Customer Reviews

McCartney II (Archive Collection)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

*Note that this is the last half of my review on the McCartney and McCartney II reissues. If you haven't already, look on the McCartney page.

After the listener listens to this album, they might make the confused face that Paul has on the album's cover. It's easy to understand: this album is very experimental, but so was McCartney in some way. McCartney II is actually a really good album. I like the sound of it personally. It's different and kind of trippy and funky. This album was recorded in July 1979, shortly after Wings had released their seventh (and later, final) album Back To The Egg. Paul recorded this album in Scotland and like McCartney, he played all the instruments, but this time with the aid of a sixteen track machine. Paul also had a new toy: a synthesizer. This is one of the reasons why some critics and fans don't care for McCartney II. I'm not a big fan of the synth either but Paul makes this easy to listen to. The album opens with "Coming Up", an instant classic. The live version taken from the 1979 gig in Glasgow made "Coming Up" a #1 hit single. If you're reading this, please go check out the promo/music video to "Coming Up". It's just wacky. Some people may skip over songs like "Temporary Secretary", "Front Parlour", "Frozen Jap", and many others due to the fact that there all use one too many synthesizers. I actually like "Temporary Secretary" and I also really dig "Frozen Jap", which is also an awesome song title! I like the entire first side of the album. Along with "Coming Up" and "Temporary Secretary", there's the slow rocker "On The Way", the simply beautiful "Waterfalls", and the upbeat "Nobody Knows". The second side isn't as good. My least favorite song is probably "Bogey Music". It's got this 1950's feel but it's kind of annoying. "Frozen Jap" is much like "Front Parlour" but there's something I like about it. I think it's the Japanese-like sound it has! I also like the reggae-flavored "Darkroom".

The second disc for McCartney II has eight songs and a run time of 48 minutes. Some of these songs are edits of long songs (the full length versions can be found on the third disc on the deluxe edition of this album. Both McCartney and McCartney II have deluxe editions w/ photo books and a DVD) The hit live version of "Coming Up" is on here as is "Wonderful Christmastime", which was another hit for Paul. "Check My Machine" is a very funky track that I'm really liking. It was a B-side to "Waterfalls". There's also the ten minute "Secret Friend", which was a B-side for "Temporary Secretary". For all of you real die-hard fans, there's three previously unreleased tracks that didn't make the final album (which are on a bootleg called The Lost McCartney II Album). Those three are "Mr H Atom/You Know I'll Get You Baby", "Bogey Wobble", and "All You Horse Riders/Blue Sway".

I was undecided at first as to buying these two reissues. I have to say that I'm pretty happy with my purchase. These are two really good albums and they sound clean. You also got the bonus discs, which have some lost treasures that are worth listening to. If you're a die-hard fan of the Beatles and/or Paul McCartney, you may want to pick these up.

Sound quality is a bit better than the '93 remaster. A bit more punch and crispness. You either like it or you don't. I happen to enjoy this one, and am also buying the deluxe 4 disc version. There are many bonus tracks, though, so the price is right for you if you don't have it. Packaging is very similar to Band on the Run from last year. Triple opening, booklet on left and 2 discs top loading on the right. Almost as thick as the BOTR deluxe 3 disc edition.

Tired of the formality of going back into the studio for another album, McCartney decided to hole up for a few weeks with a 16-track machine and several instruments. He only meant to write a few songs to share with friends and family. He says he just wanted a cassette to listen to in his car! He evidently had no intention of creating a new album. Yet he ended up doing just that. This three CD set is an exhaustive account of the genius of McCartney.

McCartney is all over the map with this collection. From the bouncy pop hit, "Coming Up" to the gentle acoustics of "One Of These Days", McCartney is on a path of experimentation. "Temporary Secretary" is a synthesized annoyance, while "On The Way" is one of his best bluesy contributions in years. The hand-clapping jaunt of "Nobody Knows" contrasts with the ballad-like, pretty, "Waterfalls". "Front Parlour" is just weird and "Frozen Jap" is equally bizarre, but each one shows just how far McCartney is willing to go to get his true groove on. "Summer's Day Song" is a bleak lifeless experiment while "Bogey Music" takes the drum beat of Golden Earrings, "Radar Love" and produces a dance house delight. Some of the songs sound solidly mixed and produced while others sound like demos. The album is hit and miss, but definitely not one to be missed.

