Fleetwood Mac retreated from the insular strangeness of
Tusk and returned to straightforward pop songcraft for
Mirage. Boasting a glossy, friendly production that makes even the lesser numbers pleasant and ingratiating,
Mirage may not be as compelling as its two predecessors --
Rumours had raw emotion to give it a core, and
Tusk had Lindsey Buckingham's runaway ambition -- but the popcraft of Buckingham,
Christine McVie, and
Stevie Nicks results in enough terrific songs -- notably the hit singles "Gypsy," "Love in Store," and "Hold Me" -- to make the album enjoyable. [An Expanded Edition was released in 2016 and included alternate versions and outtakes.]