Egypt Station: One year later

About a year ago I wrote in my review that Egypt Station would definitely be in my top 10 of favorite McCartney solo and Wings albums. With the caveat that I usually have that opinion with a new Macca album and that time will have to teach us how strong the album really is. Now, a year after the release, I fully support my first conclusion. In fact, as far as I'm concerned, Egypt Station is among the top five of McCartney’s post-Beatles albums. 

---------------------------------------------------
My personal Top 5 McCartney albums:

1. RAM
2. Band on the Run
3. Electric Arguments
4. Egypt Station
5. Back to the Egg
---------------------------------------------------




I have to confess, last year I have worn out the album. I don't think a week has passed without having listened to it at least once or twice, although usually not in its entirety; Egypt Station is quite a long album and often I just don't have enough time for it. I have come up with a somewhat creative solution for that. Since the release of the Explorer’s Edition last May, I regularly listen to the "second part": starting with Station II, followed by that great three song medley and then these bonus tracks. No McCartney record with such excellent extra songs as Egypt Station; Nothing for Free, Get Enough, Sixty Seconds Street and Frank Sinatra’s Party, they all wouldn’t have been out of place on the actual album. By dividing it in two and listening to Egypt Station in this way, it is almost like Egypt Station is a double album. In terms of length, that in fact is the case.

---------------------------------------------------------------
More about Egypt Station:

The Videos of Egypt Station
Egypt Station Quiz
Egypt Station: Review
---------------------------------------------------------------

What I find special is that Egypt Station doesn’t contain any so-called ‘fillers’. Of course there are a few songs that don't appeal to me that much. But then we’re talking about personal taste, not about lesser quality songs. You can hear from everything that a lot of effort has been spent on tracks; they are full of creative finds. Such as the phrase "Best crew of the planet", hidden in the track Despite Repeated Warnings, which was originated from and recorded during McCartney's live shows; I think such little jokes are great. Sir Paul described the album as a "headphones-for-an-hour trip", and yes, even now, a year after its release, if I really take the time, I sometimes still find small, new and unexpected sounds.




What also appeals to me about Egypt Station is the total package. The foldable covers of both the CDs and LPs, the design as a whole, the idea of the setting sun with the Explorer’s Edition; it all fits within the idea of a concept album. Because of all that attention to details, I got the feeling that with Egypt Station, Paul wanted to go big once again; really wanting to show once more what he is capable of, despite his age. Of course I do hope that a possible successor is at least as good as this one, but he definitely has set the bar very high.

Related Posts:

Egypt Station Debuts No. 1 On Billboard 200 Chart
Egypt Station: Review Overview
New Release: The Paul McCartney 2018 Fanbook

André Homan

André Homan is a Dutch writer and journalist.

Nieuwere post Oudere post