McCartney

say you want about this album being half baked but fuck you it’s Paul McCartney you dumb fuck. these songs are perfect just the way they are. they don’t need anything else. AND this is the first indie rock album…show some respect!!!!

I had a revelation about the Beatles when I read the top rated review for this record here. Well, not a revelation, exactly. I’ve had this thought before, but I was reminded of it again today: Beatles fans have made it so I can’t stand the Beatles in almost any capacity. This is what some of you sound like: “I love the Beatles. Everything they did was important, they’re beyond reproach. In fact, on this record, Paul McCartney invented indie rock” I’m so tired of the bloviating about this band and their members that I have begun to dislike almost everything about them. Congratulations, Beatles fans: You did it! Here’s a good piece of advice we can all live by: NO GOLDEN CALVES No one is beyond criticism, people are fallible. ..including the Beatles.

This album isn't epic or earth shattering, but it does feel very intimate and casual, like you're just hanging out with Paul instead of The Legendary Beatle. It made me feel very happy listening to it.

This dude loved his wife I love this era of McCartney there’s just no fat on any song, in and out, all hooks

After 7 or 8 years of (mainly) polished gems with the Beatles, the low key nature of the record initially baffled fans and critics. But the half finished snippets of songs/instrumentals are part of the appeal - it's got the same feel as some of the quietly charming tracks (Blackbird, I Will etc) on The White Album. Also, given his reputation for being outwardly extrovert, it's interesting that this is the first truly solo album (aside from some harmonies from his wife) from an ex-Beatle. Although he was apparently quite depressed at the time, it's a wholesome, homespun record full of analogue warmth, and a testament to McCartney's character.

More like a sketchbook than an album

A personal favorite. Such an easy album to listen to. A perfect album to play on a Sunday. I like how loose it is. It feels unpretentious. It’s got that feeling of a friend playing you half a song on guitar or tinkering with some little melody that’s stuck in their head. I also think it’s romantic in a quiet, simple way. That’s how I think of romance anyway — small gestures and little moments. I don’t usually think of romance and love in terms of grand gestures and big moments. For me, it’s the daily domestic life and the inside jokes no one else would understand. Something about “The Lovely Linda” and “That Would Be Something” capture that feeling for me. But if you’re looking for the big grand gesture, the album does have “Maybe I’m Amazed,” which is a classic. A number of years back Dree and I got on a kick with this album and played it a ton. So I’ll always associate this music with us. I love this album cover too.

The whole lo-fi chill vibe is awesome. Paul is the only Beatle I've seen live. McCartney is a musical genius. This is my 500th album on this list. Perfect.

As one of the components that make up The Beatles you’d expect a lot from a solo album from Paul McCartney, especially considering the time this was released was just after their critically acclaimed record ‘Abbey Road’. However, you find this album to be nothing like that, as Paul takes on his own approach to an album which ends up feeling pretty muddled. This album is a weird mix of instrumental tracks along with some lyrical tracks. Considering this is a self titled album, it’s strange that it’s confused on what it wants to be. For the first half it seems like McCartney is trying to do his best Elvis impression and it just feels so out of character, this is especially seen in ‘That Would Be Something’ which resembles Elvia’ ‘Kentucky Rain’ with McCartney’s strange vocal inflections added in, which end up being a running theme in this album with him singing along to the instrumentals multiple times which makes this feel like a live recording. The best song here is ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’ by a country mile as you can actually hear Paul put in some soul into this track, plus the guitar is fantastic. It’s then just a shame that the album ends on this unique drum solo and McCartney breathing which I don’t think he has a right to do considering he barely put any effort into the vocals throughout this album. I did just find this album a bit boring, the first couple of tracks put me off so much that the none of the rest of the album really made me feel like I would thoroughly enjoy this album. I’d come back to 1 or 2 songs but for the rest of the album I’d just listen to some Elvis instead. 2/5

Loved it. Sir Paul is amazing. Album is 54 years old and still great

Fabulous! McCartney was/is a legend, like Gershwin and Cole Porter, etc.

mi amigo PAULO

This album is so good. Didn't except much as I only knew “maybe I'm amazed” and loved that song, but, all the songs in this album are easily 5/5.

