If you don’t count 2011’s dance score Ocean’s Kingdom or his 2012 covers album ‘Kisses On The Bottom‘, then Paul McCartney’s new single ‘New ‘ is his first, er, new material since 2007.
Quite how this song is received though will most likely be determined by how dedicated a McCartney fan you are.
Although technically there is nothing new about, er, ‘New’, it is a pleasant enough song to warrant a listen or two because it comprises many of McCartney’s compositional trademarks. Indeed Beatles and/or Wings fans will delight in Mark Ronson’s production, with its subtle brass arrangement and handclaps to the familiar bounce of a descending major chord sequence, doubled on piano and harpsichord; second cousin once removed to ‘Fixing A Hole’ or the bastard child of ‘Penny Lane’.
It will certainly be enough to prompt accolades from Macca devotees about his “return to form” or how it’s the best thing he’s done since ‘Abbey Road’. Of course, it isn’t, but neither is it ‘Give My Regards To Broad Street’, thankfully.
Melodically and harmonically strong, the song is let down by weak lyrics that feel undeveloped. In the famous 1980 interview with Playboy, John Lennon said “…Paul is quite a capable lyricist who doesn’t think he is. So he doesn’t go for it. Rather than face the problem, he would avoid it,” – ‘New’ supports that theory.
It is, however, evident that McCartney is still capable of creating infectious melodies with infuriating ease despite treading a well worn path of his own making. His voice is in great shape and Ronson’s production gives the song warmth with a wry wink to nostalgia rather than exaggerating it; The Beach Boys coda in particular is a nice touch.
Nietzsche once said: “Many a man fails as an original thinker simply because his memory is too good.” While this can possibly be applied to McCartney it can also be argued that, for a man who has already written a catalogue of songs that has redefined the shape of popular music, perhaps he’s entitled to just do what he wants and disregard what anyone else thinks.
We should perhaps just be grateful that he’s still around making music – and enjoy hearing him enjoying himself in the process.
This is a great NEW single, at least Macca uses lyrics unlike a lot of the current hits that sem to walk to No1 these days
It’s OK, and his voice sounds stiff and forced, which bothers me. More power to him- it’s possible that a few of his new songs will really bowl me over, but I’m very surprised this “New” has been not only getting such rave reviews but being compared to his Beatles work. It’s not that “New,” (sounds more like Wings) and it’s not that great. But there will never come a day when I stop listening to what the man says and sings.
Not sure what you’re talking about here. I think the lyrics are sharp and direct. It’s clearly a song about feeling love again at an advanced age, and the inexplicability of it all. Just because the words are simple doesn’t mean they’re “simplistic.” Funny how George Harrison was a far far weaker lyricist than Lennon or McCartney and yet Harrison never gets called out on that.
I just think music reviews like to regurgitate the same garbage analysis they’ve read elsewhere. God forbid you should have an original thought.
The news songs I have heard off the New album are excellent. Paul will hopefully win Album of the Year at the Grammys!