Paul McCartney - Egypt Station (#1 album in US) Appreciation Thread 2.0 - New and Improved

paulmccartneyistheman · Sep 22, 2018

angelees said: ↑

RAM and Egypt Station are my favorites because they mirror each other. A man in the summer of his life; a man in the winter of his life. A man trying to find happiness with all his might; a man trying to hold on to happiness with all his might. A man bold, brash, vibrant; A man humbled, seasoned, peaceful. A man searching for purpose; a man knowing his purpose. A man contented in his defiance; a man defiant in his content. A man growing up; a man growing old. A man playing at invincibility; a man recognizing his own mortality. A man wounded and shaken, anxious about the future, trying to pick up the pieces; A man grounded and sturdy, anxious about the future, trying to keep the pieces together. A man who wants to Ram on, and move forward without a doubt; A man who wants to slow down, savor everything and enjoy right where he is at. A man who is hopeful; A man who is reflective. A man who wants to motivate himself to do his best; A man who wants to motivate others to do their best. A man who has everything to prove; a man who has nothing to prove. An inspired man who loves to make music; an inspired man who loves to make music.
Click to expand...

Perfect.

DrJ · Sep 22, 2018

Bruce M. said: ↑

A number of people have compared ES to Ram, mostly in a complimentary way, saying they're similar. At the risk of kicking up controversy, I want to disagree. I think the 2 albums are worlds apart.

It's no secret here that I'm not a fan of Ram, but that's not central to the argument I am making. I get (well, sort of), what people like about Ram, even though it doesn't hit me the same way. I just think ES is a whole 'nother sort of beast.

What the 2 albums have in common is fairly elaborate production and a sense of exuberance that leads to Paul being all over the place musically. The latter is, of course, not really unusual for Paul, but it's more pronounced here than on many of his albums.

But I think the differences outweigh the similarities. First, ES has a streak of melancholy running through it that's totally absent from Ram. There's nothing on Ram with anything remotely like the feelings of wistfulness and regret that run through I Don't Know and Confidante, to pick 2 obvious examples.

ES feels like the work of a guy with a lot on his mind, both emotionally and intellectually. The feelings he's trying to express -- successfully, in my view -- are really subtle and complex. To take Confidante as an example (since it's currently my favorite song on the album, though that may change tomorrow), there's a lot going on here. He's talking about a relationship he gave up on (and whether it's with a person or a guitar doesn't really matter), and looking back on it fondly and wistfully -- and yet he never says he regrets ending it. The feeling one's left with is, "I'm sad this ended and I kinda miss it, but I had to move on" -- though it's never said that explicitly. Indeed, one could take Confidante as a sequel to Do It Now, which is about picking up and abandoning what you have to find something new.

This is deep, emotionally complex stuff, and Paul's music enhances the words perfectly. Whatever else it is, ES is an album with a lot on its mind -- and that's before we even get to the songs addressing social and political issues, which have a more prominent place here than on any Macca solo album.

Ram, whatever one thinks of it musically, is for the most part an album with nothing on its mind. There are a couple exceptions, of course -- Too Many People and Dear Boy -- but they stand out because they're exceptions. One doesn't look to tunes like Uncle Albert, Smile Away, Monkberry Moon Delight, 3 Legs, Ram On, etc. for deep insights into the human condition. One can like or dislike the almost manic energy behind the album and the way it explodes in a hundred different musical directions, but its pleasures are more sonic than emotional or intellectual.

And yes, that does get to the heart of why Ram's never done much for me. The music that stays with me is music that makes me feel something, and -- except for Too Many People -- Ram makes me feel very little. But the point here is that ES is the work of a man who's lived a long, complicated life filled with both incredible triumph and gut-wrenching tragedy, and he's trying to make sense of it in song in a way that we're not at all used to from Paul, who's generally pretty guarded about such things. Ram, love it or hate it, just isn't like that.
Click to expand...

I'd agree that RAM and ES aren't anything alike.

