Electric Arguments
| Electric Arguments | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by The Fireman | |||||
| Released | 24 November 2008 | ||||
| Recorded | 2007–2008 | ||||
| Genre | Ambient electronica, rock, psychedelic rock | ||||
| Length | 63:05 | ||||
| Label | One Little Indian | ||||
| Producer | Paul McCartney, Martin Glover | ||||
| The Fireman chronology | |||||
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| Paul McCartney chronology | |||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
| Billboard | (positive)[2] |
| CHARTattack | [3] |
| The Guardian |  [4] |
| Los Angeles Times | [5] |
| Now | [6] |
| The Observer | [7] |
| Paste | (86%)[8] |
| Pitchfork Media |    [9] |
| Rolling Stone | [10] |
| Spin | [11] |
| The Times | [12] |
| Toronto Star | [13] |
| Uncut | [14] |
Electric Arguments is the third album by The Fireman, an experimental music duo consisting of Paul McCartney and producer Youth. The album was first announced 29 September 2008, on Paul McCartney's website, and was released on 24 November 2008 on the duo's website.[15] It is the first Fireman release to be publicly acknowledged by McCartney, and the album cover features the names of both contributors.
Contents |
[edit] Background
The album, unlike the earlier Fireman albums, features prominent vocals. Each song on the album was recorded in one day, the album itself done in only thirteen days, spread over the course of a year.[15]
It debuted at No.79 on the UK Album Charts, marking the first appearance for The Fireman in the British charts. They also made their inaugural appearance on the Billboard 200, reaching No.67.
The duo borrowed the title "Electric Arguments" from the poem "Kansas City to St. Louis" by Allen Ginsberg. In Wired magazine, McCartney stated this was because "he's been looking at the beauty of word combinations rather than their meaning."[16]
| “ | We had a ball making this album, and it was a great departure because it seemed more like improv theatre. In the improv spirit, there are William Burroughs-type cut-ups in the lyrics. I came to "Sing the Changes," as well as all the other songs in the album, with absolutely no concept of what the melody or lyrics would be about. So it was like writing on the spot, which I think lent an electricity to the whole sound. | ” |
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—Paul McCartney [17] |
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[edit] Track listing
All songs written and composed by Paul McCartney.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight" (An edited version premiered on Radio One on 29 September 2008.[18]) | 4:55 |
| 2. | "Two Magpies" | 2:12 |
| 3. | "Sing the Changes" | 3:44 |
| 4. | "Travelling Light" | 5:06 |
| 5. | "Highway" | 4:17 |
| 6. | "Light from Your Lighthouse" | 2:31 |
| 7. | "Sun Is Shining" | 5:12 |
| 8. | "Dance 'Til We're High" | 3:37 |
| 9. | "Lifelong Passion" (Was available briefly as a charity download for Adopt-A-Minefield.[19]) | 4:49 |
| 10. | "Is This Love?" | 5:52 |
| 11. | "Lovers in a Dream" | 5:22 |
| 12. | "Universal Here, Everlasting Now" | 5:05 |
| 13. | "Don't Stop Running" (The song ends at 5:54. A bonus track titled Road Trip, according to the copyright registrants, begins at 7:57.) | 10:31 |
| 14. | "Sawain Ambient Acapella (iTunes bonus track)" (A remix of Lifelong Passion, minus drums and bass.) | 4:53 |
[edit] Critical reception
Electric Arguments was acclaimed by critics, cited as one of the best albums of 2008. Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote, "There are more twists and turns, more textures, than on any other McCartney album in the last 20 years," awarding the album 4 and a half stars.[1] Will Hermes of Rolling Stone called the album "the ex-Beatle's headiest music in years" giving it 4 stars.[10] Pete Paphides of The Times gave the album 4 stars, saying "Electric Arguments is delivered with a disregard for production values or playlist potential that would make, say, Keane or the Kooks blush at their own conservatism".[12]
[edit] Release history
| Country | Date | Label | Format | Catalogue # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 24 November 2008 | One Little Indian | download | |
| CD | TPLP1003CD / 5016958104023[20] | |||
| vinyl LP | TPLP1003[21] | |||
| United States | 25 November 2008 | MPL, ATO Records | download | |
| CD | ATO 0063 / 8 80882 16402 7[22] | |||
| vinyl LP |
[edit] References
- ^ a b Stephen Thomas Erlewine. "Electric Arguments > Review". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1444322/review. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ Evie Navy (29 November 2008). "Electric Arguments". Billboard. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/reviews-album/electric-arguments-1003895496.story. Retrieved 2009-09-09.[dead link]
- ^ Sheena Lyonnais (12 December 2008). "The Fireman — Electric Arguments". CHARTattack. http://www.chartattack.com/reviews/63980/the-fireman. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ Neil Spencer. "CD: Pop review: The Fireman, Electric Arguments | Music | The Observer". Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/09/fireman-paul-mccartney-electric-arguments. Retrieved 2011-09-09.
