Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full

Since the other thread contained incorrect (in good faith tho) information to begin with.. Let's have a fresh start, since this album is gonna come out very soon.


Release Date - June 4th, 5th

Singles:
UK - Dance Tonight
US - Ever Present Past (Itunes available)

1. Dance Tonight
2. Ever Present Past
3. See Your Sunshine
4. Only Mama Knows
5. You Tell Me
6. Mr. Bellamy
7. Gratitude
8. Vintage Clothes
9. That Was Me
10. Feet In The Clouds
11. House of Wax
12. The End Of The End
13. Nod Your Head
14. In Private (Deluxe Version)
15. Why So Blue (Deluxe Version)
16. 222 (Deluxe Version)

Editorial Reviews

From the Paul McCartney

I actually started this album, Memory Almost Full, before my last album Chaos And Creation In The Backyard (released September 2005). The first recording session was back in the autumn of 2003 at Abbey Road with my touring band and producer David Kahne. I was right in the middle of it when I began talking with Nigel Godrich about a brand new project (which became Chaos And Creation In The Backyard).

When I was just finishing up everything concerned with Chaos and had just got the Grammy nominations (2006) I realised I had this album to go back to and finish off. So I got it out to listen to it again, wondering if I would enjoy it, but actually I really loved it. All I did at first was just listen to a couple of things and then I began to think, `OK, I like that track - now, what is wrong with it?' And it might be something like a drum sound, so then I would re-drum and see where we would get to.

I took it from there and built it up. I went through, track by track, making changes as I went along. I fixed things I wasn't too keen on and it just evolved from there. Without me knowing, or really trying, it started to get its own theme, a sort of thread that holds it all together. So I suppose it's about half new stuff and half old stuff from 2003.

In places it's a very personal record and a lot of it is retrospective, drawing from memory, like memories from being a kid, from Liverpool and from summers gone. The album is evocative, emotional, rocking, but I can't really sum it up in one sentence.

There is a medley of 5 songs towards the end and that was purposefully retrospective. I thought this might be because I'm at this point in my life, but then I think about the times I was writing with John and a lot of that was also looking back. It's like me with `Penny Lane' and `Eleanor Rigby' - I'm still up to the same tricks!

I know people are going to look at some of the songs and interpret them in different ways but this has always been the case. The thing is that I love writing songs, so I just write and write. I never really get to a point where I start thinking I'm going to write about specific subjects. Inevitably though, what I am thinking is going to find its way into what I'm doing.

The opening track of the album is `Dance Tonight'. I recently got myself a mandolin and I was just playing about with it and came up with the basis of this track. A couple of weeks ago we made the video, which was great fun. It's directed by Michel Gondry (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind) and stars Natalie Portman and Mackenzie Crook. I'm not going to give the plot away. You'll have to go and watch it for yourself, but we had a good time doing it.

The album title came after I had finished everything. For me, that's when they normally come, with the exception of maybe Sgt. Peppers, otherwise I don't think I have ever made an album with The Beatles, Wings or solo where I have thought of a title and a concept. I was thinking about what would sum the whole thing up and `Memory Almost Full' sprung to mind. It's a phrase that seemed to embrace modern life; in modern life our brains can get a bit overloaded. I realised I had also seen it come up on my phone a few times. When I started bouncing the idea round with some friends they nearly all got different meanings out of it, but they all said they loved it. So the feedback helped solidify the title.

After completing the album I then started thinking about the album artwork and how I'd want it to look. I really wanted to make the CD a desirable object. Something that I know I'd want to pick up from the shelf, something that would make people curious. I hope our final concept has done that. The album sleeve itself includes an etching by a friend of mine, Humphrey Ocean. As with the album lyrics, I'm looking forward to seeing how people might interpret the artwork.

Currently I'm just starting out on the promo trail and beginning to get the first bits of feedback about the album and so far so good! It's interesting now as I'm getting to hear what other people are making of the songs and what their feelings are. I'm also talking about the album myself and I'm really enjoying the discovery process.

I really enjoyed making this album with David Kahne and I'm proud of all the songs. We had a great time. I hope that the fun we had will communicate itself to the people who are going to listen to it.

All the best,

Paul McCartney, April 2007

Product Description
The 13 new songs on Memory Almost Full are performed entirely by Paul McCartney (excluding strings) and produced by Grammy Award-winner David Kahne (The Strokes, Sublime, Bruce Springsteen and more).

