Music review: Paul McCartney – 鈥楳cCartney III鈥�
They say all good things come in threes. If that holds to be true, then the latest release from Paul McCartney fulfills the promise he started with the acoustic leanings of 1970鈥檚 鈥淢cCartney,鈥� continued with bursts of electronic flavorings on 1980鈥檚 鈥淢cCartney II鈥� and ultimately completes with the cathartic tone of 鈥淢cCartney III.鈥�
Recorded at his home in England during quarantine, McCartney once again serves as a one-man band by crafting 11 tracks that possess hints of his previous work as a Beatle, leader of Wings and as a solo artist.
鈥淟ong Tailed Winter Bird鈥� is the acoustic opener that gracefully begins the set before easing into a charming jam with McCartney repeatedly asking if he鈥檚 been missed. After the social distancing of 2020, it certainly is comforting to hear a familiar voice.
鈥淔ind My Way鈥� has McCartney offering words of encouragement and support as he proclaims, 鈥淵ou never used to be/Afraid of days like these/But now you鈥檙e overwhelmed/By your anxieties/Let me help you out/Let me be your guide/I can help you reach/The love you feel inside.鈥� It is during times like these that we should be reminded that love is all we truly need.
McCartney addresses the pressures of celebrity and the constant demands of being in the spotlight with 鈥淧retty Boys鈥� and speaks to the importance of being a good example to others on 鈥淲omen and Wives鈥� as he declares, 鈥淲hat we do with our lives/Seems to matter to others/Some of them may follow/Roads that we run down.鈥�
The former Beatle temporarily goes electric on 鈥淟avatory Lil鈥� and 鈥淪lidin'鈥� as heavy guitar riffs anchor these arrangements that would be a perfect fit for inclusion on 鈥淎bbey Road鈥� or 鈥淟et It Be.鈥�
鈥淪eize the Day鈥� encourages making the most out of every opportunity as McCartney sings, 鈥淲hen the cold days come/And the old ways fade away/There鈥檒l be no more sun/And we鈥檒l wish that we had/Held on to the day.鈥� Indeed, the end will come soon enough. Regrets are to be reserved for viewing in the rearview mirror.
The album comes full circle with 鈥淲inter Bird/When Winter Comes鈥� tenderly bringing the set to a simplistic close. The track acts as a farmer鈥檚 lullaby with McCartney softly singing, 鈥淲hen summer鈥檚 gone/We鈥檒l fly away/And find the sun/When winter comes.鈥� For me, this arrangement evokes memories of 鈥淚鈥檒l Follow the Sun,鈥� another McCartney fronted ballad from 1964鈥檚 鈥淏eatles for Sale.鈥�
As we look to a new year with hope and optimism, it is only fitting that McCartney extends an open invitation focused on the importance of constantly following love and searching for the good in all things.