Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 19/09/2005
Label: Parlophone

Hearing Sir Paul McCartney play Beatles standards amidst songs from this album live from Abbey Road studios made for uncomfortable radio listening. With producer Nigel Godrich behind him, pushing the esteemed Beatle into taking a chance and experimenting with new ways of interpreting that most hallowed back catalogue, Macca sounded like a beginner. The latest kid on the block, anxious that his vision should be understood but too nervous and uncertain to do it justice.

In a flash you knew that, at least creatively, Macca has been labouring under a weight of self-doubt, hiding behind thumbs-up and formula for years. It was like finding out that there are actually things that your Dad can't do, dissapointing but liberating in the same breath.

It's credit to Radiohead and Beck producer Godrich that McCartney has found the will to test himself again. Not simply settle for the hollow compliments of 'yes' men. In the post-production polish of "Chaos And Creation", however, his fallibility is less evident. There's an uncharacteristic outburst of vitriol on the languorously paced lament of "Riding To Vanity Fair" and the perma-smile cracks for the genuinely affecting "Too Much Rain". But elsewhere you have the sense that Godrich's best-efforts were overturned by Macca's self-preservation instinct.

That's not to say he's lost his way with a pop tune, "Jenny Wren" proves that McCartney can still knock out the kind of melody that lesser talents spend whole careers chasing. Other moments of whimsy approach this melodic ease but are too frequently let down by awkward lyrics which, like "This Never Happened Before", aim to wear their heart on sleeve but come out mannered and superficial.

No one was expecting Godrich to turn this noble British pop institution into Radiohead, of course. But the glimpses of greatness are enough to leave you wishing that bottle had prevailed and more in the vein of "Too Much Rain" had resulted. No doubt the shadow that now looms over this prodigiously gifted man is too great. Even so, he's got nothing left to prove and only his pride to wound.

    by James Poletti