Paul McCartney- McCartney III
Label: Capitol
Producer: Paul McCartney
The eighteenth studio album from rock and roll’s most prominent living legend has been officially christened as the third installment in an eponymous trilogy that Paul McCartney began fifty years ago with his infamous 1970 debut, McCartney, and continued a decade later with 1980’s adventurous New Wave experiment, McCartney II. Being categorized with those two preceding records is both a distinguished and dubious distinction for III, given the initial backlash both projects received upon release, with a legacy of appreciation only growing in retrospect. The third time stands to be the proverbial charm for Macca however, with III boasting a generous abundance of the trademark qualities that have defined McCartney’s musical legacy, bound to entertain both critics and his followers far and wide upon first listen. Truth be told, the only true thread linking the three records is the common quality that McCartney plays all the instruments himself. On its own merits, this is a straight-ahead classic rock tour de force, and like 2018’s Egypt Station, it leaves us in pure awe of McCartney’s seemingly timeless swagger and rock gravitas. The man is closing in on his frigging 80s, and everything from his prose to his musicianship to his voice remains on par with any record from throughout his catalog. Simply put, he continues to rock out with more vigor, showmanship and electricity than performers less than half his age.
The excellent opening jam “Long Tailed Winter Bird” sets the tone fantastically for the remainder of the record. Don’t be fooled by the mostly acoustic trappings of the cut; this may have been cooked up in the solemn isolation of quarantine, but it’s as searing and blistering as any amplified outing. It immediately gets the listener off their ass and gears them up for more enticing showcases of McCartney’s endlessly commanding and virtuosic gifts. The wonderfully melodic “Find My Way” astutely balances its boisterous combination of surf tinges and progressive rock sonics with a wistful and comforting lyric tailor made for the anxious times that have defined this year. “Seize the Day” offers similarly sage advise while riding its message along a groove of smooth, classic rock production, while “Deep Deep Feeling” is an eight-minute epic that uses McCartney’s signature falsetto and brooding R&B guitars to wrench out every ounce of the sweaty, foreboding tension residing in the lyrics. And then there’s “Slidin'”, a sizzling, high-octane dose of growling guitar rock that is as ferocious as any rock track to see the light of day this year. At 78, the man is still a rock & roll master, with few peers.
This isn’t to say that McCartney doesn’t flesh out this deliciously rock-heavy LP with equal doses of intimacy or the eccentric stylistic turns he’s known for. “Pretty Boys” pivots to a more folk-orientated soundscape as it examines a woman’s temptation to indulge in the dangerous seduction of the many suitors who chase her. It’s reflectively laid-back, but still offers plenty of bite. He then dives back into his legendary fervor for devilish character sketches with the infectiously delightful “Lavatory Lil”, a saucy rock & roll marriage of his confident narration and full-bodied guitar grit. “Winter Bird/When Winter Comes” meanwhile is as warm and cozy of a musical companion that you’ll find while attempting to soundtrack the cold, COVID-era winter months ahead.
The atmosphere is positively sweltering however on the album’s most experimental and undeniable trendy track, “Deep Down”, which finds the legend diving head-first into a brash, synth-pop setting that blends seamlessly with his long-standing pop sensibilities. It’s an unapologetic, all-out banger that proves once again that the man is as effortlessly and tastefully hip and current as he’s ever been. It’s the ultimate show-stopper of the record.
III is yet another confident, entertaining and bewildering late-career triumph from Paul McCartney, an icon who continues to remind us that in addition to being a staggering legend and rock & roll forefather, he also remains a stirring and relevant curator of modern music as well. It’s quite evident that he won’t be resting on his laurels any time soon; the creative fire still burns and continues to produce magic results. This is a sizzling rock outing, meant to be played exuberantly, loudly and frequently. It more than lives up to the standards set by the very best and most cohesive records in his lexicon of classics.
Track Listing
- “Long Tailed Winter Bird” (Paul McCartney)
- “Find My Way” (McCartney)
- “Pretty Boys” (McCartney)
- “Women and Wives” (McCartney)
- “Lavatory Lil” (McCartney)
- “Deep Deep Feeling” (McCartney)
- “Slidin'” (McCartney)
- “The Kiss of Venus” (McCartney)
- “Seize the Day” (McCartney)
- “Deep Down” (McCartney)
- “Winter Bird/When Winter Comes” (McCartney)
The 706 
Leave a comment