EGYPT STATION
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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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Nancy R wrote:
I just posted that link on FB urging my friends to buy Paul’s album!
Well, being a completist, I've done my bit - 5 vinyls, 2 CDs. It would be cool if he could be #1 even if for one week.
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oobu24 wrote:
http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=313387
If that’s true, that’s amazing.
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Billboard article posted about an hour ago says Egypt Station will enter at #1. Just incredible. Wowza. For perspective, Press To Play peaked at 30 in '86. Flowers only made it to #21.
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Everything Aflutter wrote:
Billboard article posted about an hour ago says Egypt Station will enter at #1. Just incredible. Wowza. For perspective, Press To Play peaked at 30 in '86. Flowers only made it to #21.
Wowza for sure!
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I really like Egypt Station, but listening to it gives me a headache. The drums just seem to cut through the mix. Am I just getting old?
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Everything Aflutter wrote:
Billboard article posted about an hour ago says Egypt Station will enter at #1. Just incredible. Wowza. For perspective, Press To Play peaked at 30 in '86. Flowers only made it to #21.
Oh darn, I'd hoped to be the first to post this, but I was stuck at work! Anyway, here's the Billboard article. Note this is NOT final, it's just a projection based on numbers they've been tracking so far. However, HitsDailyDouble is projecting similarly. So unless Eminem had some very last-minute surge that all the industry prognosticators missed, things look good.
Of note: While Paul has had a number of fairly recent albums in the U.S. Top 10 -- New and Memory Almost Full both debuted at no. 3 -- it's his first-ever solo no.1 debut in the U.S. and his first no. 1 at all since Tug of War back in 1982, when I was still young and skinny.
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Kevin wrote:
I really like Egypt Station, but listening to it gives me a headache. The drums just seem to cut through the mix. Am I just getting old?
Yes
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Bruce M. wrote:
Everything Aflutter wrote:
Billboard article posted about an hour ago says Egypt Station will enter at #1. Just incredible. Wowza. For perspective, Press To Play peaked at 30 in '86. Flowers only made it to #21.
Oh darn, I'd hoped to be the first to post this, but I was stuck at work! Anyway, here's the Billboard article. Note this is NOT final, it's just a projection based on numbers they've been tracking so far. However, HitsDailyDouble is projecting similarly. So unless Eminem had some very last-minute surge that all the industry prognosticators missed, things look good.
Of note: While Paul has had a number of fairly recent albums in the U.S. Top 10 -- New and Memory Almost Full both debuted at no. 3 -- it's his first-ever solo no.1 debut in the U.S. and his first no. 1 at all since Tug of War back in 1982, when I was still young and skinny.
I think we were ALL young and skinny in 1982! Lord, I was only 27! “Those were the days, my friend, we thought they’d never end!”
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Bruce M. wrote:
Everything Aflutter wrote:
Billboard article posted about an hour ago says Egypt Station will enter at #1. Just incredible. Wowza. For perspective, Press To Play peaked at 30 in '86. Flowers only made it to #21.
Oh darn, I'd hoped to be the first to post this, but I was stuck at work! Anyway, here's the Billboard article. Note this is NOT final, it's just a projection based on numbers they've been tracking so far. However, HitsDailyDouble is projecting similarly. So unless Eminem had some very last-minute surge that all the industry prognosticators missed, things look good.
Of note: While Paul has had a number of fairly recent albums in the U.S. Top 10 -- New and Memory Almost Full both debuted at no. 3 -- it's his first-ever solo no.1 debut in the U.S. and his first no. 1 at all since Tug of War back in 1982, when I was still young and skinny.
That would be great news and wonder if any artist has gone that many years between #1 albums if it officially happens. In 1982, I was skinnier and my hair was actually brown instead of grey - lol. I think CHAOS charted pretty well also. Only problem with recent albums is that they hit the charts in the top 10 but but don't last long.