For Christmas 2025, I received a poster listing 100 albums everyone should hear before they kick the proverbial bucket. So, in 2026, I intend to listen to every last one of ‘em and write about it here. Some I already adore, some I’ve never heard of, and some I’m utterly baffled as to why anyone would waste their time. Either way I’ll be sharing my thoughts and impressions on all 100 records throughout the year. I hope you enjoy the ride!

I daresay if you say the words ‘Fleetwood Mac’ to someone, then ‘Rumours’ is exactly what they think of. Not me though. I was always more enamoured with their earlier work - that featuring the legendary Peter Green - back when they were a British R&B band. Green Manalishi, Oh Well, Black Magic Woman, Albatross… that’s what plays in my head when I think of Fleetwood Mac. All soaring Les Paul solos and gritty riffs. Lovely.

As a result, I’ve never really gotten along with Rumours - or any of the other latter-day Mac that propelled them to superstardom. I’ve made attempts to get into ‘em, several in fact, but usually unsuccessfully. I’ve always just found this incarnation far too mainstream. Far too pop. Frankly, I’ve always thought it was a bit shite, and a sad reminder of what was lost when Green fried his brains with LSD.

Giving Rumours a whirl once more for this blog and I’m immediately reminded why I’ve always felt like that. Opener Second Hand News is so radio it hurts (complete with photo-Hanson MMMBop-style chorus) and I Don’t Want To Know sounds like the sort of thing my mother would bob along to in the kitchen. Hell, I’m not sure I even realised that the John Lewis ad’s interminable Don’t Stop was in fact a Fleetwood Mac classic from this very album.

It’s not all bad though I grant you. Go Your Own Way is a certified banger, and The Chain - despite predominantly being a reminder of Sunday afternoons sat watching the Grand Prix in my Dad’s living room - is an absolute classic. Outside of that though? Not for me this one. I think I’ll stick with Then Play On.