This beautifully-packaged, deluxe limited edition also comes with a 2nd disc that contains 3 unreleased bonus tracks and audio commentary by Paul McCartney describing the music, 6 foldout color postcard-sized photos, and full lyrics.

from Rolling Stone


Preview Paul McCartney’s New Album, “Memory Almost Full”

When Paul McCartney sat down with producer David Kahne to record his latest album, Memory Almost Full, which comes out June 5th, the ex-Beatle said he wanted it to compare to everything he’d ever done. “I said ‘Everything?’” Kahne recalls. “He said ‘Everything.’ He was looking to make something great.” We’ve had a chance to listen to the new disc, McCartney’s first since 2005’s Grammy-nominated Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, and while it’s not quite Sgt. Pepper’s, it’s pretty great.

The album has a retrospective feel, with nods to McCartney’s discography: “Nod Your Head” sounds like “Come Together” and “Only Mama Knows” feels like a more metal version of “Helter Skelter.” The second half includes a five-song medley that recalls side two of Abbey Road. The medley revisits different eras of the musician’s life – from childhood summers by the sea to the experience of getting old and looking back – but it never sounds nostalgic or especially sad. On the contrary, Macca seems to embrace the future, in both the lyrics and music: On “Vintage Clothes,” he sings “Don’t live in the past/Don’t hold on to something that’s changing fast,” before Trent Reznor-ish industrial effects drop in, giving the song an eminently modern veneer. McCartney has also made several moves leading up to the release that signal his embrace of change.

He left Capitol Records last year and signed with Starbucks’ new label Hear Music, which will release Memory Almost Full. He has also agreed for the first time to release all of his solo music digitally and just shot a video for album opener “Dance Tonight,” directed by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind director Michel Gondry, and starring Natalie Portman. “‘Memory Almost Full’ is a phrase that seemed to embrace modern life,” McCartney, in a letter released to the public, said of the album title, which came to him after the message popped up on his cell phone. “In modern life, our brains can get a bit overloaded.”

May 7, 2007 -- Fox News
by Roger Friedman

Masterful McCartney

I told you last week in my exclusive first review that Paul McCartney's "Memory Almost Full," due on June 5 from Starbucks' new Hear Music label, is better than anyone could have expected.

Here are a couple of other thoughts about a song called "The End of the End," the penultimate track on the album. I think McCartney's written a lyric here that stands up to anything during his time with The Beatles or since. It's a sad song, for sure, maybe a result of Paul's bad year and marriage break-up.

But it's also so lovely that I think people are going to be using it as an elegy for years to come. Here's a verse:

"On the day that I die
I'd like jokes to be told
And stories of old
To be rolled out like carpets
That children have played on
And laid on while listening
To stories of old."

There's really nothing like "Memory Almost Full" available right now from a contemporary singer-songwriter. It's quite amazing that we're depending on artists in their late 50s and early 60s to fill an artistic void. Amazing, and sad.

Last year, Paul Simon's wonderful "Surprise" album was totally ignored, however, even though it was the best CD of the year by miles. I hope that doesn't happen this time around to McCartney. "Memory Almost Full" is too good.

Memory Almost Full album - Current Itune Position #7 as of 8pm central 5/16/07

Thank you for posting about the Paul McCartney album.

Sorry - Im not totally up on all this, but is this a proper studio album? if so, it must be the quickest turnaround between McCartney studio albums since the early 80's. Paul appears to have his inspiration back.

CrozzaUK said:

well.. Here is my brief review of it..

I've had the album around two weeks now, and i've let a lot digest, and i'm glad I didn't immediately review the album.

The difference in chaos and memory is that Memory is very stylized and has a bit more attitude.. its not a good or bad thing, but this one has a lot of color in the mix..

Dance Tonight - This is a harmless little ditty. It is easy to remember, and easy to forget. The production is spot on. It's a great way to open a very open minded album.

Ever Present Past - upbeat, catchy.. its obvious to why this is the single, and its perhaps his best single since.. moses.. well at least wings. Very catchy, this album has a lot of bass in it.. something that nigel g. tends to steer clear of. this is one catchy song, the hooks are delicious.

See Your Sunshine - McCartney ear candy.. melody man is back.. its a love song, but upbeat and semi cheese free. He really plays the bass well on this one.. and its a feel good, i'm in love type song.. I dig it..

Only Mama Knows - Starts off with a string section, and quickly turns into a thrusty rocker that has enough potential to be one of his most fierce rockers.. at least for his solo career. Extremely impressed with this. He sounds young as hell too..

You Tell Me - an album highlight for me.. I'm not 100% sure of who this one is aimed for, but it isn't the happiest song he has.. has a melancholy approach with acoustic guitars and muted drums.. beautiful song. one of the best for me.. his frail voice is simply delightful.. I love it.