- ^ Randy Lewis (24 November 2008). "Album review: The Fireman's 'Electric Arguments'". Los Angeles Times. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/music_blog/2008/11/album-review-th.html. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ Tim Perlich (26 November 2008). "Music // The Fireman". Now. http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/discs.cfm?content=166141. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ Neil Spencer (9 November 2008). "Pop review: The Fireman, Electric Arguments". The Observer. http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2008/nov/09/fireman-paul-mccartney-electric-arguments. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ Brent Dey (12 December 2008). "The Fireman: Electric Arguments :: Music Reviews". Paste. http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2008/12/the-fireman-electric-arguments.html. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ Stuart Berman (24 November 2008). "Album Reviews: The Fireman: Electric Arguments". Pitchfork Media. http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/147673-the-fireman-electric-arguments. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ a b Will Hermes (27 November 2008). "Electric Arguments : the fireman : Review". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/24024294/review/24196262/electric_arguments. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ David Marchese (18 November 2008). "The Fireman, 'Electric Arguments' (MPL/ATO)". Spin. http://www.spin.com/reviews/fireman-electric-arguments-mplato. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ a b Pete Paphides (22 November 2008). "The Big CD: The Fireman - Electric Arguments". The Times. http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/cd_reviews/article5174152.ece. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ Greg Quill (2 December 2008). "The Fireman (Paul McCartney and Youth): Electric Arguments". Toronto Star. http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/546763. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ Peter Paphides (2008). "Album review: The Fireman - Electric Arguments". http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/paul_mccartney/reviews/12444. Retrieved 2009-09-09.
- ^ a b "The Fireman Finds Voice With Brand New Album". Paul McCartney.com. 2008-09-29. http://paulmccartney.com/news.php#1453/2008-09?.v=1. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
- ^ Buskirk, Eliot Van (2008-11-18). "Video: Paul McCartney and Youth Talk 'The Fireman'". Wired. http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/11/the-fireman---.html. Retrieved 2008-11-18.
- ^ Jonathon Cott (22 January 2009). "Paul McCartney Q&A: Behind the Fireman's New Psych-Pop Gem". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/25363046/paul_mccartney_qa_behind_the_firemans_new_psychpop_gem. Retrieved 3 May 2009.
- ^ "Hottest Record In The World Right Now - The Fireman". Paul McCartney.com. 2008-09-30. http://paulmccartney.com/news.php#1455/2008-09?.v=3. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
- ^ "New McCartney Track For Adopt-A-Minefield". Paul McCartney.com. 2008-06-04. http://paulmccartney.com/news.php#1218/2008-06?.v=2. Retrieved 2008-11-25.
- ^ "The Fireman (Paul McCartney) Electric Arguments UK CD ALBUM (451712)". http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=451712. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
- ^ "The Fireman (Paul McCartney) Electric Arguments UK DOUBLE LP (451713)". http://eil.com/shop/moreinfo.asp?catalogid=451713. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
- ^ "Paul McCartney - Electric Arguments from Overstock.com". Overstock.com. http://www.overstock.com/Books-Movies-Music-Games/Paul-McCartney-Electric-Arguments/3472852/product.html. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
[edit] External links
- Paul McCartney - Fireman - official album website
- Paul McCartney Q&A: Behind the Fireman's New Psych-Pop Gem (Rolling Stone interview)
