Music review: Paul McCartney – ëƵEgypt StationëƵ
When you were a part of perhaps the greatest band of all time and recognized as one of most successful musician/composers in pop music history, expectations are always high when you release new music.
With 55 years in the business of making memorable albums as a Beatle, leader of Wings and a solo artist, Paul McCartney continues to create music that moves and inspires. On his latest offering, ëƵEgypt Station,ëƵ the 76-year-old McCartney delivers 16 new arrangements that possess a sentimental and creative flair heard earlier on tracks written at the beginning of his solo career.
While listening to the new material, youëƵll hear hints of the Beatles, classic elements from Wings and vintage solo McCartney.
All of this variety makes for a gratifying listening experience. McCartney is still in fine voice and plays a majority of the instruments on the album. As a result, McCartney delivers one of his best solo efforts.
ëƵOpening StationëƵ begins the musical journey as a graceful instrumental introduction that sets the stage for the upcoming destinations along the way.
ëƵI DonëƵt KnowëƵ quickly follows with a melancholy touch as McCartney tenderly describes feelings of self-doubt and fear of failure. ItëƵs one of his best tracks in years.
McCartney once sang, ëƵYouëƵd think that people would have had enough of silly love songs/I look around me and I see it isnëƵt so/Some people want to fill the world with silly love songs/And whatëƵs wrong with that/IëƵd like to know.ëƵ
ëƵCome On to MeëƵ is a new McCartney love song that contains a more direct approach as McCartney sings, ëƵI saw you flash a smile, that seemed to me to say/You wanted so much more than casual conversation/I swear I caught a look before you turned away/Now I donëƵt see the point resisting your temptation.ëƵ
ëƵHand In HandëƵ is yet another love song that is anything but silly as McCartney sounds vulnerable and sincere announcing, ëƵWanna give you my heart/Wanna tell you my story.ëƵ
ëƵHappy with YouëƵ finds McCartney reminiscing about his younger days declaring, ëƵI sat around all day/I used to get stoned/I liked to get wasted/But these days I donëƵt.ëƵ
In 1969, John Lennon delivered the powerful protest number ëƵGive Peace a Chance.ëƵ Here we are in 2018 and McCartney is still echoing LennonëƵs sentiments on ëƵPeople Want PeaceëƵ by singing, ëƵThe message is simple, itëƵs straight from my heart/And I know that youëƵve heard it before/But what does it matter, weëƵre in it together/And IëƵm not quitting while people are crying for more.ëƵ
McCartney gets political on ëƵDespite Repeated WarningsëƵ and cranks it up a notch on the rockers ëƵWho CaresëƵ and ëƵHunt You Down/Naked/C-Link.ëƵ
Lyrics from ëƵDominoesëƵ aptly describe the new album with the music legend singing, ëƵIn time weëƵll know, itëƵs all a show/ItëƵs been a blast.ëƵ
Soak this one in and enjoy.
Clint Rhodes is the ëƵ-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.

