Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full - CD/DVD Deluxe Edition

Why the complains?

Everybody knows that in today's business, when an album sells off, the re-editions must have any new feature, just to keep on capting new people. That's why I wait a little bit before I buy an album (especially Paul's albums).
However the edition, this disc is pretty good. I enjoy it a lot. The only thing that worried me was that strange one: 'The end of the end'. For Paul's style that is a rare state of instrospection. September 20, 2008

Best yet?

This might be McCartney's best album yet.

Some songs show shades of past McCartney glory ("Only Mama Knows," "Vintage Clothes"), but some are incredibly orginal to Sir Paul ("House of Wax" "dance Tonight"). The jazz influences, specifically on the bonus tracks ("In Private" and "222") are absolutely wonderful. Maybe he'll come out with an entire jazz CD?!

I've already told my daughter that she should play "The End of the End" at my funeral. What a fantastic tribute song.

Only "Nod Your Head" does absolutely nothing for me and I actually skip the track when playing this disc in my car.

This one is worth picking up. May 12, 2008

Average Paul

Good songs, but nothing stellar. Paul seems trapped in endless series of the same kind of songs. Where did the genius go? April 26, 2008

A Blast to the Past - Worthy of 2007 Album of the Year Consideration

By 2005, Paul McCartney's place in music history was long cemented. Whether you look at McCartney's work with the Beatles, Wings, or even as a solo artist - he really doesn't have much more to prove. There was even that time in the mid-1980s when McCartney's solo career hit a bump in the road both critically and professionally - then thanks to a songwriting partnership with Elvis Costello, McCartney bounced back with his magnificent effort "Flowers in the Dirt". Upon proving he could launch the comeback, McCartney didn't fade into oblivion. By 2007, McCartney, who is now technically a senior citizen had become an "elder statesman" of Rock. In 2005, McCartney released the critically acclaimed "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard". This album would mark a second commercial comeback for McCartney who had hit another bump with 2001's "Driving Rain" (which didn't sell well). "Chaos and Creation" was a "kinder/gentler" album and helped McCartney return to the level of critical and commercial success that he was accustomed to. 2007 would see the release of "Memory Almost Full". This album is McCartney's strongest effort since "Flowers in the Dirt". It shows McCartney return to his roots with a sound reminiscent of the late 1960s Beatles and early 1970s Wings - while at the same time showing a willingness to experiment with new sounds.

With "Memory Almost Full", McCartney had actually put this into the works before "Chaos and Creation", but had decided to put it on hold. Following the release and subsequent tour supporting "Chaos and Creation", McCartney went back to finish the album.

It is important to note that there are three versions of this collection that were released:
* "Original Release": This contains thirteen tracks that comprise the core of this collection.
* "Deluxe Edition": This contains all thirteen tracks from the "Original Release" and three "bonus" tracks. It also contains an audio commentary from McCartney discussing the music from this collection.
* "CD/DVD Deluxe Edition": This contains the 13 core tracks from the "Original Release as well as the three bonus tracks from the "Deluxe Edition". While it doesn't contain the audio commentary on the deluxe edition, it includes 5 live numbers recorded in London's Electric Ballroom as well as two music videos. It is this version that this review focuses on.

Here is a track by track review:

1-"Dance Tonight": This track is highlighted by McCartney showcasing his new-found mandolin-playing skills. This track demonstrates McCartney returning to his "roots" (by learning a new instrument) while willing to experiment. The mandolin makes this song catchy. The DVD contains both a live version and the music video for this track.

2-"Ever Present Past": Listening to this track, I hear sounds reminiscent of both the Beatles and Wings. Nice guitar work on this track. The DVD contains a very entertaining music video for this track.

3-"See Your Sunshine": This track had more of a Wings feel to it. I like the keyboards on this track. Many feel this might had been a tribute to his second wife, Heather Mills before the divorce.

4-"Only Mama Knows": Great track. It starts out with a classical feel to it, before a nice segue into a Wings-like hard-rocking song. The live version on the DVD is even better.

5-"You Tell Me": This track has a slower and more intense feel. The guitar work helps contribute to this intense feel to it.

