Paul McCartney
Wingspan (Hits & History)
Capitol Records

It has been over thirty years since the Beatles disbanded, but the re-packaging of the Fab Four as both a musical entity and a cultural phenomenon continues unabated (witness last autumn's staggering one-two punch, the Beatles 1 best-of CD and the Anthology book). Recently, the nostalgic excavation has progressed on through the aftermath of the group's dissolution: John Lennon's first two solo LP's have been remastered and reissued, as has George Harrison's exultant solo debut, 1970's All Things Must Pass. It shouldn't come as a surprise, then, that Paul McCartney should see fit to dust off his post-Beatles recordings for a two-disc retrospective (bolstered with Paul-sanctioned specials on both ABC and VH-1, to boot).

Wingspan's song selection covers roughly Paul's first decade after the breakup, and includes nearly as much solo McCartney as it does Wings (especially on the History disc), which is curious since the TV programs seem insistent on arguing that Wings was a viable, democratic group (instead of, oh, maybe a chance for Paul to fulfill his ambitions of being an undisputed bandleader, something he couldn't do with Lennon around). Musically, Wingspan documents the cementing of McCartney as the consummate pop professional - and while some of the more flaccidly commercial hits ("Goodnight Tonight," "With A Little Luck") haven't aged well, listen to the last verses of "Jet" (from 1973's great Band On the Run) and see if you don't hear elements of the vocal style Michael Jackson would employ for his world domination during the 1980s. (A warning for fans: several songs are included in their "Single Edit" versions, including one of Wings' few straight-out rockers, "Junior's Farm." This was done, presumably, so Paul could include more music on each 70-minute disc for his fans, stuff like "Pipes of Peace." Thanks, Paul.) -Patrick Reed

Tiffany Anders

A singular precious orchid in a delicate garden, Tiffany Anders is tended by an accomplished few musical gardeners, Polly Jean Harvey chief among them. They're confident that if her songs and performances aren't compromised with market-revering arrangements and productions, Anders will convey personal strength and find an audience who appreciates it.

From an opening bittersweet pining you're not the person I knew and on through the likes of "Concrete Like Quicksand," Anders is an orchid rooted in one spot. Over and over, she faces down her own fears after being burned by relationships gone bad. She's got a great melodic sense, though: heck, you'd have to have one in order to put over so many songs of similar theme. But with J. Mascis sitting in on drums and Harvey doing most everything else in the studio, the unique shades of heartache and resilience come through for each of the ten tracks. Chiming and swaying mixes of electric and acoustic guitar may be the stuff of "I been done wrong" songs for ages, but Harvey finds freshness that is the helping hand this young singer/songwriter needs.

Anders wishes so hard - too hard - for the man who'll make up for all she's gone through. You might find yourself screaming "let it go!" at the speakers. She's obviously going to pick up another beautiful user on the next go-round. Just one listen to "I See How Much Has Changed" and you'll be running to a store to buy a copy for any drama queens in your life. Meanwhile, this young talent has to lighten up and/or stretch out. Otherwise, this won't be remembered as the record that started her career so much as a footnote in PJ Harvey's. -T.E. Lyons

Monster Magnet

Brothers! Sisters! Magnet heads everywhere! There is no substitute for fire! Fire is one thing that lead singer Dave Wyndorf can light and make you hear the cosmic groove from within your space bound coffin. Fire will make you move to the galactic dance! Fire will make you want MORE! God Says No might have aptly been named "God Says KNOW" since it starts out with a little ditty called "Melt" that encourages you to take the mask that covers your soul and burn it to the ground. Direct and disarmingly true at its peak, and hard hitting and impious at its low points, this hot rod was blueprinted by Lucifer and forged with fire!

The fast, metal soaked songs on this album are meant to inflame one with emotions that might not have otherwise existed. Of course if you've had the Bull God in you, it will come as no surprise that many are esoterically about sex. But just the same it will not be shocking that they are also about breaking the chains that enslave you and how actions lead to consequences you don't always expect. Exemplifying this are "My Little Friend" and "Kiss of the Scorpion," though these are hammered home and not as subtle as the others. "All Shook Out" is about how seeing the truth makes one appear, to the rest of the world, to be insane and should be taken with supervision from a witch doctor or voodoo priestess.

Fully describing any one song on this album is next to impossible without writing a thesis on the subject. Even the simplest song, "Take It," has sublime meanings that are contained outside the border of the words within. As with any album by these guys, it has a hard edge and yet a soft side. So don't be thrown off by the changes you experience. Fire cleanses all. -Fuj-E