Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie

Lindsey Buckingham & Christine McVie EAST WEST. CD/DL

Fleetwood Mac’s new notquite Fleetwood Mac album.

The party line is that Stevie NicksÕ solo commitments have forced Fleetwood Mac to put their next album on hold. But as the recent Tango In The Night reissue proved, Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie were often the bandÕs great unsung partnership. Confusingly, this duets album also includes bass guitarist John McVie and drummer Mick Fleetwood, making it essentially Fleetwood Mac, minus Nicks. McVie brings the sing-song pop (Feel About You, Red Sun) and the slightly cloying Game Of Pretend; Buckingham, the whispered vocals and fingernail-splitting guitar solos on Sleeping Around The Corner and Love Is Here To Stay, plus the albumÕs best song: the nagging and melancholy In My World. Does it miss Stevie Nicks? Yes, just as the last Fleetwood Mac album, 2003Õs Say You Will, missed Christine McVie. But until all parties can sync their calendars, this will do nicely.