6-"Mr. Bellamy": McCartney has always been famous for inventing "characters" in his song ("Mr Mustard", Admiral Halsey, Sister Susan, Brother John.... On this track we are introduced to Mr Bellamy who joins that list. I like the classical opening and the tempo with the piano on this track. This song definitely had Beatles-like roots to it. However the best part might be McCartney's vocal ranges as it really gives the song its identity.

7-"Gratitude": This song is the most Beatles-like song both musically - and lyrically. McCartney even sings this in a Beatles-like voice. Simple lyrics, yet a good song.

8-"Vintage Clothes": The opening piano almost sounded like Fleetwood Mac. The vocals definitely have a 1970s feel to it and the instrumentation is more Beatles like.

9-"That Was Me": "Vintage Clothes" has a segue into this song. I particularly liked the bass and the drums working together in it. Once again, I heard a song reflective of McCartney's days with the Beatles.

10-"Feet in the Clouds": This song is a close runner-up for Beatles-like sound. Some of the instrumentation almost took me back to the Sgt Pepper days. Good stuff.

11-"House of Wax": This is terrific track. This song has an orchestral-feel to it. Powerful music throughout - especially accented by the drums (by McCartney's longtime drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.). The guitar bridge is very Wings-like. The DVD contains an equally powerful live version of this track.

12-"The End of the End": This song almost has a swan-song feel to it. Paul even sings about his own mortality. The use of the piano and whistling accent this track. I would have placed this as the last track.

13-"Nod Your Head": The guitar work has a Beatles feel to it. The DVD contains a live version and judging from the crowd's reaction of "nodding heads", this could become a McCartney staple in concert for the rest of his career.

14-"In Private": The first bonus track - this is primarily an instrumental highlighted by guitar.

15-"Why So Blue": Second bonus track - the soft feel has a segue into a more intense chorus. The chorus again has a feel from McCartney's Beatles days.

16-"222": This is the third bonus track and the most experimental sounding track. It's primarily instrumental with minimal vocals, but it shows McCartney's creative juices haven't dried up.

The DVD also includes a live version of "Drive My Car". This album should have merited consideration for 2007's best album. There wasn't a bad track on this album. McCartney fans - whether longtime or new should definitely have this in their collection. April 10, 2008

Little Late... Still an amazing album

To say this album is bad or even not listen-able is foolish. One has to make a conscience effort not to like Memory Almost Full. Right off the bat the listener is reminded of McCartney's first solo effort with Dance Tonight, which is simplistic, uplifting and honest. Next, Ever Present Past hits with the punch of an instant classic not unlike My Brave Face or even Band On The Run. This song deserves air play! See Your Sunshine is a wonderful love song that is lyrically, one of the better songs from McCartney's catalogue. By the end of track three the audience has been given a lesson in Macca history with just solo McCartney sounds. When Mama Only Knows sounds, the audience is transported to the heyday of Wings with a number that truly rocks. After the adrenaline rush left over from Only Mama Knows, Macca slows things down with the contemplative You Tell Me. Not one of the better tracks but better than a lot of the songs in McCartney's catalogue. Next track that is sequenced is Mr. Bellamy which is essentially this album's Eleanor Rigby. This is probably the best song on the album. Gratitude comes next with a soulful passion that sounds like it would have fitted perfectly on Chaos And Creation In The Backyard and ends the first part of the album.
What's next is a sequence of songs that Macca hasn't attempted since Red Rose Speed Way (his fourth solo project, and second with Wings). Though this isn't as memorable as the sequence of songs that appeared on Abbey Road's latter, the songs themselves are no less than great songs. The most interesting one being Feet In The Clouds which sounds very much to be like as if it were from Abbey Road. The album ends with a song that questions McCartney's death and how he would want people to react. The End Of The End is a song that is sorrowful and yet hopeful. Other than Mr. Bellamy, this is the best song on the album. But! If that leaves the audience depressed, Macca rocks them to the top with Nod Your Head. The song is just another rocker that is fun to listen to. Memory Almost full is not how some people feel, a disappointing follow up to Chaos And Creation In The Backyard, it's just different. It is full to the brink of five star material and is actually more consistent than the former. Definatley one of my favorite of Mr. McCartney's albums.

The bonus tracks are a nice addition; i.e. Why So Blue, In Private, and 222. But what one is really buy are the videos of the live performances and the two music videos. They don't really add anything, and it would have been more appropriate to have release this edition at the same time as the others. February 11, 2008

More reviews at Amazon.com ...