Posted on 06/10/2007 1:38:11 PM PDT by FractalMan
Earlier this week while channel surfing, I came across the end of an interview with Paul McCartney who turns 65 this year. He is promoting his new CD "Memory Almost Full". The last statement from the host was, "Is this going to be a revolution in music?" I'm thinking Rubber Soul, Sgt. Peppers and the White Album. Maybe Paul put it all together again?
Yesterday I was in a book store and saw a stand filled with the new CD, right next the coffee table photo books discounted 80%. That should have been my first clue. In fact, Paul's CD has only been out a week and it is already discounted 25%.
The trouble with being a rock-and-roll legend is that the people around you don't have the gonads to say, "Paul, these songs really suck, what are you thinking?" With teenybopper lyrics, trite rhyming, grating ukulele riffs, and a tempo that is so slow that when I hear a beat, I have trouble remembering when the last one occurred; Paul has managed to put together the worst album ever by a rock-and-roll legend.
Check out these riveting lyrics from “Dance Tonight”.
Everybody gonna dance tonight
Everybody gonna feel alright
Everybody gonna dance around tonight
Everybody gonna dance around
Everybody gonna hit the ground
Everybody gonna dance around tonight
The worst part of the song, like most of the album, was the total lack of energy. The only kind of dancing I could image was a Mime climbing out his window to escape the drudgery. Paul, whatever happened to the talent and brilliance that gave us “Hey Jude” and “Yesterday”? My advice to him? Get off the Prozac and go find some LSD.
It’s not a revolution but it is revolting.
He should marry Yoko Ono to get his creative juices flowing again.
In other words, the same kind of stuff he has been doing for years.
Interesting. I think its actually quite good. Several good rockers on the CD (eg. House of Wax and Only Mama Knows). More reminiscent of Wings than the Beatles or his solo works. I’d recommend the Deluxe version with four additional tracks (two instrumental).
Honestly, I don't think I could take 4 more tracks.
When Paul recently released his catalogue digitally, I listened to many of his post-Beatles albums on Yahoo Music Unlimited. I was pleasantly surprised by most of what I heard.
Paul's post-Beatles style is very interesting IMO.
Too bad about the Beatles, The truly great ones are dead.
Everybody gonna dance tonight
Everybody gonna feel alright
Everybody gonna dance around tonight
Everybody gonna dance around
Everybody gonna hit the ground
Everybody gonna dance around tonight
Isn't there supposed to be an Everybody Wang Chung Tonight in there somewhere?
Then there's the duet with Michael Jackson, "Ebony and Ibuprofen."
I’d agree with you about George. I believe his solo works were by far the best of the four, especially his song writing. I think most of John Lennon’s solo work was garbage. He did have several gems, though, that to this day I love to sit down and play for myself. The very sad thing is that I believe John’s best solo work was just about to begin when he was killed. I think his best effort was the song Working Class Hero...totally hits ya between the eyes. Glad to see someone (Green Day) covering it.
So in other words, this album sucks like every other. Doesn't suprize me.
Marry Yoko Ono? Please no! Anything that would cause that waked out mental case publicity should be avoided at all costs.
Plus, what do you think would happen if Paul Mc'crappy started making albums with KuKu Ono and Johnny son? Of course, Holliwierd and the loony left would fall down and worship that crap, and we would be forced to hear it on all airwaves.
It would be too much to bear. And if it resulted in a BONO-McCrappy-Johnny son save Africa- give Islamic warlords all your money concert tours, it would result in mass suicides.
In the book about the Beatles written by their sound engineer (great book btw) Paul is positioned as the one with talent. Sometimes he would play the drums because it was too difficult for Ringo. Other times he would play the lead guitar in the studio, much to George’s disgust. The truth of “Lennon & McCartney” is deeper than just the names. John’s positive influence on Paul’s songs was huge (even though John’s manner of giving positive input was by being negative, LOL). After listening to this CD, I miss Lennon more than ever.
Gotta ask one question. If you don’t like Paul McCartney as an artist why was it so important for you to post your thread? You sound very bitter. I mean there are plenty of artists I don’t like...way more than I do as a matter of fact..but I just don’t give them a thought. I just don’t buy their material.
Will you still need me when I’am 64.
Paul McCartney jumped the shark about 40 years ago.
The album before this has a couple of really out of tune lead guitar parts. No one has the fortitude, or is too starstruck to be honest with old Paul.
I don’t think he’s bitter. I think he’s just pointing out the industrial waste and pollution created in the making of this “album”. ex rock star -turned greenie wienie are such hypocrites...
I do like Paul, in fact “Crazy Love Song” is incredible under the headphones and is one of my favorites. I posted this for two reasons. First, I thought is was funny and would give some people a little humor today, but as usual my sarcasm is often interpreted as negativity. Second, I was truly disappointed with this “Music Revolution”.
