EGYPT STATION
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rich n wrote:
I feel like Caesar Rock is a song I'm not supposed to like, but do anyway...album's great btw, Happy With You, Ceasar Rock, Do It Now are stuck in my head at the moment. Funny enough, the songs I like the least seems to be the ones that were released on video a month or two ahead of the release...Still aborbing, so please excuse the less than detailed review
But as far as his voice, it's not 1969 or 1976 anymore...so what? Still sounds very good...while some of his vocals are what I've come to expect these days, there are other points where he seems to recapture a biit of what I thought he had lost. Anyway, I'll keep tracking along with this album and update my thoughts as pieces and bits sink in
Spot on Re Paul’s voice . I’m fine with Paul’s voice , and sometimes On the album he’s still surprising me in a good way .
Liking the album more with every listen . I thought it was good quality from the get go - it’s been very well engineered and produced .
Favourites at the moment are Dominoes , people want piece , Happy with You , fuh you and I don’t know . I thought fuh you was initially throwaway but now I find myself singing it loads !
hope the album does well chartwise . It deserves to
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B J Conlee wrote:
Anthony B. wrote:
I've listened to "Egypt Station" a bunch over the last few days - I really, REALLY love it. The standout songs for me at the moment are "Happy With You", "Hand In Hand", "Dominoes", "Back in Brazil", "Do It Now", "Despite Repeated Warnings", & "Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link". The whole record is exceptionally well produced, chock full of well written, cleverly constructed songs with awesome melodies, interesting arrangements, and great performances (both musically and vocally).
"Fuh You" is definitely the weakest link on the record IMO (just from a pure "song" standpoint), but I still enjoy it - I think it's a harmless, fun, super catchy pop song. Like the man himself said, "It's only a fun song anyway. It's not trying to be important."
The quality of the material on the run of albums he's released from "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" to "Egypt Station" is really remarkable, and the pure musical invention on this record astounds me. Several reviews I've read have made the "Ram 2018" comparison, and I can definitely understand that because of the eccentricity and stylistic variety (and I really dig that, as "Ram" is one of, if not my favorite McCartney LP). Still digesting the new songs, hearing new layers reveal themselves with every listen. Great stuff!
Anthony,
Always love your posts. And when you visit, I can easily hear my favorite cover of Paul's "Put It There".
Is your Brother, Father and of course you considering playing any of the new "Egypt Station" songs in your future sets. Several fit your acoustic style very well. For starters, I would love to see a video of you guys doing "Happy With You"...one of my favorites so far. It has that "Put It There" feeling.
Since you are singers, here are a few other requests and a couple of questions:
Hand in Hand - I also love this one. I'm getting married next month (10/27) and I'm considering putting this one on my "Wedding" playlist. I wished Paul's voice was a little stronger however. As singers, one question to you would be... I love the bridge on "Hand in Hand" ("We can make this dream come true, Only if we want it to"....part) but I wished Paul and Greg Kurstin would have repeated it during the 2nd half of the song. Just thinking that repeating the bridge might have made the song a little better. It is ony 2:35 in length so a repeat of the bridge would still only make it a 3:00 minute song. In general, what do you think. Still love the song and getting used to Paul's voice.
Confidante - Another acoustic one that I like quite a bit. I love the guitar chords and melody but my main problem that I have expressed in a couple of posts is that Paul's voice in parts is very shaky. Just seems like Paul and Greg should have done more vocal takes until he got it right. Is "Confidante" a hard song to sing? He sings "Happy With You" (a similar song) much better.
People Want Peace - This one is really growing with me and I think it is another one that you guys could do well. Would probably go over well with today's audiences. What do you think?
Do It Now - Really like this one too. I know it is basically a piano number but are you considering doing this one. As a side not, I think Paul's vocal on "Do It Now" is very good and strong. I wonder why he can "still" sound so good on certain songs like here and comparatively weak on others. Any thoughts.
Like you however I still love Egypt Station. I think it is "top tier" McCartney as far as albums go. Of all his albums, I have about 8-9 albums as top tier and this is certainly one of them. I'm still digesting the last third or so of the album at this point.
