Paul McCartney Album: “Memory Almost Full (Deluxe Edition) [Digipak]”

By 2005, Paul McCartney's place in music history was long cemented. Whether you look at McCartney's work with the Beatles, Wings, or even as a solo artist - he really doesn't have much more to prove. There was even that time in the mid-1980s when McCartney's solo career hit a bump in the road both critically and professionally - then thanks to a songwriting partnership with Elvis Costello, McCartney bounced back with his magnificent effort "Flowers in the Dirt". Upon proving he could launch the comeback, McCartney didn't fade into oblivion. By 2007, McCartney, who is now technically a senior citizen had become an "elder statesman" of Rock. In 2005, McCartney released the critically acclaimed "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard". This album would mark a second commercial comeback for McCartney who had hit another bump with 2001's "Driving Rain" (which didn't sell well). "Chaos and Creation" was a "kinder/gentler" album and helped McCartney return to the level of critical and commercial success that he was accustomed to. 2007 would see the release of "Memory Almost Full". This album is McCartney's strongest effort since "Flowers in the Dirt". It shows McCartney return to his roots with a sound reminiscent of the late 1960s Beatles and early 1970s Wings - while at the same time showing a willingness to experiment with new sounds.

With "Memory Almost Full", McCartney had actually put this into the works before "Chaos and Creation", but had decided to put it on hold. Following the release and subsequent tour supporting "Chaos and Creation", McCartney went back to finish the album.

It is important to note that there are three versions of this collection that were released:

* "Original Release": This contains thirteen tracks that comprise the core of this collection.

* "Deluxe Edition": This contains all thirteen tracks from the "Original Release" and three "bonus" tracks. It also contains an audio commentary from McCartney discussing the music from this collection.

* "CD/DVD Deluxe Edition": This contains the 13 core tracks from the "Original Release as well as the three bonus tracks from the "Deluxe Edition". While it doesn't contain the audio commentary on the deluxe edition, it includes 5 live numbers recorded in London's Electric Ballroom as well as two music videos. It is this version that this review focuses on.

Here is a track by track review:

1-"Dance Tonight": This track is highlighted by McCartney showcasing his new-found mandolin-playing skills. This track demonstrates McCartney returning to his "roots" (by learning a new instrument) while willing to experiment. The mandolin makes this song catchy. The DVD contains both a live version and the music video for this track.

2-"Ever Present Past": Listening to this track, I hear sounds reminiscent of both the Beatles and Wings. Nice guitar work on this track. The DVD contains a very entertaining music video for this track.

3-"See Your Sunshine": This track had more of a Wings feel to it. I like the keyboards on this track. Many feel this might had been a tribute to his second wife, Heather Mills before the divorce.

4-"Only Mama Knows": Great track. It starts out with a classical feel to it, before a nice segue into a Wings-like hard-rocking song. The live version on the DVD is even better.

5-"You Tell Me": This track has a slower and more intense feel. The guitar work helps contribute to this intense feel to it.

6-"Mr. Bellamy": McCartney has always been famous for inventing "characters" in his song ("Mr Mustard", Admiral Halsey, Sister Susan, Brother John.... On this track we are introduced to Mr Bellamy who joins that list. I like the classical opening and the tempo with the piano on this track. This song definitely had Beatles-like roots to it. However the best part might be McCartney's vocal ranges as it really gives the song its identity.

7-"Gratitude": This song is the most Beatles-like song both musically - and lyrically. McCartney even sings this in a Beatles-like voice. Simple lyrics, yet a good song.

8-"Vintage Clothes": The opening piano almost sounded like Fleetwood Mac. The vocals definitely have a 1970s feel to it and the instrumentation is more Beatles like.

9-"That Was Me": "Vintage Clothes" has a segue into this song. I particularly liked the bass and the drums working together in it. Once again, I heard a song reflective of McCartney's days with the Beatles.

10-"Feet in the Clouds": This song is a close runner-up for Beatles-like sound. Some of the instrumentation almost took me back to the Sgt Pepper days. Good stuff.

