New - Track-by-track thoughts
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Well in most of Europe the Album was released last Friday. So after a couple of dozen listens : NO it`s certainly not as good as BOTR, but it`s a good album, not a masterpiece. SAVE US 9/10 Best Macca riff in decades ALLIGATOR 9/10 Fantastic arrangement, brilliant song ON MY WAY 3/10 The kind of Macca doodle, that Nigel Godrich would have banned. QUEENIE EYE 8/10 Tremendous energy, great chorus EARLY DAYS 7/10 Good acoustic Paul, but not a match for Black- or Bluebird NEW 8/10 The Beatles song on teh album. Love the irony of calling it new. APPRECIATE 6/10 Had trouble with this initially, but it grows. EVERYBODY OUT 8/10 It`s a bit of a cliche, but hey I love it I CAN BET 4/10 I hate the chorus, don`t know why this is so popoular on this Board LOOKING AT HER 3/10 Remains a typical B-Side ditty despite "cool production" ROAD 10/10 WISH IT WOULD GO ON FOREVER AND EVER ! TURNED OUT 2/10 Yeah it`s a bonus track... GET ME OUT OF HERE 5/10 It`s a good bonus track SCARED 9/10 One of the few Paul tracks ever that moved me to tears All in all this is a better album than MAF, probably on a par with CHAOS and DRIVING RAIN, but it`s too early to say how NEW will age
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It's interesting that we pretty much all have the same reaction to Hosanna. Given the title, I expected something powerful and spiritual like Follow Me but it doesn't even begin to measure up. I take no joy in saying that. Of course we had all heard the strong songs likes New, Queenie Eye, Save Us, Everybody Out There in the run up to October 15 but I am very pleased with the songs on what will be Side 2 on the vinyl, especially the last songs, Turned Out, Get Me Out of Here, and Scared. Especially like Get Me Out of Here, a nice fun song There is a good atmosphere on this album, that I can only describe with the word fun. Look forward to hearing it on my car JBL speakers and "test driving" it today as I have a long drive coming up.
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I think Hosanna is beautiful - especially the chorus.
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audi:
That 40-year-old album? Yeah, I've heard of it. New is better.
If you think that, that's cool But calling this the "One essential McCartney album"? : I think some of us are in the heat of the moment...
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For those who are havingtrouble getting into this album, let me share something that works for me. I find that listening to a new Paul album fro beginning to end is far too much to absorb. I take small chunks at a time. For example, with "NEW" I just listened to the 1st 6 songs a few times for 3 days. The 3rd day was this morning. Mornings are best because your mind is so clear. I also like to hear in the car. In another day I wii then proceed to the next few tracks. Verdict on the 1st 6 tracks...love it!
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WixRocks!:
audi:
That 40-year-old album? Yeah, I've heard of it. New is better.
If you think that, that's cool But calling this the "One essential McCartney album"? : I think some of us are in the heat of the moment...
I agree.
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'Everybody Out There' sounds like an REM song,with a few nods towards 'Losing My Religion' in particular.
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I really like Hosanna, I Can Bet, and Looking at Her. I flat out LOVE all the rest! Five listens yesterday, one so far today. It reminds me of Sgt. Pepper in the way that there is such a variety in styles of songs. The track playing now, Get Me Out of Here is fantastic. I love when Paul gets bluesy - bluesy voice, bluesy guitar, and a great loud drum beat. 'New' will remain one of my favorite albums. Before the release of the CD I only heard songs on my small sounding laptop speakers. Yesterday I got to hear it from my TV sound bar and love the songs more than I did before. I think it's time to dig out my turntable and try vinyl again!
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I am digging TURNED OUT, it would have fit comfortably on a Travelling Wilbury's LP!
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Kestrel:
'Everybody Out There' sounds like an REM song,with a few nods towards 'Losing My Religion' in particular.
That's the one! I've been trying to place what this song reminded me of!
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WixRocks!:
Kestrel:
'Everybody Out There' sounds like an REM song,with a few nods towards 'Losing My Religion' in particular.
That's the one! I've been trying to place what this song reminded me of!
I'm having that problem now. The way Paul sings the line 'But all the time I thought of you' (from 'On My Way To Work') reminds me so much of another song but I just can't recall it. I'm assuming its another Paul song. Any ideas as its doing my head in trying to remember it. edit edit...... After pacing round the living room trying to remember any of the words, 'tongue tied and twisted' suddenly popped into my head. A quick bit of 'googling' and I've got it Pink Floyd's 'Learning To Fly', where David Gilmour sings the line 'Can't Keep My eyes From The Circling Skies' and later 'A Soul Intention -that's Learning To Fly'. Paul has hijacked the melody from those lines and stuck into 'On My Way To Work'.
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cfergoid:
lisalou7:
We're a diverse bunch aren't we, I think that is PM fans all over! I think this album is stupendous. Its really cohesive, flows easily, has all the trademarks of a Paul album, fabulous melodies, quirky lyrics, wonderful musicianship. There isn't a duff track on here. The only song that sounds slightly forced is Everybody Out There. Possibly Paul is guilty of songwriting by numbers here. My 5* go to Road, Hossana, Early Days & Alligator. I think my favourite track is a toss up between Road and Hosanna. Road is very different/amazing/wow/ wasn't expecting anything like this. The bass is off the wall! If anyone says Paul hasn't got it still, I'll stick this one on. Also loving Turned Out ( deliciously melodic). I think this is classic Macca! Infectious. Queenie Eye, very quirky, lyrically clever. Save Us much better on the recording, more subtle with great vocals. On My Way to Work is a charmer, reminds me of English Tea. Its very knowing. Great vocals again. I actually also love Get Me Out of Here, its very funny. Like a long lost relative of Rocky Racoon. Appreciate is an ear worm with a real groove going on, again not expected. Growers but liking more are Looking at Her and I Can Bet. Not instant but already thinking I've under valued Looking At Her. New is sweet and toe tapping with a nod to his past. Scared is stunning, with the piano leading the way. Very beautiful. So for me its a winner all the way.