PS My absolute favorites at this point are "Who Cares" and "Dominoes". I love it when he tackles a serious subject like "Bullying" and the former does a great job on this.
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OUR...HOMEY
Horny Old Macca Entertaining You
Kendall Jenner was sure smiling on
Jimmy Fallon when Paul was on Go Paul Go!!!
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Forbes article just released says it's actually possible that Egypt Station could enter the Billboard Album chart at #1 next week. Not out of the question at all now.
Paul, come on!!!
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HitsDailyDouble is out with a similar estimate of sales. They give Eminem a slight edge, but it's gonna be close. If you're thinking of buying a copy as a present for someone, the next 24 hours would be a good time!
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Clickable link:
Do they count the ones Paul is handing out to us ticket holders for free in the sales stats?
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I just posted that link on FB urging my friends to buy Paul’s album!
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Listened to the album constantly for a week now and I think it's fantastic! Yes his voice his creaky on a couple of tracks but is better than it could have been on many. The production is excellent, so much superior to New and I feel that it is a new member of my top 3 along with Flaming Pie and Chaos. Well done that man!!
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Hey Gang!
I love the bonus track "Nothing For Free" so much that I put together an extended version of it! Enjoy!
https://hearthis.at/dave1dmarx/19-nothing-for-free-extended-versio/
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dave1dmarx wrote:
Hey Gang!
I love the bonus track "Nothing For Free" so much that I put together an extended version of it! Enjoy!
https://hearthis.at/dave1dmarx/19-nothing-for-free-extended-versio/
To make the link clickable you have to click on the little icon that looks like a "link" & paste it in there.
https://hearthis.at/dave1dmarx/19-nothing-for-free-extended-versio/
edit to add- LOve your version!
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oobu24 wrote:
dave1dmarx wrote:
Hey Gang!
I love the bonus track "Nothing For Free" so much that I put together an extended version of it! Enjoy!
https://hearthis.at/dave1dmarx/19-nothing-for-free-extended-versio/
To make the link clickable you have to click on the little icon that looks like a "link" & paste it in there.
https://hearthis.at/dave1dmarx/19-nothing-for-free-extended-versio/
edit to add- LOve your version!
Ah, thanks! And, thanks!
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My puter decided to show vids again (thank yew, puter) and I finally was able to hear all the songs on "Egypt Station" and my first impressions were great on them all, except for some reason "Hand in Hand," which will doubtless grow on me. "Back to Brazil," "Who Cares," "People Want Peace," "Dominoes," "Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link," "Do It Now," "Despite Repeated Warnings," etc., all smashes ! I love all the harpsichords ! Caesar Rock" is a wild howl of expressive abandon. Lordy. I adore all the Flowers in the Dirt style variety of styles and sounds; the song subjects give insight into Macca's mind, and seem personal and intimate at times in the manner of his introspective singer songwriter "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" where he opened up a great deal. It's early times for the ear time on ES for me. I will expound in more detail a bit later on after more intense absorption and assimilation. (Also going through Hurricane Florence presently, that little thing.) The power will go off any minute. I hope it holds on for me to listen to "Egypt Station" ditties more tonight ! ! All night !
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Some elements of Egypt Station also harken back to "Ram" and "McCartney II" remind one of those, as other fans have pointed out. And yet ES stands alone, seems unique, which speaks well of his latest effort. More, more, more! More new albums soon, please
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Egypt Station is on 1 in the german album charts (offical)
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beschaeidt wrote:
Egypt Station is on 1 in the german album charts (offical)
Here in the UK, ES is a new entry at #3, behind Eminem & The Greatest Showman cast recording.
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I've listened for a week before sharing thoughts because on first take, I was a little disappointed. However, I think I was trying to make it into something it wasn't. Let's be realistic, without bashing the merrit of the songwriting and musicianship on these records, Flaming Pie ('97) through New ('13) pretty much all have the same sound, minus a few standalone tracks...and that's what I expected. However, this doesn't fit that box as cleanly. Sure, there are shades of albums past in the songwriting, but this record truly stands out as bold and unique in my opinion, out of Sir Paul's entire catalog (going back to '62). It's not my favorite for one strong reason...and it's something that has stopped good macca tunes from being GREAT macca tunes over the years...
