Neither the dippy, rustic
Wild Life nor the slick AOR flourishes of
Red Rose Speedway earned
Paul McCartney much respect, so he made the self-consciously ambitious
Band on the Run to rebuke his critics. On the surface,
Band on the Run appears to be constructed as a song cycle in the vein of
Abbey Road, but subsequent listens reveal that the only similarities the two albums share are simply superficial.
McCartney's talent for songcraft and nuanced arrangements is in ample display throughout the record, which makes many of the songs -- including the nonsensical title track -- sound more substantial than they actually are. While a handful of the songs are excellent -- the surging, inspired surrealism of "Jet" is by far one of his best solo recordings, "Bluebird" is sunny acoustic pop, and "Helen Wheels" captures
McCartney rocking with abandon -- most of the songs are more style than substance. Yet
McCartney's melodies are more consistent than any of his previous solo records, and there are no throwaways; the songs just happen to be not very good. Still, the record is enjoyable, whether it's the minor-key "Mrs. Vandebilt" or "Let Me Roll It," a silly response to
John Lennon's "How Do You Sleep?," which does make
Band on the Run one of
McCartney's finest solo efforts. However, there's little of real substance on the record. No matter how elaborate the production is, or how cleverly his mini-suites are constructed,
Band on the Run is nothing more than a triumph of showmanship. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine