Paul McCartney’s 20th solo album was released in late May and sees the former Beatle working with celebrated producer, Andrew Watt. The album starts with two of its most rocking numbers. Just McCartney and guitar start on “As You Lie There” that really picks up in the chorus, a crunchy guitar powers “Lost Horizon”. “Ripples In A Pond” is bright and bouncy, a bit more modern sound.
Many of the tracks look back at life with an air of nostalgia. Songs like the acoustic “Down South” and “Salesman Saint” where Macca sings about the hard times his parents had as young parents raising kids just after WWII. Ringo Starr plays and sings on the upbeat “Home To Us”, the sound recalls 80s pop rock hits by George Harrison and Roy Orbison.
Throughout The Boys of Dungeon Lane, McCartney’s vocals sound fragile and he only lets loose on a couple of tracks. Instead, the album is dominated by softer, quieter tunes like later tracks, “First Star Of The Night” and closer “Momma Gets By”. The frail vocals, adds to the sound of these songs as they float through the air. With most songs hovering around the three-minute mark, nothing overstays it’s welcome on a quite good album made by the 84-year-old legend.
7.5/10
The Light Appears 