Direct Metal Mastering @ Abbey Road
Gatefold packaging
Includes art booklet and full-length CD
Audio Quality: 4.75 / 5
Song Quality: 4.25 / 5
Packaging: 5 / 5
A lot has already been said about this record, so forgive me for echoing the masses a bit.
Paul McCartney, post-Beatles, has been known for playing it very, very safe. Not to say that's always a bad thing... but in Paul's case, it hasn't always worked for him. This isn't all that surprising. The Beatles wrote great pop songs that initially made them famous,
but what made them the untouchable legends they are today were their more innovative, genre-bending, rock-and-roll-evolving works. Examples of this include virtually everything from Rubber Soul on. I confess that I'm not super knowledgeable of Paul McCartney solo material, but I do know that even the best of what I've heard does not compare to the aforementioned Beatles material in terms of songwriting or innovation. Sorry, Macca fans.These things are what make Electric Arguments so unbelievable. First he chooses, following the exceptional success of his previous release Memory Almost Full, to release an album as "The Fireman" rather than use his universally recognizable birth name. Then he continues his "fuck you" attitude towards the music industry by releasing with ATO records, the same small label that released In Rainbows following Radiohead's much publicized departure from EMI. And, most importantly, in less than 2 weeks (each song was given one day for writing and recording), he produced an album filled with creativity and innovation worthy of his legacy. Oh, and he did it all with producer Youth of Killing Joke, too. I'd be remiss if I didn't at least mention that.
Here's the thing... I don't love every song on this record. Some of them are, in fact, very abstract pieces that aren't necessarily easy to enjoy. "Is This Love?" and "Lovers In A Dream" are collectively a mostly instrumental look into McCartney's mind struggling with his own understanding of love and loss. Arguably more innovative than enjoyable, you still have to take your hat off to Paul for expressing himself so unconventionally. On the other side of things, songs like "Highway" and the 7/4 blues explosion "Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight" are reminiscent of old-school Beatles rockers, the latter arguably being the best song McCartney has ever written post-Beatles. And songs like "Two Magpies," "Sing The Changes," and "Sun Is Shining" are just plain great.
The end of "Nothing Too Much..." features Paul lamenting over the squealing feedback, "The last thing to do was to try to betray me," followed by a gutteral growl. This didn't resonate with me the first time I heard the track on MP3, but listening to the record, I got some serious goosebumps. This is the most passionate McCartney has been in a long time, and all it took was getting stabbed in the back by his ex-wife. Perhaps not a great trade-off for him, but I'm certainly satisfied.
I almost forgot... the sound! This is a DMM record mastered at Abbey Road, so, not surprisingly, it sounds pretty damn good. It's got the ultra hi-fi sound that is a trademark of these DMM records, and it is more than worth it's $30 price tag. Most notable, "Two Magpies," one of the more understated tracks on the record, sounds gorgeous, and "Sun Is Shining," which has a tremendous sonic scope that comes through phenomenally clear and separated. Though, I must say, I think that the Björk - Debut DMM vinyl might sound a LITTLE bit bigger and better. Either way, I'm splitting hairs if I'm criticizing the sound on this record. Electric Arguments is meant to be listened to as a full album, and if you want to hear it right, this is most definitely the way to go.
This is already a long review, but we need to discuss the packaging, because it's
exceptional. The album comes in a beautiful gatefold sleeve, and it includes a very cool art booklet that shows how the album artwork was created. Not to mention the full-length CD in a special slipcase. The records themselves are also held in thick paper sleeves with even more artwork on them. Really, a gorgeous set. It's so refreshing to see records that are made with the consumer in mind. I've spent far more and gotten far less in the past.I've already said it all. Even if the thought of a Paul McCartney solo record isn't appealing to you, consider giving this album a try. At the very least, go here to listen to "Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight" and you'll see what I mean. Don't be afraid of trying new things, Mr. Fireman. You've got nothing to lose.
Buy the LP (with digital download) from The Fireman
Buy the LP from Amazon.com
(Please note that this release appears to be nearly out of print... if you're interested act soon!)
Tomorrow: Ween - Pure Guava
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