Paul mccartney - Choas and Creation

Well.. I finally got my mittens on a fresh new advanced copy.. and I must tell you upon the first few listens.. its deliciously something the old and new can appreciate. Its a dark pop structured album that has joy in it also.. its about acceptance and the ability to spark new flames with creative talents only McCartney knows best..

This album would definantly get a 5 star review if a fresh new artist had brought it upon the world.. but with McCartney i'm sure everyone would compare to compare... but looking it like having the right songs.. with the right elements (McCartney, ala beatle wings man) makes this album worth more than your paying.. memories for years to come.

This album isnt a walk in a park.. sorry to compare but it does have elements that The White Album had.. that dark, sometimes fun moments that were so delicatly structured.. it became experimental.. well here it is.. almost 40 years later.. Nigel is a big reason for this.. and I appreciate him shifting McCartney towards a better more different outlook for his new album.. and lyrically.. its nearly perfect.


After the nice polished Fine Line.. here comes the experimental songs...
"How Kind Of You" is a radioheadish type of song.. just the structure of the song.. reminds me of something Thom and Nigel would put together.. this isnt a bad thing.. it works well for McCartney.. very well.
We wisk off to Jenny Wren, and album highlight. This is often compared to Blackbird because of pauls comments regarding the song.. but I dont think of blackbird.. my focus is only on Jenny. and with good reason.. this is a wonderful song, especially the horn solo in the middle.. almost makes me thing this man hasnt aged a moment in his life.. sounds like the same spark that he had when he was with 3 other wonderful musicians. well... 2

Other album highlights English Tea.. which is a wondefully english and full of strings. Friends to Go is said to be written also by the spirit of George Harrison.. in fact, it does have that tone of a harrison song.. almost and instant classic. The sexy certian softness is as clever as flowers in the dirt "distractions".. or perhaps a more latin style song.. very different.
I think the albums gets more emotionally better towards the end.. We ride into "Vanity Fair" and wow.. his anger pours in the spooling melody of regret and discontent with a "friend".. and tells us what we all can feel with a friends lets you down.. very "Beck Sea Change" style song.. with a tad bit more flavor.
Promise to you girl sounds like a spicy rock song that mixes Abbey Road and Ram together.. very stylish rocker with Queenish vocals. Nice guitar solo's also.
This Never Happened to Me Before is a nice love song. It sounds like a truth between his past and current love life.. a acceptance. Its beautiful.. possibly in his top 5 best love songs. The melody recals such songs as "Long and winding road".. musically.

And at last... the song Anyway.. a southern style ballad that is possibly one of my favorite paul songs right now.. Almost brought me to tears. I'm from the south, and this song really hits home for me at least.. its got that southern style and you can almost feel the sunshine on your neck.. its a song that makes you smile, and lets you know things that you sometimes forget to see.. at least thats what it did for me. Its a wonderful song and he steps out of this disk with both feet planted on the ground.. he achieved his mission.. a great fucking record.

It didnt end there though.. a hidden track entitled "I've only Got Two Hands".. which is actually 3 songs spliced together.. the 2nd part is most noticably some of his best piano work. very classical and pure piano playing... it then whisks off into a melotron sounding Stawberry fields backwards sounding song.. that notifies you that you just heard.. chaos.. and creation.. all on one fantastic disk.

4.5 out 5 stars.

This is something you need not miss this year.. a great record from one of the best composers of our time.


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[Edited 9/9/05 9:46am]

Thanks!
Can't wait

PANDURITO said:

Me either.. I'm gonna purchase the special edition.. with dvd.. heard thats gonna be nice also.


Nice time for music.. Thanks Paul

I'm up to track 7 listening to it for the first time and I have
to say that this is the first time in ages that I've enjoyed an
album by McCartney as much as this.

Great production, great songwriting and nice brilliant shifts
here and there in the harmonies/arrangements of the songs.

His voice is indeed top notch on most of these tracks. I think
this is going to be an album I will cherish for a long time to
come.

And I'm only up to track 7.

I will be picking it up this FRIDAY along with a few other releases coming out Next Week. THE DVD/CD is going to be very special, i have been hearing great stuff about that. Im sure this CD is gonna rank as a FAVE with me, right up there with FLAMING PIE. It kind of Reminds me of FLAMING PIE in respect, that I was not feeling the first single "WORLD TONIGHT" kind of like "FINE LINE" just something about the Production I dont like, but it grew on me, but easily became the least favorite tracks.

IstenSzek said:

yeah.. its a wonderful album.. and the end of the album is my favorite..

14 tracks.. thats a lot and for each song being such great quality songwriting.. it seems like a gift.. this album hit me at the right time...

Anyway can get to me really easily...

Yeah.. it finally hit me.. the last track "Anyway"


brought me to tears today.... its just a beautiful melody.. soulful..

might be cause of whats been goin on in the south since the hurricane.. or just the fact that something can bring you to a happy, yet bittersweet moment...

very reflective during this song...

thank God for paul mccartney. this album is truely something special.
[Edited 9/9/05 9:40am]

Sdldawn said:

Mine too, first you get that absolutely gorgeous song

and then the hidden track. the last 1.30 minutes are

just such a cool surprise. great great piece of music!

I can't wait to check this out.

I'm acquiring an advance copy as i type this. been looking forward to it ever since you mentioned it at pmdawnonline ... if it ends up being all that you say, paul will definately be getting my money this year!

Sdldawn said:

What's on the special edition/DVD? Does it come out on the 13th as well?
I'd like to hear this new release. As a musician, you can't help but respect and/or dig Paul for all he has done but his solo stuff of late hasn't been to inspiring. IMO. Plus I like Nigel Godrich's production skills. He knows how to bring the best out of artists he works with (Radiohead,Beck, etc). The combination sounds intriguing.

Bonus DVD:
30 minute documentary
Video performance of "Fine Line" in Dolby 5.1
Line Art: 12 minute animated film inc. 3 instrumentals
How Kind of You: 5 minute menu

out the 13th....the 12th in Europe

Got it today, good stuff! Some songs are really great, but the others are at least good. I just think a slightly more "excentric" instrumentation here and there, like on the hidden instrumental, would have been more interesting, sound-wise. And upon first listen, I think the vocals are a little too prominent in the mix. First listen, though!

for the album!

I think it's a solid record, but I don't necessarily think its his "best album in 20 years", like alot of writers seem to be saying. I thought "Flaming Pie" and "Flowers in the Dirt", in particular, are fantastic records as well.

That being said, I definitely like the production of the new album, and the introspective tone. It just has a nice feel to it. I think this album will have some traction, maybe get some attention from the Grammy people.

The DVD is fantastic. Its a 30 minute documentary.. which is wonderful.. shows nigel and him talking, and paul performing a lot of songs. its excellent.

also a 11 minute animated piece called Line Art.. and its displays 3 songs from that album in instrumentals. Vanity Fair, At The Mercy, & Anyway


wow.. nice set.

Thought it was very strange Pitchfork didnt review it.. its fine with me anyway.. they have turned out to be the most bias music review site I have ever seen.. I swear they dont even listen to the shit they write about