Let’s be clear – Paul McCartney doesn’t really have to do anything. We’re talking about a man who basically invented pop music back in the 60s and had almost 50 years of spectacular solo career. If anyone deserves a nice retirement on a tropical island, it’s this man. And yet, at 76 years of age, Paul still tours around the enitre world, plays shows that last way over 3 hours and continues to make new music. And just like 2013’s NEW, Egypt Station is another proof that he still has what it takes to make a great record.
From intimate and personal ballads like I Don’t Know or Confidante to catchy pop rock with modernised sound (Come on to Me), Egypt Station is not really an album that will surprise everyone. Macca has his own unique style of songwriting and performing, and it’s clear to see that recording this album was a joyous process – you can hear it in every sound. The album manages to produce some really catchy melodies – Dominoes and Back to Brazil are my personal favourites. But it’s not just hits – the last two tracks are 7 minutes-long suites, that are really creative and ambitious (with Despite Repeated Warnings being the better of the two). I wasn’t really expecting these kind of songs to appear on this record, but I’m so glad they did.
Now, let’s adress the elephant in the room: the song Fuh You is a mistake that shouldn’t have happened. This overproduced pop mess doesn’t fit well with the warm sound of the rest of the album. Let’s just hope it was a one-off experiment that didn’t go very well (even though it’s catchy as hell). There are also a few tracks that are simply not good enough, and make the album unnesessarily long. Like, seriously, 57 minutes is a bit too much, and ditching a few of those weaker cuts would make this record even more enjoyable.
But despite its flaws, Egypt Station is pretty fun. It’s an album where McCartney does what he does best. It’s a warm, classy and charming pop record. Nothing but respect for this man – staying cool even in his seventies.
7/10
Fear of Music 