Disco de Paul McCartney: “McCartney II [2 Bonus Tracks]”

"McCartney II" was recorded in 1980 right after Paul disbanded Wings. Like his first solo album, "McCartney II" is another stripped down, at home, McCartney-only production, "McCartney II" finds Paul in a rather experimental-possibly drug-induced-state. McCartney explores synth-pop here a year before it blew up in the pop-market. Taking a cue from artists like Kraftwerk, Devo and Brian Eno, "McCartney II" has everything from New Wave spaz-outs ("Temporary Secretary"), ambient/folk ballads ("Waterfalls") and paranoid techno ditties ("Darkroom"). Plus, there is funky and ebullient pop ("Coming Up"). Sadly, "McCartney II" marked the end of the Wings era in the same manner "McCartney" marked the end of The Beatles era. But also like "McCartney", "McCartney II" is a charmingly oddball album. And even though he was following the path of techno pioneers, McCartney managed, through his raw production and mixing of real instruments, to create an album that's far less dated than other, colder techno albums from the time-period. It often sounds like the low-fi electronica from 1990s indi-rock acts. Early Stereolab springs to mind. Like two other unsung gems, "Wild Life" and "Back to the Egg", "McCartney II" was snarled at by the critics. However, there was one cat who praised it in 1980: John Lennon. He even cited the "Coming Up" single as inspiring him out of retirement and to record what would be his final album, "Double Fantasy" (a FAR more conservative recording than "McCartney II"). Overall, "McCartney II" is a great album for those who like funky, witty, homespun, experimental pop-music with a rock & roll edge. Those interested in the album should definitely get the import CD with extra tracks. Especially for the extra track "Secret Friend": an atmospheric ambient/trance song. It's such a beautiful piece of music and really shows McCartney's stylistic range.

*Note that this is the last half of my review on the McCartney and McCartney II reissues. If you haven't already, look on the

page.

After the listener listens to this album, they might make the confused face that Paul has on the album's cover. It's easy to understand: this album is very experimental, but so was McCartney in some way. McCartney II is actually a really good album. I like the sound of it personally. It's different and kind of trippy and funky. This album was recorded in July 1979, shortly after Wings had released their seventh (and later, final) album Back To The Egg. Paul recorded this album in Scotland and like McCartney, he played all the instruments, but this time with the aid of a sixteen track machine. Paul also had a new toy: a synthesizer. This is one of the reasons why some critics and fans don't care for McCartney II. I'm not a big fan of the synth either but Paul makes this easy to listen to. The album opens with "Coming Up", an instant classic. The live version taken from the 1979 gig in Glasgow made "Coming Up" a #1 hit single. If you're reading this, please go check out the promo/music video to "Coming Up". It's just wacky. Some people may skip over songs like "Temporary Secretary", "Front Parlour", "Frozen Jap", and many others due to the fact that there all use one too many synthesizers. I actually like "Temporary Secretary" and I also really dig "Frozen Jap", which is also an awesome song title! I like the entire first side of the album. Along with "Coming Up" and "Temporary Secretary", there's the slow rocker "On The Way", the simply beautiful "Waterfalls", and the upbeat "Nobody Knows". The second side isn't as good. My least favorite song is probably "Bogey Music". It's got this 1950's feel but it's kind of annoying. "Frozen Jap" is much like "Front Parlour" but there's something I like about it. I think it's the Japanese-like sound it has! I also like the reggae-flavored "Darkroom".

The second disc for McCartney II has eight songs and a run time of 48 minutes. Some of these songs are edits of long songs (the full length versions can be found on the third disc on the deluxe edition of this album. Both McCartney and McCartney II have deluxe editions w/ photo books and a DVD) The hit live version of "Coming Up" is on here as is "Wonderful Christmastime", which was another hit for Paul. "Check My Machine" is a very funky track that I'm really liking. It was a B-side to "Waterfalls". There's also the ten minute "Secret Friend", which was a B-side for "Temporary Secretary". For all of you real die-hard fans, there's three previously unreleased tracks that didn't make the final album (which are on a bootleg called The Lost McCartney II Album). Those three are "Mr H Atom/You Know I'll Get You Baby", "Bogey Wobble", and "All You Horse Riders/Blue Sway".

I was undecided at first as to buying these two reissues. I have to say that I'm pretty happy with my purchase. These are two really good albums and they sound clean. You also got the bonus discs, which have some lost treasures that are worth listening to. If you're a die-hard fan of the Beatles and/or Paul McCartney, you may want to pick these up.

