The Fireman and Youth Paul McCartney - Electric Arguments
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Free Music Notes for Electric Arguments
Free Music Review: AN ASTOUNDING COMPLETION OF THE McCARTNEY TRILOGY!
Hit: 5 Stars
The vastly under-rated Chaos and Confusion in the Backyard (accompanied by a shameful lack of promotion by the moribund Capital Records) and classic pop of Memory Almost Full revealed to us that Paul was still capable of churning out melodic pop and rock of the highest order. Both of these CDs showed us that Paulie still had lead in his pencil. So to speak.
Neither disc - nor the excellent, tear inducing Ecce Cor Meum - has prepared us for the revitalized, revivified, and completely re-invented McCartney who teams with Youth to produce this masterpiece.
It is no slight to McCartney to suggest that the only other pop artist who has risen Phoenix-like over the course of his seventh decade is Dylan. And it's no mere coincidence that Dylan himself admitted to Rolling Stone that the only other artist he was truly envirous of, is McCartney. "Man" said Dylan "he can do it all".
Indeed he can. Or so it seems. Has any other artist brought as much joy to as many people throughout the world for as long a period of time? I don't think so. The reason why we all shed a tear at hearing "The End of the End" on Memory Almost Full was precisely for that reason - McCartney has been so thoroughly and completely woven into the fabric of our lives that it is almost impossible to imagine a time when we will not have the opportunity to hear a new McCartney song. Even more shocking, following the divorce of his marriage to Heather Mills, was the thought that we might never hear a new McCartney LOVE song. (Who among us was not shocked to see how haggard and weary Paul looked towards the end of that debacle? Would Paul ever open his heart again, and risk such hurt?)
Foolish thoughts. Still, we contented ourselves with hearing whatever came along. Admittedly, some of the material has been rather banal. (I'm not about to list the man's sins. As George Bush Sr. recently said, "you can look them up on your Google"). But it should be noted - hell, it should be yelled from the rooftops, that Electric Arguments is not one of them. In fact, while not his greatest album (BOTR), Electric Arguments may in fact be McCartney's greatest triumph.
New, yet famiiiar. Strong in voice, yet fragility that reflects his years. Energetic, energetic, energetic. Oh yea, did I say it was energetic? And joyous. Full of happiness, love, joy, and love.
Thanks Paul. Thanks for the decades of music. Thanks for showing our generation - you know who we are - the meaning of love, and the fullest expression of love in your music. (Here again, I must reference Ecce Cor Meum, although it could also be said of Lifelong Passion on Electric Arguments)
So - The Fireman has come in from the pouring rain. And yes, it is a little strange. But in the best possible sense. This music, is new.
Free Music Review: McCartney - One of the Greatest Musicians Ever makes a Great Album!
Hit: 5 Stars
McCartney gets slagged down by people who are musical hacks. Hell, we are all musical hacks compared to him and only a select handful of others. Yet, despite that fact (oh, I'm sure some people will argue with this statement but it's pretty much an absolute fact), people feel compelled to rip this guy a new one on virtually every album he does. While most reviews for this brilliant album were very, very positive, I did read a few mediocre reviews and in those, you can tell the reviewer didn't even listen to the album. Like anything associated with McCartney automatically gets an "F" grade. Let's face it, while he has made some mistakes here and there, the guy takes risks and has made better, more impactful songs, whether pop, political, heavy, classical, jazzy, avant garde, new wave, dance, country and blues than almost anyone else on the planet, whether living or dead. It amazes me how some people can just give this album one star. Yeah, like you or almost anybody else could do any better. One star??!! Come on... what a joke! At WORST, it is a 4 star album... at worst.
The varied songs on this album have so many different treats and varied melodies... The songs range the full gamut and create a wonderful sonic landscape. 'Sing the Changes' probably should be the first single. From the first track "Nothing Too Much" to "Two Magpies" to "Highway" to "Dance 'Til We're High" to "Lifelong Passion", so many genres are covered yet they still maintain the classic McCartney melodic form yet with new twists. From the Beatles until now, McCartney was never afraid to experiment, he was a musical revolutionary that was barely recognized compared to John... but he certainly should be: Sgt. Pepper, a declaration of freedom by becoming a new band within the real band, the culmination of climactic sound at the end of A Day in the Life which really supercharges the song into possibly being the Beatles all-time greatest song, the tape loops on Tomorrow Never Knows, writing Helter Skelter which was a bridge to the Heavy Metal movement, the Carnival of Light track, the sound links of Abbey Road Side 2, and even Yesterday which bridged pop and classical music (Beach Boys and the Stones with "As Tears Go By" helped here as well) were all his contributions. I'm not knocking John - he was an amazing songwriter and a genius in his own right... but just because we are lucky to still have McCartney alive doesn't mean critics can just kick the guy around and pretty much consistently give him mediocre reviews all the time. This album is truly special. And it should be acknowledged that McCartney has had quite a run of late, with Memory Almost Full, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard and now this, we are fortunate to be living during this genius' time on earth.
Free Music Review: Gemini Fusion
Hit: 5 Stars
I'm the first to admit McCartney is often difficult to defend. Just when he produces something amazing (and I would consider every album he's put out since "Flaming Pie" amazing), he says or does something dopey that undermines his creative efforts.
