McCartney III - Review

The legendary Paul McCartney has just released a new album, called McCartney III.

The album title is a continuation of his 1980 album McCartney which who had already a sequel titled McCartney I (1970). Some critics compared these 3 albums but I thinks it is a silly thing to do (the #2 was released 40 years ago, completely different times). 

Paul did a very good and efficient job here. Thankfully, he didn't go far from his typical rock n roll sound. This is the kind of album that you would expect that an aged Beatle would record. Drums, guitars, bass, nice melodies, keeping it simple and raw. Paul played all instruments and all vocals, so there wasn't space for strange collaboration like he did in the past (Thank God). 

What can you find thought these 11 songs? Well, you have some "Paul's granny music" which is always nice and beautiful, there's a nice sensibility on tracks like "The Kiss Of Venus", "Pretty Boys" and then there's some catchy pop tunes like "Find My Way" or "Seize The Day". Paul's old formula is there and still works! "Woman And Wives" shows a darker side of the album, more dramatic. There are two excelent, pure rock moments on the album. "Slidin'" seems like an old brother of Helter Skelter. Raw, Agressive, Loud guitars. The best song on the album, without any doubt. It's hard to imagine a 78 years old man writing this song. The speed, the lyrics, the transitions in the song, it's perfect. "Lavatory Lil" is a more classic rock song, funny. Then there an atmospheric song, almost 9 minutes long, called "Deep Deep Feeling" that is also one of the high points of the album. It's the most complex song on the album, with a lot of variations. Beautiful and fits very well in the middle of the album. Then, you can find the sequel of Blackbird during the last song, "When Winter Comes". 

The album is excellent. I would like to see him exploring more his harder side but it's great as it is. I think it is more similar to Paul's first solo albums, like Ram, simple, direct and raw. I can put it as one of my favourite McCartney's solo albums. Its the proof that the ex-Beatle can't make bad music. 

A victory. Let's hope that Paul continues to write music like this for many many years. 

8/10

     

Paul McCartney & Others to Play Online Fest

The world is facing probably the worst and most unlikely event ever.
We need to stay home, we need to do a social isolation and, when I see we, it's really the whole world, including politicians, actors, sportsmen and, of course musician.
The concerts are being cancelled all over the world, new music and albums are being postponed.
However, there is a huge supportive vibe all over the world. People are really trying to make a difference, and that's a very beautiful thing. Hopefully, when this crisis is over, this solidarity will continue to grow and we will be better human beings.
Musicians are doing their part. They are cancelling their gigs and, a lot of them are doing live Instagram or radio performances.
On the night of the 18th to the 19th of April, a lot of artists and entertainers will do live performances. This event will include some legendary names like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Eddie Vedder or Andre Bocelli. 
Check their official site for more information about the stream.
https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/connect/togetherathome/

Stay safe, stay home.

The Beatles Reunited

The Beatles, the world's biggest band ever, never reunited after their break up in 1970, however, during the following years, we saw some very happy collaboration between them. Over the years we say Ringo playing drums in a lot of George's albums, or Lennon giving some songs and participating on Starr's album.

Well, looks like there is going to be a new collaboration with the 2 remaing Beatles alive.

According to Ringo Starr official Twitter, Paul McCartney was with him in studio recording some bass lines to his next solo album.

They look good and happy on the shared photo. Good to see old mates still caring with each other.

Paul McCartney Plays Surprise Concert In Times Square

Yesterday, on the 10th of October, Sir Paul McCartney played a surprise gig in New York's Time Square.
He tweeted about it on his official account and then, some fans were able to see him perform 4 songs from his next album "New".
It was the second time McCartney made an unexpected performance this week, as he made a not programmed concert in a school in that same city.

