The Paul McCartney Thread

[SUPERECWFAN1]

It shocks me that Sir Paul doesn't have his own thread on CBR. The man has pretty much formed Wings and had a solo career thats still going on today. I've heard tons of praise for McCartney's new album Memory Almost Full and he's even got a plug in USA Today detailing how he wants younger kids to listen to his music now !

So who here is a McCartney fan ? I know he is a sentimential guy and sang Silly Love Songs , but he's Paul McCartney ! The guy can be forgieven for that since he gave us Live or Let Die .

[Ilash]

Can't post much now but let me just say that I'm a HUGE solo Paul fan, faults and all and that Silly Love Songs certainly isn't one of those faults.

More later.

[Buried Alien]

Macca has to be one of the top ten most important pop musicians of the past half century. For sheer pop melodicism, he was, in his prime, second to none.

He generally doesn't get enough credit for the work he did as part of the Beatles (much of what he was responsible for gets wrongly accredited to John Lennon for some reason), and his solo work was pretty solid until the 1980s.

He's gotten some latter day respect for his most recent work (especially since 1997), but the recent McCartney albums just haven't grabbed me. They lack the instant buzz of his Beatles work and his best 1970s work.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Buried Alien]

I was actually listening to Macca and Wings on the way home from work tonight and I was wondering about this:

Of his post-Beatles supporting bands, Wings was naturally the most famous (being that they were the only one with a name, after all). After disbanding Wings, Macca has employed various backing musicians in the studio and on tour during the 1980s, 1990s, and the current decade. Musically speaking, however, was Wings Macca's best group of post-Beatles supporting musicians, or did some of the later guys actually provide better musical support to Sir Paul?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[redlantern2051]

I am listening HEAPS to "Memory Almost Full". Just love it. I'm much more of a John Lennon, and George Harrison fan, but he is a great talent and I think his last two albums have been really strong, and quite powerful.

[Ilash]

I was actually listening to Macca and Wings on the way home from work tonight and I was wondering about this:

Of his post-Beatles supporting bands, Wings was naturally the most famous (being that they were the only one with a name, after all). After disbanding Wings, Macca has employed various backing musicians in the studio and on tour during the 1980s, 1990s, and the current decade. Musically speaking, however, was Wings' Macca's best group of post-Beatles supporting musicians, or did some of the later guys actually provide better musical support to Sir Paul?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

The problem with this question of course is that Wings went through so many changes that it really depends on which incarnation you're talking about. The Wings that backed him up on Wings Over America was probably the best with the Back to the Egg band coming in second.

His current band is pretty good and nicely energetic but somehow their flashiness has worked against them. Macca's music generally needs the kind of precision that his current band doesn't really display. And yes, I am saying that no guitarist fit Paul's music better than George Harrison.

He also had the late eighties backing band for quite some time and they kind of have the exact opposite problem to his current band. They're ultra-professional, really damned solid musicians but they just don't have much in the way of energy. Their best work with him, fittingly enough was on his Unplugged album.

In the 80s he was actually backed up by quite a few more famous musicians but his music was generally so rotten at the time that it's hard to really care about his backing bands.

[Ilash]

He's gotten some latter day respect for his most recent work (especially since 1997), but the recent McCartney albums just haven't grabbed me. They lack the instant buzz of his Beatles work and his best 1970s work.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

It's hard to disagree with you here but I have liked/ loved just about every album since Flowers in the Dirt. I think the thing to really keep in mind when listening to these newer albums is that Paul is no longer the young guy he used to be so expecting that same kind of buzz does seem a bit unfair to him. His newer works are more "mature" (yes, I too hate that word but it does more or less fit), more introspective and though they're not quite as interesting musically, they are filled with really well written and performed pop music.

Either way, it's a hell of a lot better than his 80s abominations.

[Karl H]

Unfortunately on a personal level the man is the biggest most pompous a-hole in music today from what I can make out.

The massive ego that causes him to:
1 - threaten not to perform at Live8 unless he can open and close the gig
2 - insist on reversing all recording rights so it's now McCartney and Lennon as opposed to Lennon and McCartney.

