Revisiting "Memory Almost Full"
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Last night I played MAF all the way through for the first time in several months, and I was just blown away by how effing great this album is. What I love so much about it is all its many moods, from the mysterious, brooding "You Tell Me" to the theatricality of "Mr. Bellamy" and the gloriously loopy weirdness of "Feet in the Clouds" and "Nod Your Head." I know some on here don't care for "Nod Your Head" or Paul's choice to end the album with it rather than "The End of the End," but to me it's the absolute right choice. I say this as someone with a deep emotional connection to "The End of the End," because it came out just as it was becoming clear that my dad did not have long to live (he died about two months later). I will never be able to listen to that song without a lump in my throat, but having "Nod Your Head" follow it is just so cathartic, such a release of all that pent-up emotion. It truly is the living embodiment of the line, "On the day that I die I'd like jokes to be told." I rather think my dad would approve (though he'd think it's too loud and noisy).
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I'm with ya Bruce. I don't like to say it because they're all great and special in their own way, but MAF just might be my favorite McCartney album and perhaps my all time favorite, period. It just has a spirit that connects with me throughout the entire thing. I think Ever Present Past is the best single he's ever put out. Mr. Bellamy may be my favorite song of all time. The harmonies and everything that seems to run through the other songs hit me just right. End of the End is the ultimate closer. I don't think he'll ever write a more personal song than that, plus it will be a testimony one day. Anyway, you have someone here who loves it too, man.
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I wish he'd do some of MAF's songs live in concert again. Love it! Bellamy is fantastic. Here's Ever Present Past:
House of Wax Live (2008...good hair)
Laws doing Bellamy with Paul(mash up)
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I think "Nod Your Head" just goes on too long. As a joke, and a counterpoint to the sentiment before it, it's cool, but maybe if it were half as long, or less, that would be enough, just to break the mood. I think of that little screaming coda on "The Back Seat Of My Car" or the little snatch of "Mumbo" at the end of Wild Life, and to me those are perfect. I have nothing against loud, noisy songs, but there just isn't enough to warrant two minutes of "Nod Your Head," in my view. Love a lot of the songs on the album, but that compression drives me a little nuts, especially on "Gratitude" and "See Your Sunshine."
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I play MAF all the time. It's my reliable "go to" album whenever I need a "feel good" pick-me-up.
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2 CD's I find all the time are my MAF CD's. Love the album and the quality of the CD is awesome as it has held up through my handling of them, and that means that are beyond durable.
I loved MAF the first time I listened to it. Over and over and over. Paul looks good in his chair too. The other CD I seem to find quite often is Electric Arguments. Durable as well. -
Bruce M.:
Last night I played MAF all the way through for the first time in several months, and I was just blown away by how effing great this album is. What I love so much about it is all its many moods, from the mysterious, brooding "You Tell Me" to the theatricality of "Mr. Bellamy" and the gloriously loopy weirdness of "Feet in the Clouds" and "Nod Your Head." I know some on here don't care for "Nod Your Head" or Paul's choice to end the album with it rather than "The End of the End," but to me it's the absolute right choice. I say this as someone with a deep emotional connection to "The End of the End," because it came out just as it was becoming clear that my dad did not have long to live (he died about two months later). I will never be able to listen to that song without a lump in my throat, but having "Nod Your Head" follow it is just so cathartic, such a release of all that pent-up emotion. It truly is the living embodiment of the line, "On the day that I die I'd like jokes to be told." I rather think my dad would approve (though he'd think it's too loud and noisy).
Still one of fave Paul Albums!! -
Love the whole album, but my favorite is the bonus track, Why So Blue. That one could've been a big hit, IMO.
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Not One of my favourites. Probably the one I like least after Paul's renaissance with Flaming Pie. Some brilliant Tracks though You Tell me, bellamy, Vintage Clothes. Unfortunatly some pretty mediocre stuff too Dance tonight, House of wax, See your sunshine, only Mama knows (when compared to the rockers on NEW!!!) and one truly crap Song Gratitude (Check Out the brilliant Appreciate on NEW)
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count me in,i am a MAF lover too!and i love Nod your head (THE version in the album and the version with Lady Saw( my wife is a Nod your head Macca/Lady Saw version lover!)and why so blue is so good too!!the only thing that i don´t love in MAF is the cover!in that particular thing the ones i love most in the last 20 years are "Flaming pie" and "New" since 1994 these are the 2 best covers but in the musical field MAF is a big 10! in a one to ten point !yes and THe end of the end is beautiful!
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I've always wondered why people here NEVER LIKED This album ...it;s PURE PAUL!!
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I agree with Audi in that it's a go-to album for me every few months. yeah, I'm not a fan of Nod Your Head or Gratitude, but everything else is so incredible on it I can't fault them.
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I enjoy it but it does have some bad songs (I find Nod Your Head unlistenable) and it suffers from bad sound. I don't know enough about the recording process to say who's to blame but I can never make it through the entire album without the urge to put on Chaos, Revolver, Flowers, etc.
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Frank:
Not One of my favourites. Probably the one I like least after Paul's renaissance with Flaming Pie. Some brilliant Tracks though : You Tell me, bellamy, Vintage Clothes. Unfortunatly some pretty mediocre stuff too : Dance tonight, House of wax, See your sunshine, only Mama knows (when compared to the rockers on NEW!!!) and one truly crap Song : Gratitude (Check Out the brilliant Appreciate on NEW)
Uh... what rockers on "New"???? The only real rocker is "Save Us," and it's not remotely in the same league with "Only Mama Knows," which is more interesting on pretty much every level.
