Memory Almost Full

Paul McCartney - Memory Almost Full

Sir Paul is not my favorite Beatle, but every time a modern rock/pop artist is interviewed in a magazine and the question is posed "What artist from the past would you most like to work with" or "who is your biggest influence?" I secretly want the answer to be "Paul McCartney" every time, regardless of how little I've enjoyed some of his work. That's because every musician, pop or otherwise, can stand to learn a lesson in songwriting from him. This may not apply to his lyric writing necessarily, but he's a legend, a legend who had nine number one singles and seven number one albums AFTER the Beatles.

It's hard for someone to have been in the greatest band the world has ever known and not come off as pretentious sometimes, and Paul is certainly not an exception. On Memory is Almost Full, though, you never get that pretentiousness or that mailed-in, "hey I'm getting old" schtick that is sometimes popular amongst legends late in their career. The album instead feels like a genuine look back and reflection on McCartney's accomplishments and defeats. It's poppy enough to keep even the most casual fan listening throughout, but it's molded as art-pop rather than a collection of broader, more radio-friendly singles. More than anything else each track grabs hold of your attention and demands that you listen to the words of this legend who's been around the block. He's got something to say and there are lessons to be learned in his wisdom, regardless of your relationship with his past work. Having gotten to listen to this again at my own leisure rather than against the hum of a treadmill, I have to give it a B+. It's worth anyone's listen.

Let not the following track's appearance in iTunes commercials and Starbucks locations worldwide affect your judgement on the album as a whole:

	Paul McCartney - Dance Tonight
	Found at skreemr.com