Lindsey Buckingham - Law and Order

Buckingham's Early Work

This album is best described as his early quirky days as a solo artist. I only bought this album for the hit song from 1981 "Trouble". I'm looking forward in buying his latest CD "Gift of Screws". It has a few well written songs. And of course, I listen to Fleetwood Mac too from which he is a member. October 6, 2008

A MUSICAL PLAYHOUSE

I admit that I originally bought this cd for the song"TROUBLE" After jumping through the other tracks I always would return to the fore mentioned song.
It took me a while but I finally dared to really listen to the other songs.
(having the lyrics available really helps)I've got to say this is a really totally enjoyable album.I've gotten to appreciate Lindsey's versatile musical
ability all the while showing his amazing (occasionally dry) sense of humor.
This is a really fun album with a sometimes serious underlying message. July 20, 2007

Lindsey Buckingham - Law and Order

Love it, what can you say, its Lindsey Buckingham- one of the greatest musicians of all time. I love all his stuff, both alone, with Stevie Nicks, and of course in Fleetwood Mac. May 7, 2007

Daring solo debut

No one can ever accuse Lindsey Buckingham of playing it safe. For his first solo album apart from super-group Fleetwood Mac, Buckingham decided to continue the experimental sound that he began on 1979's TUSK. Instead of crafting a routine pop/rock effort that surely would have guaranteed commercial success, Buckingham chose to continue his pursuit of the testing the limits of the conventional rock sound. This results in a wildly eclectic, but fascinating, recording.

The bulk of LAW AND ORDER is given over to the skewed take on fifties rock n' roll that made up the bulk of TUSK. The breakneck tracks "Bwana" and "Mary Lee Jones" burst forth with a madcap energy that would have traumatized even Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry, while "I'll Tell You Now" and "Love from Here, Love from There" are harmonious, choral-driven love anthems that would make the Beach Boys proud. There is a carnal aggression behind "That's How We Do It in L.A." and "Johnny Stew," both of which mix nervy, warped instrumentation with a wicked sense of ironic humor. In between such aural chaos contains major pop gems like the haunting smash hit "Trouble" (#9 Pop, #12 Mainstream Rock) and the absolutely gorgeous "Shadows of the West."

All of Buckingham's original material is first-rate, although his success with cover songs is a mixed bag. Buckingham's helium voiced, paranoid cover of Skip & Flip's early-sixties' doo-wop hit "It Was I" is loopy fun, where all of the oddball production gimmicks combine to create a giddy masterpiece. Unfortunately, the covers of the Maxwell Anderson/Kurt Weill Tin Pan Alley standard "September Song" and Porter Wagner's country hit "Satisfied Mind" sound clanky and awkward under Buckingham's cluttered production, leaving them sounding more like a string of production tricks rather than actual songs. This is forgivable, however, given that it only occurs twice.

Although LAW AND ORDER was well-received by most music critics when originally released, it failed to match Stevie Nicks' concurrent solo release BELLA DONNA in sales and popularity. Still, LAW AND ORDER peaked at a respectable #32 on Billboard's Hot 200 and further solidified Buckingham's position as the current king of avant-garde rock. The disc is brave, bold, and daring, and will be best appreciated by more adventurous listeners. All the album's sum may be a little off, it's parts are often brilliant. October 12, 2006

"Trouble" alone is worth the price

Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac) released this solo effort in 1981, it includes my favorite song "Trouble". I can remember exactly where and when I was the first time I heard it . . . as if it were yesterday. I bought the album (vinyl) when it was released and then the CD, there is something about "Trouble" that I just can't get out of my head, not that I would ever want to.

Lindsey, an incredibly talented musician, really pushed the envelope on this album . . . maybe just a tad too far, at least for my tastes. There is some interesting music here, however, and the CD is more than worth the price just for the song "Trouble". December 31, 2005

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