(April 2015) I have completed phase 50 of my “opus project,” in which I listen to an artist’s complete discography from beginning to end. This episode: PAUL McCARTNEY.* What’s there to say about arguably the top songwriter of the last 50 years? He is so prolific (440+ songs) that he has recorded more forgettable songs than most artists ever record in their lifetimes, and yet it would take half a dozen CDs to package his “best of.” Sure, he tends toward the sappy and sentimental, but don’t dismiss the wide variety of his work: pop, rock, electronic, classical, jazz, experimental. Paul is at his best when it is just him, his guitar and his melody, as in Here Today and Calico Skies (not to mention Yesterday and Blackbird).
Favourite album: Band on the Run
Favourite song: Maybe I’m Amazed
Worst song (hit): Freedom
Worst song (non hit): Temporary Secretary
More interesting than expected: his electronic /experimental albums (as the Firemen)
Not so interesting: his classical music compositions
Favorite period: the late (1997-2013: from Flaming Pie to New). While the early 1970s has most of the hits, the recent albums are more consistently strong.
Compared to expectations: same
Opus Project 