(Eagle Vision; 125 mins)

www.eaglerockent.com

BY LEE ZIMMERMAN

What's Fleetwood Mac without Lindsey Buckingham? Good question, considering what became of the band's innocuous incarnation that followed in the wake of his departure. On the other hand, some might ask what's Lindsey Buckingham without Fleetwood Mac? Despite some sumptuous solo albums, it could be argued that Buckingham was at his best when he had Mac's vocal and instrumental arsenal in tow.

Not surprisingly then, the biggest crowd pleasers on this two hour plus DVD (recorded live this past April at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills) are those drawn from the Mac cannon - "Never Going Back Again," "Big Love," "Tusk" and "Go Your Own Way," chief among them. Even when Buckingham performs them in solo mode, the treatments invite the audience to fill in the gaps. For the better part of the first few songs, Buckingham opts for a stripped down approach, demonstrating the lithe yet fluid picking technique that marks his signature style. Yet standing alone on the Saban's massive stage, Buckingham seems dwarfed by its expanse, and even though his anecdotal comments help narrow the communal divide between artist and audience, the sparse arrangements seem better suited to a smaller venue.

Once he's joined by his band - Brett Tuggle on bass and keyboards, Neale Heywood on guitar and Walfredo Reyes Jr. on drums and percussion - the energy level is heightened and the songs -- drawn mainly from Buckingham's latest effort, the excellent Seeds We Sow -- find their groove. Even then, the four musicians seem vastly isolated from one another in this mammoth setting, further foiling any attempt at intimacy.

Nevertheless, in going back to basics, Buckingham succeeds admirably, demonstrating that a heads-down, unembellished performance of polished, precision pop doesn't necessarily need any additional embellishment. Be assured -- devotees will be delighted.

SPECIAL FEATURES: None.