Chaos And Creation In The Backyard
by Paul McCartney
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Sep 13, 2005
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 271 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 242 out of 271
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 271
  3. Negative: 19 out of 271

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  1. idigworms
    Sep 12, 2005
    10
    His best in a long while.
  2. RichardL
    Sep 21, 2005
    10
    Fantastic!!!!
  3. SteveP
    Jan 7, 2006
    10
    This is no longer McCartney the lovable moptop; this is music of complexity and depth. But it's also virtuosic -- by now everybody must know Macca plays most of the instruments himself -- and fun to listen to, with plenty of catchy hooks. But even better, it grows on you with repeated listenings. This is McCartney at his best -- and that's pretty damned good!
  4. marcor
    Jun 10, 2006
    10
    one of his best
  5. radar
    Sep 14, 2005
    10
    This is Quality! Listen, for god's sake! RollingStone, and other reviewers, really show their ignorance when they rate Stones' poor honkytonkish "a bigger bang" higher than this masterpiece from Paul. Something wrong with your ears? F***ing ignorants!
  6. willo
    Sep 21, 2005
    10
    best cd he wrote paul ur my hearo and i hope u come to buffalo so i can see case im to lasy to go any where i love and we all miss john and goerage. keep writing, will
  7. danield
    Sep 20, 2005
    10
    this is one of pauls beat albums.it ranks with band on the run,tug of war and flaming pie.even though it is short on rock and roll , the songs are so beautfiul all is forgiven,best tarcks are "at the mercy","how kind of you' and :jenny wren"
  8. RohitV
    May 16, 2007
    10
    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 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.… Expand
  9. johng
    Dec 2, 2005
    10
    this guy blows the roof off of concert buldings and he 's done the same with this cd. He rocks with more tnt than the new guys on the block !! Look out, its mcartney mania one more time!! j.g..
  10. TommyL
    Oct 5, 2005
    10
    This album gets better with each listen. It's beautiful. Get the special edition and watch the video disc. It's very informative and well done. Paul explains how he imagines himself as someone else as he is writing a song. Although it doesn't come out sounding like the musician he imagined, many times a song will be created in an hour or two that will be very well liked by This album gets better with each listen. It's beautiful. Get the special edition and watch the video disc. It's very informative and well done. Paul explains how he imagines himself as someone else as he is writing a song. Although it doesn't come out sounding like the musician he imagined, many times a song will be created in an hour or two that will be very well liked by many people.… Expand
  11. pierreM
    Oct 7, 2005
    10
    Amazing album. The melodies are gorgeous, most of the songs are instant classics. The association with Goodrich may be the explanation for this..
  12. JeroenH
    Sep 16, 2005
    10
    Best since RAM
  13. duncans
    Sep 16, 2005
    10
    a great album by paul mccartney! the production is spot on.
  14. MC
    Sep 16, 2005
    10
    Absolutely incredible......wow, just...wow. McCartney and Godrich....who'd a thunk it
  15. AndrewMacca
    Sep 19, 2005
    10
    A fantastic album! Great to hear Paul back in top form. His best work since Band on the Run. If he's not nominated for a Grammy for this one, I'll be shocked...
  16. SebastianC
    Sep 19, 2005
    10
    great music, full heart, full mind
  17. JuanLuisG
    Sep 19, 2005
    10
    Beautiful ! It is still growing on me.
  18. JaneL
    Sep 20, 2005
    10
    The best in years.
  19. TimR
    Sep 24, 2005
    10
    At first listen I'm ashamed to say I was disappointed with this CD. I've been a diehard, hardcore, talk bad about him and I'll smack you fan of Paul McCartney since I was 8 years old and I'm 50 now. Be that as it may I know Paul does tend to get a tad sappy sometimes, ok alot, and I thought this CD was going to be more of the same. I could not have been more wrong. At first listen I'm ashamed to say I was disappointed with this CD. I've been a diehard, hardcore, talk bad about him and I'll smack you fan of Paul McCartney since I was 8 years old and I'm 50 now. Be that as it may I know Paul does tend to get a tad sappy sometimes, ok alot, and I thought this CD was going to be more of the same. I could not have been more wrong. After the second listen I was hooked and the CD hasn't come out of my car stereo yet. I LOVE IT! Paul really came through this time. Anyone my age will tell you that modern music has been downright painful these past 10 years with the exception of Flaming Pie which is a damned fine album. It's about time we have something really good to listen to...too bad radio will never play it. Then again, radio today is for delinquents who listen to garbage like Britney Spears and thug music...so in effect radio is dead anyway. Chaos and Creation in the Backyard has become one of favorite McCartney CD's and as a lifelong fan I'm so proud he's getting some recognition again. Way to go Paul!! Good Job!!… Expand
  20. CriticKiller
    Sep 20, 2005
    10
    How can the gap between the critic score and the people score be so large on this???? and what's with the lack of good critial reviews?? Answer: the critics know nothing.
