Courtesy of the artist
Update – Feb. 9, 2012:
On Thurs. Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. PT, Paul McCartney performed live from Capitol Records in Hollywoood. The concert streamed over itunes (via a pc or mac) and was broadcast over Apple TV.
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Paul McCartney, ‘Kisses On The Bottom’
One of the startling things in my first listen to this album (of mostly covers), was Paul McCartney’s voice. Sir Paul delivers the tunes in a whispery, higher register – with a fragility that can be a bit disorienting .
The material draws from a pre-Beatle era – of what McCartney heard in his home growing up. He also penned two of the tracks that fall seamlessly in the mix. The arrangements are not particularly adventurous, but exude a rich lushness of the downtempo’d show-jazz, that deliver with a pleasing level of restraint.
So do you need to be over 64 to enjoy this record? I think not. But the answer may depend on your expectations of McCartney after 50+ years of his historic recordings. But on the eve of the artists 70th birthday, something about the direction of this release makes a lot of sense.
Longer review:
The Guardian review by Jamie Cullum.
Note: NPR ‘First Listen’ feature is no longer available.