The second CD contains a mix of live materials and some truly unique McCartney productions. One of these marvels is "Blue Sway", inspired by a fantastic video taken by surf filmmaker Jack McCoy, using an orchestra in a brilliant fashion. "Secret Friend", a ten and a half minute journey lacks any real surprises and the equally long, "All You Horse Riders" is more filler. Other than having some live material, I can't say the second CD produces much music or insight, despite the very very wide variety of styles and the amazing, "Blue Sway".

The DVD contains an interesting (but a one-time viewing) of Tim Rice with McCartney that really just shows McCartney as he was in that moment. Videos of "Coming Up", "Waterfalls" and "Wonderful Christmastime" are included; but have not aged well. "Christmastime" is just bloody awful, while the video of "Coming Up" from Kampuchea is very nice to watch. There is a rehearsal take of "Coming Up" by Wings which is inventive and upbeat. The "Making of the "Coming Up" video is surprisingly brief, but provides an interesting look into how the groundbreaking promo was produced. For the price, there really is no excuse for any McCartney fan not to enjoy this and if you're an average fan, you'll still be surprised and entertained by the sheer variety and fearless creativity of Paul McCartney.

McCartney deserves five stars for doing exactly what he set out to do. He's having a blast with some new musical toys at home, and though most didn't know it at the time, he was ushering in New Wave, which must have left a lot of people scratching their heads. One thing I love about McCartney is having to tell people at any given time that I'm listening to a CD, and they like it and want to know who it is, and I say, "Paul McCartney" -- it's just rewarding to see people have a new appreciation for him. Because really, what's a Paul McCartney CD supposed to sound like? The last one? That's never been the case. It wasn't the case with the Beatles, either, though I'm not saying he is equal to his old band on his own. Paul McCartney is silly, serious, funny, melodic, weird, brave, and bold. Just what someone like John Lennon would seek in a songwriting partner. Do I love every song he ever did? No, although I find merit in the vast majority. But I happen to love every song on McCartney II. It's his last great effort until *Flaming Pie*, arguably. It was also the last work he did while Lennon was alive. He had to know John would hear every thing he put out. That wasn't to be the case for long. I've often wondered if McCartney stopped caring as much after John was gone. *Tug Of War* and *Flowers in the Dirt* had their moments. But here Paul's got his groove on throughout. He didn't get it back for a while after this in my opinion. But here he is having fun, and I have fun every time I hear this one.

I really like this album a lot. "Coming Up" is easily one of my favorite Paul McCartney songs, and some of the others rank very high for me as well ("Nobody Knows," "Waterfalls," "One of These Days"). The songs have a DIY feel, like the first McCartney album, so this one is appropriately named, even though this one relies more on synths than the ramshackle acoustic approach of the first one.

If the songs were a little more fleshed out, I think this one could have been an even greater accomplishment, but, though it's part of this album's charm, it's also it's greatest drawback: some of the songs feel more like sketches, or larks, than fully realized compositions. "Temporary Secretary" is particularly noticeable in this regard. (My wife calls this song torture. It amuses me to some degree, but I see where she's coming from. I can understand why someone might find it completely irritating.)

Since I already owned the CD, I downloaded this album for the bonus materials, and I'm glad I did. The whole album practically feels like bonus songs anyway, so, more than with other albums, I was very interested in hearing the outtakes here.

To me, McCartney II and Tug of War are an oasis of great music between some of the lesser work by an artist who had created amazing music in the '60s and much of the '70s, then again starting in the mid-'90s through to the present. It's not perfect, but I definitely think it's worth having, and this reissue just adds to the enjoyment.

Disappointed with the extra tracks. Very thin and probably won't be listened to much. No extra liner notes. Good sound quality. I know that the super-deluxe hardback set has better extras, but come on, it is too expensive, and the original Beatles albums didn't get such lavish attention; does McCartney's solo efforts warrant it?
This double disc set should have had more extras included. If only so the common fan could afford it.

Update: I have to say that the bonus tracks grow on you. All You Horse Riders, while seeming insipid by its title, is actually a very catchy tune, and it is partnered with Blue Sway (one of 2 versions on this set). I actually love McCartney's spoken/sung ring-master vocals on Horse Riders. It is innocent and a bit haunting. Sounds a bit like Duke Ellington speaking.

I forgot just how great an album this is, and I am changing my 3 starts to 4.

I can understand why somebody would give this one or two stars. Paul was trying a lot of different stuff sonically. Not all of it succeeds, but for me, it's all fun to listen to. The stuff that does work sounds really fresh and ahead of its time. There's probably a fine line between gutsy and self-indulgent, and Paul walks the line on this album. The weird sounds and weird songs (like Temporary Secretary, All You Horse Riders, and Check My Machine - which is brilliant, IMO) are what gets talked about with McCartney II, but there are also some flat-out classic Paul songs here, too, like Coming Up, Summer's Day Song, and One of These Days. I can't quite give this five stars, but I do recommend it. Maybe just listen to some samples first so you know what you're getting in to.

