After The Beatles broke up in 1970, all four had solo careers. From time to time a recording put out by a former member was considered great, but none of the solo albums reached the heights or "event" status that they achieved when they were together.

Last week I listened to the latest release of The Fireman, the collaboration of McCartney with producer Youth, formerly of Killing Joke. The quality of the music, the creative energy level, is a throwback to what the Beatles were.

This could be the best work McCartney has put out since the The Beatles White Album, or the original solo work "McCartney", albeit very different. From the bluesy / metal first cut, "Nothing too Much out of Sight" that includes barking, growling along with an electronic raspy heavy breathing McCartney, surely a throwback to Helter Skelter. This is not silly love songs.  Even the softer piece's like "Two Magpies" which sounds like it was influenced by McCartney's own earlier work, have an edge that hasn't been heard in years. 

Electric Arguments is the third release of The Fireman, but the first to acknowledge McCartney as a member. The first two, "Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest" in 1993 and "Rushes" in 1998 were more electronic club sounding instrumental ventures. 

The 13 songs on "Electric Arguments" were written and recorded in 13 days, a song a day, with McCartney playing every instrument, similar to his very first solo work "McCartney". This is also one of those recordings that should be listened to in it's entirety.  One cut blends into the next. The only thing missing is the subtle humor that the Beatles put into their recordings. 

From the U2 inspired "Sing the Changes' and "Dance Til we're High", to the club sounding drum work  in "Lovers in a Dream',  to the 2 minute silent pause at the end before the last psychedelic cut of the album is heard, that include backward whispering, oh yea.   

If you just listen and think these cuts are part of a Beatles album, it might really sound like it. Not of what the Beatles were, but what the Beatles might have grown into. 

"Electric Arguments", great, no argument. 

Nice little interview with Sir Paul and Youth.