Or, maybe the one just before that? Or, just before that?
Now THAT is funny!
You didn't actually develop that thought (music revolution) well in your post. You stated the question but not what happened after that. What was Paul's answer about the music revolution thing? Its definitely not a music revolution..thats laughable, but to say there is no energy in it (like many of his solo works) is not accurate. I was very surprised to find he actually did several thumpers on it...something he has not done in a good long while and I believe that is his best style. There are a couple of throw aways on there though, but I have not heard many artists release anything that every cut on the CD is top notch.
The main problem with that song is my age since I'm of that age where I remember when they played it twice an hour on AM rock radio. LOL
Ruint it 'fo me.
As it stands though I'm still in pretty good shape since it still beats the hell of of the poor bastards that have Who Let the Dogs Out?! and Hey! Macarena to be ashamed of.
Well I think I can explain the significance of the ukelele at least. That’s a tribute to George Harrison; he was fond of that instrument. I went to a McCartney concert in Sept 2002 at the Hartford CC. Paul explained that whenever they hung out at George’s place, everyone would sit out on the porch after dinner and George would pass out ukeleles to everybody and they’d have an impromptu jam session. At this concert, Paul, ukelele in hand, then performed a very nice rendition of ‘Something’.
I don’t go to very many concerts myself but I had an awesome time at that one. Paul opened with ‘Hello Goodbye’, 50% of the songs were Beatles songs, most of the people there were my age (40s) and from that era. So we were singing along and flipping our Bics having a grand old time. He performed the song ‘Freedom’ which everyone loved. Of course this was before the Dems had to go and politicize everything about the WOT. I do not like PETA or McCartney’s politics but I do like him as an artist; having said that I will not buy this album.
Speaking of ‘Memory Almost Full’, Amazon already has it marked down to $9.99. This song ‘Dance Tonight’; my first impression is that Paul sounds like he’s the ‘Lost Wilbury’.
Paul just smiled and didn’t respond to the “Revolution in Music” comment. Indeed there are some thumpers, but kinda boorish in my opinion. Compare the beat and complexity of the music in “Crazy Love Songs” to this album and you will see what I mean. I grew up in the 60s and 70s, hearing numerous albums where every cut was top notch. Maybe I am just a grumpy old man who is hung up on the past. :-) I saw a Clapton / Cream concert on TV the other day and played “White Room” and “Badge” - simply unbelievable. After that was a song by Green Day. Although I like some of Green Day, when put up against Cream they really seemed dull!
McCartney is a no talent pig.
I’m a big Clapton fan. I especially love anything that Clapton and Harrison collaborated on.
Paul McCartney is on his last legs. Even so, he’s still one up on his ex-wife, Heather Mills...
Someones knocking at the door
Somebodies ringing the bell
Someones knocking at the door
Somebodies ringing the bell
Do me a favor
open the door
let them in
...He’s had a problem for a long time.
Is this the albumn that Starbucks is promoting as their first entry into CD’s?
What did Paul McCartney do in the mid 70s?
Write silly love songs.
As for the "revolution" part, he said that there is a revolution in music and its delivery that the old larger music companies are too archaic and large to follow.
Overall I enjoyed it. It is what it is, but I don't find it to be bad like so many on the board do.
It was a Mandolin not a Ukelele.
All that pot didn't help either.
Lennon and McCartney were polar opposites, and they were really good at filtering out each other’s crap.
Right. The point being the song was not meant to be Maybe I’m Amazed.
Paul McCartney? Wasn’t he in a band once?
Yeah, Wings.
Never EVER put the words "Yoko Ono", "juices", and "flowing" together in the same sentence again. Ever.
Sgt. Peppers was the album that Paul wanted to do so he wouldn’t have to write “Beatle songs” anymore.
In the end, we liked Beatle songs better than what came afterwards (solo or as a group).
Many now hold up Revolver (and in some cases Rubber Soul) as stronger albums.
The Best on is still around...
Green Day are the Frankie Avalon or Poison of today. Hardly worth mentioning, except for album sales.
The industry has shunned the talented rock acts for decades. Ever since Woodstock showed the industry just how much money could really be made.
Look at the Grammy winners/nominees and then look at music history. What the industry champions and what historians recognize are two different things. Wasn’t always so.
Ed Sullivan, Merv Griffen, and the Tonight Show actually gave exposure to different types of bands. The industry is more in control of the media than ever before.
Ouch!
I am not a big supporter of the Beatles, I ripped Sgt. Pepper's in another thread and on this one I stated early on that Paul Mccartney has not been doing much musically for years. But that does seem a tad harsh, even to me.
It does take some talent to write that many silly songs that appeal to the 11-14 year old crowd.
The man has way to much time on his hands.
It does suck. Paul could do much, much better than that.
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