chaos and creation in the backyard

[chris]

this is a return to form in a way for mr. mccartney. released to universal critical success, this album, in many ways, can be considered maccartney III. he plays all of the instruments himself. it is a mellow, intropective album...more applicably listened to on a sunday morning than a saturday night. and lyrically it is quite surprising. everyone knows the happy, optimistic paul. well, that guy disn't make it to the studio sessions for this collection. this album, at times...is angry. its sad. its uncertain. and truth be told...it is a joy to see this side of paul. the fact that he was going through a divorce while making this album (although that was unkown to us at the time) allows his change of moods...and subject. this album is aging remarkably well. as the meanings of the songs continue to evolve with paul. 

at his best...paul has perfected the three minute pop song. gone are the indulgences of projects past. these songs are short and simple. he employs classic horns and wood instruments to great effect here. and it could be the paul is the finest creator of melody of this or any generation. at the mercy has this...symphonic explosion (no other words to describe what is happening here) in the middle that may have you reaching for your repeat button. jenny wren is impossible to hear without invoking the memory of the white album's blackbird. friends to go and riding to vanity fair suggest not is all wine and roses at the mccartney household.

for those of you who have dismissed paul's work as lightweight...and past his prime. i suggest you give him another shot. this is an artist that still has a lot to say. and he seems to have a fun time saying it. this reviewer hopes to hear a lot more of what the man is thinking about.

[mervap]

An apt description, Mr. Chris...I'll just add that I've given my "Chaos" to a very good friend who is not all that familiar with the 'shiny, happy' Macca, with the idea that "Chaos", with its darker textures and lyrics, as a primer for whay Paulie's been up to in recent times. I expect a fine report.

[2 of 3]

This album bored me from the get go. I never listen to it.

[Kylenz]

The funny thing about this album, was that the songs that appealed the least to me at the beginning (At The Mercy, How Kind of You, This Never Happened Before etc), eventually became among my favourites on this album. The faves however would have to be Promise To You Girl, Fine Line, and Too Much Rain (a classic right up with the best of his Beatle music). Comfort of Love (a b-side) is also a major favourite from these sessions. That song takes off like a firecracker with its grungy guitars in the chorus. I just found it sad that he never played the more adventurous songs from this album live in concert. He always stuck to Fine Line and Follow Me and Jenny Wren (which was sometimes a little hit-and-miss vocally in a live situation). I would have preferred to see him and the band attack At The Mercy. Or Promise To You Girl. Or... Too Much Rain. So many other songs that I think would have worked for him much better. I would've loved to have seen him do a one-off series of gigs where he just played the entire album like how Roger Waters does Dark Side of the Moon. Chaos sure is a great album.

[EddieV]

Very hard album for me to dig, but now I like it.  The songs are a bit dark.

My favourite is How Kind Of You, but there are not a bad song here

[lampie1970]

Funny you should post on this today Eddie!! For I am listening to this one today...as i "work"....ha ha....

I kind of like "Friends To Go"...cause i like the story :D

But i definately like the regulars: Fine Line, Follow Me, Promise to you girl...its a good 'un

oh, and i like the cover of the CD...Paul Under Washing/Our Kid Through Mum's Net Curtains by Mike McC.

[Paperback Writer]

Given the wonderful "B" sides and "MAF rejects" recorded for Chaos, upon further review - Macca should have kicked Nigel out on his pompous ass!

[2 of 3]

Well said PW.

[Roger SB]

this is a very good album but i like Memory Almost Full a little better. there are more rock songs on that one

[chris]

really, my only knock on chaos is its lack of rockers. if i can get over that...which i have...its a real solid album.

[2 of 3]

How Kind Of You Soundcheck

[chris]

the harmonizing on promise to you girl still wows me. i just rediscovered this album. still mellow...but darkly sinister. very un-paul.

[Borris]

When it came out I enjoyed this album, but I really haven't listened to it much since.

Lyrically he seems to be trying to be more confessional/personal, but everything remains too vague, which weakens the impact. McCartney's divorce accounts for the darker tone. Paul can't write a sad song that resonates with me in the way a George song can.

I like the feel he gets by playing all the instruments. Also it does have a different flavour from any of his other albums, which is an achievement for someone with such a long and productive career as Paul.

I suspect this album won't turn out to be one of my favourites "Flaming Pie" is the one from his later catalogue that has stayed with me, it has some tracks I skip, but a lot that I really like. This album is more consistent but lacks stand outs.

Just after I wrote the above paragraph "English Tea" came on. this might actually be my stand out from the album, I'm a sucker for when he does his English thing, so yes I love this song, great jaunty tune, cool orchestration and little lyrical pictures.

I don't feel that Paul has anything much more to say in his solo career, but his musicality always has an appeal.

[Kylenz]

Lyrically he seems to be trying to be more confessional/personal, but everything remains too vague, which weakens the impact. McCartney's divorce accounts for the darker tone.

That's interesting. When I first heard' Riding To Vanity Fair', I felt he could've been a LOT more vicious in his lyrics. I sensed that he was holding something back, and the lyrics on that song were more vague as a consequence of that. I think the opening words in that song are 'I bit my tongue..', and that sums up the song for me.

[Borris]

That's interesting. When I first heard' Riding To Vanity Fair', I felt he could've been a LOT more vicious in his lyrics. I sensed that he was holding something back, and the lyrics on that song were more vague as a consequence of that. I think the opening words in that song are 'I bit my tongue..', and that sums up the song for me.

Yes, you get the sense that Paul is writing about things that are personal to him, but he is biting his tongue, he is too wary to reveal too much and to me that gives it a lack of focus.

I said English tea is a stand out track for me, I'd like to add "Fine Line" to that, a great opener. Some great quirky sounds at the start, then a good groove, good vocal and I like the lyrics. Also this album can be listened to right through without feeling you've listened to anything really bad.