This album, more than most, splits McCartney fans – it seems you either love it or hate it. But in actual fact Press to Play is one of Macca’s bravest albums in that he comes completely out of his soft rock comfort zone and experiments with structure and sound.
The album came hot on the heels of the Give my Regards to Broad Street soundtrack (bad film, good album) which in turn followed mega hits, Pipes of Peace and Tug of War. Personally I think Press to Play is a better album than its three immediate predecessors, even if it does often display an over reliance on syths which ultimately have a synthetic feel.
Stranglehold – a rousing start to the album – this has an easy going beat and there are several tempo changes through the piece. It’s got an 80′s feel to it and perhaps the mix buries the vocals a little too far into the instrumentation but overall it gets the feet tapping and the sudden tempo change towards the end takes the listener by surprise.
Good Times Coming – is kinda Good Day Sunshine updated – maybe not musically but in that it conveys the same message. The lyric, looking back to a long gone golden summer, are complex and bounce along nicely. Macca’s lyrical gifts are in full force here and it is impossble not to like this bouncy song.
Talk More Talk – is an electronic piece that comes close to the avant garde. The lyrics too are experimental and rambling and the beat is once again upbeat. This track jumps along and is a highlight of the album.
Footprints – a gorgeous ballad that could have done with perhaps a softer production, but all the same it shows Macc’s amazing gift for melody and is not far removed from songs like Blackbird and Bluebird.
Only Love Remains – this power ballad has a different feel to anything else on the album and it feels out of place here. It’s also good lyrically but far too over produced and can’t reach the heights of similar ballads such as Tug of War’s, Wanderlust. Far too sweet for its own good.
Press – a bouncy pop number that was released as a single. It is a slice of typical 80′s pop and has such feel vapid to me.
Pretty Little Head – this is a standout track and finds Macca once again experimenting with traditional song structure. This song is so good that it wouldn’t be out of place on the recent Fireman album, Electrical Arguements.
Move Over Buster – uptempo and sounding almost like Bowie.
Angry – Paul does pop/punk but he does it so well.
However Absurd – this song ended the original vinal and it’s another power ballad but it is successful lyrically and is far more satisfying than Only Love Remains.
The CD reissue also features the following tracks.
Write Away – a poor pop number that was well to be left off the original album.
It’s Not True – this song needs a few listens before it catches on but it gets the listener eventually and is a fine little ditty.
Tough on a Tightrope – pop by numbers. Nuff Said.
Spies Like Us – Ahhhhh!
Once Upon a Long Ago – A gorgeous power ballad. The CD contains the long version which was originally released only as a 12 inch single.
