Memory Almost Full

[The Big Guy]

Released in 2007.

[2 of 3]

Much more fun that Chaos. I should buy it.

[chris]

paul's album memory almost full comes off like it has been made by a living music legend with nothing to prove. to illustrate such...it both begins and ends with songs that sport whistling solos (whisting solos?) mccartney, the melody factory is back at it again. he does simple, straightforward pop songs. it starts with the campy dance tonight. showcasing a mandolin and a  bass drum. during the second or third song (which offers reason why paul used to be considered a trailblazing bass guitarist) you sense a theme...or a mood (connecting the songs) that appears to be forming. by the fourth song, only mama knows...with its string arraingement opening, then bursts into classic rock and roll paul.

he revisits his quirky side with the fun mr bellamy (a song i dare you to try and predict what is going to happen next). the album's only slow point is gratitude, whom some cannot stand. and although it probably is the weakest song on the album...it proves that paul is still a fine songcraftsman, because the song is wonderfully made.

side two (for those old timers who recall having to get up and flip the vinyl) begins with a 5 song suite. the autobiographical vintage clothes, which shows paul still enjoys the strange...that was me, an old fashioned rock shuffle...and the brian wilsonesque feet in the clouds. that segues into the bombastic house of wax which ends in a 1985ish finale. the suite comes to an end with the somber end of the end, where paul relates to his last days and how he would like to be remembered.

this album...as well as his last few albums...proove that paul mccartney is not done making quality music. he may not be as relevent as he once was, or wishes to be. but he keeps me whistling away to his songs...just like he does.

[Kylenz]

The song that appeals to me the most on the new album, is Vintage Clothes. I've been getting into a lot of late 60s cult / underground records lately and there's a section towards the end of the song that reminds me of the song My White Bicycle by Tomorrow (1968). The other cool thing about that album is a great version of Strawberry Fields Forever - I wonder what John would have thought of it.

And the other standout track for me on this album, curiously enough, is Feet In The Clouds. I love that vocoder harmony part. Reminds me a lot of Madonna haha. Overall, it's a very solid album, with some of the coolest songs he's written in years, like Mr Bellamy and Only Mama Knows. It's a fine companion to Chaos and Creation.

[Kylenz]

the album's only slow point is gratitude, whom some cannot stand. and although it probably is the weakest song on the album...

I have to quietly disagree. I am a FAN of Gratitude. I love the way it was recorded. It's very cool in my book. The weakest for me would be See Your Sunshine. I think of that song in the same vein as The Other Me on Pipes of Peace. Not ba-a-a-ad, I'm just not sure if the lyrics work for me. It's got that "acted like a dustbin lid" thing going on against the poppy backdrop, I dunno. I remember seeing a tv story on the release of Memory Almost Full on the evening news, and there was a scene of See Your Sunshine blaring out over the loudspeakers at Starbucks as people were sitting there slurping their coffees; and for some reason I cringed, and didn't like hearing and feeling that way. I was like "NOOOOO DON'T play this song...play Vintage Clothes or Mr Bellamy or Only Mama Knows or Feet In The Clouds".. y'know.. something with a semblance of Cool, to show the non-fans that Macca can still knock out some striking tunes.

But still, it was good to see the new album on the news! Radiohead made the news for a similar reason today - they are distributing their new record themselves and fans can pay whatever they feel they think the album is worth to them. But yeah, that's another topic altogether! 

[EddieV]

His best album since Band On The Run

[chris]

actually...i like the song gratitude too. if nothing else...it certainly prooves he can create a fine pop song. it is edited very interestingly. the high point in it would have to be...right after the middle 8...the horn section (probably by a keyboard), but still.

[Kylenz]

Yeah, and there's a backwards drum in there somewhere, gives it a "pumping piston"-like sound. My only gripe with the song is that some of the background vocals sound slightly off-key in places - maybe Macca should've gotten that pitch-fixer thing they use with Britney on those background vocals! Kidding, hehe. The lead vocal is great though.. reminds me of Oh Darling! 

[mervap]

I suppose I should weigh in here by saying that I feel that this is Macca's best collection of songs since "Flowers In the Dirt", and possibly since "Band On the Run". There is a consistency of quality not found on many albums....period. Ask yourself this question: What albums can I play end to end, no skipped tracks. If you are completely honest, I feel you'll find it to be an extremely short list. And this album is not on it.

