Paul McCartney’s sentimental chaos

Those in search of the fountain of youth should give a listen to rock music and make some effort to find out why aging rockers do not take to their rocking chairs or fade into the woodwork. Mick and Keith are the first names who come to mind in this regard but take a look, too or I should say take a listen to Paul McCartney’s new album Chaos and Creation in the Backyard. The ex-Beatle who has been in the business for nearly 50 years is at his finest as an artist.

Chaos shows that the pop music legend has not only grown in years. His musicality has taken on new nuances and his sensitivity is so much deeper then even during his Beatle days. The first thing I noticed though and the thing I like most about the album is the fact that McCartney has retained a remarkable sense of wonder over everything he sings about. The whole package is almost magical and can literally take your breath away. By the time you are able to catch it again, you have already asked yourself the inevitable question, "Didn’t they say that John Lennon was the greatest Beatle of all?"

Of course Lennon’s untimely death denied him the 35 years that McCartney has had since he first went solo in 1970 up to the release of Chaos. And I must say that he made excellent use of the time and opportunities bestowed on him. There were times when he soared to the challenges or emerged beaten in his efforts. But he never faltered and continued to nurture his music through failures and personal tragedies. Sure, this album, McCartney’s most Beatlesque to date, gets me wondering what Lennon could have done as an older artist. But it is Paul who is present and it is so kind of him to keep on making such beautiful music.

The production is sleek and glossy with McCartney’s trademark crisp sound coming across as effortless. Check Fine Line which opens the album. The poetry is charming and quaintly English most of the time. Let us now add Jenny Wren to Eleanor Rigby, Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey and other characters McCartney has created. The melodies are achingly sweet. Promise to You Girl and A Certain Softness. Best of all, while not blatantly radio-friendly, it seems to reveal more hooks with every listen. In truth, the whole album makes you feel like wanting to recapture moments you know very well will never happen again. Maybe that was also what Paul was trying to do.

Chaos and Creation in the Backyard was written and composed by McCartney who also played almost every instrument. Producer is Nigel Godrich who is best known for his work with Radiohead. The other cuts are How Kind of You, At the Mercy, Friends to Go, Too Much Rain, Riding to Vanity Fair, Follow Me, This Never Happened Before and Anyway.

Take note. The photo of the young Paul on the cover amidst the chaos in his own backyard was taken by his father Mike McCartney, a trumpet player, who introduced him to music. The picture is entitled Our Kid Through Mum’s Net Curtains and was taken in 1962. The Beatles then were the hot newcomers in British pop. Success in America and the whole world was merely a far-off dream, let alone a knighthood for the Liverpool boy.

Billboard Hit Lists

From the Billboard hit lists. Here are the Top 10 songs in the Hot 100: Gold Digger by Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx; Shake It Off by Mariah Carey; Photograph by Nickelback; Like You by Bow Wow featuring Ciara; My Humps by The Black Eyed Peas; Wake Me Up When September Ends by Green Day; Play by David Banner; Soul Survivor by Young Jeezy featuring Akon; We Belong Together by Mariah Carey; and Sugar, We’re Goin’ Down by Fall Out Boy.

The Top 10 albums are: All Jacked Up by Gretchen Wilson; Wildflower by Sheryl Crow; Most Known Unknown by Three 6 Mafia; Libra by Toni Braxton; Late Registration by Kanye West; The Naked Truth by Lil’ Kim; The Trinity by Sean Paul; Ten Thousand Fists by Disturbed; Have a Nice Day by Bon Jovi; and Monkey Business by The Black Eyed Peas.