Paul McCartney for the new year

The Beatles star presents a musically diverse repertoire with relevant themes for 2021
By Jonathan Pabico, Senior Columnist

McCartney’s meditative vocals are layered with soft chords from the guitar for a therapeutic experience that can help people face 2021 with hope, resolve, and love.

4/5

Paul McCartney’s recent album McCartney III introduces new tracks that are eclectic with their tones and soundscapes. Some songs from the collection’s first half are surprisingly underwhelming, but it’s around the second half when the playlist really picks up and becomes explosively upbeat. McCartney’s iconic vocals coupled with his imaginative compositions deliver remarkably whimsical tunes.

Simple themes from every track are reminiscent of the equally simple messages from McCartney’s classic Beatles songs. However, his daring craft also signals how eager the singer is to revitalize his work with bold, zany, and experimental style choices.

The surreal R&B vibes of “Deep Down” and the psychedelic eeriness of “Deep Deep Feeling” infuses genres with McCartney’s recognizable lyricism. This approach produces strange yet laidback melodies that you might hear at an avant-garde music lounge.

McCartney also uses the album to discuss mental health for today’s time. His song “Find My Way,” for instance, features the chorus “You never used to be afraid of days like these / But now you’re overwhelmed by your anxieties / Let me help you out.” The piano’s vibrant tempos, the drums’ lively dynamics, and the guitar’s cascading moods create enveloping synergy with McCartney’s vocals. This arrangement is coupled with the kind lyrics to reassure listeners that there’s nothing wrong with being open with others about emotional struggles.

Closing this journey are soothing songs that leave a lingering positivity in the wake of the new year. A personal favorite, “The Kiss of Venus” has lyrics like “The kiss of Venus has got me on the go” and “we circle through the square / Two passing planets in the sweet, sweet summer air.” These beautiful and endearing metaphors about love blend Roman mythology with astronomy, and illustrate the human heart as the vast space opera of people’s lives. Moreover, McCartney’s meditative vocals are layered with soft chords from the guitar for a therapeutic experience that can help people face 2021 with hope, resolve, and love.

Despite its takeaways, McCartney III doesn’t surpass the more enjoyably Beatles-esque energy of his last album Egypt Station. McCartney’s newest songs are definitely worth hearing at least once, but they aren’t as catchy or memorable as tracks like “Come On To Me” or “Dominoes” from his previous collection. His audacious music will take multiple listens to really appreciate its peculiar beats.

Overall, Paul McCartney once again provides his fans with an incredibly refreshing soundtrack. The album jumps between genres to deliver soundscapes with their own inventive facets. McCartney’s newest songs illustrate his drive to reinvent his art and image. He continually challenges our assumptions—and perhaps even his own—about what he can do musically. For your enjoyment and fans everywhere, please welcome McCartney III for 2021!