McCartney This is very hard to work out how to score. In the context of all his solo work? In the context of the end of the Beatles? In the context of what he was intending it to be at the time? As a stand alone album? How influential it turned out to be? The fact he did it all himself? And, as we know, I’m also quite blinkered when it comes to Macca. The thing is I do love love this album, even though it is a bit inconsistent and loose - but it’s those inconsistencies and that looseness that gives it so much charm and so much appeal. The sum of its parts give it a vibe that carries the whole thing past any imperfections. Macca being Macca even the inconsistent throwaway tracks like Valentine Day, Hot as Sun/Glasses, Oo You, Kreen Akore have enough melodic inventiveness and musicality to be at the very least interesting and diverting. Also it has some of his best solo songs That Would Be Something Every Night Junk (one of my absolute favourite melodies of his) Maybe I’m Amazed (he did play an early idea of this at, I think, the Get Back or Abbey Road sessions - imagine if this had had the full Beatles treatment) Just those 4 songs would be enough peaks for most people in their whole careers and he just tossed them off on a farm in Scotland while the biggest musical act of all time that he was part of was disintegrating. That’s why it’s hard to rate it as a stand-alone album, devoid of context and personal bias. I enjoy it thoroughly each time I listen to it, and despite the slightly disjointed nature of it, I think it works brilliantly as a entire listening experience - it’s one of those albums that is best listened to in one sitting. It’s easily in my top 5 Macca solo albums. Although it has its flaws, it’s really appeals to me and always love and enjoy it when I put it on, so I think I can’t not give it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this album a lot! It's impressive how this album really shows how much ahead of his time McCartney was in 1970. His first songs with more experimentalism mixed with some songs that still sounded Beatles-esque but included much more texture, which was really impressive. I hope to see more McCartney in the 1001 list because this is someone that deserves to be listened to.

This sucks. It's not just a bad McCartney album. It's a bad album in general. Unfinished and sloppy. If this was by any other artist it would of been forgotten long ago. Why it's on this list I will never understand.

Another reviewer said it best - this album is very much like hanging out with Paul. It's stripped of pomp and is unfinished, making for a very interesting listen. It also feels as though it doesn't care TOO much about making tons of money. Maybe I'm Amazed implies that it does care a little, but, maybe not a lot.

Exceptional

Quite good actually.

Lately I've been thinking about how hard it is to figure out how to say goodbye and end cycles in a healthy way. Paul McCartney was really struggling emotionally after the Beatles break up, he ended up isolating himself living in "the heart of the country" and removing himself from public life. This album was born out of that situation, on him figuring out how to carve his post-Beatle path. Rather than get the greatest musicians possible to release a polished album with a huge budget, he instead recorded everything himself in his house. This gives it an early low-fi vibe, which was at once sounds wonderfully intimate but which veers sometimes into sounding unfinished. The critics hated the album when it came out, a feeling I differ with greatly but understand. After all it would be weird in real time to hear leader of the most popular band ever releasing something which sounds so raw and under-produced. I can imagine listening to on Valentine Day and being like "what is this half-assed shit. Some moments so demo-y it's almost amazing he put it to record. But it's also the rawness and lack of production which gives the album it's strength. You feel like you are there with him, songs like Junk are so warm/personal and understated in such a powerful way . It feels like someone singing to his friends, to the world around him. He also attempts some experimental stuff on this album, in a way that is very interesting but doesn't feel done to it's full potential. For example Hot as sun/glasses starts as a peaceful song that makes you feel like you are on vacation with people you love , and then segway's very strangely into "glasses" an experimental track that is played with actual glasses that is very dissonant and eeary. Then Paul abruptly begins playing and singing and up-beat song on the piano for like 20 seconds before moving on the very melancholic song "junk" Each individual section of these songs are really good and the contrasts make them even more interesting but it all happens so fast. It's like a snapshot rather than a cohesive thought-out idea. Which is what I think is what this album is. A snapshot of Paul McCartney in this moment, brilliant sometimes a bit indulgent. Beautiful pop melodies co-existing with rockers and odd tidbits. He no longer needs to edit anything out due to being a band, and he takes you with him as he throws ideas at the wall and figures out his path after a traumatic experience in his life (the beatles break-up)

