Ad hoc, anything goes is the mood of what follows. Much is accomplished and playful. ... When he allows himself to forget who he is and just remember what it is that he does, he can still come up with songs to surprise you. More impressively, maybe even surprise himself.
McCartney’s infamous whimsy tempered by his refreshed penchant for odd sonic detail (the spectral guitar tangles that trail through “Find My Way” for instance) and an aged voice whose natural erosion is more feature than fault. [Feb 2021, p.58]
Fortunately, midway through the record, McCartney III starts to soar. When he’s not pouring his heart out into silly love songs, McCartney fares best harnessing his seldom-seen inner rage, à la “Helter Skelter.”
It’s catchy, well-crafted, and creative, all while remaining honest. It may not be the groundbreaking production that McCartney has, at times, produced with valiance and majesty, but it just works.
Absolutely brilliant. Loved it. Really impressed by the guys talent still being there at 78. Then again, what could we expect differently fromAbsolutely brilliant. Loved it. Really impressed by the guys talent still being there at 78. Then again, what could we expect differently from Paul McCartney.
Standouts:
- Pretty Boys - Seize The Day - Winter Bird/When Winter Comes - Find My Way…Expand
Exactly what we needed in quarantine. I love the creativity and optimism in this album, while most other quarantine albums have been moreExactly what we needed in quarantine. I love the creativity and optimism in this album, while most other quarantine albums have been more about isolation and depression. Melodically, McCartney is still the best there is. Probably the best there has ever been, in any genre or era of music, from a melodic sense.…Expand
'McCartney III' is a spontaneous gem that once again proves why Sir Paul is the greatest singer-songwriter of modern times. Unlike his last'McCartney III' is a spontaneous gem that once again proves why Sir Paul is the greatest singer-songwriter of modern times. Unlike his last studio album 'Egypt Station' (which I also love), here Paul takes a lot of risks and goes to musical places he's never been before, and that's saying a lot.
Standout tracks for me would be "Deep Down", "Deep Deep Feeling" (with quite modern vocals and very interesting, experimental instrumentations) and the gorgeous "Women and Wives".
There aren't really any weak tracks (although some melodies such as "Seize The Day" may not be as inspired), and people will find in 'McCartney III' a wider range of genres than on 'McCartney' or 'McCartney II', so there is a song for each taste. Those who prefer rockers will enjoy the classic rock 'n' roll "Lavatory Lil" or the more modern sounding "Slidin'". If you're more into ballads, the acoustic-guitar led "Pretty Boys" and "Kiss of Venus" are beautiful little melodies sung with Paul's current weathered but emotional voice.
The album opener ("Long Tailed Winter Bird") and closer ("Winter Bird" + the 1992 recording of "When Winter Comes") give the album a sense of unity and work really well in reaffirming the general feel of both experimentation and homely atmosphere.
In conclusion, it's a fantastic McCartney album, but its less comercial approach might need various listenings to fully appreciate its interesting turns and details.…Expand
I suspect most non-fans will join the ranks after a 60-year career not matter the content. But for those who have been followers, especiallyI suspect most non-fans will join the ranks after a 60-year career not matter the content. But for those who have been followers, especially those who love the 'do it yourself' records like McCarthey II and The Fireman records, this is terrific stuff! The songs sometimes drag on longer than any producer would allow on a mainstream album. Yes, the voice is 78 years old. But this is some great work. The pure musicianship and the sound mix is exquisite. Almost impossible to believe this is all one person!…Expand
Since his departure from The Beatles, the beloved songsmith has alternated between skillfully-written pop masterworks to complete pieces ofSince his departure from The Beatles, the beloved songsmith has alternated between skillfully-written pop masterworks to complete pieces of **** Who would deny the excellence of Ram, Band on the Run, and Flaming Pie? On the other hand, who in their right mind can stomach head-scratchers like Wildlife, Press to Play, and the coma-inducing pablum, Give my Regards to Broad Street. Let's face it; what you get out of a Sir Paul release is anybody's guess.
Interspersed among his bipolar discography is a triad of numbered albums that beg the question, what is so special about this triumvirate? What they appear to represent are three experimental shifts in style and direction. "I" was a lo-fi introspective shift away from Beatlemania. Ten years later, after the dissolution of Wings, "II" set an experimental tone for his next era of pop profundity. Fast forward forty years. In the middle of a pandemic, which he dubbs "rock-down," McCartney finds himself at the final transformational point in the triad.
This current incarnation harks back to the first. Let's face it; Paul was the polished Beatle, the produced and precise Beatle, while John was rougher around the edges. The combination of the two is what made the magic. On "III", John lets himself go. He skips the razor and hairbrush, and as a result, we see more of his authentic self. He creates grooves and then jumps into them to explore space within. There's a little John Lennon in these tracks, and thus, a bit of magic is conjured.
"Long Tailed Winter Bird" sets the pace with a vibrant blues riff greeted by scuffled rhythm and vocals a third of the way. "Find my Way' shines the light of hope into the dark space of our modern times with pop savvy. "Women and Wives" is a refreshing conjuring of a bare-bones blues ostinato. "Deep, Deep Feeling" evokes the modern soulfulness of James Blake or Mac Miller.
"Deep Down" contains the lyric 'Yankee toes and Eskimos can turn to frozen ice' which McCartney wrote upon impulse and later determined that "it's best not to question too deeply a lyric" and left it alone. The closing track, "When Winter Comes," revisits the album's opening blues riff, building and accentuating dramatically. Much like 2020, we begin in the winter and end in the winter with a whole lot of struggle in between.
In the long and winding road that is Paul McCartney's career, "III" is a rest along a scenic vista after a rough stretch of terrain. Fingers are crossed that "III" marks a pivot from the polished and predictable toward a deeper and more introspective McCartney in his remaining days.
I purchased this CD because I expected fresh lyrics that blend with acoustic/electric guitar melody.... Sorry for Sir Paul fans like me,I purchased this CD because I expected fresh lyrics that blend with acoustic/electric guitar melody.... Sorry for Sir Paul fans like me, this was performed with created melodies afterwords matched up to non-melodic lyrics. I can't recommend buying this CD unless you listen to it first from another user like me…Expand
