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Zero 7
Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.
Chaos And Creation In The Backyard
Generally favorable reviews
Based on 19 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 220 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album >
Album Info
Label: Capitol
Release Date: 13 September 2005
Discs: 1 disc
Genre(s): Rock
Summary
Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich helms the bassist's 20th post-Beatles album, which finds McCartney in true solo mode, playing every instrument on these 13 songs.
Also By This Artist: Driving Rain Memory Almost Full
Also On Metacritic
MUSIC: The Beatles: Let It Be... Naked The Beatles: Love
Also On The Web: Official Artist Site
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Stylus Magazine
Never in his career has McCartney seemed more serious in tone and more aware of the play of his lyrics as poetry.
Read Full Review >No Ripcord
The result is that most rarefied of things, a Paul album with no throwaways.
Read Full Review >Uncut
These are McCartney's most arresting songs for a long, long while. [Oct 2005, p.94]
Rolling Stone
Chaos and Creation in the Backyard is the freshest-sounding McCartney album in years.
Read Full Review >All Music Guide
The quiet nature of Chaos and Creation may mean that some listeners will pass it over quickly, since it's a grower, but spend some time with the record and becomes clear that McCartney is far from spent as either a songwriter or record-maker.
Read Full Review >The Guardian
For all the nods to the past, not a note of Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard comes close to Beatle standards: it's an intriguing diversion rather than a major addition to the canon. What it has is a sense of purpose, lovely tunes in abundance, and charm.
Read Full Review >The New York Times
Sir Paul has always been an instinctive songwriter, and he sounds as surprised by these songs as his listeners may be. [12 Sep 2005]
Entertainment Weekly
There's no question that in places, it's a tad too twee. But what we're hearing is an artist honestly following his muse--always a compelling event. [16 Sep 2005, p.84]
Los Angeles Times
This is the intimate McCartney in the vein of his 1970 solo debut or "London Town," and the comfort allowed him to be as unguarded as he's ever been. [4 Sep 2005]
Billboard
McCartney continues to surprise, opening this set with four of his best songs in ages. [17 Sep 2005]
Dot Music
No one was expecting Godrich to turn this noble British pop institution into Radiohead, of course. But the glimpses of greatness are enough to leave you wishing that bottle had prevailed and more in the vein of "Too Much Rain" had resulted.
Read Full Review >Mojo
After the laboured Driving Rain, a welcome return of that definitive, love-it-or-hate-it McCartney effortlessness. [Oct 2005, p.98]
Q Magazine
He's found some endearing and unexpectedly affecting songs. [Oct 2005, p.120]
Paste Magazine
One can't help but miss the days when his buoyancy sounded less strained. [Dec 2005, p.116]
cokemachineglow
A sturdy if frustrating effort that exceeds and disappoints expectations all at once.
Read Full Review >E! Online
Even though he didn't use Godrich's elegant landscaping to its full advantage, we'll still listen to what this man has to say.
Read Full Review >New Musical Express
By teaming up with Godrich, McCartney has come out of his safety zone and challenged himself in a way not seen since his first solo album way back in 1970. But the feeling remains that the one person who could really inspire him to write one final classic record was tragically murdered in 1980.
Read Full Review >Blender
It's rather straight where [his 1970 debut] was eccentric and charming. [Oct 2005, p.139]
What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this album is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 220 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Günter S. gave it a9:
Sorry, only 9, but I first heard "memory almost full" ...
Ronald G. gave it a9:
A winner.
Sophie gave it a10:
One of his best albums - a fantastic piece of work and one of the best of the decade. Some of the tracks are absolutely wonderful.
Danny L gave it a10:
Rarely do you come across an album with so many fantastic songs. The simple arrangements are such a breath of fresh air compared to a lot of the over-produced music currently being released. LISTEN TO PAUL - more is not always better! Over half of the songs on this album are just plain brilliant and had they been released 40 years ago under the Beatles banner, they would have been immediate number one's across the globe. The other songs are just good. The best album by any artist for a long, long time.
Miguel G gave it a10:
My favorite McCartney album of all time!
Rohit V gave it a10:
This album definitely grows on you. The first time it was a little slow and easy to pass by, but there are basically no songs on here that are bad. "Riding to Vanity Fair" is just very cool and different than Macca in recent years, and this album has plenty of awesome sounding pop/rockers such as "Fine Line" and "Promise to You Girl". "Jenny Wren" shows that Paul still has amazing musical talent with that guitar of his. And each of the rest of the tracks are equally special. There isn't much filler on this album at all. "Anyway" is an amazing ending.
Brooke S gave it a10:
My favorite McCartney album of all time..i even think it's better than band on the run, and that is awesome.