There are two tracks here that I skip virtually every time I spin this one: "Gratitude" and "Nod Your Head". To my ears, the former showcases a voice that may have sounded great on this track thirty, or even twenty years ago...it's not really bad, but it makes me want to reach through the stereo and touch Macca on the shoulder, and respectfully suggest he give this tune to the R-n-B shouter it deserves. "Nod Your Head"....gee....I understand that dissonance is an accepted musical device that is commonly used to create a 'tension' within a chord or musical passage...this tune is 1:58 seconds of just that: tension. He's just having a bit of a larf, I know, but my ears tell me it ain't funny.

There....got all the negative out! The rest of this CD is at best genius, at worst excellent...My favorite track varies with each listen! So many of these tracks have multiple layers of musical action happening that it is possible to listen many times and catch something you missed before. I'll also echo our esteemed friend Chris' comment about Macca's whistling solos....it feels like a "kiss my butt" to everyone who says he's not 'this' or 'that'. He's telling us, "This is exactly what I wanted here....I love it as it is, hope you do....if not, tough!" 

The two tracks I keep returning to for repeat listenings are "Mr. Bellamy" and "House of Wax"...."Mr. Bellamy", with an angular piano line and a semi-cryptic lyric is orchestral, whimsical and dark by turns. Check out the way the electric guitar lead line 'meows' during the "don't frighten him" section...hilarious....he's not serious....or is he?

"House of Wax" is another ball of...er...wax. This song has created a sort of 'love' or 'hate' reaction amongst Paulie's fans....fans of wet, dark echo will love it. Macca belts a very oblique and poetic lyric, then looses some serious fretboard bombast during the song's two, count 'em, two solo sections. The first time I heard this track, I reached the end of it and realized I had forgotten to breathe...sounds a bit florid, but that's where this one takes me.

I would also like to make it a matter of public record that when I trip from this mortal coil, the song "The End of the End" must be played...I have been to that type of memorial and it was beautiful, painful and touching in all the right ways.

[Kylenz]

Yeah, Nod Your Head needs something else happening with the guitar. I'm all for the dissonance thing, I like the idea of having this squealing guitar, and then having the Stax soul horn section in there too. Maybe (thinking outside the square) if he had some electronica going on there, like say the reverberating drum loops on Talk More Talk, but keep everything else in the mix too, and change the guitar slightly, even just a couple of different phrases.. some 'hooks', with a little bit more work it could've been a very adventurous and interesting track. But yeah it's just 'a bit of a laff', nothing serious, it is what it is. We as fans want every track to be an Abbey Road masterpiece, even if it was just a 'Why Don't We Do It In The Road' kind-of track - a throwaway that works well.

Mr Bellamy is a wonderful track - one of the best things he's done. When Off The Ground came out, I was like "oh no, this must be it". It makes me so happy that he could achieve an album of such high consistency here in the 21st century.

[chris]

So many of these tracks have multiple layers of musical action happening that it is possible to listen many times and catch something you missed before.

these are words i wish i had spoken myself. a tip of the hat to you, sir. this album is a musical exploration for me. i never seem to stop discovering things...sounds...layers...that i had not previously known were there.

and you have a point (of sorts) about gratitude. while i do not skip it...i know some do. but if we could turn back the time machine and hear his 1976 voice do this song...it'd be the show stopper. at first listen...it occured to me that this song was almost an excersize in live sing-a-longs. it had that sing with me feel. it doesn't any longer. we first saw paul's pessimistic side (and voice) on chaos' vanity fair. gratitude just drips with sarcasm (with a side of a middle finger) regarding paul's newly certified ex. i'd like to see more of that from paul. turns out he does a pretty good bitter and angry song.

[lampie1970]

i am ashamed that i skipped gratitude at first too...I couldn't get past the beginning. Well, leave it to cleaning the house to fix me. I had it on and couldn't get to it to skip it and, I don't know...I found it? I listened to the words and music,found a little something interesting. I took it as a whole and I like it now...

And I really have to give Paul props for including "See Your Sunshine". I like the song a lot even though...well...I like the song a lot. And I admire him for saying: i am taking the good here and leaving the bad and this is the way it was for a time, so, it's part of the story...

Would ya'll like any other cryptic opinions? just ask me :)

[JennyWren]

About the controversial "Gratitude": I happen to like this one a lot.  In fact, it makes me laugh.  I don't know if I'm interpreting as Paul would like to it to be, but I put in the the context of Heather, and it becomes a sarcastic piece.  In that lignt, I find it to be very enjoyable, indeed.

JennyWren

[mervap]

I read a note that the RIAA has certified "Memory Almost Full" as a platinum album, which indicates world-wide sales of more than 1 million....not too shabby!

[Kylenz]

And the latest news (on a slightly related note) is that the RIAA want 1.5 million dollars for every album you have on your hard drive! I think the RIAA are a horde of loonies!