I think Paul is great, and I love the Beatles, but this is a really really weak album. Some great IDEAS but nothing feels fully formed. Feels rushed out, needed more time in the oven

Paul McCartney...perfection

Hard to argue with the positive reviews here. Yes it's not perfect. That's the point. He's just doing what he wants, all on his little own. Some absolutely perfect pieces of music here though, and the whole album is just a pleasure to listen to. Very much also worth checking McCartney 2 and Ram, and I am a little surprised to see they aren't also in the book. Still, there's lots of Beatles of various shapes.

This was an interesting album - lo-fi, homemade, pretty much just a jam session of an album from the early days of lo-fi music. It's an intimate peer into McCartney's musical life, fully produced by just him, and performed by just him with the addition of some harmony vocals from his wife, overdubbed onto four-track tape. Originally viewed very negatively and vilified for seemingly killing The Beatles, this record was eventually credited for its influence on DIY and Lo-Fi music. The story of this one is just as interesting as the album itself, and honestly I thought the album was great too. It's a nice and pleasant rock jam - It may seem rough and unfinished, like a collection of demos, but a lot of charm comes from that. It doesn't try to be anything more - at this point he didn't need to prove anything to anyone, besides proving to himself that he would survive in his post-Beatles future, and I think that's beautiful. Favourite: That Would Be Something

I'll never pass up an opportunity for some Paul McCartney.

This is rather slight. I don’t mind that. It’s an album full of the interstitial musical phrases that are typically embellishment, but here outnumber the songs - I might actually prefer them, the sound of a depressed man trying to have fun.

Can we please stop pretending that just because a Beatle is attached, an album golden and is a must listen? Half of this sounds unfinished. The only really complete sounding song is Maybe I’m Amazed, and I’ve never been a huge fan of it.

I felt like I was transported back to the 70’s. Very wholesome, good music. Every night was my fav song from that album. I like paul’s voice but he sounded different than how I remember & very Elvis who I’m not the world’s biggest fan of (but I can appreciate how beautiful and poetic his music was). This album feels like floating

This was just a bit boring - not much else to say! Nothing bad, just not particularly interesting Fave track: Junk

As I was getting ready to listen to this album, I came across an announcement that Paul McCartney is releasing a new album this year, 2026, at the age of 83 years old. One of the biggest realizations I've had so far within this project is just how good of a musician and a songwriter Paul McCartney is. And that's an obvious statement, clearly, but I simply had no personal experience with him or his work, so it can still come as a shock to me when I hear how consistently talented and artful he is. I have heard his work three times so far within this list, all three from different projects (the Beatles, Wings, and this solo album), and all three have had their own identities while still clearly containing a clear throughline of Paul McCartney. This album feels like someone desperate to express themselves creatively, with many of the songs being short, to the point, and mixed a little rough. Especially knowing the timing and context of this album's recording, it sounds like an artist frustrated with their output trying to let loose every bit of expression they had been stifling. It's rare to hear an album which sounds like it's throwing everything at the wall and making it all stick, but that is the case with McCartney. The instrumentals are engaging enough to hold their own, and his lyricism continues to be impressionistic and emotional, packing heavy punches into as few words as possible. It is quickly becoming clear to me that Paul McCartney is in fact the best of the Beatles, or at least he is to me, and the race isn't even that close. This looser style of album is right up my alley, and it's refreshing to hear an artist as big and acclaimed as McCartney taking artistic swings like this, something he has clearly never showed away from him throughout the rest of his career and even to today. Highlights: That Would Be Something, Valentine Day, Every Night, Hot As Sun / Glasses, Junk, Man We Was Lonely, Momma Miss America, Teddy Boy, Maybe I'm Amazed, Kreen-Akrore

I’m not sure how this album fits into the grand narrative, but I simply love it. Small songs, some folk some blues some light beatlesque psychedelia and Junk which might be the best song Paul ever wrote (which automatically makes it one of the best songs ever). So this is a five out of five just on how great it is. Dunno if you really have to listen to it other than this one I find Paul’s solo career pretty boring.

