If memory serves me correctly, this album was made secretly and released once Paul McCartney announced that he's leaving The Beatles. Which caused a poop-storm in the Fab Four world for them and the fans. Also one could not help notice the contrast between John Lennon's first solo album (Plastic Ono Band) and Paul's. As an 'oh my god' it was clearly Lennon that won the what's the hell? A brilliant outrage that Lennon was going through at the time, and then Paul's record which is "Lovely Linda." To this day there is still the Beatle debate of who's the heavier of the two. Lennon had the chops, but McCartney had both the genius ability for melody and eccentricity. This is an album made by a man who is on a vacation of some sort, and he's in the garage working on carpentry or fixing things around the house - except it's not a home but a music project.
Low-fi, and no ambition whatsoever, this is an album of great charm, and McCartney stretching out not musically really, but almost trying out the new reel-to-reel tape machine he bought to make this album. What I find essential is "Teddy Boy" which is one of my favorite Paul songs. Totally a post-war song about losing a dad and dealing with mom's love life afterward. Of course one would think of the 'Teds' but in actuality, it's a boy name Ted, but the song takes place in the generation of the Teddy Boys. McCartney writes a lot of his lyrics as a narrative, a story, where Lennon is often more fragmented. Of all the Paul albums, "McCartney" is very loose in structure. There are three instrumentals here that touch on exotica as well as Link Wray. The guitars on this record (everything played by Paul) are heavy sounding. There are undoubtedly roots to music from the 1950s, specifically rockabilly, but circa Paul's take on that form of music. Paul throughout his career has been attracted to the rough side of rock but against his middle-of-the-road nature. It's an interesting tension throughout all his solo work. For me, he's very hit-or-miss, but I can't deny his greatness. It just comes in unexpectedly.
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