LYRICS!!!
No one is higher on my list than Sir Paul, but he writes these beautiful melodies, solid harmonies, clever arrangements...and then phones in the lyric and makes it "meh". "Happy With You" would be a great tune if the lyrics weren't so...well...false. The verbage chosen indicates that Paul wasn't happy until he stopped partying and married Nancy. Really? The previous seventy years weren't filled with happiness? I'm not a fan.
I also think this record would be BETTER if "Fuh You" hadn't happened. This will probably never ever come up in an interview, but I honestly do not believe that Paul McCartney wrote that melody. It just doesn't sound or FEEL like Paul. It is textbook 21st century pop song writing. The intervals used in the line "on the niiiiight that I MET YOU" are statistically repeated in modern music to sell tracks. The production is also very uninspiring and contrary to the rest of the album. It doesn't fit AT all. Now take that for what you will. "Pet Sounds" is one of the greatest albums of all time...but "Sloop John B" simply doesn't fit!...
So the positives! "I Don't Know" sounds like a reheated leftover from "Chaos and Creation..."...but a damn good one at that. "Come On To Me" is the one that harkens back to that early 21st century Paul sound that I suggested most of the record abandons. But hey, it works. This could have easily been on New or MAF. "Who Cares" is an excellent track...it reminds me of the lyrical energy surrounding FITD & OTG tracks, and a very poignant topic to discuss. "Confidante" is a very close 2nd favorite track on the album for me. A very relatable topic for so many of Paul's listeners and an endearing tune for a distant friend, relative, lover...or guitar! "People Want Peace"could benefit from more guitar...Paul should have listened to "Confidante" before recording this one! What's a good peace anthem without an acoustic guitar chunking along? "Hand in Hand" and "Dominos" would've been cool to connect, like the album's closer. They compliment each otehr well in sequence.
"Back in Brazil"...what a beast of a track! I thought I'd hate this when I read it was an electronic tune. That's really a poor descriptor for it. I could totally hear this happening on "London Town" with Wings forty years earlier, yet it's so refreshing. Linda would've added a lot of character to this song. "Do it Now" is a very close 3rd favorite track (we're getting to No. 1!) and that's primarmily due to production...nice chord changes in their too. Those diminished variants add a George Harrison flavor that appears now and again in Paul's solo work. "Caesar Rock"...strong beat and nice groove...borderline filler material here. The "Hunt You Down..." closer is killer. A solid track from top to bottom and it truly is PURE McCartney. Yet my favorite out of the whole collection, will easily be "Despite Repeated Warnings". A ballsy yet respectful commentary on the state of the planet. And without even bringing the lyrics into discussion here, WOW...what an arrangement!?! Stellar work. I'll be so disappointed if this is never played on stage...yet, I'm sure I already know the answer to that question...
So on the live stage, I really wish Paul would do a few "Egypt Station" concerts. Just play the record live top to bottom. Knowing that will never happen, I think most of this album would st ill hold up well in the arena rock venue that PAul will be projecting it...with a few lesser options. Given the strength of other material, it would be best to avoid "Hand in Hand", "Dominos", "Caesar Rock", and "Do it Now". However, the other ten tracks could totally stand up on stage. "People Want Peace" would make a hell of an opener and "Despite Repeated Warnings" would likewise have the same impact as a closer. I'll chat about that more on the setlist thread...anyhow, EXCELLENT work, Sir Paul...
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First time through I thought ES was good but a little bland. But having listened twice more now, I'm liking it more and more each time, definitely think it's the kind of album that will grow on me over time.
So far my feeling is that its consistently quite good, but without any absolutely great standout tracks.
My favorites so far are: Come on to Me, Happy with You, Confidante, Dominoes and Ceasar Rock. Only track I don't particularly like is Who Cares.
Also, whoever said earlier in the thread that ES sounds "midstream" and does not sound like "final album" nailed it. Both Memory Almost Full and New sound more like "final albums" to me than ES does, which is surprising.
So happy to be getting new music from Paul!
