McCartney III (2020)
McCartney III is a paradox that mirrors the complexity of its creator’s career. It stands as both a testament to Paul McCartney’s unwavering creative spirit and a reflection of the limits built into a solo endeavor made in the middle of a global crisis. I understand all of this record’s criticism, but I equally understand all of its praise.
Paul’s solo albums, the ones bearing his surname, tend to serve as milestones marking significant junctures in his life. McCartney III fittingly emerges as the pandemic project, a solitary effort conceived during the strange, unprecedented era of the COVID-19 lockdowns. The sheer audacity of McCartney’s decision to handle the entire recording process alone commands respect, and marks it as a real achievement in itself.
Yet within that solitary venture lies both its brilliance and its shortcomings. Some may argue that McCartney III wanders into repetition, stretching out songs that could have been distilled into more accessible pop gems, but those critiques miss the point. McCartney wasn’t trying to follow a formula or spark a sonic evolution. He was trying to explore uncharted territory, push boundaries, and revel in the joy of creating for its own sake. The album’s charm lies in its refusal to conform. While some tracks may falter in their execution, there’s an undeniable authenticity running through each one.
Lyrically, McCartney covers a lot of emotional ground, from the tender nuances of love to the deep unease of a world gripped by a pandemic. Amidst that lyrical weight, though, there’s a simplicity that at times borders on the repetitive and the mundane. Tracks like Deep Down, Deep Deep Feeling, and Long Tailed Winter Bird have the promise of interesting musicality, but they also feel too simple.
Lavatory Lil harkens back to the later heyday of The Beatles, evoking shades of Polythene Pam, while Seize the Day feels like a lost gem from McCartney’s Wings era. It’s a run through nostalgia and invention, and a testament to McCartney’s enduring legacy as a musical icon.
McCartney III may find itself overshadowed by its predecessors. Riding on the coattails of albums like NEW and Egypt Station, expectations were undoubtedly high for modern McCartney. Yet perhaps it’s in letting go of those expectations that you can truly appreciate the raw authenticity of this record.
McCartney III stands as a testament to Paul McCartney’s unwavering creative spirit, a trip through the depths of isolation and introspection. While it may not soar to the heights of his most revered works, it definitely stands as one of Paul’s most experimental records to date.
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Highlight Songs:
Find My Way
Lavatory Lil
Deep Deep Feeling
Winter Bird / When the Winter Comes
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
Unless this album resonates with you in a way it didn’t with me, I’d stick to streaming it. Or, if you really like the album artwork, go for it, but I think this is one you can get away with streaming.
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Overall Rating:
3 Stars
