Paul McCartney - 'McCartney III' Album Review
Announced officially on 21st October 2020, the latest album by the legendary Sir Paul McCartney is entitled McCartney III, and was released just this morning. It follows the traditional pattern first laid out by McCartney I (1970) and McCartney II (1980) in that all instruments and vocals on each track are sung and played by McCartney himself. As this is the first McCartney solo album which Linda McCartney, Paul's first wife, is not alive for, the album photograph was taken by his eldest daughter, Mary McCartney, with assistance from his nephew Sonny McCartney - the three McCartney albums have all been family affairs.
The album was recorded at Hogg Hill Mill studio, owned by McCartney since 1981, in what he calls "rockdown". Describing the process of recording the album, McCartney said, "each day I'd start recording the instrument I wrote the song on and then gradually layer it all up; it was a lot of fun. It was about making music for yourself rather than making music that has to do a job. So, I just did stuff I fancied doing. I had no idea this would end up as an album."
Starting off strong with the incredibly catchy Long Tailed Winter Birds, consisting of several minutes of awesome guitar and then just a few gorgeous vocals, the album then moves onto the slightly shorter but no less amazing song Find My Way, which sounds like it could snugly fit in amongst the tracks on his previous album, 'Egypt Station' (2018). The lyrics are fun and slightly satirical ('well I can find my way / I know my left from right') whilst being very comforting, ('Let me help you out / Let me be your guide / I can help you reach / The love you feel inside').
The third song, entitled Pretty Boys is a tribute to the art of male modelling, and is sweet and a gorgeous acoustic song which is one of my favourite on the album. Women and Wives is faintly reminiscent of an earlier album by McCartney's post-Beatles band, Wings, a slightly moody, slightly rock piano ballad which is followed by my favourite song on the album, Lavatory Lil, which can easily be compared to Her Majesty on 1969's 'Abbey Road', an album from a little band by the name of The Beatles. It's a spoof, and a little ditty which one can hum when doing menial tasks, but it's simply amazing - the kind of songwriting which has always made McCartney stand out from everybody else.
Deep Deep Feeling, the eight-and-a-half minute long epic sixth song on the album is simply magnificent. It is relatable but also feels as if it is very personal to McCartney, once again demonstrating what an amazing songwriter he is - he gives the song to his audience whilst also keeping it close to his heart at the same time before transitioning smoothly into Slidin', which feels like the power ballad of the album. It is energetic and simply put, one of the greatest McCartney songs ever, in my opinion.
The Kiss of Venus is the song which was played over the second teaser trailer for the album and is one of the songs which has been in my head for the longest time because of it. It is sweet and simple, a perfect little song for any mood because of its beautiful guitar picking, and settling melody. It is on this song that McCartney sounds most like his former Beatle-self, making beautiful lullaby-like tunes which stand out from the rest on the album. Tasked with following up The Kiss of Venus and with big boots to fill is Seize The Day, rouses spirits, drawing out what seems like the future - one wonders whether, when writing this song, McCartney was going for the idealistic future post-COVID, when almost all of 2020 is a distant memory... its message, however, is a bright one. Seize the day. Make it your own.
The penultimate song on 'McCartney III' is Deep Down, and something which feels alien. It makes no use of standard songwriting; verse-bridge-chorus, but instead favours something more footloose and fancy free. Its vocals are repeated, and the acoustic guitar hook is mesmerising. The repetition and groove of the song has slightly ghoulish vibes, as well as dark funk, smoky and is almost sexy. It is the perfect post-party anthem, and yet cannot be called entirely that. It is a mystery, brought to life by cutting-edge sounds and a seasoned voice which loads every word with decades of musical experience.
Reprising the opening song's intro before becoming something entirely its own, Winter Bird / When Winter Comes is the final song on McCartney's year defining album, 'McCartney III' and is sweet and homely. Something which reflects the songs which he has already written such as Mull of Kintyre (1978), telling a beautiful story of life on a farm, begging the question of whether McCartney was imagining the little farm in Scotland on which he, Linda, and their daughters Mary and Heather retreated to following the breakup of The Beatles in 1970.
The album seems to be a reflection on 2020, but also on McCartney's epic life in music. Some have made the argument that Macca's voice has deteriorated throughout the years, but there is no truth to this - McCartney III sounds as fresh as the now-fifty year old McCartney I did in 1970, and will undoubtedly stay just as relevant.