Sure, he wrote some great tunes but he's also a pompous sanctimonious idiot who I have no desire to make richer. Everytime anyone bad mouths him in the press, he just gets his legal team on to them and any criticism magically disappears. I personally have no time for the man.

Don't wanna de-rail your thread just felt like posting the contrary view.

[Ilash]

Unfortunately on a personal level the man is the biggest most pompous a-hole in music today from what I can make out.

Nah, there are much bigger pompous a-holes in music than Macca.


The massive ego that causes him to:
1 - threaten not to perform at Live8 unless he can open and close the gig
2 - insist on reversing all recording rights so it's now McCartney and Lennon as opposed to Lennon and McCartney.

Yup, I agree that the guy has a tremendous ego (just watch his latest concert DVDs, which focus as much on his audiences' adoration for him as on the band for proof of that), which does irritate me to some extent but it's not like it influences the music all that much.

Your second point is nonsense though. He did want a few Beatles songs that were written by him with just about no input from John (Yesterday being the prime example) to have the songwriting credits reversed. I certainly don't support this and it is just a matter of ego but I can see where he's coming from. His part in the Beatles story and in the Lennon/ McCartney songwriting partnership has been misunderstood, underplayed, ridiculed or ignored by a number of people. It still does come down to his huge ego and going back on an agreement John and Paul made in the beginning (hence my disapproval) but it's clearly not a case of his trying to destroy John's legacy or taking credit where it's not due, which does seem to be what you're implying.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

George Martin in Anthology said that people think that Lennon did most of the work on the songs. But a lot of the bands direction and songs were from Paul's push at times.

Paul was the guy who proposed Let It Be as a song and project. And even though the project sadly broke the band up , you could see Macca there pushing and pulling to lead the band forward.

[Buried Alien]

Paul was the guy who proposed Let It Be as a song and project. And even though the project sadly broke the band up , you could see Macca there pushing and pulling to lead the band forward.

SGT. PEPPER, MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR, and ABBEY ROAD also got started on McCartney's impetus too. During the second half of the Beatles' career, especially, Macca was the band's chief motivator. Probably a few of those later, celebrated Beatles albums would not have been recorded without his drive and leadership.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Unfortunately on a personal level the man is the biggest most pompous a-hole in music today from what I can make out.

The massive ego that causes him to:
1 - threaten not to perform at Live8 unless he can open and close the gig

He's Paul "F-cking" McCartney and its been said he's given a lot to charities across the globe as Bono of U2 has. If anyone deserves to close or open a Humanitarn show its Paul McCartney.

2 - insist on reversing all recording rights so it's now McCartney and Lennon as opposed to Lennon and McCartney.

Someone posted about this earlier....

Sure, he wrote some great tunes but he's also a pompous sanctimonious idiot who I have no desire to make richer.

Then don't attend his concerts or buy his albums. I've watched his concert in Red Square and hell...if it was all about $$$$ he would have stayed at EMI and not jumped to a new label. He wants a challenge now as he claims.

Everytime anyone bad mouths him in the press, he just gets his legal team on to them and any criticism magically disappears. I personally have no time for the man.

Who can badmouth Paul ? Beyond his ex-wife who he's battleing in a nasty court case. But hell....when you turn down $63 million dollars for a divorce and make the happy Baetle suffer your a damn bitch.

David Spade: "Heather Mills is gonna be on Dancing with the Stars. Her celebrity title is worldwide fundraiser. Because Sucking The Lifeforce from Paul McCartney is too long to use."

Don't wanna de-rail your thread just felt like posting the contrary view.

Its cool....If Paul has an ego he at least deserves it. Sold out concert tours each year....massive DVD sales of his concerts and he still generates press. If anyone deserves to have an ego its Paul.

[david r]

Defending his newer works, I think Flaming Pie (1997) is his best album since the 1970s.

And his 2005 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is Paul's most adult record. It really grew on me, and think it's another great one by McCartney.

[Buried Alien]

Defending his newer works, I think Flaming Pie (1997) is his best album since the 1970s.

And his 2005 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is Paul's most adult record. It really grew on me, and think it's another great one by McCartney.

