Music Notes: Chaos and Creation in the Backyard

May 13th, 2006

A year late (once again) I picked up Chaos and Creation in the Backyard, Paul McCartney’s latest album. Produced by Nigel Godrich (Radiohead, Beck), the result is noticeably darker, serious, melodically oriented, with many atypical chords and lyrical subject matter.

Admittedly the disc requires repeated listens, but you may find it well worth the effort. The most accessible songs are Thin Line, Jenny Wren, Too Much Rain, and Promise To You Girl. But other tracks are worth the time and attention, namely This Never Happened Before, and Riding To Vanity Fair, which I’d assume is about a strained relationship. M. Jackson comes to mind.

McCartney’s last albums (Driving Rain, Flaming Pie) aren’t that appealing to me, bearing cringe-worthy lyrics and obvious melodies. But Chaos and Creation bears an attention to detail not heard in a while… since Tug of War or Flowers in the Dirt at least. There’s an album cohesiveness that has proved elusive for McCartney, who usually seems to be searching for his next hit single that never arrives. The track At The Mercy seems to preview the album as a whole, and there’s an alternation of strong and weak tracks that seems intentional. The musicianship (especially the bass) is impeccably arranged, as melodies trade with other instruments (Note the coda to How Kind Of You). Everything seems to be working towards a whole: Paul McCartney of old.