This is part of a series of mini-reviews of Paul McCartney’s studio albums, ranked worst to best. (Don’t worry; I’ll keep them short.) Next in line: Pipes of Peace. WHY IT’S BAD: It’s the sequel to the far better Tug of War, and some of the songs are that album’s leftovers. It’s a weaker effort. Plus, it has Michael Jackson guest starring instead of Stevie Wonder. BEST SONGS: The title track, a hopeful ballad; Say Say Say, which unless you refuse to listen to Jackson is a catchy dance tune; Keep Under Cover, with pizzicato violins and a great bass … Continue reading The Night Thread Ranks Paul McCartney’s Albums: #21

This is part of a series of mini-reviews of Paul McCartney’s studio albums, ranked worst to best. (Don’t worry; I’ll keep them short.) Next in line: Kisses on the Bottom. WHY IT’S BAD: Because it’s the album where I realized that Paul’s voice is shot. And I didn’t like it because it was a bunch of standards instead of new material. BUT–upon repeated listening, it’s quite nice. It’s a great album to listen to while you’re noshing on wine and cheese. BEST SONGS: Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive; My Valentine, which Paul wrote and is the best one on here; My Very … Continue reading The Night Thread Ranks Paul McCartney’s Albums: #22

This is part of a series of mini-reviews of Paul McCartney’s studio albums, ranked worst to best. (Don’t worry; I’ll keep them short.) Next in line: London Town, Wings. WHY IT’S BAD: It’s just goopy. I don’t like most of the production, or songs. But the ones I do like are marvelous. BEST SONGS: The title track, a melancholy ballad with a catchy tune; With A Little Luck, with some nice synth washes and harmonies; Deliver Your Children, a duet with Denny Laine which is an acoustic rocker about a guy on the run; Don’t Let It Bring You Down, … Continue reading The Night Thread Ranks Paul McCartney’s Albums: #24

This is part of a series of mini-reviews of Paul McCartney’s studio albums, ranked worst to best. (Don’t worry; I’ll keep them short.) Next in line: NEW. WHY IT’S BAD: I liked it a lot at first; then, one day, the heaviness of the production reached a breaking point. (With four different producers!!) I think he’s trying too hard to sound “current”. BEST SONGS: By far, Appreciate, an electronic number which sounds like an outtake from McCartney II or The Fireman. Turned Out, a bonus track, is a catchy Wings sounding rocker; and Get Me Out of Here is an … Continue reading The Night Thread Ranks Paul McCartney’s Albums: #26

This is part of a series of mini-reviews of Paul McCartney’s studio albums, ranked worst to best. (Don’t worry; I’ll keep them short.) Now for the second worst McCartney album: Off the Ground. WHY IT’S BAD: Paul decided to be a political activist on this record, which is not one of his strengths. He also leaned heavily on his touring band, who are good but not great musicians, and hired a producer who made everything sound slick and soulless. BEST SONGS: Hope of Deliverance, the single, which is a nice acoustic semi-rousing number; Mistress and Maid, a feminist leftover from … Continue reading The Night Thread Ranks Paul McCartney’s Albums: #27

This is the first of a series of mini-reviews of Paul McCartney’s studio albums, ranked worst to best. (Don’t worry; I’ll keep them short.) Starting with the very worst McCartney solo album: Wings’ Wild Life, or Wild Life by Wings. WHY IT’S BAD: Imagine you have a garage band with one extremely talented member, two average members, and one member who can’t really sing or play, but who’s in the band because she’s married to the talented guy. Also, this guy dumbs down his songs so that she can play them. That’s Wild Life in a nutshell. BEST SONGS: Love … Continue reading The Night Thread Ranks Paul McCartney’s Albums: #28