My favourite album of 2018. What else? Who else? If not Egypt Station and Paul McCartney, the eternal Beatle.
First, Paul McCartney is the coolest human being on this planet. Second, in 2018 Paul McCartney was the flavour of the year, hip and sought-after like no one else. Do you need an example? Well, how about his cool Carpool-Karaoke-Party in Liverpool with James Corden, Great Britain’s humour gift to the USA. Or the mini concert McCartney played in New York’s Grand Central Station when Egypt Station was released, it was transmitted live globally via YouTube. Or Macca’s own cool YouTube channel and generally his hip presence in the digital world of online media. Or the rousing concerts of his current Freshen Up-Tour with his fantastic live band. They peaked in a two hours and a quarter gig at the Austin City Limits Fest in front of ten-thousands of euphoric fans – many of them youngsters. You can watch this concert on YouTube in excellent picture and sound quality. Yeah, Paul McCartney was the Man of the Year in 2018. For many young ones and older ones.
Third, Egypt Station isn’t just another new album by Paul McCartney, his 18th solo album in total. It’s the one that makes you sure, that he isn’t just bound for a nostalgic trip on Penny Lane. You notice immediately, you feel it with every song, that Macca’s got his muse again and he wants to achieve as much as possible. And yes, Egypt Station was his first number one solo album in the USA since Tug of War 36 years ago.
Freshen Up isn’t only the name of his current tour, it’s also the motto of his new album, that got its name from Macca’s own cover-painting. McCartney recorded most of Egypt Station alone and some stuff also with the musicians of his live band – in London’s Abbey Road Studios, in his home studio in the rural Sussex or in Los Angeles.
Besides the rousing single Fuh You, which is produced by Ryan Tedder (of One Republic fame), the producer of the whole album is Greg Kurstin, the creative mastermind of the U.S. electro-pop-duo The Bird and the Bee, who has already worked as a producer for big names like Adele or Beck. But who cares about big names?
What really counts is, that Egypt Station is fresh, modern, up to date – totally present and relevant to the max. And 100 % Paul McCartney: the production, the sound, the music, the beautiful melodies, the crisp hooklines, the tellingly, trenchant lyrics that are worth hearing and being understood, his singing voice. Egypt Station is a superb song collection. Each of the 16 songs grabs you, and how. The instant hits keep coming on Side A, B, C: I Don’t Know, Come On To Me, Happy With You, Who Cares, Fuh You, Confidante, People Want Peace, Hand In Hand, Dominoes, Back In Brazil and some more. On Side D you hear the more complex, but no less thrilling tracks Despite Repeated Warnings and Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link, a little song suite like the finale of The Beatles’ Abbey Road album. Each song on Egypt Station rewards you for closer listening and digging deeper.
Paul McCartney’s now deeper and more fragile singing suits his new songs just as well as his now grey Beatles haircut. Both make him more present, more real, more authentic. Honestly, when I’m 78 like he is now, I want to be so cool as Paul McCartney. Now that would be something.
Paul McCartney Egypt Station, Capitol Records/MPL, 2018
(c) Pics shot by Klaus Winninger