Memory Almost Full

This is McCartney’s first album as part of his deal with Starbucks – Macca-goes-mocha as it were. His last record was hyped in the UK as a major return to form. But, while it showed more life than its predecessors, we didn’t totally fall for it round here. The goods news is that Memory Almost Full, his 21st solo album, is much better. In many respects it’s a nostalgic look back at times past, including his upbringing in Liverpool.
‘Ever Present Past’ is a jolly uptempo romp, while ‘Vintage Clothes’ features exhilarating harmonies. On the anguished ballad ‘Gratitude’ the lines “I should stop loving you, think what you put me through, but I don’t want to lock my heart away” may relate to his recent divorce, but you’ll find little else to satisfy such speculative prurience. Brian Wilson-style vocal overdubs enhance the excellent ‘Feet In The Clouds’ and ‘See You Sunshine’. There’s a rockabilly flavour to ‘That Was Me’. Elsewhere, ‘You Tell Me’ is another aching ballad, and ‘Only Mama Knows’ moves from orchestral opening to guitar-driven rocker.
Missing, thankfully, are the twee Paulie-isms that often insult our intelligence, making Memory Almost Full that rare thing, a modern-day Paul McCartney you can listen to without wincing.