Under The Rotunda

Indie music via Chicago and Boston
from a Berklee College Of Music student.


Something More Exciting But In A Logical Line


For the past two weeks now, I have been excited about the prospect of free Dr. Pepper, something about Guns 'N Roses, and music bringing democracy to China (the former outweighing the two latter). Well I'll be damned if people didn't catch on. Seems one of my heroes, Sir Paul McCartney (the "cute" Beatle) caught the Chinese Democracy fever and will soon release an album, bringing back the Firemen after a 10 year hiatus -- with Martin Glover, one of the producers of the aforementioned impending Guns 'N Roses offering. When it comes to things that should be crappy, but are really quite amazing -- like an aging legend fresh off a quarrelsome divorce and someone involved with Axl Rose making a record -- this takes the cake.

Electric Arguments furthers McCartney's resurgence as a relevant popster, starting with the great "Memory Almost Full." Youth, in addition to having his hand in Chinese Democracy, was also the bassist in the UK band Killing Joke (named of course for the greatest Batman story arc ever). Together, the two weave elements of ambiance, delta blues, and McCartney's penchant for saying things I don't quite understand.

"Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight," the album's lead-off track, hits your ears like a nuke nailing Daisy in 1964; it is mean as hell. Phil Spector couldn't put together a more nervous sonic wall, even in his heyday when he was pulling guns on people during dinner parties. It is simple, Paul McCartney is back and dammit all if he isn't in fine form, screaming like it's 1968. The rest of Electric Arguments ebbs and flows between rock songs and ballads, but never skimps on the enthusiasm and its pure pop strength. Classic in the making.

The Firemen - Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight (from Electric Arguments)
The Firemen - Dance 'Til We're High (from Electric Arguments)

1 Responses to “Something More Exciting But In A Logical Line”

  1. # Blogger John

    Thank you for these postings - i expected this to be a load of -- well-- boring meanderings of an old man, but Paul continues to amaze and surprise. To all of those who said Paul sang the silly love songs to John's edge, I wonder if John would be doing a song like "nothing too much" in 2008...I would like to think to think so, but...I cant wait to listen to the whole CD. Thanks  

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