Sir Paul McCartney - Kisses on the Bottom - Comments and Message Board

We received an advanced copy (I live with long-time New York Times music critic, and Beatles expert, Allan Kozinn) and he popped it into the player and clicked on My Valentine. My very first words were, "What's he doing? Michael Bubl?" The music was weak -- like something you put out when you don't have to try as hard to be creative, but know that your name will sell the album. It seemed a little bit anemic to me. I was also disappointed by the sound of his voice, after having heard him at Yankee Stadium last summer when it seemed to be in the trim. Of course, in a stadium, how much can you really judge, other than a general sense that it sounded strong and that his vocal stamina was amazing. I always qualify my opinion by saying, "But what do I know about it? -- I'm not a music critic," since many of our friends are among the best. However, Allan agreed with my thoughts on the matter, as did our friend, Richard Buskin (who is among the short list of Beatles scholars who are as up on these things as Allan) as we messaged our reactions by Facebook.I love Paul and have a great deal of respect for his life-long work. I hold few musicians in such high regard for being so steadfast and eager to continually try new things -- and for living a life that kept him out of the smuttier headlines. I hope he keeps performing as long as he is still able to do so physically and fill the stadiums. But I hope that the mild enthusiasm he may get from Kisses on the Bottom, will incite his muse to create something new that will make us all say, "Now that's the Macca we all know and love."