Paul McCartney
Memory Almost Full
(Hear Music)
If Paul McCartney had retired a decade ago, he would still have had one of the fullest and more memorable lives in modern music.
But McCartney is clearly one of those guys who don't know when to quit. And thank heaven for that.
At an age when virtually all his contemporaries have settled into retirement (or at least irrelevance), the 64-year-old ex-Beatle keeps going like the Energizer Bunny of pop.
And those who have followed his progress for the past 10 years have been treated to some of the finest music of his post-Fabs career.
Macca's latest achievement: Memory Almost Full, his 21st album. True to its title, it's a nostalgic work, with Paul examining both the highlights and the weight of his illustrious past.
But true to his recent form, it also looks forward. It's his first disc not on Capitol. His first to be sold digitally. It's got a five-song medley that addresses his death. And musically, it combines the timeless pop of 2001's Driving Rain and the contemporary sonics of 2005's Chaos and Creation in the Backyard -- no surprise, since much of it was recorded in 2003 and finished recently.
All in all, it's a memorable outing -- especially from a guy who wondered if we'd still need him when he turned 64.
Dance Tonight 2:52
True geniuses make it look easy. Paul uses a few basic elements -- including a thumpy bass drum, a jingling mandolin and a simple lyric -- to fashion an instantly unforgettable folk-pop ditty.
Ever Present Past 2:54
With its pulsing Morse code guitars, four-on-the-floor beat and lightly funky touches, this first single recalls the silly love songs of his '80s tenure with Wings.
See Your Sunshine 3:17
Speaking of silly love songs, here's a gently ringing, bouncy piano-pop number about a girl with flowers in her hair and music in her heart. And what's wrong with that?
Only Mama Knows 4:17
Classical strings lead into one of the disc's punchier cuts -- a shot of moody, crunching rock with echoes of Band on the Run and Jet and a lick borrowed from CCR's Fortunate Son.
You Tell Me 3:15
Gauzy electronic textures, a lazy acoustic guitar, subliminal keyboards and a ghostly choir of McCartneys make a perfect setting for these memories of carefree youth.
Mister Bellamy 3:39
The disc's quirkiest cut blends stately classical horns and strings with a disjointed piano melody and a hip-hoppy groove -- plus lyrics about a delusional guy on a ledge.
Gratitude 3:17
McCartney belts out a soulful ode to love over the strains of big, ringing piano chords. "I should stop loving you -- think what you put me through," he says. Wonder who that's about.
Paul McCartney's 2:22
The album's most ambitious section -- a five-song mini-suite -- begins with this ensemble of Brian Wilsonesque melody, skittery drums and Swinging '60s touches.
That Was Me 2:38
Paul's life flashes in front of his eyes -- and over a backdrop of bluesy rockabilly guitar accented with backwards cymbal crashes, keyboard stabs and jazzy scatting.
Feet in the Clouds 3:24
On anyone else's album, this laid-back slice of sunny, Wilsonesque folk-pop would be outstanding. On this disc, it's one of the lesser cuts.
House of Wax 4:59
As stormy textures rumble and crackle around the edges, McCartney works the grand piano on this darkly stylish orch-pop ballad. Bonus points for the weeping electric guitar solo.
End of the End 2:51
A gorgeous heartstring-tugger. Paul imagines the day of his death -- and notes that if the afterlife is going to be better than what he's got, it must be pretty special. Have Kleenex handy.
Nod Your Head 1:55
Talk about going out with a bang. McCartney gets back in touch with his inner Sgt. Pepper and bashes out a noisy, pumping shot of mutated Beatle-rock. Guaranteed to raise a smile.
