Where do you start with Macca? How can you criticise someone who was there before anyone else, founded the t-shirt factory, painted the design, and wrote the slogan? Musically he's accomplished virtually everything possible constructing a reputation equalled by very few (if any) even when he seemed intent on destroying his own credibility single-handedly. Some argue he shouldn't be making music anymore but judging from 'Driving Rain', he's a long way from his sell-by date.
If the recent Wings re-issues taught us anything it was that despite moments of sheer magic, on the whole McCartney post-Beatles has seen an abundance of 'quantity' over 'quality' which, considering his 60s legacy, is forgivable. For every 'Band On The Run' and 'Coming Up' there's been a 'We All Stand Together' and 'Mull Of Kintyre' to dampen the fireworks.
'Driving Rain', like his last solo album proper 1997s 'Flaming Pie', is a back to basics approach. Sir Paul dusted off his trusty trademark bass and recorded quickly from demos that he kept under wraps until entering the studio. With this renewal of creative energy and lyrically spurred on by the tragic loss of wife Linda and the inspired rejuvenation initiated by new love Heather Mills, Sir Paul is largely on top form.
'From A Lover To A Friend', 'I Do' (with it's nagging 'Pipes Of Peace' feel) and 'Your Loving Flame' are three of the finest heart-warming ballads he's written in years. The opener 'Lonely Road', the prog epic 'Rinse The Raindrops', the sly funk of 'Tiny Bubble', and the country twang of 'Your Way' are all staple additions to the good end of the Macca catalogue.
On a less positive note, 'Driving Rain' all too often strays too close to the pedestrian, most noticeably on the unspectacular 'Magic', the stationary 'Spinning On An Axis' and poor George Harrison wannabe 'Riding Into Jaipur'. Sir Paul's rasping, at times grating, vocals give away his age and, even though the album was recorded quickly, in parts more care could have been taken to avoid slapdash wordplay, most disappointingly on the title track: "12345 let's go for a drive, 678910 let's get there and back again".
All told, 'Driving Rain' is not a downpour of genius but, equally, is far from a damp squib.