There was mature musicianship on both records to be sure, but I found them both boring as hell...similar to how I feel about Love's FOREVER CHANGES and Van Morrison's ASTRAL WEEKS.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[The Mirrorball Man]

Defending his newer works, I think Flaming Pie (1997) is his best album since the 1970s.

And his 2005 Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is Paul's most adult record. It really grew on me, and think it's another great one by McCartney.

And Driving Rain wasn't too bad either.

[Ilash]

Actually, I'm starting to think that Off the Ground is actually Paul's best album since Wings (or maybe Tug of War). Great, under appreciated album.

I used to absolutely adore Flaming Pie but, while I still like it, I haven't felt that it stands up to repeated listens. The melodies are actually really simplistic for Paul and while that may give it a nice homely feel, it simply doesn't strike me as being as interesting and enduring as his best work.

[Ilash]

SGT. PEPPER, MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR, and ABBEY ROAD also got started on McCartney's impetus too. During the second half of the Beatles' career, especially, Macca was the band's chief motivator. Probably a few of those later, celebrated Beatles albums would not have been recorded without his drive and leadership.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Yup, people are always quick to blame Paul's pushiness for breaking up the Beatles but without it, the second half of their career would have looked a lot different - if it would have existed at all.

[Buried Alien]

Yup, I agree that the guy has a tremendous ego (just watch his latest concert DVDs, which focus as much on his audiences' adoration for him as on the band for proof of that), which does irritate me to some extent but it's not like it influences the music all that much.

While I don't dispute that Macca has quite an ego, I don't think this is the strongest supporting argument for that point of view. An egotist would insist the camera be on HIM *all* the time. The fact that in his concert videos, Macca doesn't particularly need to have the camera on him at all times suggests, if not exactly humility, then at least something short of pathological narcissism.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Ilash]

While I don't dispute that Macca has quite an ego, I don't think this is the strongest supporting argument for that point of view. An egotist would insist the camera be on HIM *all* the time. The fact that in his concert videos, Macca doesn't particularly need to have the camera on him at all times suggests, if not exactly humility, then at least something short of pathological narcissism.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

A fair point. Still, I do think it takes a somewhat fragile ego to constantly focus the DVD on how much everybody loves you. But hey, Paul is hardly the only culprit of this sort of thing. It's pretty much typical rock star egotism and, as someone else pointed out, at least Macca actually merits the adoration and the inevitable swelled ego.

I actually kind of hate dwelling on the negatives of the man, which is done enough by people who aren't tremendous fans of his music. I just prefer Paul the musician rather than Paul the rock star, if ya know what I mean.

[Buried Alien]

A fair point. Still, I do think it takes a somewhat fragile ego to constantly focus the DVD on how much everybody loves you.

Actually, that's where I disagree. When I see those audience reaction scenes in the video, my response has never been, "Oh, Paul's trying to milk how cool everybody thinks he is." It never even occurred to me until you pointed it out.

Instead, my response has always been, "Look at these people enjoying this music. Isn't it great that people are having a good time and digging this music?" The focus, in my view, has always seemed more on how much joy people get out of music rather than the fact that it happens to all be *Paul McCartney's* music that's making them so happy. It seems more a celebration of the music itself (and music in general) than a massage of Macca's ego.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Ilash]

Actually, that's where I disagree. When I see those audience reaction scenes in the video, my response has never been, "Oh, Paul's trying to milk how cool everybody thinks he is." It never even occurred to me until you pointed it out.

Instead, my response has always been, "Look at these people enjoying this music. Isn't it great that people are having a good time and digging this music?" The focus, in my view, has always seemed more on how much joy people get out of music rather than the fact that it happens to all be *Paul McCartney's* music that's making them so happy. It seems more a celebration of the music itself (and music in general) than a massage of Macca's ego.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Funnily enough, I manage to think both what you're saying as well as the whole ego thing when watching those scenes. It's especially cool seeing the generational gap bridged so much at Macca's concerts - everyone from the youngest kids to people older than Paul enjoying this timeless music. Though more than anything I'm just thinking STOP MOVING THE BLOODY CAMERA EVERY TWO SECONDS!! Honestly, the ADD-method of editing that is so prevalent on modern concert films just drives me up the wall. These editors need to be sat down in front of The Last Waltz with Martin Scorsese standing there screaming at them "Now THAT'S how you do it!!!" every ten minutes or so.