He is a true Gemini, persistently torn by oppositional tendencies. It's not an exaggeration for me to state that I think he is the greatest composer and musician (or at least bassist) of any musical form of the past 50 years. Even though much of his solo and Wings-era work embarrassingly strains to retain the middlebrow sensibility that made the Beatles so commercially successful (which of course was only one component of their appeal), there is a certain genius even in his most seemingly conventional songs (I'm thinking "Let 'em In," or "My Love," songs I love in spite of their reputations).
But, because he possesses (or used to possess) a finely tuned ear for what appeals commercially, he's been terribly stigmatized as a lightweight (thanks in no small part to unbearable, pseudo-elitist and pompous critics like Robert Christgau...what a jerk...) to the extent that the "other half" of McCartney is constantly ignored or at least overlooked, often by McCartney himself.
That's why it's such a relief to finally see the critics and the public at least begin to acknowledge McCartney's "other side," and that he is fully capable of producing a work that is so thoroughly resistant to convention. There was always a weirdness to McCartney's mid- to late Beatles work that doesn't get enough attention, and he delves into those long thought lost peculiarities here with a vitality that is peerless.
McCartney's two sides are fused here, really. "Sing the Changes" and "Dance til We're High," for instance, are beautifully textured works of ambient nuance that simultaneously, with very their McCartney-esque melodic hooks, could and should be massive hits.
Of course, considerable credit should be afforded Youth. Their chemistry is such that I hope the collaboration expands into still-greater territories.
Free Music Review: The FIRMAN Soars To New Heights
Hit: 5 Stars
This is a great spontaneous album that soars like a rocket. Powerful edgy vocals juxtapose against whispers and haunts. With producer Youth, who produced U2, you hear the Bono type vocal right in your face on songs "Sing The Changes" and the absolutely brilliant uplifting "Dance 'Till Your High." You want Rock? "Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Site" rocks so hard it will split your eardrums (I am not joking that small children should leave the room when playing it).I won't go as far to say it is better than "Helter Skelter", but I will say with the lyric "The last thing to do was try and betray me" and a growl at the end Bigfoot would be proud of, it may be a touch more wicked. You be the judge. "Highway" moves along with a power bass-line that will rock your socks off. "Lifelong Passion" is a mystical and trippy mid paced ballad, smooth psychedelica done 2008 style. Nothing old sounding on this song. You want some "old" 60 sounding songs? You have "Light From Your Lighthouse", a folksy, guitar twangy, toe tapping song, with a gospel chorus. "Two Magpies" is a quick step back to RAM. His dog had "Three Legs." Now you have a couple magpies(birds) to join him.. He throws a a little Wings or 80s sound at you with the bouncy, yet not wimpy at all "Sun Is Shining." For fans of the first two Fireman albums Paul will take you on a hippie trip for three consecutive trance flavored songs before the closing song."Don't Stop Running" perfectly finishes the album off beginning with haunting spiritual vocals that lead into a manic paced vocal/guitar/drum finish. Though that is the last "song" on the album, it isn't finished...wink...wink. These songs are not constructed for earth shattering songwriting techniques. They just bulldoze you over and slap you in the face. And for those who say Paul is back. Truth is he never went anywhere. PS By the way the guy who one starred the album wrote the EXACT same review for "Chaos & Creation" in September 2005. Check it out. He has no merit.EdFree Music Review: Older Paul at his Best, Period.
Hit: 5 Stars
The opener has a voice like Howling Wolf/Captain Beefheart/Tom Waits over a 3/4 to 4/4 beat and Super Classic Rock arrangement. God, an album fulla these and he'd make Mudcrutch and the Raconteurs look sorry.
This song is retro and yet current. Kudo's Sir Paul.
Then a White Album acoustic song follows. OK, you still got it. Check.
Then there are U2 and Peter Gabriel-like elements to some of the rest of the songs. The album comes steadily down to a relaxed musical cadence, but never becomes boring or overly melodic. There is always enough variety in the mix, enough changes to keep every song interesting.
13 songs in 13 days? Playing every instrument? Paul McCartney has proven he has nothing to prove anymore.
We believe you Paul. YOU were the experimental Beatle. The one who understood Arrangements. The musician's musician capable of outplaying your fellow band-mates. The songwriter that needs an external nudge to realize your inner greatness.
And while John tamed your sweetnes sometimes and pushed you to go beyond yourself and become a second Little Richard, so "Youth" your producer on this has tamed and pushed you into being great once again.
The lyrics are poetry, in a very upbeat message of love and peacefulness. But the music isn't sappy. The music goes from Rock and Folk to Pop and World.
He makes his Hofner Bass Guitar sound almost as good as his Rickenbacker. He plays the Piano unlike he's played it in the past. His lead choices are apropo. He doesn't overdo the Mandolin nor the Mellotron. Instruments are tasteful, yet not "careful". They push the songs.
Keep your "Memories Almost Full" in hiding, and brandish this "Electric Arguments", happy that Paul has created his best album in 30 years.
If I had to rate this album, it's right up there with "RAM". I'd go so far as to say "Electric Arguments" surpasses "RAM".