Electric Arguments

Track list

Disc 1

1. Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight

   Written by Paul McCartney

   4:55 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Harmonica, Producer, Slide guitar, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

   Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

   Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

   

2. Two Magpies

   Written by Paul McCartney

   2:12 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Double-bass, Drums, Producer, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

   Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

   Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

3. Sing The Changes

   Written by Paul McCartney

   3:44 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Mandolin, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

   Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

   Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

4. Travelling Light

   Written by Paul McCartney

   5:06 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Dingers, Drums, Electric guitar, Flute, Keyboards, Mellotron, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

   Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

   Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

5. Highway

   Written by Paul McCartney

   4:17 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Harmonica, Piano, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

   Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

   Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

6. Light From Your Lighthouse

   Written by Paul McCartney

   2:31 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Double-bass, Drums, Harmonium, Mandolin, Percussion, Producer, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

   Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

   Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

7. Sun Is Shining

   Written by Paul McCartney

   5:12 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

   Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

   Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

8. Dance 'Til We're High

   Written by Paul McCartney

   3:37 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Backing vocals, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Producer, Tambourine, Tubular bells, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

   Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

   Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

9. Lifelong Passion

   Written by Paul McCartney

   4:49 • Studio version • A

   Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Clavioline (?), Drums, Electric guitar, Harmonica, Harmonium, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer, Synthesizer, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

   Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

   Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

10. Is This Love?

    Written by Paul McCartney

    5:52 • Studio version • A

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Flute, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Tambourine, Vibraphone, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

    Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

    Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

11. Lovers In A Dream

    Written by Paul McCartney

    5:22 • Studio version • A

    Paul McCartney : Bass, Cello, Drums, Electric guitar, Electric piano, Keyboards, Organ, Percussion, Producer, Synthesizer, Vibraphone, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

    Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

    Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

12. Universal Here, Everlasting Now

    Written by Paul McCartney

    5:06 • Studio version • A

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Piano, Producer, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

    Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

    Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

13. Don't Stop Running

    Written by Paul McCartney

    10:31 • Studio version • A

    Paul McCartney : Acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, Electric guitar, Flute, Harpsichord, Keyboards, Mandolin, Percussion, Producer, Synthesizer, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

    Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

    Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

14. Road Trip

    Written by Paul McCartney

    Studio version • A

    Paul McCartney : Keyboards, Producer, Synthesizer, Vocals Youth : Producer Clive Goddard : Recording engineer Tim Bran : Programming (?) David Nock : Programming (?)

    Session Recording: December 2007 - June 2008 • Studio Hog Hill Studio, Rye, UK

    Credits & recording details courtesy of Luca Perasi • Buy Paul McCartney: Music Is Ideas. The Stories Behind the Songs (Vol. 1) 1970-1989 on Amazon

From Wikipedia:

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. It is the first Fireman release to be publicly acknowledged by McCartney, and the album cover features the names of both contributors.

Background and recording

Unlike the earlier Fireman albums, Electric Arguments features prominent vocals. Each of the songs was recorded in one day, the album itself being completed in only thirteen days, spread over the course of a year. The album includes the hidden track “Road Trip“, at the end of “Don’t Stop Running“. Remixes of “Lifelong Passion” were made, titled “Sawain Ambient Acapella” and “Sawain Instrumental Dub“. Instrumental mixes of “Sun Is Shining” and “Traveling Light” were made, titled “Equinox Instrumental” and “Travelling Light Instrumental“, respectively. Instrumental dub mixes were made of “Sing the Changes” and “Don’t Stop Running“, titled “Morning Mist Instrumental Dub” and “Wickerman Ambient Dub“, respectively.

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.“

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. – Paul McCartney

Critical reception

Electric Arguments debuted at number 79 on the UK Album Charts, marking the first appearance for The Fireman in the British charts. The duo also made their inaugural appearance on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 67. Electric Arguments was acclaimed by critics, cited as one of the best albums of 2008.

According to reviews aggregator Metacritic, the album rated 74 out of 100, indicating a “generally favourable” critical reception, based on 23 reviews (18 of which were positive, four mixed, and one negative). AllMusic’s Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that “There are more twists and turns, more textures, than on any other McCartney album in the last 20 years …” Will Hermes of Rolling Stone called the album “the ex-Beatle’s headiest music in years“. In a four-star review for The Times, Pete Paphides wrote that “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“.

