Artist: Paul McCartney / Fireman
Albums: Memory Almost Full / Electric Arguments
Worth Buying? Yes, both of them
You will be interested in these albums if you are a fan of: Paul McCartney, The Beatles, Pop, Pop Rock
Tell Me More: Last year Paul McCartney released his latest solo album "Memory Almost Full". This year saw the release of the latest CD by his side project The Firemen, entitled "Electric Arguments".
I probably listened to Memory Almost Full (AMF) about 3 times when I began to realize that this is some of the best stuff he's done since his peak 70's output.
I would rate this album just slightly below favorites like "Band on the Run" and "Venus and Mars".
The title: Memory Almost Full is something that those of us who have joined the digital generation are all facing now. We all need more hard drive space, more space on our cell phone. But the title also aprapo for someone who is looking back on a very long life. Just before we leave this mortal coil our Memories are almost full.
And while many of the songs find Sir Paul looking back on what has surely been a very full life there is a universality to his writing that allows all to relate to those feelings (even if you have quite some time to go before your memory is almost full).
No where is this more evident than on the song "The End of The End".
At the end of the end
It's the start of a journey
To a much better place
And this wasn't bad
So a much better place
Would have to be special
No need to be sad
On the day that I die I'd like jokes to be told
And stories of old to be rolled out like carpets
That children have played on
And laid on while listening to stories of old
There are plenty of other songs dealing with this theme like "That Was Me", "Ever Present Past" and the very Strawberry Hills influenced "Vintage Clothes". But this album is not all just reminiscence. The album opens with "Everybody Dance" which is one of those instantly likable McCartney melodies that garnered him hit after hit in the 70's. After a beautiful classical string intro the song "Only Mama Knows" rocks out like something from the Paul's "Wings" era. And the song "Mr Bellamy" is a very quirky song that gives a point of view of someone trying to talk someone else (In this case Mr. Bellamy)out of committing suicide. The album closes with the very White Album influenced "Nod Your Head".
Fast forward to this year and the release of "Electric Arguments" by the Fireman. The Fireman is Sir Paul's side project that is himself and music producer "Youth".
To be honest I have not listened to the previous albums from this project, but I had heard they where electronic and instrumental. Well the previous albums may have been, but this album is nothing of the sort.
Paul's vocals are on every track and there is nothing electronic sounding about this album. All the tracks feel real and organic.
The album opens with Sir Paul dipping into Zeppelin style blues with the track "Nothing too Much Out of sight" where he howls about a woman betraying him. This is followed by the acoustic and sparse "Two Magpies" which fits in perfectly with previous songs like "Blackbird", and "Bluebird".
In fact, overall (and in spite of it's title) Electric Arguments is a very warm and acoustic driven album filled with mostly hopeful and uplifting themes.
I personally enjoyed Memory Almost Full just a bit more than Electric Arguments (Your results may vary), but I think these two albums bookend and compliment each other very well.
AMF is an album where McCartney looks back on his life but never gets to nostalgic for it's own good. When it came out, I thought to myself that if this was the last thing he ever did it would be a fitting closing, But on Electric Arguments he sounds like a fresh new artist just getting out of the gate.
What about the packaging? Memory Almost Full (the standard edition) comes in a jewell case with a fold out insert but only some of the lyrics. There is a deluxe edition with a DVD. Electric Arguments comes in a digipak with a big booklet but no lyrics.
listen to Memory Almost Full and buy as Mp3
Memory Almost Full CD
Listen to Electric Arguments and buy on Mp3
Electric Arguments CD
Electric Arguments LP
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