Paul McCartney
Run Devil Run

Step right up, folks, lessons in Rock & Roll, the real deal! 

Elvis is dead, they say, and here McCartney proves to be the only one truly capable of emulating him, or rather the only one able to give an "authentic interpretation" to some of his songs. With the difference (sorry, but I can't help but mention it) that Paul writes and plays them himself... and that Elvis moved his hips better!

Red carpet for the musicians, a lineup of undisputed legends who accept the role of the second row behind the still shining star of the baron: David Gilmur on guitar (sorry if that's not enough), Mike Green (already seen in Choba B CCCP), Pete Wingfield on piano, and on drums none other than Ian Paice and Dave Mattacks... sound familiar?
Thumbs up for producer Chris Thomas (the same of the excellent "Back to the Egg") who has guided Paul in what he does best and perhaps like no one else in the world: Rock&roll! Oh! If Thomas had produced some of McCartney's latest original albums... Here, the choice of sounds and timing is perfect, excellent mixing, and great taste in giving those somewhat dated sounds the right dose of power and concreteness that modern means can provide. Really top-notch!

And now the word to Paul, who explains to the world, with his faithful Hofner violin bass, how to play a truly real, rolling, overwhelming, precise, and sure bass line. Then he shocks the world itself with a voice that never ceases to amaze over the years; power, whispers, screams, sweet tones, extremely low or high pitches, for Him and His vocal cords, they are alike! Hats off, especially considering his age.

He doesn't disappoint fans even when mixing among classics of the time (such as "Brown Eyed Handsome Man" and "All shook up") three beautiful songs written by himself, among which stands out the title track of the album: "Run devil run". I challenge anyone to not sway their hips at least a little... great rhythm and power, great voice, the song is a continuous and sustained crescendo with rare (really) intensity.
After all, it's clear that we're facing a gem of an album after the first 10 seconds of the first track: "Blue jeans Bop"... the level is incredibly high, almost incomparable in the last 20 years.

It's genuinely pleasurable to go on, and many pleasant images and melodies of the past come to mind, which I imagine was the main goal of this project. Very sweet and engaging "No other baby", whose simplicity and repetitiveness are masked by a great overall atmosphere and that magical voice... Paul then doesn't forget to always be a provocateur and throws in "Movie Mag", a country western-style song for toothless drunks with dusty hats that can't help but make you smile at how engaging and unusual it is.
A few yawns with "Lonesome Town" and "Coquette", but you reach the end of the incredibly powerful "Party" and you're already eager to start from the beginning.

In short, a really successful project, in everything, including the idea of recording at Abbey Road (ever heard of it?), the epic (and I'm not exaggerating) live performance at a certain venue in Liverpool called "Cavern," and the coup of broadcasting the concert live online (networks clogged everywhere).

I recommend the CD to anyone who truly loves music, and the DVD to anyone wishing to see how 4 icons led by the messiah of modern music can still make people hop around...

 Rock on!

Vito (www.the4fabs.com)