I disagree with the idea that RAM is an album with "nothing on its mind." I would instead characterize RAM as perhaps one the greatest "right brain" pop albums of all time. It's not linear, it doesn't rely on left-brain kind of narrative.

I am fond of saying that 1971-1973 period is when Paul just let his freak flag fly, proudly. He has confessed to feeling quite lost, abandoned, disoriented, and I think in retrospect this was a great thing (though it must have sucked for him at the time) because it triggered some really interesting stuff as he was casting about and not really capable of posturing and polishing albums in his more typical way. RAM and WL and RRS are profoundly weird albums and very home-made and personal because they are essentially right brain affairs, free associations and stream of consciousness, fleeting images, organic collages. Objectively one might criticize the latter two albums as being especially lazy, and there is some truth to that - they are not anywhere near as good as RAM as complete entities - but they still have some absolutely incredible moments ("Tomorrow" and "Get On the Right Thing" are two of my all-time favorite Paul songs). He did something similar with MC CARTNEY II during a stock-taking period post-Japan bust and the betrayal by and disintegration of his professional relationship with Denny Laine. When Paul gets thrown for a loop, it appears part of his therapy, conscious or not, is to hole up in the studio and tap the subconscious.

Some hate these kinds of Paul albums, some love 'em. I'm in the latter camp.

I find it interesting that CHAOS AND CREATION, made during the period of crumbling relationship with Heather Mills, IS actually quite "wordy" and linear, NOT a "right brain" album (though still one I dearly love). I suppose by that time, Paul had matured and was capable of processing his pain in a different way, being able to put words to emotions.

Paperback Writer · Sep 22, 2018

Enjoy this brief celebration!

Somerset Scholar · Sep 22, 2018

This is the best late period McCartney album imo. Hold together better than New. Certainly better than the unfocuse Electric Arguments and production far better than Memory Almost Full. Probably a tie with Chaos.
Possibly only Ram and BOTR are better albums than this one, thinking back across his entire Post Beatles catalogue. Kudos to Paul.

Paul Gase · Sep 22, 2018

Somerset Scholar said: ↑

This is the best late period McCartney album imo. Hold together better than New. Certainly better than the unfocuse Electric Arguments and production far better than Memory Almost Full. Probably a tie with Chaos.
Possibly only Ram and BOTR are better albums than this one, thinking back across his entire Post Beatles catalogue. Kudos to Paul.
Click to expand...

You are saying that ES is also better than Tug Of War?

sunking101 · Sep 22, 2018

It will take many months if not years of clear reflection before I can place ES above any of the Wings releases. The dust needs to settle before final evaluation. The record is too new and the hype still flowing. For sure it will never better McCartney, RAM, McCartney II or Band On The Run. It will probably never better Tug Of War or New either (I have a strange soft spot for New), but the others are fair game and that's got to be pretty good going at this stage of the proceedings.

Bemagnus · Sep 22, 2018

angelees said: ↑

RAM and Egypt Station are my favorites because they mirror each other. A man in the summer of his life; a man in the winter of his life. A man trying to find happiness with all his might; a man trying to hold on to happiness with all his might. A man bold, brash, vibrant; A man humbled, seasoned, peaceful. A man searching for purpose; a man knowing his purpose. A man contented in his defiance; a man defiant in his content. A man growing up; a man growing old. A man playing at invincibility; a man recognizing his own mortality. A man wounded and shaken, anxious about the future, trying to pick up the pieces; A man grounded and sturdy, anxious about the future, trying to keep the pieces together. A man who wants to Ram on, and move forward without a doubt; A man who wants to slow down, savor everything and enjoy right where he is at. A man who is hopeful; A man who is reflective. A man who wants to motivate himself to do his best; A man who wants to motivate others to do their best. A man who has everything to prove; a man who has nothing to prove. An inspired man who loves to make music; an inspired man who loves to make music.
Click to expand...

