Review: Paul McCartney’s “Amoeba’s Secret”

  “Amoeba’s Secret” is not a new full-length McCartney record.  It is a four-song, live E.P. recorded at the monumentally famous California record store, Amoeba.  This thirteen-and-a-half minute concert was recorded in June 0f 2007 to celebrate the release of his last solo studio album, “Memory Almost Full.”  In recent years, McCartney has seemingly woken up his more adventurous side. He’s released a strong trio of albums with “Chaos and Creation In The Backyard,” “Memory Almost Full” and last year’s stellar collaboration with producer, Youth, “Electric Arguments,” released under the name "The Fireman.” At 66, McCartney is currently as relevant as ever.  His recently announced headlining gig at the famed Coachella festival speaks volumes about his current cultural status.  The four cuts on “Amoeba’s Secret” have a raw, spontaneous sound.  It’s as if he’s still a teenager trying to rock as hard as he can.  McCartney is eternally youthful, an observation which brings a strange sense of comfort.  Here’s a man who has reclaimed his youthful energy.  The crowd goes wild as what I’m assuming is a keyboard string section introduces the “Almost Full” cut, “Only Mama Knows.”  Suddenly the song bursts into a quick, prog-like segue. McCartney’s bold rocking performance is fully set off.  What’s amazing about the song in this form is that the rawness accentuates McCartney’s sonic diversity and range.  He rocking out pretty hard here but his arrangement is tight and complex.  The serious, somber beginning string riff almost gives it the initial tone of a classical piece. What are we to expect?  After all, this was the man who brought us both “Eleanor Rigby” and “Helter Skelter.”     Next, McCartney gets light-hearted, delving into the reggae-flavored Wings song “C Moon.”  McCartney has lived many musical lives and it’s only fitting that his Wings work gets some respect.  Although this period is not his most beloved, here, this track sounds pretty good with its horn sounds and its sunny tone. It’s a welcome addition.  “That Was Me,” from “Memory Almost Full” is next.  The beginning brings to mind the Beatles famous cover of Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox,” and it also emphasizes his movement back to his more youthful sound.  It’s back-to-basics, if you will.  The lyrics are about his experiences as a younger man.  It’s serves as a three-minute minimalist autobiography set to a blues-driven backdrop.  (“That was me, / At the party, / Sweating cobwebs, / In the cellar on TV. / Yeah, that was me. / The same me that stands here, now…”) He sings with simultaneous pride and disbelief.  He’s a lucky man.  He knows it.  Looking back, his fantastic experiences must not seem real. The set closes with one of the Beatle classics that set off their whole career.  He rocks right through “I Saw Her Standing There.” The crowd goes wild as if it’s 1964 again.  Truth be told, probably a good portion of the Amoeba crowd wasn’t alive when the British Invasion hit but that just speaks to McCartney’s timeless work.  He bangs this song out like he wrote it yesterday and it hasn’t lost any of its intensity.  This E.P. is a must own for any McCartney fan.  It shows he’s a great live performer.  Sadly, it’s only a taste.  It left me wanting more.  I would’ve liked to have heard a full album recorded this way.  For those who may have forgotten, “Amoeba’s Secret” is an amazing reminder of McCartney’s power. My hope is that he can maintain this kind of energy and attitude for many years to come.     All hail Sir Paul!!!