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Tug of War [Deluxe Edition]
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Tug of War [Deluxe Edition] Image
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 6 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 13 Ratings

  • Summary: The reissue of the Beatle's third solo release was remixed from the original analogue multi-track tapes and features b-sides as well as eight unreleased demos. The deluxe edition includes a DVD with music videos and unreleased archival footage.
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Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 6
  3. Negative: 0 out of 6
  1. Paste Magazine
    Oct 7, 2015
    90
    There are a lot of varying moods to digest over 40 minutes, but it gels well.... The demos provide a glimpse into the working process.
  2. Uncut
    Oct 8, 2015
    90
    This crisp new full-album remix merely enhances the brilliance. [Nov 2015, p.93]
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  3. Mojo
    Oct 8, 2015
    80
    The second CD's half-hour of demos and discards is a repeat-play joy. [Nov 2015, p.102]
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  4. Rolling Stone
    Oct 7, 2015
    70
    he newly reissued Tug of War and Pipes of Peace prove it's worth the search, even if it means tiptoeing around a few toxic-waste dumps.... This reissue adds outtakes that didn't fit conceptually because they were too much like Silly Wings Songs: the New Orleans shuffle "Stop, You Don't Know Where She Came From" and the bagpipe-crazed country B-side "Rainclouds."
  5. PopMatters
    Oct 7, 2015
    70
    The best tracks on Tug of War are those that tone down the bombastic production stylings favored at the time and focus instead on the craftsmanship of McCartney’s lyrics and deft wordplay.... The bonus disc will mostly appeal only to McCartney fanatics and completists. Most of the material is skeletal versions of the proper album tracks mixed with studio goofs and vibes.
  6. Pitchfork
    Oct 7, 2015
    67
    The extras dug up for the Tug of War reissue (the Super Deluxe Edition of each also contain DVDs of era-appropriate ephemera) make for some interesting listening—demo versions of "Wanderlust" and "The Pound Is Sinking", and a version of "Ebony" with just McCartney on electric piano. But those pale in comparison to the veritable alternate LP included in Pipes of Peace.

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 1
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 1
  3. Negative: 0 out of 1
  1. Milanoo
    Sep 8, 2020
    8
    The second album in McCartney's discography after the dissolution of Wings brings an enjoyable but disjointed batch of songs to a new decadeThe second album in McCartney's discography after the dissolution of Wings brings an enjoyable but disjointed batch of songs to a new decade of music. Most of the tracks in this project serve their purpose, the only stone in this road is the terrible Ebony & Ivory, featuring Stevie Wonder, which combines both musical and lyrical clichés into a horrid experience. Overall this project demonstrate McCartney's prowess when in comes to crafting a good and compelling song.… Expand

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