Not sure what other people are listening to!
Absolutely. There's not a single "bad" track on New, though of course I like some a lot better than others. And of course some lyrics are stronger than others. Mostly New is just a great listen, inventive and interesting musically from start to finish. Favorite songs at this point: Alligator, Appreciate and Road are AMAZING. Early Days is, too. And I like Hosanna. It's pure Paul to write a song about sex and call it Hosanna. The excellent reviews today in Pitchfork and Consequence of Sound have been the icing on the cake. Up to now I would have said Electric Arguments is my favorite late-career Paul record but New is going to give EA a run for its money. It's more exciting than Chaos, and it's far more consistent than MAF (which suffers from several cringe-y moments). On My Way to Work. Been humming that all day. Lovely song.
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What Michelley said.
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Every song certainly has something nice to offer. But after another day with the album, I'm learning the songs that I liked yesterday...I like even more. The songs I didn't like...I like even less. Alligator: The Bridge is kind of killing the song for me. Is that synthesizer or what behind his voice? It's very distracting, uncharacteristic, and annoying. The lyrics in the entire piece are lacking in my opinion. On My Way To Work: I sang along in my Ringo voice and good Lord can we please just wipe this from the slate. Why's everyone so ecstatic over the magazine line? I think it's a pretty sub-par song on Paul standards. Appreciate: This just sounds so bad. It's an electronic jam. Minor chord....major chord! With Paul mumbling "appreciate appreciate"...okay, maybe not EVERY song has something nice to offer. This is terrible...yet, half the board wants a single release! You can't understand what he says and the synthesizer nonsense sounds like the background music from the film version of IT. Hosanna: Did someone remind Paul you can record things backwards? This album, and this song in particular really abuses the effect. I don't think it's typical of Paul at all to name something "Hosanna" and make it about sex. Certainly not where my discomfort lies, but found it amusing someone found that typical. This is just disappointing. Looking at Her: I'd like a re-recording of this one. It's got a cool set of lyrics and melody. But, the crisp electronic drums kill it. It sounds like a High School Music Tech made him a backing track. And then that damn synthesizer comes back to ruin things... Road: Still too big for me to wrap my head around...is this Carnival of Light in disguise?
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WixRocks!:
Every song certainly has something nice to offer. But after another day with the album, I'm learning the songs that I liked yesterday...I like even more. The songs I didn't like...I like even less. Alligator: The Bridge is kind of killing the song for me. Is that synthesizer or what behind his voice? It's very distracting, uncharacteristic, and annoying. The lyrics in the entire piece are lacking in my opinion. On My Way To Work: I sang along in my Ringo voice and good Lord can we please just wipe this from the slate. Why's everyone so ecstatic over the magazine line? I think it's a pretty sub-par song on Paul standards. Appreciate: This just sounds so bad. It's an electronic jam. Minor chord....major chord! With Paul mumbling "appreciate appreciate"...okay, maybe not EVERY song has something nice to offer. This is terrible...yet, half the board wants a single release! You can't understand what he says and the synthesizer nonsense sounds like the background music from the film version of IT. Hosanna: Did someone remind Paul you can record things backwards? This album, and this song in particular really abuses the effect. I don't think it's typical of Paul at all to name something "Hosanna" and make it about sex. Certainly not where my discomfort lies, but found it amusing someone found that typical. This is just disappointing. Looking at Her: I'd like a re-recording of this one. It's got a cool set of lyrics and melody. But, the crisp electronic drums kill it. It sounds like a High School Music Tech made him a backing track. And then that damn synthesizer comes back to ruin things... Road: Still too big for me to wrap my head around...is this Carnival of Light in disguise?
I can appreciate your insights about these songs. I posted my opinions yesterday, I think I have a less harsh view, but still feel about the same. APPRECIATE sounds like it's geared to be a dance tune or something. I like TURNED OUT a lot more. I think there is a lot of "soundscaping" in the production, lots of airy synths and distorted sounds, I guess that may be "modern" producing.
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stuartshire:
I think Hosanna is beautiful - especially the chorus.
I agree, it is stunning..
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I don't want to come across as harsh or negative! That's only 6 of 15 tracks that leave me disappointed. Save Us grows on me with each listen! I can picture Dave Grohl drumming along to this one... Queenie Eye has grown considerably too. My *honorable mention* for favorite tracks. Early Days is beautiful. The most touching song on the album and probably my favorite song about the Beatles written by a Beatle. New is macca pop at its finest. Something doesn't have to be complex or different or modern to be good...and this proves that entirely. I don't understand how people are tired of a sound they love. Why are you a fan if you want him to constantly change? Everybody Out There...despite sounding like REM now, is still a great peppy track and will do stunningly on the concert scene. I Can Bet might be the most overlooked track thus far. I wish it were the follow up single instead of Queenie Eye! It really is worth buying a deluxe version. The bonus tracks and the hidden track are better than most of the material on the album.
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On My Way To Work sounds like classic Ray Davis from The KINKS
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wingsdgm:
On My Way To Work sounds like classic Ray Davis from The KINKS
Not a fan...guess that explains my distaste!
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Opening riff on SAVE US could be a Cheap Trick song, which is ok by me!