  21. RichB
    Sep 25, 2005
    10
    Any Phoniness or "Cuteness" is gone from this McCartney album. Fantastically produced, and some of McCartney's best lyrics are delivered here. Paul even delves into self-parody with the "For No One" copy "English Tea", which easily could have been a Rutles parody song of McCartney's style. This album may take a few listens to fully aprecciate its fantastic departure from a Any Phoniness or "Cuteness" is gone from this McCartney album. Fantastically produced, and some of McCartney's best lyrics are delivered here. Paul even delves into self-parody with the "For No One" copy "English Tea", which easily could have been a Rutles parody song of McCartney's style. This album may take a few listens to fully aprecciate its fantastic departure from a normal Paul album. Far from Wings (thank goodness), but one of Paul's best in years!… Expand
  22. AntonioR
    Nov 23, 2006
    10
    Great Ablum !
  23. DavidF
    Feb 2, 2006
    10
    I gave up on McCartney years ago, then, being a lifetime Beatles fan, snagged a ticket to his concert in November, loved it and bought Chaos and Creation on sale at Best Buy. It's February, and I still can't stop listening. Whether he wins a Grammy or not, this album is packed with an artistic subtlety and beauty that, as so many "voters" here note, grows on you slowly, I gave up on McCartney years ago, then, being a lifetime Beatles fan, snagged a ticket to his concert in November, loved it and bought Chaos and Creation on sale at Best Buy. It's February, and I still can't stop listening. Whether he wins a Grammy or not, this album is packed with an artistic subtlety and beauty that, as so many "voters" here note, grows on you slowly, insinuating itself into your life. I sent my college age daughter a copy, and she can't stop listening either. It reminded me in that sense of some of the Beatles songs - I wasn't sure I liked them when I first heard them. Then I was hooked. Favorite songs: Fine Line and Jenny Wren at first, then Too Much Rain, At the Mercy, Friends to Go, and the middle bridge of Follow Me, which points to how great the lyrics of this album are. He worked hard, and it paid off. He's 63, which is quite amazing.… Expand
  24. lukel
    May 3, 2006
    10
    Genius
  25. DarrelL
    Mar 17, 2007
    10
    Stunning, Stunning album! It's now 2007, I have been a McCartney fan forever, and have all of his solo albums, but this one is the very best. Best post-Beatles album by any of them. Fantastic work. All of their work that has been released in this Millennium has been wonderful, I'm surprised but very happy! Wish John and George were still here, but I'm glad they are still Stunning, Stunning album! It's now 2007, I have been a McCartney fan forever, and have all of his solo albums, but this one is the very best. Best post-Beatles album by any of them. Fantastic work. All of their work that has been released in this Millennium has been wonderful, I'm surprised but very happy! Wish John and George were still here, but I'm glad they are still with us through their music.… Expand
  26. BrookeS
    Mar 27, 2007
    10
    My favorite McCartney album of all time..i even think it's better than band on the run, and that is awesome.
  27. MiguelG
    May 20, 2007
    10
    My favorite McCartney album of all time!
  28. CarstenH
    Nov 21, 2005
    10
    I'm amazed! I can't find any bad songs on this album and some like "Too much rain", "Jenny Wren" and "follow me" are horrifying good
  29. JRoberts
    Oct 13, 2005
    10
    Frankly, this is McCartney's best since the Beatles--bar none. Songs are great and deceptively simple sounding; production is wonderful. If this were written and performed by any new group or unknown performer, they'd be winning acclaim and awards aplenty.
  30. DouglasT
    Dec 12, 2005
    10
    Solid and sensitive work from the most popular composer of humankind.
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Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Most Discussed Album of 2005
27
#27 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 19
  3. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. AllMusic
    80
    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
  2. Billboard
    70
    McCartney continues to surprise, opening this set with four of his best songs in ages. [17 Sep 2005]
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    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]
See all critic reviews »