After over ten years of releasing single after glossy smash single, Paul McCartney lets fly this wonderfully eclectic collection of songs. The studio version of 'Coming Up' is helium-induced white robot funk. 'Temporary Secretary' is a brain-hurting synthesizer sequence with crowed vocals. If you can't handle early DEVO or Suicide, this one may run you out of the room. It ranks with Alice Cooper's 'Clones' and ELO's 'Yours Truly, 2095' as one of the best New Wave songs done by an outsider to the scene. Amazing! On the rest of the album McCartney goes on to lay down some blues, (silly) love songs, Casio-driven instrumentals, and whatever other styles strike his fancy. The hymnal 'Summer's Day Song' reminds me of Eno's 'Spider and I' off Before and After Science. Yes, I just said that. The joyously neverending bonus track 'Secret Friend' (originally the B-Side to 'Temporary Secretary') has an exotic/tropical feel and may remind electronic music lovers of Yellow Magic Orchestra. So you're asking, "how can one ex-winged-beatle sound like so many other musical pioneers?". Well, McCartney II quite possibly proves that it was McCartney all along who wore the shiny pants in the family.

When I first heard McCartney II, I was in junior high and had been turned on to "Coming Up" after seeing Paul perform live in concert. The studio version of "Coming Up" took me completely by surprise. The mood was much different than the live version, more like pure unguarded fun.

The entire album is pure unguarded fun. It is the sound of Paul McCartney unwinding in the studio and just doing what comes naturally. The sound of the recordings take some getting used to, but once the shock wears off, you may find yourself in a truly enjoyable sound-world, where cold-sounding synths provide neat little proto-ambient-techno textures. It may be difficult to imagine or even accept Paul McCartney playing music that hasmore in common with Joy Division and Suicide than the Beatles, but make no mistake, it all sounds natural, unforced, and infinitely more FUN than anything Joy Division or Suicide ever did. Not that I am slagging them -- both are/were great, just more 'serious' than someone like Paul McCartney, who prefers to keep matters light.

So obviously, this album will not appeal to everyone. However, if you have an open ear and enjoy a little adventure, McCartney II just might be your cup of tea. As you can tell, it's one of my favorites by Sir Paul, right up there with Ram and Band on the Run.

After Wings great ending album "back to the egg" which featured most of 70-ties rock stars as guests (Bonham,Gilmour,Thowsend) Paul loced himself in Home-studio with some instruments and his wife linda and recorded "McCartney II" - a follow up to his homemade low-budget debut.While "McCartney" from 1970 was very spontanic and amateurish,this follow up is full-proffesional work.it raised top ten on Uk lists and some of songs from here became a real classics - althogh whole album is....strange!

1.COMING UP - very catchy disco-funk songs which became huge hit and still joines the tracklist on many of his live performances.Funky Guitar,nice synths and Linda on backing vocals.a bit wierd but really catchy and interesting 10/10

2.TEMPORARY SECRETARY - Wierd,Annoying,strange...whole song is based on Kraftwerk styled electronic instruments.it is a parody of New-wave bands and it works well along with funny lyrics and strange vocal line on chorus... 8/10

3.ON THE WAY - blues - Garry Moore styled song...only Paul's vocals bass and drums - some nice guitar are coming between verses and chorus.not awesome but nice 7/10

4. WATERFALLS - lovely and warm ballad - just Paul with piano and guitar.one of the most moving things i have ever heard...propably the best track 10/10

5.NOBODY KNOWS - Country rock? i do not know really what it is but it is a music joke...funny and catchy.not bad.7/10

6.FRONT PARLOUR - Another joke...Music like from very first computer games,funny samples in background.....could be much shorter because it is funy but later it gets boring while the easy melody gets played on and on 6/10

7.SUMMERS DAY SONG - Slow ballad with short vocal line...it is dark but has some christmas feeling and the keyboard sounds really massive.a good song 8/10

8.FROZEN JAP - Awesome Drumming - the melody is sweet but there is something more in it...propably a reminescence of Paul's visit in Jappaneese jail when he was caught with Marihuana on airport.a very good instrumental track - one of my favourite from here. 10/10

9.BOGEY MUSIC - Elvis presley meets the Residents.Wierd Rock nd Roll song with creepy echoed vocals and awesome bass line...some horns are here too.another joke but works the best compared to other Joke songs.amusing 10/10

10.DARKROOM - dark hypnotic Drum and bass track with mantra-like vocal line.interesting experiment 9/10

11.ONE OF THESE DAYS - lovely ballad,just paul sitting along with his guitar.brilliant example that real power lies in simplicity.melodic but nostalgic - result is fantastic 10/10

12.CHECK MY MACHINE - a lots of samples and funky background.another experiment,not as good as others but nice too. 6/10

13. SECRET FRIEND - a 10 minutes long trance ambient track.now i know where Stereolab or Orbital got their ideas from. 8/10

14.GOODNIGHT TONIGHT - awesome disco track recorded shortly before The wings split up - hats off to Paul for his another marvelous bass line and a lot of nice acoustic guitar...

In the end - the whole album is uneven but surely it is very interesting for all that know Paul only from Beatles or from his solo hits...very good job paul - and many songs sound fresh even now!