Most won’t believe it, but this is one of the best studio 

records of 2003. The usual marketing frenzy accompanying their 

releases /label initiatives/ made me to opt out of hearing it 

back then. This time I mistook it for something older and got 

surprised upon hearing it. It’s a brainchild of the 

relationship of Nicks — Buckingham, kind of a mini-rock opera 

spread over 18 tracks. It’s even loosely based on the Black 

call & response vocal tradition. The monstrous “Murrow Turning 

Over in His Grave” has a few ‘delic layers of sonic brilliance. 

Lindsey Buckingham adds so amazing psych guitar sounds you 

would wonder how did he catch up with Peter Green as I thought 

it’s him in the beginning. Definitely it’s one of the best 

tracks of the year. The other main surprise comes from Nicks. 

In “Illume (9/11)”, written as an opus, she belts it out as if 

she’s Joan Jett or Bette Middler. 9/11 is used mainly as a 

turning point in the couple’s life, served as a unification in 

hard times. Even the potential hit “Peacekeeper” has a powerful 

charge.

You could not miss the gentle gesture of Christine McVie who 

withdrew from the project, obviously allowing space for a tale 

in the name of Buckingham — Nicks. Most tunes in the middle 

reflect on the ups & downs of the story — “Smile at You”, 

“Running Through the Garden” ( a mighty Nicks work, her best 

ever!), “Steel Your Heart Away”, “Bleed to Love Her”, “Destiny

Rules”. Sensitively touching are the 2 closing pieces, softly 

lyrical & sonically rich at the same time — his “Say Goodbye” & 

hers “Goodbye Baby”. Overall Lindsey’s guitar work makes you 

wonder why didn’t he try to apply it on some of the older 

records.

Last but not least Little Steven also missed to notice it even 

though he usually spins new releases of Rock dinosaurs — R. 

Plant, the Who, Ringo etc.