Nice writing

Sean Murdock · Sep 22, 2018

Dr. Pepper said: ↑

If you really want to experience the great works of Paul's Renaissance , I really think I've caught lightning in a bottle with this playlist! I've spent a lot of time getting the sequence right and making sure that the songs play together well!

PR Paul - for Post Renaissance Paul a Playlist by Dr. Pepper on Spotify
Click to expand...

Love it, Doc -- your playlists are always creative and thoughtful! I was playing with something like that the other day, after about two solid weeks of listening to Egypt Station. It's a little "test" I like to conduct after living in the "new album bubble" for awhile -- put the new favorites up against the "old" favorites of the recent fast, and see how they stack up. It's a way to check myself and see if the love for the new stuff has legs, or it's just an adrenaline rush that will run out eventually. I only chose songs from 2005 and later -- Paul has such a bounty of great stuff this century that the excellent Flaming Pie wasn't needed! I had a few Electric Arguments tracks, but they didn't make the final cut, as much as I like that album. So we're sticking with the "pop" albums, no classical, no experimental -- but including possibly his greatest love song of the post-Linda era. It's 24 tracks and just under 90 minutes long -- which is my max for a playlist (90-min cassette length). I haven't "curated" this fully; the sequencing needs some tinkering and I'd like to get it to 20 tracks and under 80 minutes (CD length) -- I just haven't had time to kill my darlings yet. So here's what I've got right now:

Paul McCartney: Ever Present Present (clever, eh?)
01. Cut Me Some Slack ("Sirvana" single)
02. Ever Present Past (Memory Almost Full)
03. Growing Up, Falling Down (Fine Line CD-single)
04. Queenie Eye (NEW)
05. Happy With You (Egypt Station)
06. You Tell Me (Memory Almost Full)
07. Everybody Out There (NEW)
08. At The Mercy (Chaos & Creation)
09. Nothing For Free (Egypt Station Target bonus track)
10. Jenny Wren (Chaos & Creation)
11. I Can Bet (NEW)
12. Hunt You Down / Naked / C-Link (Egypt Station)
13. Friends To Go (Chaos & Creation)
14. Mister Bellamy (Memory Almost Full)
15. Road (NEW)
16. Despite Repeated Warnings (Egypt Station)
17. Too Much Rain (Chaos & Creation) (a bit of an inside joke for me -- the climate change song followed by too much rain?)
18. Do It Now (Egypt Station)
19. A Certain Softness (Chaos & Creation) (kicking off the "silly love song" section)
20. Hand In Hand (Egypt Station)
21. My Valentine (Johnny Mandel arrangement)
22. Dominoes (Egypt Station)
23. In The Blink Of An Eye (Ethel & Ernest soundtrack -- I almost called it "Julius & Ethel" -- wow, THAT would have been WAY off!)
24. The End Of The End (Memory Almost Full)

Anyway, now that I've done this little exercise, I'm about ready to finally do my track by track review of ES!

The Band · Sep 22, 2018

Rojo said: ↑

But I suspect that this is exactly how you end up with a record like "Pipes of Peace"!

The "Tug of War" surplus material is not bad per se. Many of those songs (Sweetest Little Show, Average Person, Hey Hey) would make respectable filler in say, a 13- or 14-song incarnation of ToW, for instance (by either having one or two added to the record or replacing one of the lesser tracks).

Having them removed from the company of the stronger stuff and putting them all together is what fully exposes their weaknesses.

I don't see how this could be any different with Egypt Station, unless we assume that McCartney and Kurstin made the wrong choice of material for the album and that most of the songs that remain in the can are stronger that what was actually released, which seems unlikely.
Click to expand...

I’d be cautious too even though I think (from the available evidence of interviews and the two bonus tracks so far) it’s possible the quality is high enough for the remaining tracks to become the basis of a new record... It certainly wouldn’t be the first time Paul inexplicably left top quality tunes off an album (Off The Ground springs to mind).