My Favorite of his and contains some of his most beautiful tender songs

McCartney is as undercooked as its critics say it is. It is a portrait of a confused, depressed artist in the wake of his band’s breakup, struggling to figure out his next move, let alone the identity of his solo career. Some songs sound like they haven’t reached their final form, and some sound straight up unfinished. However, this is still Paul McCartney, the guy who writes perfect melodies in his sleep. So sure, this album is underdeveloped by his standards, but I’ll be damned if it’s not extremely fascinating, and more importantly, enjoyable. Even the harshest naysayer of this record must give credit to “Maybe I’m Amazed”, which packs the biggest lyrical and musical punch on the album. Paul’s vocals soar miraculously over his brilliant instrumental foundation, and it has fittingly earned its reputation as one of his best ballads alongside “Let It Be” and “Hey Jude.” “Every Night” features wonderful acoustic guitar work and an effortlessly infectious wordless hook. And “Man We Was Lonely" has all of Paul’s strengths on display: the melody is catchy, the contrasting major and minor chord progressions in the choruses and verses are interesting, and the musical performance is superb, especially the conversation that the guitars and bass are having in the outro. I also love it as a duet with Linda on this song, if for no other reason than it makes their love and closeness quite apparent. As for the instrumentals and unfinished songs? I hear few outright flaws. Maybe “Singalong Junk” is redundant, and I find “Valentine’s Day” to be the instrumental with the least to offer, but neither of them are bad. Conversely, I would deem “Hot As Sun/Glasses” and “Momma Miss America” in particular to be quite good and engaging. “That Would Be Something” and “Oo You” may ultimately be toss offs, but if that’s the case, they’re two of the best toss offs in Paul’s oeuvre. The former is delightfully bouncy with its crooked guitar lines and vocalized percussion, and the latter has a tantalizing riff and grooves as well as any song on the record. So yes, McCartney is not the impeccably produced masterpiece that many would have expected out of Paul at the time, but it is remarkably alluring, captivating, and to this day, still one of the most entertaining albums in his catalog. 4.5/5

Fantastic. The best

McCartney's first solo album -and what a debut. Maybe I'm Amazed how he played every instrument, producing an album that stands the test of time

Can't say I'm familiar with McCartney's post Beatles work apart from maybe the '78 "Wings's Greatest" and some hits, so my only context here is the years prior, and whereever I thought I would be going with "context": this is charming as fuck. Wholesome, pure, gentle and I wouldn't want to have this any other way than this Dude With a Four-Track sound. 5/5 ~°𝓋𝒾𝒷𝑒𝓈°~

Not quite The Beatles, not quite Wings, but all Paul. Good good good.

McCartneys first home-made album and it shows. Production is patchy and the drums in particular are plodding. But there are some wonderful highlights - Every night, Maybe I'm amazed, Junk, That would be something. Four-and-a-half stars.

I really liked it, it is like McCartney said okay you wanna see experimental lofi rock that isn't that commercial other than maybe 3 songs. Here you go! Though the last song is weird and goes on too long, should have ended with "Maybe I'm Amazed or the Badfinger sounding "Every Night"

