The Return of Tusk: Fleetwood Mac's Exotic Classic Expands
By Mike Ragogna
When Fleetwood Mac's Tusk finally was unveiled to the masses back in 1979, it critically dropped like a white elephant. After releasing two of the best, almost flawless pop albums of the seventies--Rumours and Fleetwood Mac--folks expected the band's formula of non-stop, potential singles to remain intact. Instead, Tusk spread its sonic experimentation across two albums, its creative overlord, Lindsey Buckingham, having utilized virtually every studio toy at his disposal. Add to that USC's marching band drumline-ing across the focus single/title track with servings of un-Mac-like musical performances and song lengths, and you get Buckingham's musical vision/version of what a late-seventies album was supposed to be. Fleetwood Mad had arrived and considering the relationship breakdowns and band's highly-publicized drug culture, it was a miracle this previously-considered overthought, overwrought product made it to vinyl at all.