Less impressed, Alex Macpherson of The Guardian described the album as “heavily laboured hackwork“. He said of the track “Nothing Too Much Just Out of Sight“: “This has been pegged by the more excitable tabloids as a hate rant against [McCartney’s ex-wife] Heather Mills, but if this is what she has had to put up with, it may just have done the unthinkable and engendered sympathy for the poor woman.” Ron Hart of PopMatters rated Electric Arguments 7 out of 10 and considered that the project’s appeal “depends on where you stand as a Macca fan“, following the singer’s run of strong studio albums since Driving Rain in 2001. After opining that these nominal McCartney albums were “much stronger releases on almost every level“, Hart concluded: “Electric Arguments does harbor its own unique charm that will certainly appeal to longtime fans moreover than Macca’s previous pair of Fireman jaunts.” […]

From paulmccartney.com, September 29, 2008:

The Fireman Finds His Voice With Brand New Album Electric Arguments

Album Release Date: 17th November 2008

The Fireman are back after a ten-year break and this time they have something to sing about. For the first time ever the The Fireman have found their voice, Electric Arguments is their first release to feature vocals. Electric Arguments is their third and brand new studio album and it’s not the album people might expect from the mysterious duo. Ambient dreams in rainbow arches describe the circles of The Fireman, is how the duo described their music in a rare interview around the release of their last album ‘Rushes’‚ in 1998. Their first album ‘Strawberries Oceans Ships Forest’, released in 1993, was a solid ambient dance album heavy on electronics. Around this time the identity of The Fireman was unknown until the press exposed the duo as none other than Paul McCartney and Youth. The now defunct music bible Melody Maker heaped praise on the project, ‘Paul McCartney has discovered dance music’‚ the results are staggeringly brilliant. ‘They (The Fireman) take a melody and, with dexterous genre-hopping through ambient, trance and house, evolve a number of breathtaking variations.’ Last year The Fireman returned to work again to start work on what would become Electric Arguments. The results this time are entirely different. Earlier this year The Fireman donated a new track, Lifelong Passion, from Electric Arguments, to the charity Adopt-A-Minefield. This new track marked a directional change for The Fireman. Lifelong Passion showcased a new more traditional song based sound with vocals, going against the sound of the first two albums. And so the speculation began. A studio source was quoted in The Times as describing their new sound like Arcade Fire meets Led Zeppelin. So what had The Fireman been up to and what does the album sound like? Electric Arguments is an eclectic and varied album consisting of thirteen tracks recorded in thirteen days over the period of nearly a year. Each track was written and recorded in the space of one day. The Fireman went into the studio with no plan or clear direction of how they wanted the album to sound. The project took a life of its own and the results will surprise anyone expecting to hear the previous sound of the band. The album’s opener Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight is classic rock and an instant attention grabber. A heavy guitar riff with loud drums and souring vocals, it’s like nothing The Fireman have ever done before. The second track, the acoustic driven Two Magpies immediately takes you in a different direction, calming things right down. Then we reach the third song Sing The Changes, a euphoric upbeat song with an instantly memorable melody. Electric Arguments continues in this fashion, keeping the listener intrigued as to where The Fireman will take them next. Each album track has an entirely different personality, yet somehow this collection sits together perfectly. Other standout tracks include ‘Light From Your Lighthouse’, ‘Sun Is Shining’‚ and Dance Til We’re High’‚ all in keeping with the genre-hopping spirit of the first two The Fireman albums. Electric Arguments demonstrates that Paul McCartney is still interested in pure musical possibilities. This is an album set to both surprise and delight the listener. Made with no record company restraints or a set release date to work to, Electric Arguments was made with complete artistic and creative freedom.

Track listing: The Fireman Electric Arguments 1) Nothing Too Much Just Out Of Sight 2) Two Magpies 3) Sing The Changes 4) Travelling Light 5) Highway 6) Light From Your Lighthouse 7) Sun Is Shining 8) Dance ‘Til We’re High 9) Lifelong Passion 10) Is This Love? 11) Lovers In A Dream 12) Universal Here, Everlasting Now 13) Don’t Stop Running

Produced By Paul McCartney & Youth All tracks written by Paul McCartney Electric Arguments is released by MPL, and manufactured and distributed by One Little Indian Ltd