Sean Murdock · Sep 22, 2018

streetlegal said: ↑

Slightly off-topic. I just got New collector's edition. Liking it a lot. "Struggle"--just wow. That's the "Nothing's for Free" of New--dare I say even better. Awesome track!
Click to expand...

Yes! That's exactly the comparison I've been thinking of! "Nothing For Free" is the danceable version of "Struggle"! Love them both!

The Band · Sep 22, 2018

Bruce M. said: ↑

New was promoted heavily, but "Carpool Karaoke" was the proverbial lightning-in-a-bottle. You can't make something like that happen -- you can try, but some pure luck is involved, too, and this time lightning struck.
Click to expand...

Just a pity it didn’t premiere the week of release.

Sean Murdock · Sep 22, 2018

angelees said: ↑

RAM and Egypt Station are my favorites because they mirror each other. A man in the summer of his life; a man in the winter of his life. A man trying to find happiness with all his might; a man trying to hold on to happiness with all his might. A man bold, brash, vibrant; A man humbled, seasoned, peaceful. A man searching for purpose; a man knowing his purpose. A man contented in his defiance; a man defiant in his content. A man growing up; a man growing old. A man playing at invincibility; a man recognizing his own mortality. A man wounded and shaken, anxious about the future, trying to pick up the pieces; A man grounded and sturdy, anxious about the future, trying to keep the pieces together. A man who wants to Ram on, and move forward without a doubt; A man who wants to slow down, savor everything and enjoy right where he is at. A man who is hopeful; A man who is reflective. A man who wants to motivate himself to do his best; A man who wants to motivate others to do their best. A man who has everything to prove; a man who has nothing to prove. An inspired man who loves to make music; an inspired man who loves to make music.
Click to expand...

Beautifully said.

The Band · Sep 22, 2018

supermd said: ↑

Does anyone else feel that "Despite Repeated Warnings" is kind of a boring track? This has nothing to do with the lyrics, but the melody (though the lyrics, politics aside, aren't the best, either). I just can't get into it.
Click to expand...

Not me!

The Band · Sep 22, 2018

I333I said: ↑

The other thing that strikes me about this one is that it’s a very quick listen. I’ve always been a fan of the good ol 10 song on an album plan, but this one is a quick 18 song excursion. I never get bored. Every Stereolab cd had 16 songs and even though they were great, I’d usually turn it off by track 9.
Click to expand...

Yep, this has struck me too and I definitely am usually a ‘less is more’ kind of album listener. Not this time.

EVOLVIST · Sep 22, 2018

angelees said: ↑

RAM and Egypt Station are my favorites because they mirror each other. A man in the summer of his life; a man in the winter of his life. A man trying to find happiness with all his might; a man trying to hold on to happiness with all his might. A man bold, brash, vibrant; A man humbled, seasoned, peaceful. A man searching for purpose; a man knowing his purpose. A man contented in his defiance; a man defiant in his content. A man growing up; a man growing old. A man playing at invincibility; a man recognizing his own mortality. A man wounded and shaken, anxious about the future, trying to pick up the pieces; A man grounded and sturdy, anxious about the future, trying to keep the pieces together. A man who wants to Ram on, and move forward without a doubt; A man who wants to slow down, savor everything and enjoy right where he is at. A man who is hopeful; A man who is reflective. A man who wants to motivate himself to do his best; A man who wants to motivate others to do their best. A man who has everything to prove; a man who has nothing to prove. An inspired man who loves to make music; an inspired man who loves to make music.
Click to expand...

That's a lot of men!

Somerset Scholar · Sep 22, 2018

Paul Gase said: ↑

You are saying that ES is also better than Tug Of War?
Click to expand...

I am. Egypt Station moves me more emotionally. Tug of War is a great album too, though. Not a huge amount in it for me.

Mr. Explorer · Sep 22, 2018

Ranking albums, ESPECIALLY brand new albums against older ones, is hard as hell for me to do. I think because you can be in two minds about it so easily. You can be in "eating it all up" mode and you can be in "actually thinking about it" mode.

