Tout juste une poignée de jours avant sa publication officielle, le nouvel album de Paul McCartney, « Chaos and Creation in the Backyard » semble déchaîner la passion des médias anglo-saxons.
Nous vous proposons de découvrir ci-après le critique très élogieuse publiée par Fox News.
{McCartney’s Chaos: Reading the ‘Tea’ Leaves
There’s a good line at the beginning of Paul McCartney’s new album: « There’s a line between recklessness and courage. » Kanye West might want to sample that on his next album.
McCartney’s new album, « Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, » comes out next week. It was sent around to reviewers under the name « Pete Mitchell » because of piracy fears. The press CD is also watermarked and not playable in a computer.
Of course, what Capitol Records doesn’t realize is that McCartney’s fans are too old to know how to pirate anything. But that’s all right. It lends a little drama to the proceedings.
McCartney has nothing to prove at this point in his career. His place in rock history, or just history, is secure. And even if you hated Wings, it’s hard to argue that « McCartney, » « Ram, » « Band on the Run, » « Tug of War, » « Flowers in the Dirt, » « Flaming Pie » and his « Paul is Live » album aren’t all, to one degree or another, the best of the post-classic-rock era.
Add to those some juicy one-off singles like « Another Day » and « Daytime Nighttime Suffering, » and there isn’t any musician living or dead who wouldn’t be jealous of McCartney the tunesmith.
With that, here is « Chaos and Creation in the Back Yard, » an awkwardly titled album of songs that should not be performed in stadiums.
« Chaos » is really a sketchbook by a great writer who can do anything and is not good at editing his own material. Most of it soars; some of it sours. But mostly, « Chaos » ? musically if not always lyrically ? is a miniature tour de force.
The « Chaos » songs are intimate. Except for the terrific lead-off single, « Fine Line, » and the interesting « Promise to You Girl, » they are sumptuous ballads. Nearly all the instruments are played by McCartney; he’s a one-man band, and that suits the material.
Unlike his longtime rivals, the Rolling Stones, McCartney doesn’t seem to care whether his new album is taken as an event. The Stones’ « A Bigger Bang, »which came out today, is certainly intended that way.
« Chaos » just seems to be McCartney’s latest release. He likes to issue new music on a regular basis. Whether or not it’s a big deal seems not to have been the point for a long time now. « Flaming Pie » was great. Its successor, « Driving Rain, » was spotty. No matter.
« Chaos » has some beautiful songs, and lovely vocals. It also has its oddities.
« Riding to Vanity Fair, » McCartney says in his notes, is not about anyone specific. But it’s a bitter rebuke to a friend who betrayed the singer. It’s a naked, raw stab, too, and a little disarming. No « Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da » here.
As on all McCartney collections, the great songs outweigh the iffy ones. I particularly like « Too Much Rain, » « At the Mercy, » « A Certain Softness » and « This Never Happened Before. »
McCartney says in his notes that Charlie Chaplin’s « Smile » inspired « Too Much Rain. » However he got there, I’m just glad he did. It’s lovely.
« This Never Happened Before, » which he kind of shrugs off as romantic, is the kind of song that would be covered by pop singers in the past.
For the read-between-the-lines types, there are some references to both Paul’s late wife Linda and his wife, Heather.
« How Kind Of You » seems to address well-wishers who want to help him through his mourning.
« Promise to You » is more obvious ? « Looking through the backyard of my life/Time to sweep the fallen leaves away. »
It also has a musical quote from « Abbey Road. » Other Beatle quotes are hidden in plain sight in « English Tea » and « Jenny Wren. »
So, maybe it’s old school or fuddy-duddy to remain interested in the work of a 63-year-old man, but there it is. « Chaos » is an original and important piece of work that will last some time after other « constructions » fall apart.}
Nous vous rappelons qu’à l’occasion de la sortie de cet album, la rédaction de Yellow-Sub.net se mobilise et vous propose dans ses colonnes : Chaos and Creation In The Backyard Fine Line / How Kind Of You / Jenny Wren / At The Mercy / Friends To Go / English Tea / Too Much Rain / A Certain Softness / Riding To Vanity Fair / Follow Me / Promise To You Girl / This Never Happened Before / Anyway Chaos and Creation In The Backyard Fine Line / How Kind Of You / Jenny Wren / At The Mercy / Friends To Go / English Tea / Too Much Rain / A Certain Softness / Riding To Vanity Fair / Follow Me / Promise To You Girl / This Never Happened Before / Anyway Chaos and Creation In The Backyard Fine Line / How Kind Of You / Jenny Wren / At The Mercy / Friends To Go / English Tea / Too Much Rain / A Certain Softness / Riding To Vanity Fair / Follow Me / Promise To You Girl / This Never Happened Before / Anyway Fine Line Fine Line / Comfort of Love Fine Line Fine Line / Growing up Falling Down.
_ – [Un dossier spécial sur cet album, et le premier single accompagnant sa publication, « Fine Line ».->rub1048]
_ – [Un forum spécial consacré à l’album->art7906]
(CD)
(CD + DVD)
(Vinyl)
(CD 2 titres)
(album vinyl)