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WixRocks wrote:
I've listened for a week before sharing thoughts because on first take, I was a little disappointed. However, I think I was trying to make it into something it wasn't. Let's be realistic, without bashing the merrit of the songwriting and musicianship on these records, Flaming Pie ('97) through New ('13) pretty much all have the same sound, minus a few standalone tracks...and that's what I expected. However, this doesn't fit that box as cleanly. Sure, there are shades of albums past in the songwriting, but this record truly stands out as bold and unique in my opinion, out of Sir Paul's entire catalog (going back to '62). It's not my favorite for one strong reason...and it's something that has stopped good macca tunes from being GREAT macca tunes over the years...
LYRICS!!!
No one is higher on my list than Sir Paul, but he writes these beautiful melodies, solid harmonies, clever arrangements...and then phones in the lyric and makes it "meh". "Happy With You" would be a great tune if the lyrics weren't so...well...false. The verbage chosen indicates that Paul wasn't happy until he stopped partying and married Nancy. Really? The previous seventy years weren't filled with happiness? I'm not a fan.
I also think this record would be BETTER if "Fuh You" hadn't happened. This will probably never ever come up in an interview, but I honestly do not believe that Paul McCartney wrote that melody. It just doesn't sound or FEEL like Paul. It is textbook 21st century pop song writing. The intervals used in the line "on the niiiiight that I MET YOU" are statistically repeated in modern music to sell tracks. The production is also very uninspiring and contrary to the rest of the album. It doesn't fit AT all. Now take that for what you will. "Pet Sounds" is one of the greatest albums of all time...but "Sloop John B" simply doesn't fit!...
So the positives! "I Don't Know" sounds like a reheated leftover from "Chaos and Creation..."...but a damn good one at that. "Come On To Me" is the one that harkens back to that early 21st century Paul sound that I suggested most of the record abandons. But hey, it works. This could have easily been on New or MAF. "Who Cares" is an excellent track...it reminds me of the lyrical energy surrounding FITD & OTG tracks, and a very poignant topic to discuss. "Confidante" is a very close 2nd favorite track on the album for me. A very relatable topic for so many of Paul's listeners and an endearing tune for a distant friend, relative, lover...or guitar! "People Want Peace"could benefit from more guitar...Paul should have listened to "Confidante" before recording this one! What's a good peace anthem without an acoustic guitar chunking along? "Hand in Hand" and "Dominos" would've been cool to connect, like the album's closer. They compliment each otehr well in sequence.
"Back in Brazil"...what a beast of a track! I thought I'd hate this when I read it was an electronic tune. That's really a poor descriptor for it. I could totally hear this happening on "London Town" with Wings forty years earlier, yet it's so refreshing. Linda would've added a lot of character to this song. "Do it Now" is a very close 3rd favorite track (we're getting to No. 1!) and that's primarmily due to production...nice chord changes in their too. Those diminished variants add a George Harrison flavor that appears now and again in Paul's solo work. "Caesar Rock"...strong beat and nice groove...borderline filler material here. The "Hunt You Down..." closer is killer. A solid track from top to bottom and it truly is PURE McCartney. Yet my favorite out of the whole collection, will easily be "Despite Repeated Warnings". A ballsy yet respectful commentary on the state of the planet. And without even bringing the lyrics into discussion here, WOW...what an arrangement!?! Stellar work. I'll be so disappointed if this is never played on stage...yet, I'm sure I already know the answer to that question...
So on the live stage, I really wish Paul would do a few "Egypt Station" concerts. Just play the record live top to bottom. Knowing that will never happen, I think most of this album would st ill hold up well in the arena rock venue that PAul will be projecting it...with a few lesser options. Given the strength of other material, it would be best to avoid "Hand in Hand", "Dominos", "Caesar Rock", and "Do it Now". However, the other ten tracks could totally stand up on stage. "People Want Peace" would make a hell of an opener and "Despite Repeated Warnings" would likewise have the same impact as a closer. I'll chat about that more on the setlist thread...anyhow, EXCELLENT work, Sir Paul...
Great review! I am amazed how many of these songs would go over big in concert! If only...
