of the concert:
- Shut Us Down
- Go Insane
- Trouble
- Never Going Back Down
- Big Love
- Under The Skin
- All My Sorrows
- In Your Own Time
- Illumination
- Second Hand News
- Tusk
- Stars Are Crazy
- End Of Time
- That’s The Way Love Goes
- I’m So Afraid
- Go Your Own Way
- Turn It On
- Treason
- Seeds We Sow
The lighting, videography, and editing keep the concert visually entertaining, capturing the nuances of the performances of Buckingham and his band, providing the viewer with, perhaps, the best seats in the house. This is an incredible concert by one of rock’s more understated musicians.
Video: 4 out of 5
Compressed with the AVC codec in 1080i, black levels are excellent, with vibrant colors and exceptional detail. As the concert progresses, one can see the beads of perspiration on Buckingham’s forehead, as well as his beard stubble. In addition, the wood grain on the guitars are also clearly visible. There is some occasional noise during some of the long shots from the cheap seats, particularly during darkly lit sections of the show, but this is hardly noticeable.
Audio: 4.5 out of 5
The audio is available in three flavors, uncompressed PCM 2.0 stereo (at 1.5 Mbps), Dolby Digital 4.0 (flagged as 5.1 at 448 kbps), and DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (maxing out at 5.6 Mbps). The obvious choice is the DTS-HD MA track, with incredible dynamic range and bass response. The track accurately captures the quieter passages of Go Insane and Never Going Back Again as well as the rocking Tusk, End Of Time, Turn It On, with no distortion. Mixed by Lindsey Buckingham and Neale Heywood, this is a very warm-sounding recording, with all of the instruments and performances possibly more audible than they would have been at the venue.
Special Features: 3.5 out of 5
Interview With Lindsey Buckingham (31:20): The only special feature is a candid interview with Lindsey Buckingham. The musician discusses his upbringing and teaching himself how to play guitar, Buckingham/Nicks, how he and then-girlfriend Stevie Nicks were invited to join Fleetwood Mac, the label and band’s disappointment with the sales of Tusk, and his solo career.
Overall: 4.5 out of 5
The disc is a must-have for any fan of Lindsey Buckingham or Fleetwood Mac, with one of the best sounding live recordings I’ve heard on a concert video. Highly recommended.
