Penguin by Fleetwood Mac, Album Review

Fleetwood Mac's seventh studio album Penguin was released in 1973. After guitarist Danny Kirwan left, the band hired guitarist Bob Weston and vocalist Dave Walker. This would be the only album to feature Walker as the band decided his singing style did not fit the band. Although it is often considered one of the band's weakest releases, it sold well in the US and reached the top 50, their highest charting album at the time.

Simply because the band speeds up the tempo, several songs on their third soft-rock affair play as the band's best since Kiln House. Not only do the faster songs sound like a better fit for the band, but I'm more likely to tolerate Welch's dreamy stuff when it does show up. Christine McVie's voice also sounds better in this environment, boasting more personality and femininity. As Welch and McVie get closer to finding their footing though, the new lineup struggles to find confidence and chemistry together. Dave Walker contributes the two worst songs, which don't make any effort to sound at home with band, and, highlighted by the steel drums on "Did You Ever Love Me" and cheesy production, they are several amateurish artistic choices that confuse the project. C+