Mister Bellamy - The best song on the album, and it rivals most of his work in the last twenty years. follows no format of previous songs. It is a McCartney masterpiece. the ending of the song takes a beautiful turn.. five stars for you Bellamy.

Gratitude- Weakest track on the album. I have given it time, and it still don't fly well with me. The vocals are terrible, but the bass is really nice. Its a gospel type rock song.. totally don't understand how this one made the cut..

Vintage Clothes - the start of the melody. This one is pretty damn cool.. the melotron is sampled in it.. with a jazzy high hat beat sound.. i totally dig that. Really upbeat and "vintage"...

That was me - a building block type song. gets better as it goes.. personal lyrics bout his past.. piano stabs here and there.. nice.

Feet in the Clouds - pop song, really cool though.. another personal lyric song.. Vocals are top notch. even the vocoder

House of Wax - The best song that Wings never made.. This one is just badass.. dark, mysterious.. rocker, and some of his best vocals in twenty years..

The End of The End - I like it, understand it, but I am not keen on whistling.. but beautiful none the less.. very simple way to end the album.

Nod Your Head - this is a loud song about nodding your head. very crazy why this ends it.. but its cool none the less..

by the way, I can't stop listening to this album.

http://www.therockradio.c...im-up.html
Paul McCartney says label kept him up to speed

Paul McCartney is finally embracing online technology by making his entire catalogue available on iTunes later this month. McCartney's new album, Memory Almost Full, which won't be released until June 5th, is now available for pre-order on iTunes.

Macca spoke to Billboard and touched upon why he left EMI Records his home for 45 years, for the new Starbucks co-owned Hear Music label. He explained that he felt he needed to make the change to keep current in the music world, saying that, "It's a different world now, and you've got to be with people who are in that world and stay up to speed. I've got nothing against record (company) people; they're my family. I think many of them will tell you themselves they've been rather overtaken (by the online revolution)."

Contrary to reports that McCartney's new work would only be sold in Starbucks retail outfits, McCartney and Hear Music plan to get the album out to all the usual markets as well: "We will work with all the normal retail people. I didn't want to knock anyone out of the frame. I'll be considerate of all the normal outlets."

He added that he was amazed by how far-reaching the Starbucks chain is on a global level: "It may seem stupid, but the fact that (Starbucks) had 400 stores in China interested me. I don't know why, but it did. Because it's different, I suppose." McCartney went on to joke: "It doesn't take much to amuse me."

Memory Almost Full features some of Macca's most up-front bass playing since his Wings days. Wings co-founder Denny Laine thought that among McCartney's many musical strengths, his bass work was always inventive: "He was a very tuneful bass player and that's an art in itself. You know, it's even harder to play bass and sing than it is, than playing chords on a guitar and singing, you know?"

Memory Almost Full reunites McCartney with David Kahne who produced his 2001 album Driving Rain. Although McCartney plays most of the instruments on the new set, his touring band pop up on a handful of tracks.
The Rock Radio online

Memory Almost Full-Deluxe version up-dates (Euro version)
The Deluxe version of Memory Almost Full has 16 tracks and an acoustic version of dance Tonight,and audio comment of Paul with an booklet that consist the artworks. The Deluxe version has two discs and cost in Europe
12,99 (Euro)

Well going to Starbucks was very smart, i know people thought it was nuts, but others will follow, Dylan will be selling his next set there along with some re-issues too. Alanis Morissette and Jewel who are currently label-less will soon join too, and Alanis has already done a successful release through them. It is where older artists should be, i know people dont consider Jewel and Alanis old, but in terms of industry, they are both in their 30's which is OLD in terms of the way it works now.

Paul McCartney, Memory Almost Full
5 stars There's no longer any shame attached to imitating Wings. Why, even Macca's at it

Neil Spencer
Sunday May 20, 2007

Observer

He's certainly giving Memory Almost Full a publicity shove that he hasn't granted many of his previous 20 solo efforts. Leaving EMI for Starbucks' newly constituted label doubtless has something to with that, but the impression of history being re-written doesn't stop there. Just as his recent lunch with Observer Food Monthly put his marriage to Linda back in the main frame, so an interview with Uncut magazine reflected on his years with Wings.
Large parts of Memory Almost Full do, in fact, sound like Wings on a good day; jaunty, tuneful, laced with high-end harmonies and spangled by a guitar sound straight off Band on the Run. There are some over-cute interludes - the clumsy, home-grown hoedown 'Dance Tonight' (the new single) being one - but it's a way more focused album than usual.

