Chaos and Creation in the Backyard - 10 years ago today
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Who cares. HAWKS 3 PEAT!
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RMartinez:
moptops:
Bruce M.:
RMartinez:
Ro_McCartney:
Chaos and Creation is the best thing Paul has done since Ram.
Not even close. Chaos and Creation is the best thing Paul has done since Driving Rain.
Chaos and Creation is light-years better than Ram.
At least RAM has many diverse songs: albeit most of them sound like half finished ideas. Chaos is largely dreary. For the record (pun intended), I'm not especially impressed with either album. However - each of them does have some EXCELLENT songs. For mine - they just don't work as albums.
Which ones?? Dear Boy reaches an almost Brian Wilson level of pop vocal orchestration. Too Many People is fueled by Paul's reaction to Lennon's vitriol cast at him. Backseat Of My Car is gorgeous melodic pop. There is NOTHING on Chaos that even remotely approaches Paul's pop music sensibilities found on Ram. You want half baked unfinished doodles?? Listen to Chaos. And Driving Rain. And New as well.
Jenny Wren is a classic. It's as fine a song as he's ever done. EVER!!!
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Where are you Atlanta Nancy? Dance with me... I've had a drink or two and I don't care ...
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moptops:
RMartinez:
moptops:
Bruce M.:
RMartinez:
Ro_McCartney:
Chaos and Creation is the best thing Paul has done since Ram.
Not even close. Chaos and Creation is the best thing Paul has done since Driving Rain.
Chaos and Creation is light-years better than Ram.
At least RAM has many diverse songs: albeit most of them sound like half finished ideas. Chaos is largely dreary. For the record (pun intended), I'm not especially impressed with either album. However - each of them does have some EXCELLENT songs. For mine - they just don't work as albums.
Which ones?? Dear Boy reaches an almost Brian Wilson level of pop vocal orchestration. Too Many People is fueled by Paul's reaction to Lennon's vitriol cast at him. Backseat Of My Car is gorgeous melodic pop. There is NOTHING on Chaos that even remotely approaches Paul's pop music sensibilities found on Ram. You want half baked unfinished doodles?? Listen to Chaos. And Driving Rain. And New as well.
Jenny Wren is a classic. It's as fine a song as he's ever done. EVER!!!
It's not as good as Little Lamb Dragonfly, Warm and Beautiful, or Love In Song. Or Dear Boy or Backseat Of My Car. Or Junk. Or Winter Rose/Love Wake. Or London Town. But, yeah, it's ok.
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moptops:
Where are you Atlanta Nancy? Dance with me... I've had a drink or two and I don't care ...
I'm here! And I agree with you--Like Ram better than C&C!
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moptops:
RMartinez:
moptops:
Bruce M.:
RMartinez:
Ro_McCartney:
Chaos and Creation is the best thing Paul has done since Ram.
Not even close. Chaos and Creation is the best thing Paul has done since Driving Rain.
Chaos and Creation is light-years better than Ram.
At least RAM has many diverse songs: albeit most of them sound like half finished ideas. Chaos is largely dreary. For the record (pun intended), I'm not especially impressed with either album. However - each of them does have some EXCELLENT songs. For mine - they just don't work as albums.
Which ones?? Dear Boy reaches an almost Brian Wilson level of pop vocal orchestration. Too Many People is fueled by Paul's reaction to Lennon's vitriol cast at him. Backseat Of My Car is gorgeous melodic pop. There is NOTHING on Chaos that even remotely approaches Paul's pop music sensibilities found on Ram. You want half baked unfinished doodles?? Listen to Chaos. And Driving Rain. And New as well.
Jenny Wren is a classic. It's as fine a song as he's ever done. EVER!!!
Ok, I will concede it is a very good song, with inventive use of minor chords. I went back and listened to it and it was quite enjoyable!
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No discussion of the genius of Paul McCartney is complete without this masterpiece:
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Liked, but did not love Chaos. Just didn't rock enough. And by the way, I loved Biker Like An Icon; yes, it's not a masterpiece, but was fast, fun, and rocked. The reaction at the 1993 tour for Biker was pretty solid. Fans ran to the beer line during Jenny Wren.
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"Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" is full of ornate melodic and harmonic detail, clever twists of plot, unexpected chord progressions and hip, timeless production. "Chaos" is the sound of the world's most famous musician challenging both himself and his audience. It's an incredibly strong record that demands of the listener some serious attention. It's in the details that much of McCartney's brilliance shines through, today as it did way back when he was Fab. The Buffalo News
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HaileyMcComet:
No discussion of the genius of Paul McCartney is complete without this masterpiece:
I would not call it a "masterpiece" but I liked it a bunch.
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TommyC909:
"Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" is full of ornate melodic and harmonic detail, clever twists of plot, unexpected chord progressions and hip, timeless production. "Chaos" is the sound of the world's most famous musician challenging both himself and his audience. It's an incredibly strong record that demands of the listener some serious attention. It's in the details that much of McCartney's brilliance shines through, today as it did way back when he was Fab. The Buffalo News
Great post, could not say it any better !!
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It's so hard to rank Macca's best Post Beatles' original albums. I do think if you take 100 educated McCartney fans (maybe not as hard core as we are), 90 of those fans would list the Top 5 as: (in no particular order) Band on the Run Ram Tug of War Flaming Pie Chaos and Creation Venus and Mars (maybe) Memory Almost Full (maybe) Flowers in the Dirt (maybe) The first 5 are sure bets with the last 3 being close to the top ones. Many of the albums above received multiple Grammy nominations but what really stands out to me is just how different each album is from the others. This is why it is so hard to rank them because it boils down to individual tastes and even ones particular mood at the specific time. This is why I love his music and why I love being a fan.
