Review Summary: McCartney III delivers a sense of normality in unusual times, while still exploring new musical avenues
2020. A pretty bad year by all accounts, but it definitely gave the music world some memorable moments. While artists and fans had to adapt to a live gig-less world, some took the opportunity to create unique artistic statements that would not have been made if it were not for the pandemic. Albums like Charli XCX’s “how i’m feeling now” and Nine Inch Nails’ two ambient albums “Ghosts V” and “Ghosts VI” perfectly captured the mood and emotions of early lockdown periods when all this was still new to us. Other artists released albums that reminded us of better, more normal times (think of The Weeknd’s “After Hours”). McCartney III falls somewhere in both camps. On the one hand, it has been 40 years since the last self-titled album from Paul McCartney was released – a series in which he plays every instrument and in which he records with minimal collaboration with other musicians and producers. In this sense, it seems reasonable to say that the pandemic’s circumstances themselves are responsible for Paul making III, given that it was recorded in his studio during early lockdowns, allowing it be filed alongside the aforementioned “lockdown albums”. On the other hand, McCartney has been a firm establishment in the Western music industry for most of our lives, both in terms of the continuous release of his own music but also in the influence of The Beatles on pop music in general. So, in that sense, a new McCartney album is almost reassuring, reminding us of former, more normal times. McCartney III, then, is simultaneously a product of Covid-19, and a celebration of the times that preceded it.
That’s all very well and nice, but is this thing actually any good? Without going into a full history of McCartney’s lengthy solo career and the albums directly preceding III, let us briefly look at the legacy of McCartney II. Released in 1980, the album was pretty much slated upon release but has achieved cult status among many fans, although songs like “Temporary Secretary” still pretty strongly split people into love/hate camps (I fall into the former, so take that into account while reading the rest of this review). The cult status of McCartney II, combined with the 40 year gap between it and its sequel, means III had quite the shoes to fill. In my opinion, it filled them.
While II had its standout tracks, III is a far more consistent album. It still showcases Paul’s experimental style, and each track sees him trying something different, but the results are more 'hit' than 'miss' on III. Opener ‘Long Tailed Winter Bird’ introduces the album with a repeating guitar lick backed by a groovy beat and interspersed with unique vocal melodies that immediately make you take notice, and let you know that, at the very least, this album will offer some interesting ideas. This meandering opening is followed by ‘Find My Way’, a more straightforward pop song with a catchy hook and a more traditional structure, which hits all the right spots instrumentally and harmonically. Later in the tracklisting, ‘Deep Deep Feeling’ is an 8+ minute sprawling, brooding piece that explores what feels like all the possible nooks and crannies of its refraining chord progression. The closer “Winter Bird/ When Winter Comes” is a beautiful acoustic piece as charming as any classic Beatles-era McCartney ballad.
In conclusion to this very brief review, I would encourage you to give this album a listen, even if you are unfamiliar with McCartney’s solo work. It’s not breaking any new ground, but McCartney and co. already did that 60 years ago. Rather, it’s a celebration of Paul’s talent and shows that he still has a lot to offer musically. His voice sounds as great and as unmistakable as ever, his knack for songwriting is still top-tier, and he continues to explore new sonic ideas. Not bad for someone so late into their career. Each song on III has an aspect that stands out, whether it’s a catchy melody, an interesting vocal style, a heavier guitar tone or enchanting percussion – there is something different to be enjoyed in each track. McCartney III is a worthy addition to the self-titled series, and can sit side-by-side with the numerous impressive musical products of 2020’s lockdowns.