[Buried Alien]

Funnily enough, I manage to think both what you're saying as well as the whole ego thing when watching those scenes. It's especially cool seeing the generational gap bridged so much at Macca's concerts - everyone from the youngest kids to people older than Paul enjoying this timeless music. Though more than anything I'm just thinking STOP MOVING THE BLOODY CAMERA EVERY TWO SECONDS!! Honestly, the ADD-method of editing that is so prevalent on modern concert films just drives me up the wall. These editors need to be sat down in front of The Last Waltz with Martin Scorsese standing there screaming at them "Now THAT'S how you do it!!!" every ten minutes or so.

Heh. Panning to the audience dates right back to the early days of Beatlemania...with all those audience reaction shots on the ED SULLIVAN SHOW, the Washington D.C. concert (February, 1964), and the famous Shea Stadium performance in 1965. Watching the fans go nuts was part of the fun! :)

I especially love the Washington D.C. footage. The Beatles were really kicking butt live during that entire show. The Washington Coliseum was arguably the happiest place and time in human history during that show.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I've just gotten Paul's last album and its pretty damn solid . It really reminds me a lot of his Wings days. "My Ever Present Past" sounds like something he'd do with Wings back in the day.

I hope Paul's album sells good. The guy deserves it.

[Kara Zor El]

Memory Almost Full is full of great new songs and has really chunky, well rounded production. I love it. I can see where he's gone back to the odd song and found the same feel or something. I think it's much better than Driving Rain and more commercial than Chaos.

[Thorlief]

I heard a catchy tune by soloPaul for the first time in 1989, it was "My brave face". While I don't think it's the song of the century it got me obsessed to the point I bought all his post-fab four production in one night, and now I consider myself a avid Macca fan. My fav album has to be Flaming Pie, great, great stuff that never gets old

[Buried Alien]

I heard a catchy tune by soloPaul for the first time in 1989, it was "My brave face". While I don't think it's the song of the century it got me obsessed to the point I bought all his post-fab four production in one night, and now I consider myself a avid Macca fan. My fav album has to be Flaming Pie, great, great stuff that never gets old

"My Brave Face," in my opinion, was the last new song to be released by McCartney to really have the kind of hooks necessary to be a Top 40 record. From an artistic point of view, he's done better work since, but none with the obvious commercial potential of that song. The catchy commercial hook doesn't come as easily to Macca now as it once did, although his music is technically more sophisticated and mature than it's ever been. "My Brave Face" and FLOWERS IN THE DIRT in general represent the last time that Sir Paul was really on Commercial Mode.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

It appears that Paul's gamble to having Memory Almost Full be released by Starbucks new label is a success. The former Beatle had his highest rated debut in the Soundscan era as the album landed at #3 on Billboards top ten !

Sales this week were 161,000 for Macca. He beat Marlyin Manson's new album this week as well. :)

[Thorlief]

"My Brave Face," in my opinion, was the last new song to be released by McCartney to really have the kind of hooks necessary to be a Top 40 record. From an artistic point of view, he's done better work since, but none with the obvious commercial potential of that song. The catchy commercial hook doesn't come as easily to Macca now as it once did, although his music is technically more sophisticated and mature than it's ever been. "My Brave Face" and FLOWERS IN THE DIRT in general represent the last time that Sir Paul was really on Commercial Mode.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

I agree completely, that was a perfect commercial hit. His Wings works were great, with some excellent songs like Call me back again and Deliver your children (anyway my fav Wings album has to be Live and let die/ I lie around), but besides maybe No other baby, which deserved to be a smashing hit because it's truly a gem, My brave face still remains a pure catchy tune, still excellent nowadays

[leonaozaki]

I like the song "Band on the Run."

Wait, I forgot: "Jet" is good, too.

That is all.

rob

[Ilash]

I like the song "Band on the Run."

That is all.

rob

Don't you even like Maybe I'm Amazed?

