Chaos and Creation in the Backyard

Majestic tunes - very English and very good!! If you like McCartney's previous albums, you'll really enjoy this one. Many of these sound like classics the first time you hear them.

[...]I think that "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" is not only the most satisfying album in McCartney's post-Beatles career, I think it may rank, for me, as the best solo Beatle record of all.Now, I'm not saying that his "best" songs are on this record (whatever "best" really means), but I am saying that in terms of overall seriousness and cohesiveness, this is McCartney's greatest achievement. Unlike his past efforts, I hear no duds here. Sure, as expected, there are reasons to be critical: "A Certain Softness" has a melodic waywardness that doesn't quite work. But I don't dislike the song. Another song: "This Never Happened Before" has a melody that veers too close into MOR territory (but the "Abbey Road"-like sound world that opens the song sends chills through me). But, again, I don't dislike the song. That my criticisms of his new album are so mild says a lot because all his past efforts are marred by weak, tossed off and sometimes downright awful songs. I won't list them here."Band on the Run"? That album might come in second. It has a number of great songs on it and there's some real energy and enthusiasm there, but unlike the new one, that album doesn't sound like a Beatles record to me.Yes, "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" is the first long-player I've heard from John Paul, George or Ringo that sounds like a Beatles record -- but one in which Paul happens to sing all the leads. There's a surprising amount of Lennon-like near-bitterness to many of the lyrics. As for the music, I hear Lennonesque things all throughout the record. "At the Mercy" definitely has some Lennon-like gestures, and certainly much of the music calls to mind "Revolver"-era Lennon. And "Follow Me" sounds to me like an almost outright Lennon & McCartney collaboration (with an imaginary Lennon coming to Paul with a shard of an "Across the Universe"-like song to finish up). And "Friends to Go", one of McCartney's greatest songs ever from any period of his career, sounds, as McCartney mentions in the accompanying DVD, a bit like a George Harrison song. And then there's "Jenny Wren". That instant classic sounds like a lost treasure from the "White" album.Another thing. This new record represents his third time doing a relatively "all-Paul" album, and to my ears it's far and away the best of the three. The problem with 1970's "McCartney" is, basically, that much of it sounds too tossed off. And "McCartney II" is a largely dull and uninspired affair that includes the deadly "Coming Up".As for other McCartney long-player contenders, "Tug of War" is okay; it has some good songs, some bad songs, but it's just another one of McCartney's too smooth- and "safe"-sounding and unadventurous albums ("Pipes of Peace" was worse). "London Town"? Sure, that's one of his better records -- but it doesn't sound like a Beatles record to me.That's it for now. I suppose the only "evidence" I have in support of my thesis is that McCartney said that working with Nigel Godrich was like working with John Lennon.BarryPS" My favorite song from the record? Probably "Too Much Rain".

This is Paul's finest solo work, ever. But it will take at least three listenings to come to that realization. Nearly equal credit goes to the producer. The collaboration was just what Paul needed to buckle down and record some masterful tracks. Even on the typically McCartney-esq tunes like English Tea and Jenny Wren, there is a depth of musicality and instrument selection far more interesting and pleasing than they would have been had Paul produced on his own. Through several tracks -- such as How Kind of You and At The Mercy -- the complexity of the music is something we have never heard from the solo Paul, and the producer makes it work. There are two songs -- Fine Line and Anyway -- whose melodies are surprisingly "borrowed," but I am sure it was not intentional. Overall, however, this CD is a wonderful, in-your-face answer to all those solo-McCartney critics out there. Great piece of work.

McCartney's latest has been compared to his "solo" albums "McCartney" and "McCartney II". It's both an accurate and inaccurate representation of the music contained on it. The music is, as usual, tuneful and memorable and the lyrics are very good as well. It's clear that working with the producer of Radiohead had a positive impact. While McCartney plays almost all the instruments, he has a few guest musicians (including the talented Jason Falkner on guitar)make appearences as well. The songs are among the best he's written in a long time. It's clear that from "Flaming Pie" onward he's continued to improve his focus as a songwriter even his singing here feels more heartfelt than before.So where does "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" fit in? It's definitely a more consistent album than "Flaming Pie" (which had some filler on it)and although it doesn't rock as hard as "Driving Rain" the songs are full of inventive little touches missing from that terrific album as well. "Fine Line" the single is terrific and the stunning "How Kind of You" isn't one that knocks you off your feet on first listen but it works its way into your brain. Eventually you'll find it's a track you'll come back to quite a lot. "Jenny Wren" is one of the few tracks that doesn't come to life for me but the fine acoustic work reminds me a bit of "Blackbird"."Friends to Go" another great hook followed through by strong lyrics and melody and another winnner from Macca. "English Tea" has a bizarre recorder solo in it that just makes it work for me. "Too Much Rain" and "Riding to Vanity Fair" are both equally good. The latter is a song about betrayal while the former showcases what Paul does best when he's on his game.The spare production works very very well. This continues to show McCartney's artistic rebirth as he's released four strong albums in a row (I'm not counting the live album) with the "Flaming Pie", the amazing "Run Devil Run" and "Driving Rain". Definitely worth picking up for Beatles and McCartney fans. Worth picking up for anyone who likes great songwriting.There's a DVD with a 1/2 hour documentary included (about the making of the album)on the two disc edition that also features a performance and animated footage put to the music from the album as well. Personally, I found the DVD/CD combo to be worthwhile. 4 1/2 stars. If you purchase this at Bestbuy you'll have access to an excellent rocking song called "Comfort of Love" which makes the perfect companion piece to "Fine Line" (I wouldn't be surprised if it's been released as a single that way in a couple of markets).

Just a couple brief remarks on the Japanese Special Edition.The DVD is indeed Region-encoded and may not play on your home dvd player, if you live in North America.The bonus-track, She is so Beautiful, is fine, but it does not really enhance this already excellent album. So, if you're thinking of shelling out 50 bucks for this one track, you should know that it is a respectable, but lesser track from these outstanding sessions.