In appreciation of...No. 15 - House of Wax

Can be found on: Memory Almost Full

House of Wax is a latter day McCartney classic and is the best track on Memory Almost Full.

It has everything a Macca classic needs, great piano, melody, good lyrics, a song that builds and builds and a rip roaring vocal and guitar solo played by his good self. You become engrossed and part of this song and when played loud nothing else would distract your attention.

The song just blows you away, if you think Paul has done nothing of note then play this. Everything you hear is a myth. Worth the price of the album just for this track.

Memory Almost Full Album Review

Release date: June 2007

Artwork: A pretty uninspiring cover really but nicely done if that is not a contradiction. Overall quite well packaged though. It has a good picture of Paul with all the TV screens. I always think Paul's albums lack interesting liner notes and information though.

General Comments: An album that divides fans opinions. I am sat firmly in the against camp, however this is more due to frustration as there are some great songs on here.

The production is not very appealing to the listener and does not make you want to play the album too often and some of the tracks are lightweight and should not have made the producers cull. Basically Paul was being a little lazy.

However, it was one of his most successful recent albums, so what do I know?! Anyway, I am going to re-listen with an open mind. Before I do, I just want to mention that the extra tracks which are not on the album proper are again either more interesting or better than some of the lesser tracks on the album.

Track by Track:

1. Dance Tonight

This album had more promotion than the last couple of Paul albums put together but the lead single was a disappointment really. Yes, it was catchy and yes it is quite fun and harmless but the quality is not really there. If Paul really wants the credibility his craves then he needs to keep the popular adulation he craves in check too. This should have been kept as a private family bit of fun or a b-side where it would have worked well. Surprisingly quite enjoyable live though.  5/10

2. Ever Present Past

The first song that was previewed from the album and the buzz was that it sounded like it came from 'McCartney II'. I guess that there are some signs from that 79-80 period, a heavy guitar like in Back to the Egg and some electronic influence like on Temporary Secretary. This is an enjoyable and good song with some good ideas and passages. I can't help thinking though with a little more effort that this could have gone up a notch or two. Still pretty good though. 6.5/10

3. See Your Sunshine

God knows I have tried to like this song but just can't. It is corny and lazy. The middle eight holds a little bit of interest and is the only reason I scored it 2/10. The backing vocals are dreadful, the lyrics poor and it lacks any emotion, soul or sincerity. 2/10

4. Only Mamma Knows

It needed something good to make up for the previous track and this certainly does. One of Paul's best rockers ever. This was dying to be played live and happily it was! This is loud, gritty, fun and interesting. It is pretty catchy and should have been a single. 8.5/10

5. You Tell Me

This is a beautiful song of time gone and memories past. I did not like this on the first few listens, but it is a real grower. At the start though I keep thinking it is about to turn into Stairway to Heaven! It is quite a stripped down acoustic song and Paul's higher register voice is laid bare and there are some strains showing - I am still undecided if this adds to, or distracts from, the song. Very good nonetheless. 8/10

6. Mr Bellamy

This was the big hyped song and the vibe was that it was 'Beatle' quality. It is not. Although is a pretty good, interesting song and one of the better one's on the album I find it a little irritating. Having said that I don't skip it and it deserves to make the album. 6/10

7. Gratitude

Oh dear. This is another real low point on the album for me. It has a gospel soul feel to it with a pretty good vocal. However, it does not express any emotion or sign of personal or spiritual belief. The only sign of graitude I'd have was if Paul had not written this song. Again it has a relatively interesting middle eight. 3 minutes 19 seconds too long. 2/10

8. Vintage Clothes

This is perhaps the most instant song on the album and along with Only Mamma Knows would have been a good choice as the first single. Driven by a happy piano melody that sounds a little like Fleetwood Mac, it is a truly upbeat song that bounds along with fun and interest. A really good track. 7/10

9. That Was Me

An average song that is made better due to the general faults of the album overall. A sort of a rock'n roll style in the modern era with autobiographical lyrics. Actually very good live on his small venue 2007 tour. However, should have still only been a b-side, a quite good b-side though. 6/10

10. Feet in the Clouds

This is the sort of song that I am sure Paul can write in his sleep. Lazy lyrics and a lazy song. The producer should have told Paul to go away and start again with it. This is lightweight and I find it very very very very hard to to listen too. It sounds like a demo that needs work. 5/10

11. House of Wax

The best song on the album by far. Great lyrics, great tune, great tension and atmosphere, fantastic guitar solo and a really good vocal full of emotion. This is one of the best songs of his career. It builds from the simple piano introduction into an epic. I wish this was on Chaos - especially with the 'hidden in the yard' lyrics. 10/10