[leonaozaki]

Don't you even like Maybe I'm Amazed?

Ick, no. Paul's "shouty" voice really wears on my nerves after the first minute.

rob

[Kara Zor El]

I think my favourite Macca album is Ram. All the songs are very strong, lavishly produced and he's having so much fun with the lyrics and backing vocals.
Sitting in the Back Seat of My Car is exceptional. It sounds like a Brian Wilson song in some parts. The - "listen to her Daddies song" - bit.

I'm also a great lover of Venus and Mars. Love in Song is amazing. I don't think he's ever played it live. wish he would.
And Little Lamb/Dragonfly from Red Rose Speedway is another obscure masterpiece.

[Buried Alien]

Ick, no. Paul's "shouty" voice really wears on my nerves after the first minute.

rob

I like it for the piano- and guitar-playing (as well as the melody).

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Kara Zor El]

I like it for the piano- and guitar-playing (as well as the melody).

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

It's a great song. Could have been on Let it Be. Has that quality. Always sounds great live too. I swa an old, Old Grey Whistle Test the other day and Rod Stewart covered it. He shouted too.

[Kara Zor El]

Any Thrillington fans out there?

Paul's instrumental version of Ram. Under the alter ego of Percy Thrillington.

[Ilash]

Any Thrillington fans out there?

Paul's instrumental version of Ram. Under the alter ego of Percy Thrillington.

Eh, it's alright but I prefer the album with vocals. Also, in response to what you said above, I don't agree that Ram is "lavishly produced". It's really just a step up from his first album. Not that's a problem, mind you because I love the homemade feel of these albums.

And yeah, Little Lamb Dragonfly is really, really great and completely overlooked by just about everyone.

[Ilash]

It's a great song. Could have been on Let it Be. Has that quality. Always sounds great live too. I swa an old, Old Grey Whistle Test the other day and Rod Stewart covered it. He shouted too.

Yeah, I really can't believe that anyone doesn't like that song but hey, I guess there really is no accounting for tastes.

[Buried Alien]

"Maybe I'm Amazed" might qualify as rock's first "power ballad."

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Ilash]

"Maybe I'm Amazed" might qualify as rock's first "power ballad."

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Yeah but that's a horrible disservice to such a great song.

[Buried Alien]

Yeah but that's a horrible disservice to such a great song.

Not so much. It's just that the subsequent copies never lived up to the prototype.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Ilash]

Not so much. It's just that the subsequent copies never lived up to the prototype.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Sure but I'd rather not see it as the prototype for something as retched as the power ballad.

[leonaozaki]

I like it for the piano- and guitar-playing (as well as the melody).

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

No, I like those parts just fine. It's the vocals I don't like, for the same reason I don't like the second half of "Hey Jude"-- when Paul gets up into that range he's just not that convincing or engaging to my ears.

rob

[Kara Zor El]

No, I like those parts just fine. It's the vocals I don't like, for the same reason I don't like the second half of "Hey Jude"-- when Paul gets up into that range he's just not that convincing or engaging to my ears.

rob

Strange thing taste. That's how I like him best. I've got a feeling. Oh Darling. Helter Skelter. Birthday. Long Tall Sally. I'm Down. His voice is brilliant on those tracks but I imagine not so for you.

[Chad]

Given the negative things that have been said about him, here's a positive one to redress the balance.

John once wrote a letter to his wife Cynthia describing the guilt he felt over not being there for her and Julian, about missing his son's earliest years, and just not being there for her. Cynthia had mixed feelings about the letter saying that while she knew his sentiments were genuine, he still didn't change afterwards. She later sold the letter to a collector who put it up for auction after John's death. By this point, Cynthia regreted having sold the letter but couldn't afford to buy it back even if she could have tracked down the anonymous bidder who won the note. Shortly thereafter the letter was framed and mailed to her. The anonymous bidder who had purchased the letter and sent to her? Paul McCartney. And he didn't have any cameras around either.

[Dan Apodaca]

Sure but I'd rather not see it as the prototype for something as retched as the power ballad.

Time to face reality. That song is CHEESY. And goofy, too.