Take Tug of War, brought up in the last page. If I look at it in "actually thinking about it mode", I could say:

Ebony and Ivory is good but doesn't fit the mood or work as an album closer

Get It and Ballroom dancing are a bit slight

What's That You're doing could have used some editing scissors

Some of the production is a bit much

But then there's "eating it all up mode", and I can tell you with Tug Of War, there have been weeks and months of my life since junior high when I first heard it, where its been all I could listen to and I love and adore every single second of it.

So how can you say where it ranks against Band On The Run, Chaos, ES etc, when you can't even agree on how it ranks against itself when viewed in two frames of mind!?

For the Record · Sep 22, 2018

This was probably mentioned in one of the 750 Egypt Station threads that have come and gone, but regarding Fuh You...

Does anyone know what is being sung in the super high voice during the chorus? I can't make it out.

Mr. Explorer · Sep 22, 2018

For the Record said: ↑

This was probably mentioned in one of the 750 Egypt Station threads that have come and gone, but regarding Fuh You...

Does anyone know what is being sung in the super high voice during the chorus? I can't make it out.
Click to expand...

"All for you, all for you, all-all-all for you, all for you, all-all-"

Bemagnus · Sep 22, 2018

Mr. Explorer said: ↑

Ranking albums, ESPECIALLY brand new albums against older ones, is hard as hell for me to do. I think because you can be in two minds about it so easily. You can be in "eating it all up" mode and you can be in "actually thinking about it" mode.

Take Tug of War, brought up in the last page. If I look at it in "actually thinking about it mode", I could say:

Ebony and Ivory is good but doesn't fit the mood or work as an album closer

Get It and Ballroom dancing are a bit slight

What's That You're doing could have used some editing scissors

Some of the production is a bit much

But then there's "eating it all up mode", and I can tell you with Tug Of War, there have been weeks and months of my life since junior high when I first heard it, where its been all I could listen to and I love and adore every single second of it.

So how can you say where it ranks against Band On The Run, Chaos, ES etc, when you can't even agree on how it ranks against itself when viewed in two frames of mind!?
Click to expand...

Imo it s impossible to rank a new album with albums you loved with for decades
In all honesty I never understod the need to rank one albums before another
What I do know with Egypt Station though is that it s a great McCartney album for me that I right now like every bit as much as my favorite albums from Paul. Also feel confident that it s not some kind of honey-moon reaction from me. Egypt Station stands proudly as a great McCartney album-a truly inspired work with a sense of creativity and brilliant songs that I did not expect at this stage
Vintage McCartney it is

For the Record · Sep 22, 2018

Mr. Explorer said: ↑

"All for you, all for you, all-all-all for you, all for you, all-all-"
Click to expand...

THANK you!

Bemagnus · Sep 22, 2018

Danny s at it again

Bemagnus · Sep 22, 2018

People want peace -imo-is one of the few Pauls topic anthems that actually works. In fact I fint this verse to be among the greatest things Paul has ever done

Nothing in life is as sad as the lonely soul
Searching for peace
Only to find disappointment is waiting
Behind every door that we open

Both the melody and words there works so well that I just can t believe it. Besides that glorious moment the whole track is a very uplifting affair. Nick Lowes/Costellos Whats so funny with peace, love and understanding is the one I would compare it to. Corny -perhaps-but it rings true to my ears
The end chant uses a real chorus and the whole track sort of sparkle
Now this anthem just need an audience
Would be a great live number mixed with Give peace a chance

