Posted on 09/17/2005 1:50:22 PM PDT by janetjanet998
Its really really good..maybe his best solo album...
shades of Beatle songs all over it..jenny Wren is like Blackbird part 2(from the white album)
This will likely win a grammy or two
some reviews
Billboard Magazine "Thirty-five years into his solo career, McCartney continues to surprise. Top notch, moody, briming with melodic delights. On "Chaos," he proves that he still has a few tricks up his sleeve."
Rolling Stone Magazine "****. The tingling sense of a new beginning is palpable. His voice is front and center, as wistful and full of yearning as ever, effortlessly lending these songs a rich sense of emotional conviction. Chaos suduces the listerner into a playful world of musical ideas that shimmer and disappear.
Newhouse NewsWire "****. 'Chaos' ranks among his best albums in years. An intimate, homemade feel from start to finish.
Knight Ridder Newswire As It Ran In The Houston Chronicle "A superb 13-song collection. Among his finest solo albums. McCartney has crafted a modern counterpart to his one-man 1970 debut. Gorgeous melodies and lyrcs of love and hopefulness. The same sort of eloquent but muted grandeur managed on parts of Magical Mystery Tour, The White Album and Abbey Road."
FOX News "A tour de force. 'Chaos' is an original and important piece of work that will last."
Time Magazine "His glory days aren't all behind him. 'Chaos' is adventurous and melodic."
Bass Player Magazine "One of his strongest albums in years. 'Chaos' is packed with lush mid-tempo meditations and dark colored, reflective ballads."
The Boston Herald "A treat. McCartney brings mesmerizingly well-crafted order to this "Chaos." Strong melodies, close harmonies and that unmistakeable feathery falsetto.
Los Angeles Times "Musically understated and handcrafted, this is the intimate McCartney in the vein of his 1970 solo debut."
New York Times The Critics Choice: "McCartney gets back. Unabashed echoes of the Beatles all over the album. Intimate and unconventional."
NY Daily News "'Chaos' is the most interesting, ambitious and revealing solo work from the Beatle in - well, maybe ever."
From Amazon.co.uk
Sir Paul is an elder statesman now, but Chaos and Creation in the Backyard finds him in considered and tastefully restrained form, penning songs worthy of his finest hour. McCartney crafts this collection of songs with exquisite balance, lining up haunting chimes and heartfelt lyrics ("Riding to Vanity Fair") alongside pounding "Hey Bulldog"-esque chords and eerily Beatles-ish multitracked vocals ("Promise to You Girl," "Fine Line") and, most impressively, distinctively new yet timeless gems of songcraft ("Anyway," "Jenny Wren"). Emotionally, Chaos and Creation manages to avoid being mired in oversentimentality, while retaining a powerful, understated sincerity. Poignant though it is, however, the record is essentially positive and hopeful: Sir Paul's playfulness beams through in his intonation, which picks up a line such as "It's not right/In your life/Too much rain" and breathes life and optimism into its words. "English Tea" completes the package, an unrepentantly twee serving of Anglo-nostalgia with recorder. Chaos and Creation in the Backyard displays the full range of McCartney's inimitable talent, presenting listeners with one of his finest solo albums. --Jonti Davies
The album is a mix of up-tempo piano driven McCartney classics such as 'Fine Line' and 'Promise To You Girl' and more introspective darker tracks such as 'At The Mercy,' 'Too Much Rain' and 'Riding To Vanity Fair.'
One of the many highlights is a track entitled, 'Jenny Wren,' which Paul describes as "daughter of Blackbird," as well as 'Follow Me,' which McCartney debuted at The Glastonbury Festival, while on his '04 Summer European Tour.
For this album, on the Capitol label, Sir Paul chose a producer who favoured the experimental side: Nigel Godrich, who has worked with Radiohead and Beck.The singer claimed that Godrich challenged him musically and pushed him emotionally on his 20th studio record since The Beatles disbanded.
In the new record, McCartney has said, he dealt with some of the pain he kept inside since he, John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr parted acrimoniously in 1970.
On 'Riding to Vanity Fair,' McCartney sings, "There was a time/When every day was young/The sun would always shine/We sang along/When all the songs were sung/Believing every line."
Sir Paul also lined up his best backup band since the Beatles: himself.
Except for some string arrangements, the 63-year old musician is credited with playing the majority of the instruments on the album, including the drums, guitar, bass, keyboards, as well as many of the less traditional instruments such as block flute, harmonium and flugelhorn.
This is something McCartney hasn't done to this extent since he made his first solo album, 'McCartney,' back in 1970.
HOLD ON..>!!! Are you saying Paul McCartney was in a band BEFORE wings???? I will have to research on the web.... I'll let you know if I come up with anything.
Maybe he's the new Bob Dylan, too.
besides "fine line" (good catchy song) there isn't a radio friendly song..its more of a good complete album then individual songs...like the white album
i also understand it is a solo effort much like McCartney II, he plays all the instruments, etc
the 2nd song maybe the weakest...his voice isn't like it used to be, but still good...the more you lsiten to the album the more it grows on you
jenny wren is nice
"fine line" and "jenny Wren" stand out right away..the others you have to listen too a few times..also there is some "hidden" inrtumental stuff at the very end"
English Tea sounds like The Rutles' Doubleback Alley. Nice lttle ditty, as they would say.
"English tea" reminds me of "honey pie" from the white album a little..also did you catch the "fool on the hill" flute
If you cobble Too Much Rain and A Certain Softness you end up with I Will. I prefer more acoustical numbers now in my old age.
the chorus on "Promise to you girl" has shades of "Because" from abbey road
the chorus on "Promise to you girl" has shades of "Because" from abbey road
Anyway is very nice. The second half of the cd gets a little somber, but that's OK... the problem with cds is that they let you record too much music, but all in all, a very nice album ... oh, and nice instrumental at the end, like you said
the more you listen to the album the more it grows on you...
Everything he's been involved in since about 1969 has been
absolute garbage.
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