Albums to watch

Kisses on the Bottom

Paul McCartney

Kisses on the Bottom

Sir Paul ditches the guitar for his 35th post-Beatles album and finds inspiration in piano pop instead

ADM rating[?]

5.9

Label
Mercury
UK Release date
06/02/2012
US Release date
07/02/2012
  1. 8.0 |   Daily Telegraph

    He performs with delicacy and nuance
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  2. 8.0 |   The Guardian

    It's beautifully done, with palpable affection for the songs, airy whimsy and perhaps a hint of mischief
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  3. 8.0 |   The Irish Times

    There were fears this labour of love would be a cloying affair, but it is, mostly, a stunning and affecting piece of work
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  4. 8.0 |   Uncut

    Made with care, love and expertise and it shows on every song. Print edition only

  5. 8.0 |   Paste Magazine

    What a surprise! Kisses on the Bottom is a winner from beginning to end
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  6. 7.9 |   The AU Review

    McCartney has drawn together a collection of nostalgic numbers, and breathed a little bit of life in them
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  7. 7.0 |   Blurt

    Throughout the tunes, you can hear that McCartney loves the language of the old songs
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  8. 7.0 |   NME

    Only those with a heart of steel would not raise a smile at some point. Print edition only

  9. 7.0 |   BBC

    A very pleasurable set of less-than-common covers from the still-rocking knight
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  10. 6.0 |   Mojo

    McCartney treats the material with respect, exuding charm by the bucket load. Print edition only

  11. 6.0 |   PopMatters

    McCartney is clearly enthusiastic for the project, wearing the velvet lapels and smoky ambience with a natural comfort
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  12. 6.0 |   Evening Standard

    [The songs] are immaculately arranged and played with distinction
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  13. 6.0 |   Consequence Of Sound

    There are orchestral flourishes here and there, but they never come across as overbearing, nor do they push the record into the dreaded territory known only as “schmaltz"
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  14. 6.0 |   Rolling Stone

    McCartney clearly loves the sentimentality these tunes thrive on
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  15. 5.8 |   A.V. Club

    If only most of the album didn’t sound so sleepy, wrapping McCartney in strings as he works through songs that he clearly likes but just as clearly don’t engage him all that much
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  16. 5.0 |   Drowned In Sound

    A boring album that seems even more turgid because it is from an exceptional artist. We want better, but gradually expectations lower after each new album
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  17. 5.0 |   Rave Magazine

    Very competent soft-jazz renditions of hoary old songs, all tinkling pianos, brushed snares, and velvety pizzicato double-bass
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  18. 5.0 |   Entertainment.ie

    The pace of the record, supplied by Dianna Krall's band, suits McCartney's voice now that it's not quite the tour-de-force that it used to be but, more than once, lulls the listener too close to boredom
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  19. 4.0 |   State

    A pleasant, listenable but almost entirely superfluous footnote to a patchy recent career
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  20. 4.0 |   Tiny Mix Tapes

    Paul McCartney makes jazzy renditions of pop standards he treasures. And that’s about it
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  21. 4.0 |   The Independent

    The lite-jazz treatment of standards on Kisses on the Bottom seems like a misstep
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  22. 4.0 |   Independent on Sunday

    To paraphrase Dolly, it costs a lot of money to sound this cheap
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  23. 4.0 |   The Observer

    We are all still firmly in thrall to melody and love songs. These standards have a lot still to say – if only they sang a little more potently here

  24. 4.0 |   The Scotsman

    McCartney is not a remarkable singer and it shows here
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  25. 4.0 |   musicOMH

    In his prime, McCartney was a much underrated rock vocalist, but he’s clearly no Frank Sinatra and his slightly raspy, thinning tone isn’t really smooth and rich enough to be suited to the material here
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Paul McCartney: Kisses on the Bottom

  • Download full album for just £8.49
  • 1. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter £0.99
  • 2. Home (When Shadows Fall) £0.99
  • 3. It's Only A Paper Moon £0.99
  • 4. More I Cannot Wish You £0.99
  • 5. The Glory Of Love £0.99
  • 6. We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me) £0.99
  • 7. Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive £0.99
  • 8. My Valentine £0.99
  • 9. Always £0.99
  • 10. My Very Good Friend The Milkman £0.99
  • 11. Bye Bye Blackbird £0.99
  • 12. Get Yourself Another Fool £0.99
  • 13. The Inch Worm £0.99
  • 14. Only Our Hearts £0.99
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