McCartney is Paul’s first solo album after The Beatles, so it naturally has a lot to live up to. One of the first things that stands out is just how personal it feels. The album has a relaxed, home made quality to it, and you can really sense how important Linda was to him at this time. It feels like a very intimate record, far removed from the scale and polish of the later Beatles albums. There are some lovely pop moments throughout. The overall tone is quite gentle and melancholic, and it makes for an easy and warm listen. At the same time, it does lack a few standout tracks beyond the obvious highlights. Considering the pressure of moving from the biggest band in the world to working largely on his own, though, it is an understandable transition. Maybe I’m Amazed is easily the centrepiece of the album. It is a beautiful song and one of McCartney’s best vocal performances. Oo You is another enjoyable track with a nice groove. Favourite song: Maybe I’m Amazed Least favourite song: Singalong Junk Album artwork: I love the cover. Simple but very memorable

I actually really enjoyed this album, I just wish there was more of it. Each track felt like the beginning of an idea that wasn't really developed (except for the final few tracks). This is a really different approach, especially in 70s where songs were like 5-8 min long. The Americana influence is so interesting - like it's very much a British guy making American-based rock & roll but he does a great job of blending both worlds. Lyrics were very solid too Highlights: Man We Was Lonely, Junk, Kreen-Akrore

Ratings: 5: I will happily play this album anytime 4: I may occasionally play this album of my own free will 3: I will happily listen to this if someone plays it in the background 2: I will tolerate this if it is playing in the background 1: I will leave the room if someone plays this in the background I enjoyed this one. Enough variety to keep the interest throughout. Always loved Maybe I'm Amazed (especially live). Had never actually listened to the entire album before now.

This album shows a little more "lofi/slacker" McCartney which is really refreshing from what we always hear from him. The songs are great, so well played and felt. Furthermore, it also gave birth to 2 of his best songs, Junk and Maybe I'm Amazed.

Sweeter than expected and as much of an easygoing treat as I hoped. The record runs short, and within there's plenty of variation on short; Guitar solo's pretty nice; Melancholy tempers the effect just enough. Music's never finished, a recording-based project tends to obscure.

It's good because it's Paul McCartney, but I don't think there are many other people who could have gotten away with this

Charming in places, especially given the context, and with a few memorable songs esp. "Maybe I'm Amazed". A bit flimsy compared to his ex-bandmates' contemporary work though.

This was known since before but Paul is not the reason why the Beatles suck. Anyways, I misheard the lyrics to the end of Oo You and thought he said "Look like a woman, ooh Dress like a lady, ooh Talk like a baby, cunny, cunny, cunny, cunny, uuoohh Love you like a woman, ooh" and it shocked me greatly

Nothing that really sticks with me, here, but pleasant to listen to all the same. I do like the lofi-ness of it and knowing that this is post-Beatles breakup gives it a little bit of heft. I'd listen again.

fuck off paul with your lovely life and jolly tunes

The best part of this album generator is when it follows up something like Linkin Park with Paul McCartney. Not knowing what comes next makes this an adventure! I didn't know the history behind this album. As someone who has a longstanding annoyance at the levels of reverence The Beatles are held in, it's funny to me that an album like this could help break up the biggest band in the world. I give credit to McCartney for taking a chance rather than waiting around moping. His super popular boy band was breaking up and he decides to hard launch a lofi collection of guitar strummers. That takes some courage.

4/10. Sounds nicely produced. Didn't get it though.

Unfinished half songs. Juvenile lyrics. Just terrible.

Very milk toast

This is not a good album. It's a demo masquerading as a proper album. You are better than this Paul. You are Paul Fucking McCartney. It would have been fine as an unearthed set of demos but this was your first album which partly led to the split of your band, The Beatles. All that for this? Come on mate. Highlights: Every Night Maybe I'm Amazed - The best on the album and the only one that sounds like it got past the 1st draft stage. Lowlights: Hot As Sun / Glasses - Just a dull instrumental that does nowt Junk - Twee granny music as John would have called it Oo You - Like a parody of a bad Macca song. Drums sound like a Fisher-Price kit Singalong Junk - You can't have Singalong in the song title and then include no lyrics, Paul. There are rules. Kreen-Akrore - Tekkin piss now mate This is not a good album. Really frustrating too as there is some good little snippets of opportunity in here but he doesn't bother to follow them up and turn them into decent songs. I bet John, George and Ringo were ripping Macca when they first heard this. A WhatsApp group with the 3 of them would have been fire.

