Paul McCartney hardly needs any promotion from me, but that hasn’t stopped this album being promoted literally everywhere. There’s been wall to wall coverage of it, McCartney has popped up on podcasts, YouTube and TV shows around the world so I bet there’s very few people who have any interest in music who are unaware that Sir Paul has released a new album.

And the other factor is that, quite simply, does it matter whether or not it’s any good? I mean, let’s face it, it could well be his last studio album so it’s going to sell container loads right across the planet.

But actually it is very good. Oh yes there will be all those people banging on about how he can’t sing like he used to and at 83 he really should be packing it in and what’s he doing this for isn’t he rich enough….

And on and on, because, of course, we/they all know better about how the most successful English pop writer of all time should choose to live his life.

Sorry to burst any bubbles but this is actually a very good album. It’s not Sgt Pepper, it’s not Band On The Run and it isn’t even my favourite album of the year, (Ellur holds that accolade currently, see my review of her album) but it is very good. It’s superbly produced, the songs are typical McCartney when he’s at or near his best and most of all there’s a raw honesty to the album. Here’s a man who has it all, lived many lifetimes in one reflecting in song about his early memories and stuff that helped shaped who he is. In short it’s a lovely album. The songs are sweet, laced with nostalgia and whimsy without ever being sickly.

If this does turn out to be the last studio album Paul releases then he bows out on a real high, but don’t right him off just yet – there’s still considerable life in the old dog yet and this album demonstrates it magnificently.