Paul McCartney

Flaming Pie

Good Album

Review Score:

(8/10)
I decided to buy "Flaming Pie" after watching the video for the song "The World Tonight", and can say that I am not disappointed. Overall, it is a satisfying collection with many strong numbers.

The album opens with a nostalgic look into the past presented by "The Songs We Were Singing," in which Paul reflects on his youth. This thoughtful and introspective mood is sustained throughout in such ballads as "Heaven on a Sunday," "Somedays," "Little Willow," and even the very memorable and enjoyable "Young Boy," whose seemingly fun style almost completely masks a hint of melancholy. Elsewhere on the album we find several rockers distinguished by their strong rhythm and beat: "The World Tonight," "If You Wanna," and "Flaming Pie" (the title track), with the former being my favorite.

Why four stars instead of five? It seems to me the album has a few minor weaknesses -- and, depending on your tastes, they may not be weaknesses at all. First, it ends with several mediocre numbers, some of them throwaways (e.g. "Really Love You," "Great Day"). Second, it lacks a consistent theme: there are a great many arrangements, instruments, and styles, and the songs are not very well tied together lyrically or musically. And third, I would have preferred to hear more of energetic, fast-beat songs; the album's focus is on slower music.

Still, "Flaming Pie" is very commendable. And if Paul says in "Somedays" that "inside each one of us is love," I believe him.

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