11-"House of Wax": This is terrific track. This song has an orchestral-feel to it. Powerful music throughout - especially accented by the drums (by McCartney's longtime drummer Abe Laboriel Jr.). The guitar bridge is very Wings-like. The DVD contains an equally powerful live version of this track.

12-"The End of the End": This song almost has a swan-song feel to it. Paul even sings about his own mortality. The use of the piano and whistling accent this track. I would have placed this as the last track.

13-"Nod Your Head": The guitar work has a Beatles feel to it. The DVD contains a live version and judging from the crowd's reaction of "nodding heads", this could become a McCartney staple in concert for the rest of his career.

14-"In Private": The first bonus track - this is primarily an instrumental highlighted by guitar.

15-"Why So Blue": Second bonus track - the soft feel has a segue into a more intense chorus. The chorus again has a feel from McCartney's Beatles days.

16-"222": This is the third bonus track and the most experimental sounding track. It's primarily instrumental with minimal vocals, but it shows McCartney's creative juices haven't dried up.

The DVD also includes a live version of "Drive My Car". This album should have merited consideration for 2007's best album. There wasn't a bad track on this album. McCartney fans - whether longtime or new should definitely have this in their collection.

If, like me, you turned away from keeping tabs on McCartney after the one-two punch of "Silly Love Songs" and "Let 'Em In", you've secretly been hoping he'd pull something brilliant and timeless out of the hat.

"Memory Almost Full" is a decent, though not spectacular, album. The packaging is well done, with lyrics to a couple songs and a pointer to McCartney's website for the remainder of the lyrics. The bonus tracks come across as works in progress, instrumental workouts of songs that haven't yet found their completed statement. Enjoyable and a nice little plus, but not a must-have.

I must confess that I've had this CD/DVD Deluxe edition for a few weeks now and I haven't gotten around to viewing the DVD portion of it yet.

If you haven't gotten a McCartney album since his peak with "Band on the Run" or "Venus and Mars", I'd strongly recommend opting for "Tug of War" first. Except for its sappy single "Ebony and Ivory", that album was as good or better than McCartney's best from the seventies. Still, hearing Paul's voice on "Memory Almost Full" is like coming home and it will remind you of how fond we've always been of Sir Paul.

Update: Bumping this up from three stars to four. This album grew on me over time, so much so that it inspired me to add several more McCartney albums to my collection, including "Flowers in the Dirt", a live collection from an MTV performance (I think), a one-off single "I Want to Come Home", and a 2CD live set from NYC. This is more than a decent album, it's a good outing for McCartney. The album is good enough to merit getting the entire thing, but for those contemplating downloads of its highlights, "Ever Present Past" is my favorite - a classic McCartney song, "Only Mama Knows" is a rocker, and "Vintage Clothing" is just an all-around good song to have on the mp3 playlist.

I loved this album. The songs are there, one of Paul's finest. But this new 'practice' is, to put it mildly, highway robbery. They released the album way back then in 2 formats: the regular and the deluxe edition. All big Macca fans, bought the deluxe edition of course. How does Macca pay our loyalty? By waiting a few months and releasing an expanded Deluxe edition of the same album, with a few extra tracks.

Does thi$ make any $en$e to you? Cmon Paul, why we have to pay the price of your divorce? Next time do a prenup instead of making us fans pay for it!

This might be McCartney's best album yet.

Some songs show shades of past McCartney glory ("Only Mama Knows," "Vintage Clothes"), but some are incredibly orginal to Sir Paul ("House of Wax" "dance Tonight"). The jazz influences, specifically on the bonus tracks ("In Private" and "222") are absolutely wonderful. Maybe he'll come out with an entire jazz CD?!

I've already told my daughter that she should play "The End of the End" at my funeral. What a fantastic tribute song.

Only "Nod Your Head" does absolutely nothing for me and I actually skip the track when playing this disc in my car.

This one is worth picking up.

Good songs, but nothing stellar. Paul seems trapped in endless series of the same kind of songs. Where did the genius go?