Saturday, February 16, 2008

MINI REVIEW: PAUL MCCARTNEY "MEMORY ALMOST FULL"


Artist: Paul McCartney
Album Title: Memory Almost Full
Genre: Pop/Rock
2007
Hear Music

When did I buy it?:
I bought it just a month after it came out, in very late June of 2007.

Why did I buy it?: I had heard many good things about this album, so I was intrigued. I liked "Dance Tonight" well enough, and I had never bought a Paul McCartney solo album. What better time than now? I thought.

What are the best songs?: Those who enjoy Paul's rock side will be pleased with this collection. "Only Mama Knows" rocks as hard as anything Paul has ever done. Similarly, "Nod Your Head" will remind you of "Helter Skelter." It's a brief, but powerful, end to the album.

"Ever Present Past" and "See Your Sunshine" bring out the catchy pop melodies that Paul creates so well. "Feet In The Clouds" has wordplay reminiscent of Ringo's contributions to classic Beatles tunes, and is very easy on the ear.

Paul shows off the pure power of his voice in the epic tracks "Gratitude" and "House Of Wax." The latter, in particular, has a haunting, dark feel that surprises and delights. "That Was Me" is another rockin' tune that features Paul's wonderful voice. It's a neat look back at a life full of memories.

Yes, "Dance Tonight" is a punchy little burst of mandolin goodness. A decent first single, not the best song on the album, but not the worst.

Any bad stuff?: "You Tell Me" is melancholy and sung entirely in falsetto. It's not an easy track to hear. "Mr. Bellamy" is pleasant, but weird. "The End Of The End" has a positive message about death and dying, but the lyrics are not up to par.

Overall Thoughts: Some people like him, some don't. I happen to like him, and I think I made a good decision to purchase his latest album. I really have no idea if it's the right starting point for a new Paul McCartney solo career listener, but it's a quality choice. Some of the songs are very good, some very powerful, some very tuneful. However, there is very little that matches up to the best of the Beatles' work. Does that matter? I don't know, but I do know that what we have hear is an album with a number of good songs done by an artist who still "has it." Paul's voice is as strong as ever, and his ear for rock and pop is still in full force. I keep enjoying this album, and that is what matters.

Album score: I don't do that anymore. I end up giving 4 out of 5 most of the time. I tend to review albums that I like, so you can assume that if something is reviewed, I would give it a good score.

1 comment:

curt said...

Paul McCartney is the greatest ever.