[Ilash]

I bought Memory Almost Full, Paul's new album a few days ago and have been enjoying the hell out of it. It's a very different album from his last, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. While Chaos was a very polished, very consistent, very mature effort but it was perhaps a bit too polite. It's a fine album but it lacked the energy and the quirkiness that made his best work so compelling.

Memory Almost Full is a fairly rugged affair and the production does feel a bit gimmicky at times but Paul really sounds alive here. The album is diverse, unpredictable, quirky and even slightly experimental at times. He also nicely balances his famed sense of whimsy with a whistful nostalgia as well as a verve and a sense of urgency in the album's more upbeat moments.

I like every song here but Only Mama Knows, Mr Bellamy and That Was Me are real standouts. I especially recommend this album to Buried Alien because it does seem to adress many of the issues that he's had with Paul's latter day work though I do recommend giving it a few spins before passing judgement on it. It's certainly a grower.

[Buried Alien]

I actually listened to 10-second snippets of each song on the new Macca album at Borders when the record was first released over a month ago. I don't know if that's enough to make any substantial judgments about it (probably not), but I heard a certain Wings-like sound to some of the tracks.

Nevertheless, it *still* didn't have that instant spark of the best 1970s Macca albums or certainly of the Beatles' albums. That might be too much to expect of Macca now, but still...

What Macca needs is a compilation of his best post-mid-80s work. His greatest hits collections tend to stop around the time he stopped making the Top 10 (for obvious reasons). I think I'd probably be able to take it all in better if all the best stuff he's done in the past twenty years was all distilled into a single package (i.e. the best of everything he's done since FLOWERS IN THE DIRT back in '89, which was, incidentally, the last new Macca album I liked as a whole).

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Buried Alien]

The Youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqOKvonLrH8) of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus" includes recent remarks left by a "Paul McCartney." Now obviously, anybody could go to Youtube and create an account with the username "Paul McCartney," and the greatest likelihood is that this person is just some wannabe. Nevertheless, there's something about the demeanor of the the posts, the layout of his account page, and a certain vibe that just seem to suggest that this might be the real deal. Could Macca actually be surfing Youtube?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

The Youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqOKvonLrH8) of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus" includes recent remarks left by a "Paul McCartney." Now obviously, anybody could go to Youtube and create an account with the username "Paul McCartney," and the greatest likelihood is that this person is just some wannabe. Nevertheless, there's something about the demeanor of the the posts, the layout of his account page, and a certain vibe that just seem to suggest that this might be the real deal. Could Macca actually be surfing Youtube?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Its been said Paul likes Youtube and a reason why his solo off his 1st album went there. Since the kids and all are watching more videos there than anything.

[Ilash]

I actually listened to 10-second snippets of each song on the new Macca album at Borders when the record was first released over a month ago. I don't know if that's enough to make any substantial judgments about it (probably not), but I heard a certain Wings-like sound to some of the tracks.

Nevertheless, it *still* didn't have that instant spark of the best 1970s Macca albums or certainly of the Beatles' albums. That might be too much to expect of Macca now, but still...

What Macca needs is a compilation of his best post-mid-80s work. His greatest hits collections tend to stop around the time he stopped making the Top 10 (for obvious reasons). I think I'd probably be able to take it all in better if all the best stuff he's done in the past twenty years was all distilled into a single package (i.e. the best of everything he's done since FLOWERS IN THE DIRT back in '89, which was, incidentally, the last new Macca album I liked as a whole).

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Well, I don't really think you can judge this album based on ten second snippets. There is certainly a Wings vibe to a lot of the album, most especially on the rocker Only Mama Knows. I also think that My Brave Face aside, this album has far more "instant spark", as you call it, than Flowers in the Dirt.

As for a compilation, I agree that it should start with 1989 because we really don't need his rubbish 80s material represented but I question what would be put on such a compilation. I've always held that Paul's solo stuff is actually not represented all that well by collecting the singles because some of his very best stuff are deep album cuts. For Memory Almost Full, they would probably include the two singles from the album but however much I enjoy them, I do think that the album does have much stronger material than that.

