Acoustic Guitar Central: Paul McCartney, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard

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Paul McCartney, Chaos and Creation in the Backyard

By Drew Pearce

You say you want a revolution, but would you settle for a band on the run? If you check your expectations at the door, you’ll find a lot to enjoy about Sir Paul’s new offering. You can hear echoes of the Fab Four throughout Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, connecting the dots from “Jenny Wren” to “Blackbird,” for instance, but within each arrangement there are unexpected curves, such as the winding road of clever chord progressions and harmonies in “Promise to You Girl.” There are signs, though, that McCartney’s wordsmithery is taking a backseat to his musicianship, and one wishes he’d push past platitudes and obvious lines like “It’s not so good when you’re on your own.” But when his melodies do the talking, he may be the most articulate man in modern music. With the help of producer Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck), McCartney creates a Wall of Paul by playing nearly every instrument on every track, including the drums, Hofner bass, electric guitar, piano, cello, flugelhorn, and vibrachimes. But if it’s the sound of his Martin D-28 you want to hear, check out “Follow Me,” “Too Much Rain,” and the Latininflected “A Certain Softness.” At 63, the pop legend with the least to prove is among those still working the hardest. Mark this record down as the one that answers the question, will we still need him when he’s 64?
(Capitol, www.hollywoodandvine.com)

This article also appears in Acoustic Guitar, Issue #157

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