A great taste of FM before they became immensly famous....

"Bare Trees" is an excellent choice of music for a rainy day. The first track, "Child of Mine," showcases Danny Kirwan's masterful guitar and vocal work. He is definetly not the most famous member of Fleetwood Mac (bear with me, because I refer to them as "FM"), but he does a damn good job on this song. Next is "The Ghost." Awesome Bob Welch work. He has a really smooth jazzy voice, and this proves it. The chorus is awesome and sounds like it was made way before its time.... The third song is "Homeward Bound." A song that sounds like it was made for the late 1960s. The song (to me) seems like it should be at the end of the album. Then, "Sunny Side of Heaven" comes around. AWESOME GUITAR BY DANNY KIRWAN!!!! It is really relaxing, and picks you up and takes you on a journey far, far away. The fifth track is "Bare Trees." This is another fine Danny Kirwan tune. It makes me want to dance! "Sentimental Lady" is up next. I LOVE THIS SONG!!!! It is soft, and Bob Welch's voice is at its best (very jazzy and smooth....). "Danny's Chant" is hands down the weirdest song I've ever heard. "Spare Me A Little of Your Love" is a great Christine McVie song. Her voice is majestic and beautiful. It's the kind of tune FM should be playing on their current concert tours (yes, it would sound good with Lindsey and Stevie singing it too....). "Dust." This song really stands out. Even though it is about death, (and after hearing "Danny's Chant," I've had it up to here with Danny Kirwan) it is still a cool sounding song. "Thoughts of a Grey Day" is the last track on the CD. I don't understand the poem, but it was written and spoken by a little cute old lady who enjoys writing poetry.

In conclusion, this CD is a must own for any FM fan. It doesn't matter if you can't get enough of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks, everyone should hear this CD at least once. Come on - give it a chance. YOU KNOW YOU WANT IT!

Kirwan carries the day

Fleetwood Mac recorded Bare Trees in 1972 when Danny Kirwan was only 22. He was filing the large shoes of legend Peter Green which at the time was the consensus guitar god of the era. Folk would write "Clapton is God" on the subway walls in London, only to have others write underneath "Green is better than God". The Mac also had lost guitarist Jeremey Spencer and his rock and roll revival stage antics, thus pushing the shy guitarist Kirwan out into the spotlight. A place he would rather not be. Kirwan steps up, however, and delivers 5 top-notch songs for the Mac which all hold up to the high standards already in place in the band with Christine McVie. Newcomer Bob Welch adds a couple fine songs here most notably "Sentimental Lady". Kirwan's guitar is all over the tracks blending several styles, too boot. It's a nice look into the shy guitarists songbag at a very early age. Especially nice that his talents in songwriting seem to be beyond his young years. Everyone knows about Kirwan's later life problems and everyone knows about the things to come for the Mac, but the real story here is Kirwan's talents on a rather obscure Mac effort.

Straightforward Rock

The epitome of 70s Album-Oriented Rock - no corny Pop here. Gut-level and straightforward, much of "Bare Trees" listening charm pleasurably lies on a field that is neither abstract, say to the extent of Yes, nor is it one bit boring! A reasonable analogy, for those who've never heard this disc, is...oh...say an Up-tempoed Grateful Dead that is also magnified by assertive guitar and drums.



Little-known Danny Kirwan, who originally joined the band as back-up guitarist in 1968 and at the time of this recording (1972) was undergoing profound psychological turmoil that would force him from the band, SOMEHOW managed to come through with his best songwriting ever (catchy - fabulous hooks). Kirwan is also very, very generous with electric guitar solos here as well. Bob Welch, to be of later '70s brief Solo fame, was a back-up guitarist on this Lp and contributed a couple of his own tunes also. Young Christine McVie adds the PERFECT backdrop canvas of organ 'n' piano for the guitar-based tracks on "Bare Trees". She would be more upfront in the band in later years.



This album is not rated 5-Stars because it has any historical value, rather it earns this top rating because it SOUNDS so friggin good. Makes the listener feel good.