[Ilash]

The Youtube video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqOKvonLrH8) of the Beatles' "I Am The Walrus" includes recent remarks left by a "Paul McCartney." Now obviously, anybody could go to Youtube and create an account with the username "Paul McCartney," and the greatest likelihood is that this person is just some wannabe. Nevertheless, there's something about the demeanor of the the posts, the layout of his account page, and a certain vibe that just seem to suggest that this might be the real deal. Could Macca actually be surfing Youtube?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

As far as I know he actually does check out Youtube but I don't really believe that those posts were by him.

[Deathstroke]

In case anyone's interested, here's a new online review of Paul McCartney's new album Memory Almost Full (http://www.rockislife.com/2007reviews/memoryalmostfull.htm).

[david r]

Compared to the likes of McCartney I and II, Wild Life, Red Rose Speedway, and Back to the Egg Paul's last few albums are classics.

[Buried Alien]

Compared to the likes of McCartney I and II, Wild Life, Red Rose Speedway, and Back to the Egg Paul's last few albums are classics.

Each of those albums had at least one terrific song on it, but I will agree that during his post-Beatles career, Macca has been more a great singles artist than a great albums artist.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Ilash]

Compared to the likes of McCartney I and II, Wild Life, Red Rose Speedway, and Back to the Egg Paul's last few albums are classics.

I'll give you the under-baked Wild Life and the terribly misjudged McCartney II but I consider all of the others to be really underrated. They have their share of filler but overall they're much better albums than they're made out to be. Hell, I think McCartney I is a flat out homegrown classic.

On the other hand, I do think that Macca has been on a roll since Flowers in the Dirt and while some of these albums may be be better, there was a quirkiness and a sort of wonky creativity to those Wings albums that he seldom matches in his later career.

[Ilash]

Each of those albums had at least one terrific song on it, but I will agree that during his post-Beatles career, Macca has been more a great singles artist than a great albums artist.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Yes and no. Aside for Band and the Run and maybe a few others, Macca has never put out a fully satisfying album. There have always been a few - and at times more than a few - duffers on each album. However, saying he's a great singles artist isn't really true because some of his very best material are obscure album tracks while some of his singles have been less than impressive. Is Listen To What the Man Said really the best song on Venus and Mars? Is With a Little Luck truly the standout track on London Town or My Love on Red Rose Speedway? Not a chance, as far as I'm concerned.

[Buried Alien]

One older Paul McCartney record I've been spinning frequently in recent weeks is "Bluebird." I can't believe that I used to overlook this gem of a ballad. This equally could have fit into Macca's Beatles catalogue - one of his finest melodies (which, considering the composer, is saying something).

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Ilash]

One older Paul McCartney record I've been spinning frequently in recent weeks is "Bluebird." I can't believe that I used to overlook this gem of a ballad. This equally could have fit into Macca's Beatles catalogue - one of his finest melodies (which, considering the composer, is saying something).

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

You know, Bluebird is a great song but I think it says something about the quality of Band on the Run that it's actually one of my least favourite tracks on the album.

[Buried Alien]

You know, Bluebird is a great song but I think it says something about the quality of Band on the Run that it's actually one of my least favourite tracks on the album.

I think lyrically and melodically, "Bluebird" can hold its own against "Yesterday" and "Bluebird"'s own Beatles-era counterpart, "Blackbird" (surprised Macca never thought of playing the two tunes back-to-back during his concerts). Had "Bluebird" been on any of Macca's last two or three albums, I think it would have been the highlight of the album.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[Ilash]

I think lyrically and melodically, "Bluebird" can hold its own against "Yesterday" and "Bluebird"'s own Beatles-era counterpart, "Blackbird" (surprised Macca never thought of playing the two tunes back-to-back during his concerts). Had "Bluebird" been on any of Macca's last two or three albums, I think it would have been the highlight of the album.

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

Actually, I can't imagine that he never did play the two back to back. And yes, it would easily have been a highlight on one of his newer albums but that just says it all about how great an album Band on the Run is. For that matter, it would have paled in comparison to the other songs if it was put on Ram as well but so would most pop songs.

[david r]

I always loved "Bluebird". A great one and after the power of "Band on the Run" and "Jet", it holds a special place on the album.