In the turbulent wake of the most devastating breakup in music history, the former Beatles each released their solo debuts. In my opinion, McCartney and Plastic Ono Band both sounded like Beatles records. Of course there is something missing in each album, the other Beatles. This is not a problem, in fact it’s a good thing; since now instead of one album, we get 3 or 4. This album, Paul’s debut, is an excellent pop record, and very well written. John’s absence in Paul’s songs had begun to be obvious on the last of the group’s efforts, so it is less noticeable here-it was expected. Highlight of the album is Maybe I’m Amazed, one of Paul’s very best songs in my humble opinion. Ever so slightly weaker than John’s debut, it’s still essential and still 5 out of 5 stars. PS - I think All Things Must Pass was the best post-breakup debut album!

31/03/2026 *1. the lovely linda - nice bass... really sweet <3 *2. that would be something - bluesier... reaaally nice chorus. like the ending :) 3. valentine day - halfway through, is this instrumental? reaallly nice! *4. every night - wow love the startt! beautiful lyrics!!! awww <3 *5. hot as sun / glasses - nice, but not enjoying as much as the previous track. ooo just changed massively.... assuming this is the glasses part? reaaaalllly love it though!! kindof droney. *6. junk - sounds really soft and tender immediately... the lofi sound reaally helps. wow! loooovely! *7. man we was lonely - looove the reverb-y guitar... beautiful!! looove the backing vocals <33 this is the most sentimental album i have ever listened to :) nice bass at the end. 8. oo you - nice! 9. momma miss america - reaaally nice! loove the bass! *10. teddy boy - got to the chorus, feel like i've heard this somewhere else? really nice! 11. singalong junk - love the organ-y synth sound... *12. maybe i'm amazed - loove the lyrics <3 piano and organ are great! *13. kreen-akrore - ooo guitar just started! okay... bit more experimental... reeaaally liking it just over two mins in! lots of breathing! guitar and organs together are fantastic! really loved the tender, sentimental feeling of a lot of this album.. every night was definitely a highlight!

Thank you Mr McCartney.

O que dizer de Mr. McCartney. Assumindo uma posição quase 100% folk, parecia q ele estava fazendo um álbum mais lo-fi, no sentido de intimista. Álbum bem sólido, não tem uma música ruim. Um amigo me confiou o fato de que essa msc eram alguns rascunhos de algumas que não entraram em álbuns dos Beatles. São bem calmas, e vc se imagina no mesmo Estúdio em que ele estava gravando. 8.7/10 HIGHLIGHTS: Momma Miss America, Junk, Hot as Sun, Maybe I'm Amazed, Oo You

This is a fabulous album. The creativity and brilliance of McCartney is quite remarkable. 5 Star. Fave track - Junk

Great album. Momma miss America sounds like a song that could have come out today.

A cozy homespun gem from my favorite musician and master of melody. I have nothing but love for it, though I skipped Kreen Akrore as I typically do.

Singalong Junk made me cry really hard lol

Bit of a tough one to rate. It's an imperfect album by design - a homemade experiment of half-baked ideas tossed together, created entirely by Paul escaping reality on his farm in Scotland. It's not meant to be some grand masterpiece attempting to outdo previous Beatles albums. It's the musings of a man depressed, grappling with the reality that the greatest band of all time fell apart while they were still at their peak. I personally think his album Ram is the best solo album by any of the Beatles and should be included on this list instead of this one. But this is his debut. It's imperfections give it character, and because it's Paul McCartney, it gets 5 stars.

Sound is so-so, but album is perfect.

ÁLBUM LINDO! o melhor dos que eu não conhecia que eu escutei até agora maybe i’m amazed

This was an interesting listen. The first side of this album is obviously unpolished and DIY-sounding, which is an interesting sound for McCartney, from whom I'm used to very polished and fleshed out compositions. His artistry is wonderfully displayed in these tracks, but Paul's voice (speaking metaphorically) is still clear and a delight to listen to. The second side definitely felt more polished and of course Baby I'm Amazed was the highlight of the album. Overall, I absolutely loved it, but I think I did like side 2 better than side 1. I listened to it three times, back to back. Five stars.

junk 1970 united kingdom lo-fi

as much as George Harrison may be my favorite Beatle, I think Paul really was the strongest member. Fantastic solo album with catchy songs, Maybe I'm Amazed is an all time great, the whole album showing an evolution of Paul's sound and what was to come with Wings. The man knows his way around a song and shows why he's one of the greats. Also I dont know why but that cover art sticks with me for some reason. Cant say the same for that final track, did he have a Yoko-Ono moment? weird. Oh well, if I were an accomplished singer/songwriter I would do some goofy shit too

Paul McCartney is my favorite Beatle. This mother fucker could write such a catchy song and this album is FULL of catchy little ditties. Plus none of the Beatles wrote a love song as good as “Maybe I’m Amazed”. The whole album is great except that last song. What the fuck is that PAUL?!

Not bad for an ex Beatle love the instrumentals

For a guy born in the 80s I’ve spent far too much time in my life thinking about the Beatles. Nice when I get to use one of those thoughts, even if it’s to do something totally pointless, like write a little review for McCartney I in 2025. Anyway one of the cool things about the Beatles is that individually they all kinda suck for various reasons. I’m talking musically, not as people, that’s irrelevant here. You can hear it on Beatles albums, but usually just in the background. The proof of this is how comparatively spotty all their solo careers are. They were checking each others’ worst instincts. This one has SOME sucky Paul instincts, but it’s overall probably the most tasteful out of many post-Beatles solo albums. I think this guy coulda made 10 more White Albums and they all would have been great.

4.5

4.5

9/10

I was there when it came out, and wasn't happy about the breaking up of the Beatles. So I really didn't want to like it. But, I did. Can you imagine what he went through? AND this - without a band? It's all him! That took courage at a time his world was coming apart. Listening to it now - I like it being 'unpolished' and loose. Great stuff and easy to listen to. Love ya Paul!

Doesn’t get much better

Can’t say anything bad about Paul McC. Great album love maybe I’m amazed.

This is the greatest album I've ever heard (this month).

Je préfère Ram à ce premier album solo. Moi aussi McCartney est celui de la gang qui me tape sur les nerfs à l'occasion. Autrement, ça reste une influence majeure.

So awesome. Loved every minute of it. I think its the best solo Beatles member album. Even better than all things must pass.

Alles neu! Raus aus der Tretmühle! Zurück zu den Wurzeln! Simpel statt verkopft! Gelungen mit Luft nach oben!

I can't help but give it 5 stars - he's an incredibly talented musician and it really feels like even when he's not making the slightest effort he's still coming up with great music. I kinda hate him for it. Also 'Maybe I'm Amazed' is a masterpiece that almost feels out of place in this album.

First song written to try out new equipment. Paul plays all instruments on the album. Effortless talent on display. A wonderful album.

Day606 - some albums leave me scratching my head as to why they’re on this list but this definitely deserves to be on here. paul mccartney is such a genius

This was my favorite album in high school and it has aged well

Really cool

This was my first album from any of the Beatles for this project. I really loved this album - favorites were That Would Be Something, Maybe I’m Amazed and I especially liked the instrumental Hot As Sun and Momma Miss America. Lots to listen to again

I love Paul McCartney. I love Ram. This was my first listen to his first solo album (unverified), and it was a good one. I already love Junk and Maybe I’m Amazed, but Every Night was also a standout. You can really hear how this album started how McCartney’s solo career would sound, like the folk acoustic sound that Ram brought into another level.

Macca puts his middle finger up to the band he tried keeping together but had essentially pissed off with trying to keep them together. He decamps to Scotland for a bit, drinks too much and writes some songs. He comes back home to London and starts recording these songs or bits of ideas on to a four track. He spruces some up in Abbey Road but some are left as is. It’s a rough album inventing Lo-Fi and gives us a glimpse into a private man’s psyche. Tunes are here but some will probably be put off by the instrumentals or snatches of tunes – I was at first, but the more years I’ve lived with it, the more I’ve come to love its charms. Best Tracks: That Would Be Something; Every Night; Maybe I’m Amazed

- A very strange record, as others have noted here. Difficult to rate for all the obvious reasons that I don't think I need to recount. I struggled with it but, in the end, I have to give it up to Paul; the greatest band breaks up and he goes out and makes art .... by himself. This is NOT an easy thing to do by a long shot and unless you've actually created something, you just don't understand how hard it really is let alone doing under the microscope that he was under. Yeah it's not a finished record, it's a lot of him just fucking around. But, you know what? That's what creativity is. He let us all into his studio, a most intimate space, to listen to him work. It's a very generous record and that's probably why it's so heart-warming to people. This is Paul finding himself and his path forward. Thanks, Paul.

not a beatles fan but mccartney gets a pass. standouts were “singalong junk” and “kreen-akrore”, the latter of which was lowkey a MASTERPIECE. the instrumentals on this album were so good. surprisingly enjoyable. would probably get a 5/5.

Fell in love with this album during the pandemic, man we was lonely! Love Paul, love the album, love the cover SO MUCH

McCartney with this album achieves an intimate and sophisticated way of expressing his feelings, different from the music he created during the Beatles. I think the use of acoustic instruments throughout the album is one of the main reasons to create this atmosphere. My favorite song is definitely "Junk". It makes me feel nostalgic, McCartney is able to convey the feeling of losing someone you love without using the same trivial metaphors. On the other hand, the use of the guitar in this song is incredible.

Sitting out in the backyard with a glass of wine, looking out at the garden -- headphones on and a slightly chilly spring breeze blowing. Was listening to this and "Oo You" came up. That moment brought me welcome feeling of joy and peace for an instant in this crazy world. Sir Paul may not be the finest musician on the planet, but damned if he doesn't know how to fit the pieces of a rock song together.

I can't help it I love it.

Sir Paul McCartney's first solo album recorded during a very difficult & depressing time in McCartney's life - as The Beatles were breaking up - a time that found him isolated in his farm in Scotland with wife Linda, lots of booze, profound depression and a bunch of instruments. McCartney is a lo-fi masterpiece in which Sir Paul plays all the instruments. The uncertainty of it all is palpable in these songs, a baker's dozen but so too is the sheer joy of being as free as he would ever be musically. No deadlines (album was recorded in secrecy) no bandmates, no expectations at all not even from himself and as such it sounds like nothing he had recorded before or would ever record again. Probably the first indie rock album, definitively essential listening.

This one gets better with each listen, McCartney has always been my favorite of the Beatles. The album puts me in such a good mood. I honestly don't know how Paul didn't go crazy in this period of his life, probably thanks to the lovely Linda. I love John and George's solo stuff, but I still think they are some of the most self-righteous yet hypocritical people to ever live. They love to preach about enlightenment while treating those around them like shit. Paul had to deal with all of their BS, with all the music critics falling for John and George's pseudo-intellectual crap. Yet like always, Paul just wants to put his head down and focus on the music. I think Paul embodies the qualities John and George loved more than they themselves. Now obviously it's all water under the bridge between them over the years but still necessary context to understand Paul's headspace for this one. I get some of the criticism that some of the ideas were underbaked, but even those criticisms feel like just a front when he fully develops ideas in RAM and everyone pans it even harder. Both are incredible albums, this isn't as good as RAM but the underbakedness of it is absolutely part of the charm. Paul gets five stars for primarily making a fantastic influential album, but also for having to go through all the above bullshit at the same time. Rating: 4.8

Paul 4 lyf

What a lovely record by the GOAT.

Paul’s first solo album and it’s truly a solo effort. Every Night and Junk stand out as some of the better, lesser known tracks, but Maybe I’m Amazed is an all time great love song.