Album Review: Paul McCartney - McCartney III

Almost fifty years after Paul McCartney’s debut album McCartney in the 1970’s which was followed by McCartney II in the 1980’s, we have been gifted with McCartney III in 2020. There are scarce few artists who are consistent as Paul McCartney, whose new album oozes pure class from start to finish with tracks that go right back to his roots.

The opening track ‘Long Tailed Winter Bird’ is deceptively simple in its’ composition. It is upbeat and uplifting, a far cry from the gloomy times in which it was written. The following two tracks, ‘Find My Way’ and ‘Pretty Noys’ continue with a similar one-man vibe, using clean melodies and simple lyrics, they are distinctly unfussy but nonetheless hold a real pull.

You would never say that McCartney has no sense of humour, his new album is filled with subtle, and perhaps less subtle, hints towards it. ‘Lavatory Lil’ is a perfect example of the latter. It is a warning to everyone not to get on Paul’s wrong side because he will undoubtedly produce a chart-topping track detailing your downfalls.

Perhaps the most interesting track on the album is ‘Deep Deep Feeling’, with its psychedelic undertones and inescapable beat, it demonstrates just how talented the man is. This, followed by the hyper accessible rock style established in ‘Slidin’, shows that absolutely no style is beyond his reach.

The energy of the album is muted slightly in ‘The Kiss of Venus’ to allow for an airier brighter track. It is then picked back up in ‘Seize the Day’ which is filled with hope and vitality. The sentiment ‘Its Still Alright To Be Nice’ bursts through the cheery chords and witty rhymes.

The album closes in the same way that it opened, stripped back, a man and his guitar. It looks to a simpler life in simpler times, the only concern being the practical problems caused by ‘When Winter Comes’. A late career highlight from one of pop music’s most prolific legends.

Words: Amelia Dinsdale