Paul
McCartney – Egypt Station (Capitol)
This is the thing, if you have any interest in popular music; you
have some sort of history with Paul McCartney. You may not agree, indeed, you
may believe the absolute opposite is true, but you’re wrong. The Beatles are
the single biggest influence on popular music. Even if every musical thing you
love sounds nothing like them, it’s a just a reaction against all those bands
that do. If they write their own songs, that’s The Beatles. If they make
videos, that’s The Beatles. If they stretch musical boundaries, that’s The
Beatles. The list goes on.
Of late, McCartney’s actually hit a bit of an autumnal purple
patch. 2013’s ‘New’ was an excellent collection, with minimal filler, solid
songwriting throughout and a few absolute stunners. It was unexpected, but
y’know, it’s Paul McCartney, anything’s possible. His solo highpoints are
spread throughout his career, so it’s impossible to predict when the next one’s
coming. Egypt Station isn’t quite up there with New, but it’s a close run
thing.
Over the course of an hour, Egypt Station touches upon a number of
styles and sounds, from gentle blues to heavy rock, and lyrically he’s on top
form, taking on social and political targets (‘People Want Peace’, ‘Despite
Repeated Warnings’, respectively) seemingly at will. In fact, it’s impossible not
to be overwhelmed by the pure, easy craftsmanship of his songwriting. It’s a
collection that simply flows, and signs off with the magnificent ‘Hunt You
Down/Naked/C-Link’, a multi-parter that brings to mind classic records like Ram
and Red Rose Speedway. Essential McCartney? Pretty close…
Rollo
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