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Rating:
Today is June 1, 2007. It's not just any date. At least it can't be for me and for many others.
At this moment (right now!) I'm listening to my "Sgt. Pepper's" on vinyl. Parlophone label. 1967. Forty years ago, this record changed music, and not just rock. Or rather, from that day, rock music changed its meaning. Well, that record was largely Paul's work. It was strongly wanted by him. At a time when the four were beginning to take different paths, Paul was the glue and the inspiration for a memorable work. But it's paradoxical that today I have to confront the listening of the latest... record work of the "genius" and must admit that indeed time has passed. In short, Paul, it's not essential for someone like you (and the doctor hasn't prescribed it) to record music even if you're not inspired. When it's like that, just leave it.
I acknowledge that much of the... discredit is due to the terrible presentation. Paul, the first song, "Dance Tonight," is embarrassing. A well-known and predictable harmonic progression. Sorry, but it's so ridiculous that I immediately move on to the second. "Ever Present Past" seems a bit better. Nothing special, certainly not a masterpiece, some melodic intuition... "See Your Sunshine": it seems to come out from the mediocre Wings albums of the 70s/80s. At those times, almost all of us criticized you, I don't see why today we should instead praise you. Certainly not something to throw away, but I always expect the original stroke from you.
"Only Mama Knows": first chamber music, then rock with splashes of electronics. Pleasant chorus. Then too much confusion. Moving forward. "You Tell Me" starts with vaguely "Strawberry Fields"-like sounds. Then acoustic guitar and a poignant singing. Melody a bit inconclusive. "Mister Bellamy": a jumble of styles and sounds that honestly I don't understand. I miss "Red Rose Speedway" (unbelievably). LET'S MOVE ON !!!!!
This is called "Gratitude." Set voice, this time, when you want to sound "negroid." But once you sang "I got a a feeling, a feeling deep inside, oooh yea!" and it was a whole different music. "Vintage Clothes": at first it seems good, then it degrades a bit, but overall not bad. "That Was Me": a Paul-style rock and roll which isn't all that unpleasant. "Feet in the clouds" (the pieces are now joined). This is better (complete with a little symphonic intermission). But the melody holds. "House of Wax": it's majestic, but that's it and little else. "End of the end": a song about the day of "the end." Too sad, even with the central whistle. "Nod Your Head": in the intentions perhaps the Sgt. Pepper's of 2000.
The record is over. I expected much more. Perhaps they're the leftovers from "Chaos and Creation"? Paul, despite everything you are my idol (but now I'll go listen again to "Band on the Run").
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
07 Gratitude (03:19)
Gratitude gratitude gratitude
I'm so grateful for everything
You''ve ever given me
How can I explain what it means
To be loved by you
By you loved by you loved by you
Show my gratitude gratitude
Show my gratitude
I want to show my gratitude gratitude
Well I was lonely
I was living with a memory
But my cold and lonely nights ended
When you sheltered me
Loved by you
I was loved by you
Yeah I was loved by you
I want to show my gratitude
Want to show my gratitude
Yeah show my gratitude
Show my gratitude
I should stop loving you
Think what you put me through
But I don't
Want to lock my heart away
I will look forward too
Days when I'll be loving you
Until then gonna wish
And hope and pray
I want to show my gratitude gratitude
Yeah I want to show my gratitude
Show my gratitude
Yeah my gratitude
To be loved by you
Be loved by you to be loved by you
Loved by you
I want to show my gratitude gratitude
08 Vintage Clothes (02:22)
Don''t live in the past
Don''t hold onto something that's changing fast
What we are is what we are
And what we wear is vintage clothes
Vintage clothes
Vintage clothes
We jump up for joy
Who cares if we look like a girl or boy
What we are is what we are
And what we wear is vintage clothes
Vintage clothes
Vintage clothes
A little worn
A little torn
Check the rack
What went out is coming back
Don''t live in the past
Don''t hold onto something that's changing fast
What we are is what we are
And what we wear is vintage clothes
Vintage clothes
A little worn
A little torn
Check the rack
What went out is coming back
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Other reviews
By giampy1985
The splendid sequence 'Only Mama Knows' - 'You Tell Me' - 'Mr. Bellamy' remains to tell us what this Memory Almost Full could have been with a few years of preparation and more attentive production.
The compositions of Memory Almost Full often do not captivate... few songs stick in your mind, and even fewer will withstand prolonged listening.
By Dear_Boy
Just that horrendous cover would be enough to keep your money safely in your pocket.
The songs are modest, but Godrich would have made 'House of Wax' a pleasant track at least.
By vitols4
Paul is like the largest raw diamond in the world, which without an excellent craftsman jeweler, is worth little and says even less.
I do not recommend buying this album to anyone I want to convince of your greatness.
By enbar77
"Memory Almost Full is not the trail of Driving Rain. If it were, it couldn’t even be listened to through an echo effect."
"House of Wax - The best piece of the album... Exceptional!"