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I compared "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" (2003) to "Memory Almost Full" (2007) which go together as companion pieces, complementing and contrasting with each other. "Chaos" is more the ubersensitive singer sonwriter mode while much of MAF is more extroverted and overtly exuberant with exhilarating and more bright bouncy pop songs and a rocker or two. But "Chaos" stirs one deep in one's soul. McCartney is revealing himself, his inner thoughts and true being, as never before. He lets us in, and not being quicksilver and elusive, someone mysterious in a seemingly open way. I felt on the verge of hot tears first listening to "Chaos." Macca went through some hard times. He suffered, was mistreated. Even someone like him, with an apparently charmed life, an over all blessed life, illustrated our shared human condition. That's part of what makes this album extraordinary. He shows a different side. He remains essentially sunny and optimistic, which is inspiring and cheering, some sunlight still peeks through the clouds. He gives us yet again an intense auditory and emotional treat which draws strongly on his eclectic styles and diversity. "Fineline," the first track, is jaunty uplifting and catchy and yet a complex mature message in good spirits--he's giving self-help advice here as he does on several other tracks and I'd rather get it from him than Dr. Phil or Eckhart Tolle or almost anybody who isn't musical...goes down nice and easy like warm honey with poetic words and wonderful music. "How Kind of You" is gently ironic with some profound lyrics. Macca sounds cultured and sophisticated, like a very intelligent grown up who has learned much in an exceptional life. "Jenny Wren" is very pretty and moving, just the right length, an acoustic jewel that features intricate guitar picking. Sad, sounds mournful, but it "hurts so good."Lovely deeply felt melody and lyrics. "Jenny Wren" is yet another of Paul's which makes me wonder if he knows me, he seems to have written about my life several times, such as "She's Given Up Talking" in which I don't much care for the arrangement, but love the words. I(to be continued)
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"At the Mercy"-I love this, wish it were longer..."If you show me love I won't refuse, I know you'd never make me choose between the love I've got and the one I'd lose." Sensitive, profound song. "Friends To Go"-another near perfect gem about "waiting for your friends to go" I admire its sound, but the lyrics made me sort of angry. Someone's mistreated him and has friends who annoy and bother him too, so he even has to "hide" while "waiting for the storm to pass." He wonders if it will. Was he verbally abused in fights, in verbal arguments, it's dismaying to think of him going through such things. Somebody like him...I don't like it if he did. The next tune "English Tea" is upbeat and delightful with touches of classical "art rock" or "art pop" with strings and cello at elegant intervals. It's English "twee" and precious about English tea in English gardens. It's lovely, evocative of the old country and sports poetic images galore that make you see what he sees, and feel love for the land of the "old world." The exquisite "Too Much Rain" is another heartbreakingly beautiful and inspirational ode to impart hope even if there has been far "too much rain" in your life. You must "learn to laugh" and love to laugh. And don't hide away your feelings, and "make a vow that you're going to be happy again." Simple effective truth. The following "A Certain Softness" is a lovely love song to some woman who has bewitched and gotten him "hooked" She's kind of sad sometimes and a bit wild at times but also has "a certain softness, and "a touch of wildness in her style" haunts his memory more than he "ever thought it could." The song makes you feel cozy and warm. Sounds a bit Latin or Spanish with its gentle fancy lilt. "Riding to Vanity Fair" is gorgeous and poetic, accusing someone in a restrained genteel manner and it all sounds right, the lyrics and melody, although he's describing wrongs, being mistreated. "Follow Me" lifts the spirits and mood, a jaunty perky number, love it and wonder what it's about. Might be a guru sort since they can guide him "through any situation" he sings. Sounds cut short, wish it had gone on longer. "Promise to You Girl"-also uptempo and heartening with great harmonizing and more positive glowing lyrics, love the different things he does with voice and the nature metaphors he employs. A more somber, stately, also beautiful song enchants next, "This Never Happened Before" with a gorgeous tune, a lovely, lovely love song, not giddy and upbeat at first but it's wonderful--not an anthem for self-sufficiency, though (smiles) "it isn't so good to be on our own, this is the way it should be for lovers, they shouldn't go it alone..." he's singing his heart out. He feels it deeply and makes you feel it. "Anyway" really moves me deeply, too, sensitive and meaningful with another unique gorgeous Macca melody to make you want to cry. but it's a good kind of happy tears. It's so deeply felt that "we could cure each other's sorrow...if a love is strong enough, it will never end...why would I pretend to fall"-- it's romantic and not in a mushy, sappy way. In the best way.
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Susy, pls space your posts out with more, and shorter paragraphs. Very hard to read.
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You did OK Susy i read all without any problem!And yes without a doubt "Chaos" is a masterpiece!
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carlos guerreiro:
You did OK Susy i read all without any problem!And yes without a doubt "Chaos" is a masterpiece!
It's as much a masterpiece as Driving Rain is. But not as much of one as Off The Ground is.
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RMartinez:
carlos guerreiro:
You did OK Susy i read all without any problem!And yes without a doubt "Chaos" is a masterpiece!
It's as much a masterpiece as Driving Rain is. But not as much of one as Off The Ground is.
Thanks! Easy to read and you know that brevity is always the best option.
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Great post Susy. Really enjoyed it. Paul's best. I think that the only way Chaos could have been even greater was if Paul had included This Loving Game.
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Yes totally agree with Tommy,with that song"Chaos" turn out to be an even better masterpiece!