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Only Mama Knows may be my favorite Paul rocker of all time. I can't think of a better one. It's highly underrated, much like About You from Driving Rain. As for Gratitude, Paul's raw vocal is the great experience. If you take your mind off that, you miss it. Great performance. Great album.
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Save US is far superior to Only Mama knows. Obviously this is a matter of individual taste. Funny how Bruce tends to remind other people of that fact, unless it's his opinion....then ,truly, it is the gospel. Have I missed something? Oh...and I thought it was more than obvious that New is way more of a rock album than MAF. And that's not Even a question of taste....All You Need is ears, as the title of a Book by someone well known to the Members of this board suggests. Hereby I solemnly declare that NEW is a better album than MAF ! I also declare that the use of irony is not the exclusive prerogative of Bruce M. esq.
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I think MAF is the better album. I'd rather have a Pop album than a Rock album. New is too techno for my tastes.
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Been while since I put this one on. I always liked it when it came out and it's "aged" really well. Not sure Ever Present Past and Dance Tonight were the best choice of singles, however. Nod Your Head is a fun number, but the lyrics are a little cringe-worthy.... "round and round".... You Tell Me doesn't totally do it for me, mainly for the voice, but there are some beautiful bits in it.... Vintage Clothes, That Was Me and Feet in the Clouds up there with my faves... House of Wax, though, I still think is average. Tries too hard. The End of the End has appreciated through the years.
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Frank:
Save US is far superior to Only Mama knows. Obviously this is a matter of individual taste. Funny how Bruce tends to remind other people of that fact, unless it's his opinion....then ,truly, it is the gospel. Have I missed something? Oh...and I thought it was more than obvious that New is way more of a rock album than MAF. And that's not Even a question of taste....All You Need is ears, as the title of a Book by someone well known to the Members of this board suggests. Hereby I solemnly declare that NEW is a better album than MAF ! I also declare that the use of irony is not the exclusive prerogative of Bruce M. esq.
I've said many times that people have their own tastes and that's highly subjective and everyone is entitled to like what they like. But it does help others understand your opinions if they make sense or you can at least explain them in a way that makes sense. "More than obvious that New is way more of a rock album than MAF"? By what standard? MAF has 3 all-out rockers: Only Mama Knows, That Was Me and Nod Your Head. New has Save Us plus a couple borderline cases (Queenie Eye, Road). But MAF has its share of borderline cases as well (Gratitude, House of Wax), so what's the basis for your statement? It may be obvious to you, but it seems downright bizarre to me. As for Save Us vs. Only Mama Knows: To my ears, Mama has more interesting lyrics, a more varied arrangement, and a better, more surprising vocal. There's nothing wrong with liking whatever you want to (hey, I love Mary Had a Little Lamb!), but I'd truly love to hear your explanation because I just can't see it.
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Bruce M.:
Frank:
Save US is far superior to Only Mama knows. Obviously this is a matter of individual taste. Funny how Bruce tends to remind other people of that fact, unless it's his opinion....then ,truly, it is the gospel. Have I missed something? Oh...and I thought it was more than obvious that New is way more of a rock album than MAF. And that's not Even a question of taste....All You Need is ears, as the title of a Book by someone well known to the Members of this board suggests. Hereby I solemnly declare that NEW is a better album than MAF ! I also declare that the use of irony is not the exclusive prerogative of Bruce M. esq.
I've said many times that people have their own tastes and that's highly subjective and everyone is entitled to like what they like. But it does help others understand your opinions if they make sense or you can at least explain them in a way that makes sense. "More than obvious that New is way more of a rock album than MAF"? By what standard? MAF has 3 all-out rockers: Only Mama Knows, That Was Me and Nod Your Head. New has Save Us plus a couple borderline cases (Queenie Eye, Road). But MAF has its share of borderline cases as well (Gratitude, House of Wax), so what's the basis for your statement? It may be obvious to you, but it seems downright bizarre to me. As for Save Us vs. Only Mama Knows: To my ears, Mama has more interesting lyrics, a more varied arrangement, and a better, more surprising vocal. There's nothing wrong with liking whatever you want to (hey, I love Mary Had a Little Lamb!), but I'd truly love to hear your explanation because I just can't see it.
New definitely feels more "rock" to me, although I suppose people's definition of rock can vary. You've got the crunching power chords of "Save Us" followed by "Alligator," with that aggressive guitar riff leading down into the chorus and its sly, sexual lyrics. "On My Way To Work" has those heavy interludes between verses. "Queenie Eye" has that pounding piano rhythm and some touches of wicked slide guitar. "Everybody Out There" has those aggressive shout-along sections in Paul's classic rock-and-roll voice, with the pounding drums. "I Can Bet" is a real late-seventies-Wings-type rocker with that clanging opening and those buzzing, menacing guitars behind the "What I'm gonna do next" parts. "Road" is a moody rock piece with those dark piano chords and slithering bass lines. That's my evidence, but I think Frank has a point: you seem to have a problem with other people's opinions whether they make sense or not, often using words like "bizarre" and "demented" and "crazy" to describe other people's posts if you happen to disagree with them. I respect your intelligence, but you can be a bit over the top.
