KISSES ON THE BOTTOM
| Paul McCartney
KISSES ON THE BOTTOM
Kisses on the Bottom is the 16th solo studio album by Paul McCartney consisting primarily of covers of traditional pop music and jazz. Released in February 2012 on Starbucks' Hear Music label, it was McCartney's first studio album since Memory Almost Full in 2007. The album was produced by Tommy LiPuma and includes just two original compositions by McCartney: "My Valentine" and "Only Our Hearts". The former features Eric Clapton on guitar, while the latter features Stevie Wonder on harmonica. Kisses on the Bottom peaked at number 3 on the UK Albums Chart and number 5 on the US Billboard 200, while also topping Billboard magazine's Jazz Albums chart.- WIKIPEDIA
Critic Reviews
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RollingStone
a love letter to Nancy Shevell, the new Mrs. McCartney.
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The Guardian
because the renditions are so breezy, the emotional depths of these songs remain resolutely unexplored.
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Ultimate Classic Rock
It's highly doubtful that this will be McCartney's playbook from here on out, but rather a casual stop along the way.
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Entertainment
It's de-lovely.
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The Telegraph
Paul McCartney abandons the guitar and pays homage to the music of his youth.
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AV/MUSIC
Here they sound like preludes to a nice cup of tea and an afternoon nap.
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Los Angeles Times
Gentle on the ears and soft on the heart, Kisses might be of no greater or lesser consequence than an easygoing golf outing among friends or a weekend spent digging a garden near the back fence, but its pleasures, though small and sleepy, can be gratifying.
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paste
Kisses on the Bottom is a winner from beginning to end.
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The New York Times
The music ... floats over you like a light mist on a cool spring morning in an English garden as the sun glints through the haze.
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BBC
And after years of personal and professional earnestness, he sounds like he's having fun.
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CLASH
It's got a sweet, easy intimacy.
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American Songwriter
It's fine, it's dandy, and it's completely inessential.
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CoS
Kisses on the Bottom is a respectable collection from a pop mastermind.
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popMATTERS
Kisses on the Bottom may only get you about halfway there, flowers in hand wondering whether a second date is on the cards, unsure if that's even what you want at all.
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Chicago Tribune
These songs are meant to swing, but McCartney lets them plod.
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DROWNED IN SOUND
Such relaxed saunters down musical memory lane have been done before, and often better.
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NOW
His usually formidable voice could have saved it, but he often sounds like he's struggling to hit the notes.
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INDEPENDENT
The lite-jazz treatment of standards on Kisses on the Bottom seems like a misstep.
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SPIN
Sir Paul McCartney has made an utterly forgettable, featherweight record designed primarily to appeal to Sir Paul McCartney.
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ALL MUSIC
As a vocalist, this may not be his natural forte, but he takes great care with the songs, and that palpable love is enough to make Kisses on the Bottom worth a spin or two.
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NPR
It takes about 10 seconds — and a glance at the album's title — to recognize that Kisses on the Bottom is not going to rank among the major recorded works of Paul McCartney's life.
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UPROXX
McCartney is paying homage to the music his father loved and that he grew up listening to
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TIME
The former Beatle has a great reverence for standards and he does them proud on this very charming album.
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QRO
When considering Paul McCartney’s music catalogue, if you’re looking for the stuff of legend, stay far away from this album.
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NJN Network
He sings some of the songs, mostly old, that influenced his musical tastes.
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Tiny Mix Tapes
Kisses on the Bottom’s concept: Paul McCartney makes jazzy renditions of pop standards he treasures. That’s about it.
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Uncut
In a genre mostly attempted from lazy despair, this album is made with care, love and expertise and it shows on every song.
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EXPRESS
It’s no great vocal performance, many have trod this path before and there’s not much to say about the choice of songs but it has its charm.
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Contact Music
these versions don't have the same emotional pull as the greats that he so clearly wanted to emulate.
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Limelight Magazine
This collection of jazz standards and showtunes showcases McCartney as a singer who, while not possessed of the most opulent timbre, has a sweet voice and a knack for making lyrics ring true, especially when it comes to lurve.
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ICON FETCH
While it does make for some pleasant background music, with some more upbeat song choices, and more engaging singing from McCartney, this could’ve been a lot better.
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Montreal Gazette
We can be thankful he took his time and got it right. The album is a beauty.
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The Scotsman
McCartney is not a remarkable singer and it shows here.
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leighvalleylive
'Kisses on the Bottom' is a drag.
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day trippin
Kudos to Paul for following his creative heart and exploring the “jazzy” side of himself.
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the arts desk
Beatle raised on big-band standards croons a love letter to the yesteryear of his youth.
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Christian Century
It’s a shame, though, that he doesn’t play on the album—and that the arrangements stick with the lounge-swing script, all polish and no spark.
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AU.
For the most part Kisses on the Bottom isn’t going to set the music world alight and likely doesn’t signal a whole new direction for McCartney.
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THE BLADE
This 14-song set of mostly pre-rock swing tunes that Macca learned in his Liverpool living room growing up is a warmhearted trifle, a music box of chocolate truffles proffered to his new wife, Nancy Shevell.
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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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entertainment.ie
lulls the listener too close to boredom.
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San Diego Reader
With his constipated take on these ancient ditties, one wonders if Sir Paul should add a little fiber to his diet.
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Backstage Auctions
it just might make you fall in love with McCartney all over again.
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Lance's Blog
it is wonderful to listen to if you want to unwind.
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Record Collection Magazine
He may once have been one of the finest voices in rock’n’roll, but a jazz singer he isn’t.
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neon tommy
if you find it periodically yawn-inducing, McCartney can do whatever he wants.
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Adrian's Album Reviews
Hard to be too critical overall, the playing is always impeccable, but when the playing and production are the most note-worthy things about an album, an eyebrow or two is always raised.
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Emmanuel Fonte
Kisses on the Bottom is for listeners who appreciate great songwriting blended with velvet smooth performances by some seriously skilled instrumentalists.
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VVN Music
Paul McCartney has joined the throngs of rock performers dipping back into the music of the 30's and 40's but with one big difference. He understands and appreciates the music of that era.
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The New Republic
McCartney has made a pretty, cheerily listenable album of covers.
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The Orange County Register
he’s gratefully given us a tender listen steeped in personal history, one that’s a breed apart from the rest of the schlock standards still clogging the trad-pop racks.
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Phoenix New Times
Country crooner Brad Paisley took to Twitter saying: "It's only February, but Sir Paul is an absolute lock for worst album title of the year. Actually, maybe all time."
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Iowa State Daily
This Beatle has gotten older and wiser, and so has his music. It’s a great listen that will instantly make you relax and smile.
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poppmuzik
Surprisingly (to me anyway), Kisses On The Bottom has generally received good reviews and maybe I just don’t get it.
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