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Review #017 - "Memory Almost Full" by Paul McCartney

Right off the bat, I didn't have terribly high expectations for this. I mean, a musician who was popular in his 20's and 30's tends not to be as good in his '60s. I mean, I wouldn't say Paul McCartney would make a cash-in, but certainly there must be some sort of loss of quality, right? Then I dug a bit deeper. The year before this album came out, Paul divorced Heather Mills and it's widely known among the Beatles fandom that his previous studio album, released in 2005, had many themes of the breakup in progress. Will this album have similar themes? More importantly, will it be any good?

1. Dance Tonight
So, by the sound of the first single, this may in fact by a cash-in. Mandolin based pop song with no real heart to it. I can't say it's not catchy though.

2. Ever Present Past
Another more poppy effort, but it's a lot more meaningful. This is more of a keyboard-based thing and is a bit less light-hearted in tone.

3. See Your Sunshine
Did...Paul McCartney just write a sex song? Tis a good song, but I can't say it stands out in the grand scheme of things.

4. Only Mama Knows
We start with a lush string arrangement which morphs into a surprisingly hard rocking song by McCartney's standards. It's the first real standout of the album and takes it out of it's poppy, but bland slump. This one really does rock and was worth the wait.

5. You Tell Me
A beautiful, well orchestrated ballad about Paul's former wife Linda McCartney. Although, I really do have to mention that it does sound laughable at times when he tries to go falsetto.

6. Mr. Bellamy
This one has some jazzy piano and a rather dark tone. Paul hits some of the lowest notes of his vocal range as well as some repetitively high ones. It's a cool, almost jazzy effort and I can dig that.

7. Gratitude
Another attempt at pop. He strains his voice too much. Let's move on...

8. Vintage Clothes
This one is part '70s-style rock and part electronic-ambient. Yes, really. Lyrics are odd. Who cares that you wear vintage clothes? BTW, this also marks the start of a mini-medley on the album in the same vein as the famous Abbey Road medley.

9. That Was Me
Kinda a blues-rock, country-rock vibe on this one. The highlight is definitely the guitar solo where Paul sings along.

10. Feet In The Clouds
Decent, but I can't say it was memorable or stood out. Who knows, maybe it'll grow on me?

11. House Of Wax
Starting with a dramatic piano riff, we end up with a dramatic, almost power ballad. He's obviously getting some sort of anger out with this one. Also, props to McCartney's guitarist Rusty, the solo was excellent.

12. The End Of The End
We slow things down for the final song of the medley. It's deeply heartfelt, involving how McCartney doesn't want people to be sad when he died. I must say, as a huge Beatles fan, this almost drove me to tears. But wait, much like the Abbey Road medley, there's one more song.

13. Nod Your Head
Only certain musicians can make cheesy crap like this sound so epic. How does Paul do it? He turns up the distortion for a short, sweet final song that really closes things up well.

Conclusion: The first 3 tracks left me with something of a bad impression that was quickly lifted. However, many of the tracks I found to be rather mediocre. The thing that kept this album for being a mediocre piece of fluff were the standout tracks like "Only Mama Knows," "The End Of The End," and "Nod Your Head."

Final Score: 70/100 (Paul's still got it)

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Powerstars

This Beatles-esque rocker is awesome in itself, but the video is the best part. A parody of Mento's commercials, the Foo Fighters had to stop playing this song for a while because people were throwing Mento's at them. I'mma just let the video speak for itself.

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Powerstars

Ah, Led Zeppelin. One of the single most influential hard rock groups of all time. This album was recorded a year after they'd changed their name from The New Yardbirds, which was a reference to Jimmy Page's old band The Yardbirds. While this album doesn't have any of the hits that Led Zeppelin became known for years later, it is considered important due to certain recording techniques, such as the backwards echo. And I must say, for 1969, that cover is ballsy. But does it hold up today?

1. Good Times Bad Times
Cool opening track. Jimmy Page's solo is quite good, as are Robert Plant's vocals, but I think my favorite part is the little bass grooves. This combines blues and hard rock in a good way.

2. Babe I'm Gonna Leave You
Ooh. A very nice acoustic song, right up my alley. Apparently, it's a cover, but I'm not familiar with the original. The guitar playing is emotional and done very well. When it picks up for a few bridges, we also get some fairly solid drumming and whatnot, I suppose to remind the listener that this is in fact a hard rock album. Also Robert Plant screaming is cool.

3. You Shook Me
Another cover, this time of a Muddy Waters song, and it shows. There's no doubt in my mind that some version of the song inspired AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long," lyrically at least. This one documents the blues rock side of them the best out of all the songs on the album in my opinion. Page's descending hold notes are perfect to go with Plant's amazing vocal performance. One complaint, Plant singing to the guitar at the end is freaking ridiculous.

4. Dazed and Confused
Probably the most famous song on the album, this one begins with some bass and guitar effects, followed by Plant blasting into his vocal performance. It also has something of a bluesy beat and some cool effects.

5. Your Time Is Gonna Come
Slash's favorite Led Zeppelin song opens with a nice organ, and then some acoustic guitar. It's fairly catchy with the chorus that has everything we need for the song: John Bonham drumming, Robert Plant singing, and John Paul Jones on keyboard. It's a cool little song which segues perfectly into...

6. Black Mountain Side
A cool little instrumental with some indian influence. Not terribly memorable, but it doesn't overstay it's welcome.

7. Communication Breakdown
Back to the hard rock. Fast-paced song, with a great chorus that has some fairly cool harmonies, and maybe the best vocal performance on the album. The solo is also pretty awesome, I must say.

8. I Can't Quit You Baby
Another cover, less blues rock this time, and more just blues. Without Page's little guitar bits, and the bridges with Bonham, I could easily say that it was just blues with no rock element. It's a pretty awesome song.

9. How Many More Times
For the longest song on the album, we got the most blues rocky song on the album with the most awesome effects. They really went all out for the final track, which, in my opinion, is the best on the album. It showcases everything the album is about in 8 and a half minutes.

Conclusion: Solid album, that doesn't drag and cuts straight to the punch. Solid first album from one of the most influential blues rock bands ever to ever to ever to EVER exist.

Final score: 90/100

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Unknown Soldier

Personally I think that album is one of the best ever recorded, despite the constant complaints from certain quarters it gets, where people moan about the way the band ripped off riffs from others.

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Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

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Music Forum Flame War #2 - Bowie Or Cobain?

Ah yes, "The Man Who Sold The World." One of the most infamous cases of being Covered Up, it even provided the page quote! There is much debate to which version is better. In one corner, we have Bowie's original heavily produced version. In the second corner, we have Nirvana's live, down to earth, unplugged cover version. But on the videos for either of these songs, you're gonna get some flame wars over which is better. These are from the Bowie version.

What do you guys think?

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Trollheart

What about Lulu's version?

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Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

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That doesn't come up in flame wars nearly as often. However...*listening*...

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Powerstars

I've said it before: I love The Killers. And I'd love you to check out their latin-tinged cover of The Eagle's "Hotel California!"

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Powerstars

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Powerstars

Sorry guys, both my computers have borked out on me. I won't be able to post much in here or anywhere until it gets sorted out. I had to bike to the library to take care of some online business, so yeah.

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