McCartney II (1980)
*Big Exhale*
Sorry everyone … but this album is not it …
Paul McCartney returns after a decade-long stint with Wings, making iconic records one right after the other, to produce the underwhelming McCartney II. I am not sure if there was a lot of label interference wanting Paul to make “hip” music, or if Paul himself felt he’d proven himself enough and wanted to explore different things. Either way, the outcome was disappointing. I appreciate McCartney for always wanting to experiment and scratch that creative itch in his brain, but at some point, there will be weak results.
McCartney II begins with Coming Up, which ends up being the highlight of the album. The song is tonally and stylistically different than anything Paul had done up to this point. It’s a classic 80s-styled synthy, funky, and poppy radio hit. The quirky, upbeat rhythm immediately catches your attention, and the infectious bassline gives it a groove that's hard to resist. The synths and electronic elements blend seamlessly, creating a fresh sound that feels ahead of its time. Paul's playful vocals add a layer of charm, making the track undeniably catchy. Coming Up showcases McCartney’s ability and willingness to adapt and innovate, bringing a fresh energy that contrasts sharply with the rest of the album. The track’s vibrant production and memorable hooks make it stand out, setting high expectations for what follows. Unfortunately, McCartney II struggles to maintain this momentum.
After the hit single, it starts to go downhill fast. The robotic and repetitive Temporary Secretary is … not great. I don’t like having to say that it’s kind of annoying and that it feels like a poor AI computer generation attempt of a song, but I have to say it. People have personally came up to me and questioned my disdain for Temporary Secretary and it baffles me. I feel like it’s so obvious .. but alas, quite a lot of people get off on this track I guess..
On The Way provides a slight glimmer of hope for McCartney II. The vocals are thrown through an insane amount of reverb and play out kind of generically. It isn’t a bad song to have on in the background of any listening setting or social gathering, but the song really does not do much.
From this point moving forward, McCartney II is filled with nothing but unmemorable tracks, flooded with bland and unseasoned melodies. I find myself questioning where that trademark Paul McCartney magic is. Where is his signature touch? Where is the guy who for almost 20 years was creating some of the greatest music ever made? The lack of excitement and the lack of standouts hurt this record. It isn’t until the predominantly instrumental Blue Sway where finally some admirable energy and funk come back into play. It does not hold up much against previous Paul songs, but on this record, it really sticks out.
When reviewing the progression of music from an artist, I find it important to take an album or music in general for what it is rather than what it isn’t. To review it for what has been put in front of you rather than comparing it to things done in the past. That said, I feel my opinion would remain the same if never hearing anything from The Beatles or Wings. McCartney II would be remembered by me as an unseasoned, bland, and underwhelming 1980s pop album.
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Highlight Songs:
Coming Up
On The Way
Blue Sway
One of These Days
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Own it, Stream it, Forget about it?
Unless your goal is to collect every LP put out by Paul McCartney, I would skip owning this one. A song or two here and there might be worth streaming and adding to your music library, but the record as a whole wouldn’t get much playing time. I do not own this album, but I do like the cover and its iconography, and I think it would be a fine looking album to display. That said, I don’t know if I can justify spending x amount of money on it. Maybe if I came across a great deal for a copy, but until then I probably won’t add this one to my collection.
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Overall Rating
2 Stars
