Paul McCartney doesn’t owe music anything. The man practically invented modern popular music, has had an almost 50-year solo career and has released some of the greatest albums of all time with this little side project called The Beatles. Paul could easily just retire and go down as one of the best musicians ever. Instead, at almost 80 years old, he is still making music, and perhaps even more surprisingly, Paul proves he still has what it takes to put out a decent record.
Paul’s 18th studio album, “Egypt Station,” proves that he never lost his ability to write deeply personal and intimate ballads. The second track “I Don’t Know” is startlingly emotional. McCartney admits in the song, “I got crows at my window, dogs at my door / I don’t think I can take any more.” Hearing Paul admit he is nearing the end of the road is gut-wrenching. On the track “Confidante,” McCartney reminisces about past friendships (maybe referencing John Lennon), in a really heartwarming way.
On top of that, McCartney succeeds in creating catchy pop rock for a good chunk of the album. Songs like “People Want Peace” and “Dominoes” show this off best. Memorable melodies were always Paul’s bread and butter, and that doesn’t change on “Egypt Station.”
Sure, this album has some glaring issues. For one, “Fuh You” is a contender for worst song of the year. I have no idea how this song made it on the record. McCartney was clearly aiming for a top-40 hit with this song, but the overly-glitzy production and cringe-worthy lyrics prevent it from getting anywhere near even the top 100. Also, “Egypt Station” can get a little too caught up in modern pop clichés, resulting in some forgettable songs. Cutting those boring tracks would help shave some time off the slightly too long 57-minute runtime.
Overall, this record proves McCartney hasn’t lost his touch. “Egypt Station” is a fun record with some genuine bright spots, even if McCartney has a bit of trouble sticking to what makes his music great in the first place.
_Edited by Siena DeBolt | sdebolt@themaneater.com_
