Paul McCartney - McCartney II

McCartney's top three 1980 album, out of print in the U.S. & digitally remastered with three bonus tracks added, 'Check My Machine', 'Secret Friend' & the hit 'Goodnight Tonight'. 14 tracks total, also featuring 'Coming Up'. 1993 release. Album Description

A weak, weak album

This album starts out weak and gets weaker as it goes. Paul's second attempt at a true "solo" album (where he plays all the instruments) falls flat. Some people think it was his attempt to do punk but it's more like his experimental stuff he does as "The Fireman". But when Paul experiments stuff like melody and structure go out the window. He'd have been better off saving these songs, and interspersing the stronger ones in future albums and as B-sides rather than release them all together. AND it doesn't have the superior live version of "Coming Up" which came as a single with the original vinyl album. January 4, 2009

Surprisingly good:)

I've been holding myself back from buying this particular McCartney album due to bad reviews. But since I wanted to complete my collection (this is the only missing then), I ordered it from Amazon and got it a few days later with the least expectation of a good listening (nothing worse than the 'Press To Play' torture). BUT, the first 2 tracks alone is worth this CD. 'Coming Up' is alright, but the highlight must be the infectious 'Temporary Secretary'. It's so experimental, yet catchy in an 'irritating' way....but it is one of mccartney's hidden gem. The rest of the tracks is worth further listening as well. It may sound silly at times, but it's quite an enjoyable album. February 29, 2008

IT'S OK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Glad to have it, first solo after wings, not as good as Mccartney and a little hard to enjoy. bonus track are ok. good for a true Mccartney fan. February 23, 2008

A new decade for Mac, a new way to disappoint

There's not a lot to say about McCartney's first foray into the 80s other than "whoops." Paul tried for a DIY ethic like his solo entry into the 70s, but no amount of synthesizers or discotheque appeal can mask the weakness of most of the material. If he was going for Bowie-esque reinvention/trend-setting, he failed far worse than Bowie did during the same decade.

Actually starts out pretty well with the funky stomp of "Coming Up," the amusing "Temporary Secretary," and the fun but empty blues ballad, "On the Way," but the rest is about as spotty as it gets. If Paul wanted to try a new wave flavor, why not go all the way? Instead, he forces boring and schmaltzy ballads like "Waterfalls" and "One of These Days" upon us, and we're forced to cringe and wonder just what the hell happened. Nobody expected consistency from Paul, but dreck? You've fallen a long way, Mac.

Best cuts: "On the Way," "Coming Up," "Nobody Knows," "Temporary Secretary," "Bogey Music" February 13, 2008

Paul McCartney goes too far.

Not really. That was a title the great Macca briefly considered for a solo project while he was still in The Beatles.
Some listeners of this CD will most certainly think "goes too far" is an apt description of some of the music here;I hated it the first time I heard it (on vinyl) many years ago,but the more I listened to it,the more I have grown to love it-just because IT IS so quirky. It sounds like Paulie is exorcizing himself of the trauma of his pot bust and incarceration in Japan by producing some of most extreme and experimental music he's capable of. When he was a Beatle,he was a student of Stockhausen,the avant-garde classical composer of the late '60's and perhaps this CD is as close as we'll ever get to any Macca music that can be traced back to his love of Stockhausen.
Maybe-or maybe not. I could be totally wrong. I like this CD-it is very challenging. July 2, 2007

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