McCartney III – what to expect?
 |
| Fan-designed cover |
This is what I was hoping for a bit: Paul writing new songs, recording demos, playing all the instruments himself, maybe experimenting with tape loops, sound effects and riffs. And who knows it might be good enough for a new album, next year or so. A first indication that I was not far off, was Paul’s interview with GQ magazine, in which he gave a little insight into what he has been doing:
I’ve been able to write and get into music, starting songs, finishing songs. I’ve had a few little things to write and it’s given me the time to finish some songs that I hadn’t found time to get around to, you know? I’ve been recording using lots of hand wipes and disinfectant and social distancing, which was good, because I don’t like not working”.
It seems to be more beautiful than I could have dreamed. First of all, of course, because we will probably be treated to new work this year already. And if the title McCartney III is actually correct, then it looks like we're going to get a home-made album. Just as McCartney and McCartney II were in 1970 and 1980. And that creates expectations, because both albums form a diverge duo within Paul's entire catalogue.
------------------
Related Post:
New Album Rumored… McCartney III Out In December
------------------
However much the first two editions differ from each other, there are a number of similarities which are characteristic and which also should be in part three. Firstly, the albums are, as noticed, home-made albums. With only Sir Paul playing all the instruments on his own and recording everything by himself; layer by layer. The result is a stripped-down album, very basic, low-fi, and what you hear is the McCartney one-man band with guitar, bass, keys, drums and, in the case of McCartney II, synthesizers. Not too many bells and whistles, no orchestras with strings and horns.
Also important, no external producer: No one who provides feedback or acts as a sounding board or introduces new ideas. That is different from, for example, Chaos & Creation in the Backyard (2005) and Electric Arguments (2008), where the one-man band McCartney can also be heard. The big difference, however, is that for these two albums the producers, Nigel Godrich and Martin "Youth" Glover, left a big mark on the end result. Youth has even been co-credited on the cover of Electric Arguments. So the first two albums are pure McCartney, without any filter. And you can also expect the same approach in a part three.
The timing seems perfect for a McCartney III, in a year, 2020, with another round number and part one and two celebrating their 50th and 40th anniversary. McCartney III also fits in the picture as the successor to Egypt Station. The previous album is a baroque record, with a great eye for detail, where audibly a lot of time has been put into the production. McCartney III as the polar opposite of Egypt Station would also be in the tradition of the two predecessors: McCartney was nothing like the Beatles' polished Abbey Road, and the more experimental McCartney II was nothing like Wings' most rocking album Back To The Egg.
They both also mark the end of an era, in 1970 that of The Beatles and ten years later the end of Wings. That is a tradition that, as far as I am concerned, should be broken. Because the end of what era are we talking about? The end of Paul as a touring artist or as a recording artist? That’s something I just can’t imagine yet, despite Paul being 78 years old.
McCartney III comes as a surprise. I think it is an unplanned project, the idea of which was more or less born out of necessity. No COVID-19, no McCartney III; a lock down album as a bonus.
A nice little present at the end of an otherwise horrible year.
Related posts:
New Album Rumored… McCartney III Out In December
1980: McCartney II, Macca Going Loose
1970: McCartney, The Album
Posts
Post A Comment
Geen opmerkingen :