Paul McCartney

After Tug of War. logically enough, come the Pipes of Peace. Carried, as it is, over two
consecutive Paul McCartney records, the war-and-peace metaphor is not hard to miss. The
message, too, is as simple and inarguable as the line of Indian wisdom inscribed inside the
foldout jacket of the new LP: "In love all of life's contradictions disappear." Pipes of Peace
is awash in love. Love of all the little children. Love between a man and a woman... More >

I've finally figured out what people mean when they call Paulie pop--they mean he's not rock. But to me pop implies a strict sense of received form whether crafted by the dB's or Billy Joel. McCartney's in his own world entirely, which is the charm of his music. And of course, a reliance on charm has always been his weakness. This is quite pleasant except when Britain's number-one earner preaches against violence as if self-interest wasn't an issue, which is also the only time it comes into firm contact with the great outside. (Grade: B-)