REVIEW: Paul McCartney "McCartney III Imagined"

I was hoping that this might be fresh given the choice of hipsters involved. Sadly , its not. Two of my favorite 90's act chip in - Beck & Massive Attack and both fail miserably. Time for this album to be put to rest !

I was feeling a Pure McCartney meets Twin Freaks...Fireman kind of direction. Maybe just my ear playing tricks.

Also really disappointed in this release. Could have been a really nice project, but besides The Kiss of Venus by Dominic Fike, this project lacks any spark or conviction of either a remix or reimagined cover. Supremely disappointed in St. Vincent and Beck.

St Vincents take is awful. Not surprised

That Deep Deep Feeling remix is definitely not Banksy’s best work!

No mention of the Temporary Secretary guest star on the Deep Deep Feeling remix version? Knowing the Massive Attack style, I thought it was a pretty good.
There are some misses on this record, but its a good set of tracks. Not bad.

Other than Beck, I’ve never heard of any of the other artists on this album which tells you I’m a child of the 60’s and 70’s who is simply unable to come to terms with today’s musical world and that’s my fault. As for McCartney’s album and its numerous versions that seemingly run into the thousands, all I can say is.......no thanks. And that’s his fault.

I enjoy what Robert Del Naja did with Deep Deep Feeling. Its an "informed" remix, citing Paul previous work. And it doesnt feel so long, Paul´s original version, whilst I like it, felt maybe lenghtier to me than this one. As for Damon Albarns´s input on Long Tailed Winter Bird, it´s not so enjoyable as stand-alone song (as we maybe tend to judge all individual songs on the album as such), but it works nicely within the album.

This is much better than McCartney111, best tracks Find My Way, Women and Wives, Pretty Boys, Deep Down, worst Kiss of Venus. As mentioned below definitely has a Electric Fireman kind of direction.

Big McCartney fan, this overall this was a let down. The kiss of Venus was great and a couple of others were ok but the rest was abysmal.

I love it I'm buying two CDs a vinyl it's better than what's in the top forty these cdays

No disrespect it's not going to be everyone's cup of tea would I like to have Paul young vocals back sure I would but I still enjoy his music johnny cash did pretty good after his voice was pretty much gone agreat talent finds a way

I agree it's mostly a mess aside from the Dominic Fike Kiss of Venus effort. But I also liked Bridgers Seize The Day song too. Yes Beck's Find My Way is a miss as is the Slidin song. Both of those are too frantic.

Totally agree! This review hits the nail on the head. Dominic’s version of The Kiss of Venus is far better than anything else on the album and the original for me...I actually thought this was going to be amazing and now considering cancelling the LP

Should Never have been recorded

With all due respect, taste is not opinion and opinion is not taste, so I have to say that there are somethings that I agree like your take on the beck and st Vincent's version, otherwise I really think that you don't really have digested the record very well, this is actually a record that has so many ways to admire and it is, Obviously, a companion album for III, no doubt there otherwise would they be releasing it months after the original?
It's a marketing stunt , yes!
Does it work? Well yes, I mean you're talking about it
Is it tastefully done? Well for me this would've been a good question for you to talk about cause your video just feels like an opinion piece but my take is that it is all done with great artistry and love for Paul! And that kind of context makes it a better experience!

Cheers

Thanks for the thoughts.

As a huge macca fan I was actually hoping for an MIII that might've been even more experimentally indulgent than MII...i had hoped that, having delved into various forms of classical music...remix and dance/trance with the 1st two Fireman...the almost out thereness of EA...

That MIII would've found him plying some truly unchartered waters, musically speaking...but i, personally, found the OG MIII a bit, well...calm, staid, and unadventurous...

So, here comes MIII-RI...and, so far, I am loving it just a bit more than the OG.

As a huge fan of MII & EA...it may not be everything I hoped for...but it's a lot closer to what I WAS hoping for.

I am very glad that you gave it a shot and that you found some of it to be worthy: a well balanced review all in all.

Great review

Hi, when you purchase a McCartney III sealed vinyl Imagined, how do you know if you have a splatter or pink? Super thanks!

I love this record ......make .me dance.....a
Love it

What's pretty cool is that Paul has started a new trend with this. Julien Baker, Kruangbin and Brittany Howard are following suit with remix albums within the calendar year of their album release. At 79, Paul is still setting trends! No one else is like him in this way. Also, the new versions of "Deep Deep Feeling," "Seize the Day" and "Long Tailed Winter Bird" are worth the price of admission on this album. So very good.

Thanks for posting! If you have a minute, I tried my hand at a cover of 'True Colors'. As a fellow music lover, I'd love if you would take a listen. It's on my page. Hope you enjoy. Don't go too hard on me :)

Prepare yourself for a shocker of a statement.

BRACE YOURSELF
Paul McCartney "McCartney III" REISSUE INSANITY

Yes Paul is now (12/12/2023) rereleasing it yet again with all the same tricks. Apparently three years is enough time for an anniversary special. If you buy more than a one album they won't even guarantee that they will not be the same colour. It is sickening what is going on here.What a beyond a joke moment.. I am far more cynical than others to blame just companies and believe Paul having nothing to do with it. Macca has been a mass marketing man for decades now.