McCartney II finds Paul McCartney losing Wings and heading back to style of recording he did on his first solo album. Instead of the down home, easy stylings of the first record, McCartney II finds him experimenting with the new wave, electronic sounds of the time. The album is heavily drenched with keyboards and while it doesn't always work, the spirit of the attempt is true. "Coming Up" is an excellent, funky song that in a live version would be his first number one song of the 80's. There are two instrumentals, "Frozen Jap" and "Front Parlour" aren't too impressive. "Waterfalls" is a good ballad as is "One Of These Days". Some of the bonus tracks are interesting. "Blue Sway" (the first version) is a string-laden almost disco like song. "Mr. H Atom" is a strange chanted like song and "Secret Friend" is a ten minute spaced out number that ranks as one of the most experimental things he's ever done.

This is not the starting place for someone unfamiliar with McCartney's solo work. This is a strange, largely experimental album that McCartney recorded entirely on his own. It is self-indulgent, often aimless, and padded with throwaway tracks. That said, as a diehard McCartney fan I have grown to really love this album for the quirky mess it is.

Don't expect a gigantic leap in sonic quality from the original CD release. The somewhat muddy, dull sound must be inherent in the master tapes because this reissue still sounds basically the same. Luckily this hasn't been made a victim of the 'loudness war' and doesn't seem overcompressed at all. There is a bit richer bass end to the remaster that gives it a nice full sound. But the remaster isn't revelatory.

The bonus disc is a great treasure trove of weirdness for fans. Again, casual fans will probably be perplexed by this mix of oddities. The remixed "Coming Up" Live at Glasgow is fine, but unfortunately the original single mix is curiously absent. The 1986 mix - heavily overdubbed - of "Blue Sway" is a little too smooth sounding. The real gems are the album outtakes. I was surprised to find four of them grouped together as two medleys, but it really isn't a problem. "Mr H Atom" and "All You Horseriders" are two of the most bizarre things McCartney has committed to tape (that the public has heard anyway). "Bogey Wobble" is a strangely fascinating intstrumental. The original "Blue Sway" sports a nice, simple funky groove. "Check My Machine" and "Secret Friend" are here - they were originally bonus tracks on the first CD of this album.

If you enjoy McCartney's Fireman albums, particularly the most recent "Electric Arguments," I highly recommend "McCartney II." If you're already a fan of the album, this two disc version is well worth the upgrade for the official release of the oft-bootlegged outtakes. If you're a superfan of the album, splurge on the deluxe version (which adds a DVD with a fascinating 1980 McCartney interview, among other tidbits, and also a third CD with unedited, previously unreleased versions of numerous album cuts).

McCartney writes material for several distinct target audiences. But it all goes on the same album. And it does this album. And on album after album. In retrospect, one can use CD-Rs or iPod playlists to separate out those different categories of songs: Beatlesworthy tracks, kids stuff, bopper stuff, adlescent fare, and middle-of-the-road (MOR) It's a measure of Mac's genius as a composer that he can address all these different audiences, and more--with his oratorios, symphonies, string quartets, ballets, chorale music, movie soundtracks, fusion etc.

But a lot of us don't like the mix served up on official releases. If I'm of a mind to listen to Mac doing kids stuff, I can glean all his kids numbers from his many CDs and then sit down and listen through the lot with my 8-year-old. Including `Bogey Music' from McCartney II.

`Coming Up' may be a Beatlesworthy tune, but only in the form of the `live in Glasgow' version that was the hit in the U.S., not the lame studio version on this album. `Temporary Secretary' has its virtues but grates on the nerves after a number of listens. The rest of the album is for diehard Mac fans, not Beatles fans. On the whole, the 1980s would become a pretty bleak era for the Beatle still lurking about within Paul. His inner Beatle wouldn't really emerge until after he'd gotten involved in the Beatles Anthology project in the early 1990s. In its wake, we would see a tremendous resurgence in Beatlesque/Beatlesworthy material from Paul. Only mediocrities are ALWAYS at their best. It is precisely because Paul is something of a genius that one shouldn't expect his best at every turn. Give the artist some space to make some wrong turns. One doesn't have to praise everything he's done to ensure one's credentials as a major Mac fan.