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oobu24 wrote:
WixRocks wrote:
I've listened for a week before sharing thoughts because on first take, I was a little disappointed. However, I think I was trying to make it into something it wasn't. Let's be realistic, without bashing the merrit of the songwriting and musicianship on these records, Flaming Pie ('97) through New ('13) pretty much all have the same sound, minus a few standalone tracks...and that's what I expected. However, this doesn't fit that box as cleanly. Sure, there are shades of albums past in the songwriting, but this record truly stands out as bold and unique in my opinion, out of Sir Paul's entire catalog (going back to '62). It's not my favorite for one strong reason...and it's something that has stopped good macca tunes from being GREAT macca tunes over the years...
LYRICS!!!
No one is higher on my list than Sir Paul, but he writes these beautiful melodies, solid harmonies, clever arrangements...and then phones in the lyric and makes it "meh". "Happy With You" would be a great tune if the lyrics weren't so...well...false. The verbage chosen indicates that Paul wasn't happy until he stopped partying and married Nancy. Really? The previous seventy years weren't filled with happiness? I'm not a fan.
I also think this record would be BETTER if "Fuh You" hadn't happened. This will probably never ever come up in an interview, but I honestly do not believe that Paul McCartney wrote that melody. It just doesn't sound or FEEL like Paul. It is textbook 21st century pop song writing. The intervals used in the line "on the niiiiight that I MET YOU" are statistically repeated in modern music to sell tracks. The production is also very uninspiring and contrary to the rest of the album. It doesn't fit AT all. Now take that for what you will. "Pet Sounds" is one of the greatest albums of all time...but "Sloop John B" simply doesn't fit!...
So the positives! "I Don't Know" sounds like a reheated leftover from "Chaos and Creation..."...but a damn good one at that. "Come On To Me" is the one that harkens back to that early 21st century Paul sound that I suggested most of the record abandons. But hey, it works. This could have easily been on New or MAF. "Who Cares" is an excellent track...it reminds me of the lyrical energy surrounding FITD & OTG tracks, and a very poignant topic to discuss. "Confidante" is a very close 2nd favorite track on the album for me. A very relatable topic for so many of Paul's listeners and an endearing tune for a distant friend, relative, lover...or guitar! "People Want Peace"could benefit from more guitar...Paul should have listened to "Confidante" before recording this one! What's a good peace anthem without an acoustic guitar chunking along? "Hand in Hand" and "Dominos" would've been cool to connect, like the album's closer. They compliment each otehr well in sequence.
"Back in Brazil"...what a beast of a track! I thought I'd hate this when I read it was an electronic tune. That's really a poor descriptor for it. I could totally hear this happening on "London Town" with Wings forty years earlier, yet it's so refreshing. Linda would've added a lot of character to this song. "Do it Now" is a very close 3rd favorite track (we're getting to No. 1!) and that's primarmily due to production...nice chord changes in their too. Those diminished variants add a George Harrison flavor that appears now and again in Paul's solo work. "Caesar Rock"...strong beat and nice groove...borderline filler material here. The "Hunt You Down..." closer is killer. A solid track from top to bottom and it truly is PURE McCartney. Yet my favorite out of the whole collection, will easily be "Despite Repeated Warnings". A ballsy yet respectful commentary on the state of the planet. And without even bringing the lyrics into discussion here, WOW...what an arrangement!?! Stellar work. I'll be so disappointed if this is never played on stage...yet, I'm sure I already know the answer to that question...
So on the live stage, I really wish Paul would do a few "Egypt Station" concerts. Just play the record live top to bottom. Knowing that will never happen, I think most of this album would st ill hold up well in the arena rock venue that PAul will be projecting it...with a few lesser options. Given the strength of other material, it would be best to avoid "Hand in Hand", "Dominos", "Caesar Rock", and "Do it Now". However, the other ten tracks could totally stand up on stage. "People Want Peace" would make a hell of an opener and "Despite Repeated Warnings" would likewise have the same impact as a closer. I'll chat about that more on the setlist thread...anyhow, EXCELLENT work, Sir Paul...
Great review! I am amazed how many of these songs would go over big in concert! If only...
I agree, this album should be like when he toured with FTD and OTG when he did at least 5-6 soungs from them live.
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