As the title hints, Memory is also what McCartney calls 'purposefully retrospective', dwelling on his 'Ever Present Past'. The dreamy 'You Tell Me' deftly evokes drowsy, half-recalled summers - 'Was I there? Let's see...you tell me' - while the five-track sequence that (almost) closes the album offers a dramatic contemplation of mortality, from boyhood to the inevitable finale of death. It's a curious, affecting sequence, even if the multi-layered vocals of 'Vintage Clothes' and 'Feet in the Clouds' veer perilously close to pastiche - of Wings but also of Beatles imitators like ELO. Still, if McCartney can't borrow from his own back catalogue, who can?

More successful is the brisk, potted autobiography of 'That Was Me' - 'at the scout camp ... playing conkers ... sweating cobwebs under contract in the cellar' - and the eerie 'House of Wax', with its echoing production and mournful, opaque lyrics that reek of downfall. 'The End of the End' is more startling still, a frank stare in death's face where McCartney proclaims, 'On the day that I die I'd like jokes to be told' and unfashionably anticipates an afterlife that's 'a journey to a much better place'.

http://www.7digital.com/s...id=1470329


samples..

REALLY impressed with those extra songs samples

222
why so blue
in private


wow

CD review: Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full

It's somewhat fitting that one of the people responsible for helping spur my creativity, is also the first artist that I'm reviewing here; Paul McCartney's new LP Memory Almost Full. The album starts out very strong with two potential singles in ‘Dance Tonight’ and ‘Ever Present Past.’ Paul’s instantly recognizable voice and beautiful melodies, remind me why I loved the man’s music all along. While the album as a whole, doesn't come close to being as strong or radio friendly as the first two songs. There are a few tracks that I thought were worth mentioning. ‘Only Mama Knows’ is the most aggressive song on the album, it's good to see the old man still has some rock in him. ‘Mister Bellamy’ was a pleasant shock. The song has a cool vibe that's reminiscent of something on an Imogene Heap CD. I wouldn't be surprised, to see a remix somewhere down the line. The rest of the album teeters from the warm and familiar medley of ‘Vintage Clothes,’ ‘That was me’ and ‘Feet in the Clouds’ to the forgettable ‘House of Wax’ and the incredibly questionable ‘Nod your Head.’ So while Memory Almost Full isn't a grand return to form, I think that what is does do, is prove that Paul is still relevant and that he still has a lot left to give.
Memory Almost Full is due out June 5th via Starbucks' new Hear Music label.

I quickly listened to some song samples...I was liking "Nod Your Head" and "Only Mama Knows" the most...and "House of Wax" too.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...TNXrkBSp_o

Dance Tonight new video

I was skeptical about this release due to that fact that I really dug Chaos but it does look promising.
I didn't really dig the David Kahne produced Driving Rain so that had something to do with it as well. I was hopin for another Nigel produced effort.
Thanks for all the updates Sdl.

The 'Dance Tonight' video is good, if a little wierd. I'm guessing there are meant to be some references to McCartney's past songs or life in the course of it, but, even as fairly knowledgeable Macca fan, they were lost on me.

As to the song, it's the first stuff I've heard from MAF. It's ok - A puzzling choice for a single, as it is pleasant if quite monotonous. I will be getting the album over the next few months, as the overall reviews sound very good, but if I were a casual McCartney fan, my reaction would be - 'A bit boring, I doubt I'll buy the album on the strength of this.' I would have kept this an album track or even a B-side to a single.

Some strong bass on this track, and some quite nice underlying grungy guitar parts, too. I like the sound of the mandolin, and the overall feel of the track is rather 'Ram'-like, which is no bad thing, as 'Ram' is one of the best Macca albums I know.

I have to say, tho, that the grungy live jam at the end of the video sounds more interesting than 'Dance Tonight' itself.

The samples sound interesting, so this should be good. Looking forward to it! Dance Tonight sure doesn't seem like the best song on it, though. Vintage Clothes sounds quite experimental and daring.

calldapplwondery83 said:

WOW - if anyone is gonna buy this album.. get the DELUXE version... the 3 bonus tracks are fucking great.

Now you made me very interesed!

I need to check this album!

Sdldawn said:

You owe me $5. I caught the big fish....again

bought the deluxe edition for 26 euro's today, as well as the regular edition...my dad is a huge fan and rather than having him 'borrow' my copy all the time i bought one for him to.

I'm listening to it right now, so can't yet review it...but what i've heard so far sounds good enough for me.

anyone knows how the cd is doing, did anyone buy it

mimi07 said:

Sdldawn said: