Review Summary: An underrated masterclass with something for everybody, while still being an amazing package on its own.
Of all the non-beatle related albums from the legendary former Beatle, himself, it was difficult to pick one favorite, what with Paul McCartney being one of the best rock songwriters of the 20th century--as reflected in not just his work with the Beatles, but with some of his other solo outings, such as the incredible and infectious "Ram" he did with his first wife, Linda, as well as his stuff he did with his band, Wings; "Band on the Run" and "Venus and Mars" being my favorites. Those wouldn't be the only great stuff Macca would work on, of course, as the likes of his raw debut "McCartney" released in 1970, the underrated "Flowers in the Dirt" from 1989, and among a few others are among some definite gems that I'd highly recommend, even though I wouldn't quite say they were him at his peak like the work he had done with his wife, Wings, and of course, The Beatles. "Tug of War", on the other hand, shows the legendary former Beatle pulling out all of the stops in making one of the most diverse, heartfelt, and overall wonderful albums he would have ever written at this point, and one that, in my opinion, does an exceptional job at everything it tries to do. It's bouncy, soulful, rockin', and occasionally beautiful and moving. And it's not just the material, but it's the overall technicalities of the album as well. George Martin does not disappoint with the production, as the legendary Beatles producer makes this album sound every bit as good, if not better in some cases (what with this album releasing 12 years after the Beatles disbanded) as an official Beatles album. Mix all of that with the excellent composition and very good pacing, you have an album that just may be his best as a solo artist (not counting "Ram" since that was with Linda McCartney). But that's enough talking about its technicalities. Let's talk about the album track by track.
"Tug of War" is a beautiful and thought-provoking opener that, much like the track suggests, is about how we fight and compete with each other (like in a tug of war), and sometimes lose sight on the life we live. Mix that with the beautiful orchestral laden instrumentation, and what you've got is a mover, and one that's very effective.
"Take It Away" follows the slow and wonderful opener with its bigger emphasis on hooks and a pop rock sound. With fun lyrics, and the upbeat melody that I can rarely get out of my head, this song is another winner, and one I want to hear played till the lights go down...okay, maybe not that long, but forced pun out of the way, it's excellent.
"Somebody Who Cares" comes out of nowhere with its wholesomeness, which, was something I wasn't quite expecting when first listening to this album. But, damn it, does it not put a smile on my face. Not just with its lyrics, but with its almost mysterious and methodical sound. It's also a song that expertly mixes both major and minor chord progression, making the song all the more wonderful.
"What's That You're Doing?" is the duet with Stevie Wonder that REALLY threw me off guard when listening to this album for the first time, as it's essentially a dance pop song with R&B and rock undertones peppered in there--something I would have never thought would appear in a Paul McCartney album of all places. But I am not complaining, as this is one of the most soulful songs by the former Beatle and Stevie Wonder I have heard. It may seem a bit simple at first, but it really grows on you with its overall fun vibes and hooky music. And this is where I realized the biggest thing this album has going for it, and it is variety. Some great albums have excellent material from start to finish that, despite being great, can start to blend in. This album has excellent material from start to finish AND something for everybody. But this song isn't the only example.
P.S., the reference to "She Loves You" by the Beatles in this song is adorable and done tastefully. Good stuff.
"Here Today" is the beautiful ballad that shows the maturity and heart from the legendary former Beatle, and one that may warrant a box of tissues when listening to this, as this tribute to the great John Lennon is not only full of soul, but emotion, easily making this one of McCartney's most underrated.
"Ballroom Dancing", much like "Take It Away" from earlier, shows the rockin' and poppin' side of McCartney, only this time, with an almost ragtime piano in the background to give the vibe of people dancing in a ballroom. This song is just pure fun. Whether it be from the fun lyrics about Macca loving to dance in the ballroom with his partner (presumambly Linda), or the upbeat melody with some of the most diverse instrumentation I've heard in a rock song, this song is awesome.
"The Pound Is Sinking" seemingly mixes the slower beats previously established in the album with a hooky melody that picks up steam after the first verse, with the song showing no signs of slowing. It's also one of the most unique songs I think I have ever heard, what with its odd chord progression and lyrics that don't seem to mean a lot. But surprisingly, the song manages to still be very engaging, and the chord progression is still very effective, as it fails to not be an earworm from time to time. And even though the lyrics are wacky, they are still incredibly well put together and still poetically sound. All of this makes this song of my personal favorites, simply for how weird, yet still great it is.
"Wanderlust" is one of Maccas best vocal performances of all time--including during his time in the Beatles, as it's not only raw, but on key, as well. The song is beautiful and full of heart, and much like the song "Tug of War", it's a slow rocker mixed with some wonderful orchestral backings that give the song that much more umph. What's funny, however, is that it's about, as far as I'm concerned, how Paul McCartney got caught with weed in an airport sometime in the late '70s. And the wonderful thing about that is that it seems that Paul has taken an otherwise crummy situation and turned it into one of his best songs.
"Get It" tones things down a little bit, but not too much, as this duet with Carl Perkins is another wholesome song that mixes a 50s country sound with some beats of rock from around the time, and it works. It's a simpler song, but the laid-back vibes the song gives, as well as the wonderful lyrics helps this song immensely, and is something really special.
"Be What You See (Link)" is less of a song, but more of an intro to the next song, but the way it's done is very unique. At first few listens, one may think "I don't get it. Why is this its own track?". But the way it fades from "Get It" with the almost ominous laughing from Carl Perkins carried over from the previous song into a wonderfully mixed vocoder track that relies on ambience really works. And, of course, it then blends into the next song pretty much perfectly.
"Dress Me Up as a Robber" almost hits you out of nowhere with its loud and energetic synth that kicks off the song. The rest of the song, much like "What's That You're Doing?" is another dance pop song, only this time with less R&B, but more rock undertones peppered in, and it is a ton of fun and wholesome. At first few listens, the song may not seem like much, but it really does grow on you. And when it does, you'll find that this song is packed with musical depth and creative lyrics. Another underrated gem, for sure.
"Ebony and Ivory" is the other duet with Stevie Wonder that is one of the most divisive songs Paul McCartney has ever written, with a good chunk of people calling it "too sentimental" or "simplistic" among other things. The song is admittedly pretty sentimental, but I think if you mix the soul from both singers, the wonderful composition and instrumentation, and the simple, yet incredibly effective melody, there's good reason as to why it was a hit to begin with. The message is there, citing that, much like ebony and ivory on a piano, everyone should be living in harmony, regardless of skin color. It's not just a beautiful song, but a beautiful closer for the album, too, as it neatly wraps things up and ends things on a high note, and while the message may be a bit on the nose, it's one that I feel ages wonderfully as time goes on.
If you couldn't tell already, I love this album to bits. Not just because of its wonderful material, but the way it all comes together into an incredibly well-rounded package. I hope it gets more attention, because it really is one of the legendary former Beatles finest works, and one that's every bit as excellent as it is underrated--especially the latter what with this being the first fully written review on this album on this website. Whether or not you are dressed up as a robber, or in a constant tug of war in your life, this album will remind you that there’s always somebody who cares, and if you ever see this album on sale, do yourself a favor and take it away. You’ll be moved and you’ll be ballroom dancing once you get it.