Paul played:
1- New
2- Save Us
3- Everybody Out There
4- Queenie Eye

See here some parts of the concert:

The Ultimate Band

On last week, NME made several interviews to several artists asking them witch artists would they pick for the Ultimate Band. One of them was Brett Anderson from Suede and you can see in the picture is choices. I decided to make the same exercise and choose my super group (I'll only choose one person per band, otherwise we could have many Suede members):

Vocals: Patrick Duff (Strangelove)

With artists like Brett Anderson, Dave Gahan, Morrissey or Jeff Buckley it was really complicated to decide who should be on the band as main vocals. Well, Patrick Duff, during Strangelove, was like an animal in terms of singing. He was a completely passionate guy with a non stop energy. His lyrics are very deep. On his solo career he is more mature and soft but with magical melodies and lyrics. He would be the best option for this place.

Guitars: Richard Oakes (Suede, Artmagic)

Oakes is my guitar hero. For all that he represents. He entered Suede with 17 years old and was, in my opinion, the greatest responsible in Suede biggest come back in 1996 with my all time favourite album Coming Up. Butler left Suede and no one in the press believed that they could come back to the spotlight but, with songs like Beautiful Ones, Trash or Filmstar they did it, and came back even better than they were before. Richard is a natural talented guitarist that can make millions of catchy and beautiful riffs. During last years he was gone but he came back with Artmagic and made an excellent album full of nice guitars and beautiful keyboards. 

Bass: Paul McCartney (The Beatles, Wings)

Paul McCartney is a living legend. The work he made on Beatles, Wings and on his solo albums are simply amazing and they are the best tunes ever. The Beatles were and still are the most influential band of all time and McCartney was the big brain behind it. The medley on Abbey Road or the first classic Beatles songs, passing thought his amazing solo album Ram or Band On The Run with the wings are little examples of a complete genius. His way of playing bass was incredible too. Very rhythmic, very enjoyable, very natural. Songs like Come Together or Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da have great bass lines. And of course he could borrow his giant creativity in the other instruments to all of the other band members (as we can see on his first solo album where he plays all the instruments)

Keyboards: Martin L. Gore (Depeche Mode)

Martin Gore is the synthesizer master. He was the main brain over Depeche Mode's 80's career and the responsible in their fantastic change of sound during Violator, Songs Of Faith And Devotion and Ultra. Although nowadays he plays more guitar than Keyboards in live gigs he still does it on studio (during last album he had an "obsessions" of buying a lot of keyboards from Ebay and made a huge collection). He is a really creative musician always exploring samples and new songs and, in my opinion is that what I would like to see in a keyboard player. As an example of his abilities in synthesizers I could remember songs like Walking In My Shoes, It's No Good or In Your Room (album version, is a complete climax).

Drums: Paul Thomson (Franz Ferdinand)

There are so much typical drum players that could make this list, like Dave Grohl or several hard rock guys but what I look in drum players is not for them to be protagonists or for them to try to evidence from the band. I look for them to really fit well on the rest of the band and I think Paul Thomson has the perfect style for that. When I listen to Franz Ferdinand, the drum sounds is really characteristic, and it is always in the right position with the right changes between verses and chorus and solos. As for examples, the classic Take Me Out is marvellous or the super great live version of Outsiders is brilliant too. I saw them live 2 times in the last years and was completely amazed by their great liver performance.

Band Name: Strange Sound

Paul McCartney Recebeu Prémio Gershwin

Ontém, Sir Paul McCartney, o "menino bonito" dos Beatles recebeu pela mão de Barack Obama a medalha de Gershwin oferecida pela Biblioteca do Congresso.. Esta medalha premeia um músico devido à sua grande influência na música Pop. Paul Simon e Stevie Wonder são os outros dois artistas que também já receberam tal distinção.
Ontem foi Paul que a obteve numa sessão bastante animada com participações de vários grandes músicos (Dave Grohl e Jack White por exemplo) em que o ex-Beatle cantou alguns clássicos entre eles "Michelle" dedicando-o a Michelle Obama.

E Agora Paul...

Depois de uma música a solo de John Lennon fiquem com um dos últimos singles que Mccartney lançou!
"Dance Tonight" do álbum "Memory Almost Full".
É grande músca mas iinda bem que os Beatles viveram nos anos 60!