Sir Paul McCartney’s new album, “Egypt Station,” was released on September 7, 2018, and has already been greatly received by everyone, young and old. McCartney doesn’t stray far from his usual rock sound, but rather enhances it in a new way. On this record, he includes different instruments like the pan flute and the voices of others. He also gives some tracks a newer electronic sound.

The album opens up with the track, “Opening Station.” This track introduces the whole concept of the album and features muffled talking and noises from the street before slowly transitioning into a choir putting a nuanced twist on the album.

There are only a few ballads, including “I Don’t Know,” “Confidante,” “Hand in Hand,” and “Do It Now.” McCartney fills the album with some fast-paced rock songs that are fit for jamming out in your room, along with songs that start off slow before picking up into an intriguing song. McCartney floods the listener with sounds that aren’t normally heard in most mainstream music.

One of the most out-of-the-box ideas to come from this album is in the song, “Who Cares,” where McCartney sings to people in the midst of facing the phenomenon of bullying. On this track, he sends the reader a message with lyrics like, “Who cares what the idiots say?”  He still sticks with the roots of his old bandmates with the song “People Want Peace,” voicing the same 1960’s mantra heard in previous albums. “Despite Repeated Warnings” also follows a narrative rather than a theme, reminiscent of “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.”

The album closes with two interesting tracks. The last song, titled “Hunt You Down/Naked/C-Link,” is like something you’d find off of Abbey Road. The track has three parts that seamlessly flow into the next, like what some call the “Medley” (Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, The End). “Words Between The Tracks” gives us an inside look at what McCartney’s intentions were for this song. The first section discusses not being able to find your lover, while the second being about, in McCartney’s words, “This thing we go through, it’s life, everyone goes through it. And in a way, you’re naked, socially. You don’t know how to deal with it, you’re naked.” Lastly, C-Link is quite literally an excuse for McCartney to let loose on guitar. As he puts it, “The original take on it was about eleven minutes, I think. But it’s just me really enjoying playing the guitar.” The whole album ends with McCartney himself shouting a quick “Woo!” which is undoubtedly, and unmistakably, Paul McCartney.  

My only complaint about this album is that some of the songs like “Hand in Hand” or “Who Cares” feel too simplistic for someone who’s written such great hits and I wish there was a little more to them lyrically.

After listening to the album numerous times,  I feel that the album was taken in a new direction by McCartney. He’s trying new things while still keeping to the same sound that he’s always had and it’s working out wonderfully. I especially love the more fast-paced songs, as they’re the easiest to jam out to. Overall, I think this album explores more than anyone could’ve imagined and is a definite listen if you want to hear something different from modern rock music.