Customer Reviews

The Unknown Paul McCartney: McCartney and the Avant-Garde

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ian Peel methodically tracks McCartney's experimental music work going back to Revolver and detailing many half-forgotten, odd Wings tracks, B-sides, and side projects. Not just about his avant-garde career but looking at his musical career beyond its pop context. It would have been better had it explored the fascinating dynamic of his simultaneous experimental/avant garde work with his classical composing, which is not given much space. Only other hesitation to five stars is at times it is too laudatory where more critical writing might have been more appreciated. Still, quite an achievement. This book goes very far (Paul McCartney Goes Too Far was the title proposed for a Beatles era experimental Stockhausen/Cage inspired work he never finished) toward giving more appropriate weight to what Paul was up to all those Wings years outside of the pop spotlight.

Being a self-confessed 'McCartney can do no wrong' fan, more books like this would help me prove my point. Macca has always been a little more complicated than people give him credit for. His side interests have always fascinated me. The author covers some general history of the avant garde scene, enough to show you Macca just didn't dabble, and he was in rather deep. I especially enjoyed the interviews with the Fireman producer, and the member of Super Furry Animals (sorry, don't recall their names). The only complaint I have is that the author tends to jump back and forth some, but it's a rather quick read that any Macca fan should make. Another suggestion - pick up the UK edition, it has a much cooler cover.

When it comes to the Beatles, many would say the John Lennon was the most 'avant-garde' Beatle because of his work with Yoko Ono. However, Paul McCartney was quite an 'avant-garde' Beatle as well, sometimes moreso than Lennon. During the last decade, Mccartney's experimental side has shown up more frequently with his two albums released under his Fireman pseudonymn as well as his nearly non-musical "Liverpool Sound Collage" from 2000.
In his book "The Unknown Paul McCartney", Ian Peel goes in deep to reveal a not-so-well-known side to Paul's musical personality.
It is a fascinating revelation to Paul's experiments and fascinations with avant-garde music. Many of his unusual musical experiments such as the tapeloops The Beatles "Tomorrow Never Knows" all the way up to The Fireman albums, "Liverpool Sound Collage" and his forays into orchestral music are explained in full detail in this book. It is wonderful and eye-opening.
Ian Peel has done some excellent research in compiling the information for this book. After reading this book, you will no doubt have a greater appreciation for Paul McCartney's more experimental musical side. Also, one may listen to his avant-garde work with a different set of ears. Excellent book!!

The Unkown Paul McCartney is a very enjoyable ride through the secret recordings of a musical legend. Having read more than my share of Beatles related books, I must say this one was very well researched, accurate and a very interesting read. If you ever wanted to discover Paul's hidden musical career, it is all here. From The Beatles to the present. Not only does the author do a great job explaining Paul's hidden works, he gives the reader an excellent background on the world of DJs. Trance and remix music in the context of McCartney's work. Bravo.

I love Macca as much as anyone, but this entire "Avant Garde" trip he's been on the past five years has reached its limit with the publication of this book. What began with the ridiculous Barry Miles book reaches its dismal heights here. All of this is a result of Paul feeling insecure and discarded after John's death. He quite rightly decries those few cretins who proclaim, "Paul contributed nothing to the Beatles, he merely booked the studio." That balderdash is refuted by the fact that most of the Beatles truly great songs were penned solely by Paul. A list, you ask? How about Here, There and Everywhere, Yesterday, Let it Be, Eleanor Rigby, Hey Jude, For No One, to name but a few.

Paul can never attain John's status. For one thing, he's alive and John is not. Macca should count his considerable blessings that he's not a martyr and he should get over the fact that a large segment of intelligent, discerning Beatles fans will always prefer John's style and John's songs. John was the Avant Garde pioneer of the group, Paul wrote beautiful, catchy melodies. They complimented one another to a degree never seen before or since in popular music. McCartney can never win in any posthumous competition with Lennon and all of these self-serving books merely addresses his own insecurities.

I adore Paul, but enough is enough. The book is a waste of time and merely rehashes everything from the Miles book. Anyone who seriously buys into the clap-trap that the lyrics to C Moon are as great as I am the Walrus or Come Together needs to get some therapy.