12. End of the End

Another track that got a lot of interest on release due to its subject matter. This is one of the better songs on the album. Paul has this way of making sad songs better and he achieves it here. He gets the feeling just right on this one and it has some nice lyrics too. It is a perfect way to end the album.  8/10

13. Nod Your Head

Oh....there is another track! Although I understand Paul wanting to lift the mood for the listener after the previous track, he actually got me in a mood! This is just a throwaway song. The sort of thing that as a party piece he may decide to play live - at a private party mind, but not mine! Yes, the vocal is pretty good, but it is really pointless. Another track that would have just about been acceptable in the days of the 12" single of being the extra 3rd b-side!  3/10

Overall score: 77/130

Overall score indexed: 59%

Advice: DOWNLOAD THE CHOICE GREAT TRACKS! THANK GOD FOR ITUNES!

Noughtie Paul McCartney PART TWO!

2005-2009

Rumours started in late 2004 that Macca was working with Nigel Godrich of Radiohead and Beck fame. This gave many fans hope for a really great piece of work. I am pleased to say that the results were fantastic. 'Chaos and creation in the backyard' is possibly his best album EVER, certainly in the top 3. It has melody, emotion, humour, introspection, hope, positiveness and bitterness - basically Paul doing everything well. Even the twee (English Tea) seems to work and does not completely out stay its welcome, still rather it was not included mind. It works as a cohesive album and much of that has to be down to his producer. It is a CD that four years later, for me, still gets a regular play and not just selected tracks, but all the way through. Everything around this album was perfect; the b-sides were wonderful, especially 'This Loving Game' and 'I Want You To Fly' and a great TV and radio special to co-inside with its release.

Touring continued in the States including a couple of interesting additions (Too Many People for starters) but the 18th million time of listening to Let it Be, Hey Jude, Jet, Get Back etc. was beginning to grate. His shows were still hugely enjoyable but the special spark for the dedicated fan was ebbing away. The element of surprise and the wow factor has been lost. Special special songs were being diluted by over exposure. This is why Disney only re-release their classics every 7 years or so and either don't release a DVD or deleted them very quickly. Paul should follow suit, he has the biggest and best back catalogue to draw from in the world from the 1960's to the present day. It is a crying shame many classic and high quality songs are not played and given the exposure that they deserve. Paul was turning into the Bootleg McCartney. Maybe a little harsh, but true nevertheless. Even the 'ad libs' were wearing thin and needed a change. We know the Blackbird story, the C'Moon story, the ukulele story with GH, and how many times do we need to be told that 'you were great' at the end of Hey Jude?!

However, his band still rocks and he still has so much energy and for his age his voice stands up pretty well although not a patch on his 66-76 peak.

2006 was a year of personal problems and not the kind of publicity that is becoming of Paul.

The Beatles Love project was a welcome distraction and allowed Paul again to remind us and the world how great and innovative 'that band' were. Relationships between ex band mates and wives seems the best it has ever been.

In 2007 another album and a new label and some small gigs! Some variety and increased exposure. Memory Almost Full seems to catch the publics imagination with the Starbucks promotion helping greatly. A lame but catchy single "Dance Tonight' gave Paul his most widely recognised hit in a many a year. The album was a hit and miss affair. A handful of very good songs saved the day (Only Mamma Knows, House of Wax and End of the End). Overall it was a bit of a disappointment and rarely gets played in this household. The production was poor and lacked the warmth of Chaos.

The 'secret gigs' were great fun and saw Paul enjoy himself and the audience responded, although even the most ardent of Paul fans could not help to be concerned about his voice going down hill fast since Live8 in 2005. The song choices remained too samey and the chat likewise. Paul is such a charmer and a storyteller he really should mix things up a bit. However, I was front row at the Electric Proms and had the time of my life, so he must have done something right!

More of the same in 2008 on the 'live' front just bigger venues and very little change to the set list. However, the introduction of Mrs Vanderbilt and the joy the band and audience got out of it should be noted for more of the same. However, I must say his voice went back up a notch.

The highlight of the year was the return of The Fireman. The Electric Arguements album was a joyful surprise from start to finish and really deserves a wider audience. I hate it when people say Paul has done nothing since 1970. Boy is that wrong and he is still producing the goods. However, Paul does not help with his continued live policy...which means I am not going to bother with 2009 bar a mention for another lovely new song 'I Want to Come Home'

Lets hope in probably the last 'busy' few years of his career will see continued genius on record and an acknowledgement of 45 years of genius in his live shows and TV appearances.

Thanks Paul.