FLEETWOOD MAC – Bare Trees(Rhino Reserve)(RKTBR25)

Fleetwood Mac’s 1972 album Bare Trees is described as the band’s first consistently strong album that defined their post-blues musical personality with a mix of singer/songwriter tracks by Bob Welch and Christine McVie, alongside rock-oriented songs from Danny Kirwan. The album features themes of melancholy and the briefness of life, with a somber, earthy atmosphere suggested by the stark cover art and the final track, a spoken word poem called “Thoughts on a Grey Day”. It is noted for its blend of styles, balancing Kirwan’s harder-edged, boogie-like numbers with McVie’s more melodic compositions and Welch’s cooler, bluesy contributions, ultimately showcasing the band’s developing sound and growing confidence before their later commercial success.