streetlegal · Sep 22, 2018

angelees said: ↑

RAM and Egypt Station are my favorites because they mirror each other. A man in the summer of his life; a man in the winter of his life. A man trying to find happiness with all his might; a man trying to hold on to happiness with all his might. A man bold, brash, vibrant; A man humbled, seasoned, peaceful. A man searching for purpose; a man knowing his purpose. A man contented in his defiance; a man defiant in his content. A man growing up; a man growing old. A man playing at invincibility; a man recognizing his own mortality. A man wounded and shaken, anxious about the future, trying to pick up the pieces; A man grounded and sturdy, anxious about the future, trying to keep the pieces together. A man who wants to Ram on, and move forward without a doubt; A man who wants to slow down, savor everything and enjoy right where he is at. A man who is hopeful; A man who is reflective. A man who wants to motivate himself to do his best; A man who wants to motivate others to do their best. A man who has everything to prove; a man who has nothing to prove. An inspired man who loves to make music; an inspired man who loves to make music.
Click to expand...

Lovely post. Having lived with this album for a week or two, coming to Paul's solo stuff relatively recently, I really do think ES is one for the ages. I think we know it.

One for the ages.

Cal Cypher · Sep 22, 2018

Bemagnus said: ↑

Imo it s impossible to rank a new album with albums you loved with for decades
In all honesty I never understod the need to rank one albums before another
What I do know with Egypt Station though is that it s a great McCartney album for me that I right now like every bit as much as my favorite albums from Paul. Also feel confident that it s not some kind of honey-moon reaction from me. Egypt Station stands proudly as a great McCartney album-a truly inspired work with a sense of creativity and brilliant songs that I did not expect at this stage
Vintage McCartney it is

Click to expand...

I agree. Ranking music is a bit pointless. It's pop art, not the olympics. Only question valid for me is "do I enjoy listening to it and does it resonate on an emotional and/or intellectual level?" Comparing it to classics like Ram and Tug of War that have been a part of my life for decades now is simply unfair.
I'm still listening to ES daily and every time expect the honeymoon to end. Surely this album can't be that good? It's me being swept up in the hype. Any day now and I'll realize how middle of the road ES really is. And so on.
Hasn't happened yet. It's one of the albums of the year to these ears and I can't really see me ever growing tired of songs like Dominoes or DRW. Vintage McCartney it is.

Log in or Sign up

Paul McCartney - Egypt Station (#1 album in US) Appreciation Thread 2.0 - New and Improved

paulmccartneyistheman Forum Resident

DrJ Senior Member

Paperback Writer Forum Resident

Somerset Scholar Ace of Spades

Paul Gase Everything is cheaper than it looks.

sunking101 Forum Resident

Bemagnus Music is fun

Sean Murdock Forum Intruder

The Band Forum Resident

Sean Murdock Forum Intruder

The Band Forum Resident

Sean Murdock Forum Intruder

The Band Forum Resident

The Band Forum Resident

EVOLVIST Kid A

Somerset Scholar Ace of Spades

Mr. Explorer Trumpet Man/Dapper Dan

For the Record Forum Resident

Mr. Explorer Trumpet Man/Dapper Dan

Bemagnus Music is fun

For the Record Forum Resident

Bemagnus Music is fun

Bemagnus Music is fun

streetlegal Forum Resident

Cal Cypher Forum Resident

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

Paul McCartney - Egypt Station (#1 album in US) Appreciation Thread 2.0 - New and Improved

paulmccartneyistheman Forum Resident

DrJ Senior Member

Paperback Writer Forum Resident

Somerset Scholar Ace of Spades

Paul Gase Everything is cheaper than it looks.

sunking101 Forum Resident

Bemagnus Music is fun

Sean Murdock Forum Intruder

The Band Forum Resident

Sean Murdock Forum Intruder

The Band Forum Resident

Sean Murdock Forum Intruder

The Band Forum Resident

The Band Forum Resident

EVOLVIST Kid A

Somerset Scholar Ace of Spades

Mr. Explorer Trumpet Man/Dapper Dan

For the Record Forum Resident

Mr. Explorer Trumpet Man/Dapper Dan

Bemagnus Music is fun

For the Record Forum Resident

Bemagnus Music is fun

Bemagnus Music is fun

streetlegal Forum Resident

Cal Cypher Forum Resident

Share This Page

Useful Searches