Paul, always known to latch on to current trends in music now and again, takes a stab at the new wave/synthesizer craze with 1980's "McCartney II". Like 1970's "McCartney", Paul wrote, performed and recorded the album in solitude, with Linda adding harmonies - hence the album title. While his foray into keyboard cheese doesn't fare as well as his catchy flirtations with disco, this album does have moments. However, they're usually when Paul turns off the Casio and picks up a guitar. The opening track "Coming Up", is an infectous piece of optimistic pop-funk that is still a mainstay in Paul's live shows. "On The Way" is a hollowed-out blues ballad that ranks up with earlier (and overlooked) gems like "Oo You" and "Let Me Roll It". "Nobody Knows" and "Bogie Music" are essentially sloppy but funny boogie stomps. The album does meet its quota of trademark McCartney sugar ballads like "Waterfalls", "Summer's Day Song" and "One Of These Days" that are nonetheless lovely to sing along to.

Note the import version contain the extended bonus track "Secret Friend", a bubbly but simple instrumental piece that probably serves as Paul's finest attempt at synthesizer whirlwind circa 1980.

"McCartney II" was recorded in 1980 right after Paul disbanded Wings. Like his first solo album, "McCartney II" is another stripped down, at home, McCartney-only production, "McCartney II" finds Paul in a rather experimental-possibly drug-induced-state. McCartney explores synth-pop here a year before it blew up in the pop-market. Taking a cue from artists like Kraftwerk, Devo and Brian Eno, "McCartney II" has everything from New Wave spaz-outs ("Temporary Secretary"), ambient/folk ballads ("Waterfalls") and paranoid techno ditties ("Darkroom"). Plus, there is funky and ebullient pop ("Coming Up"). Sadly, "McCartney II" marked the end of the Wings era in the same manner "McCartney" marked the end of The Beatles era. But also like "McCartney", "McCartney II" is a charmingly oddball album. And even though he was following the path of techno pioneers, McCartney managed, through his raw production and mixing of real instruments, to create an album that's far less dated than other, colder techno albums from the time-period. It often sounds like the low-fi electronica from 1990s indi-rock acts. Early Stereolab springs to mind. Like two other unsung gems, "Wild Life" and "Back to the Egg", "McCartney II" was snarled at by the critics. However, there was one cat who praised it in 1980: John Lennon. He even cited the "Coming Up" single as inspiring him out of retirement and to record what would be his final album, "Double Fantasy" (a FAR more conservative recording than "McCartney II"). Overall, "McCartney II" is a great album for those who like funky, witty, homespun, experimental pop-music with a rock & roll edge. Those interested in the album should definitely get the import CD with extra tracks. Especially for the extra track "Secret Friend": an atmospheric ambient/trance song. It's such a beautiful piece of music and really shows McCartney's stylistic range.

'McCartney II' has never been a popular album. Most people view it as a failed experiment or a mere oddity. However, fans of 80s retro music and synth-pop are re-discovering this album all over again (some for the first time ever). In 2003, "Temporary Secretary," was chosen for inclusion on a European compilation of 80s dance music called 'A Secret History,' proving that Paul was right up there all along with a wink.

As a previous reviewer pointed out, one shouldn't expect mainstream McCartney (i.e. "My Love"), when listening to 'McCartney II.' This is Paul in his experimental mode, having a blast with synthesizers and creating some funky tracks like "Darkroom," and "Frozen Jap." There's also "Waterfalls" -- one of his most underrated ballads, and "One of These Days" which is simply profound. "Summer's Day Song" recalls both "Strawberry Fields Forever," and "Spider and I," -- a track from Brian Eno's 'Before and After Science' album.

The ultimate highlight for me is one of the bonus tracks, the 10 minute "Secret Friend," which is a hypnotic and dreamy ride into the unknown. It's one of my all-time favorite McCartney tracks, just because it's so unlike anything else he's ever done.

Recommended for open-minded Beatles or McCartney fans, or anyone who likes retro synth-pop or ambient music.

After over ten years of releasing single after glossy smash single, Paul McCartney lets fly this wonderfully eclectic collection of songs. The studio version of 'Coming Up' is helium-induced white robot funk. 'Temporary Secretary' is a brain-hurting synthesizer sequence with crowed vocals. If you can't handle early DEVO or Suicide, this one may run you out of the room. It ranks with Alice Cooper's 'Clones' and ELO's 'Yours Truly, 2095' as one of the best New Wave songs done by an outsider to the scene. Amazing! On the rest of the album McCartney goes on to lay down some blues, (silly) love songs, Casio-driven instrumentals, and whatever other styles strike his fancy. The hymnal 'Summer's Day Song' reminds me of Eno's 'Spider and I' off Before and After Science. Yes, I just said that. The joyously neverending bonus track 'Secret Friend' (originally the B-Side to 'Temporary Secretary') has an exotic/tropical feel and may remind electronic music lovers of Yellow Magic Orchestra. So you're asking, "how can one ex-winged-beatle sound like so many other musical pioneers?". Well, McCartney II quite possibly proves that it was McCartney all along who wore the shiny pants in the family.

MCCARTNEY II proves just how unpredictable James Paul McCartney can be. Maybe that's because he seems to love all kinds of music, and those who follow McCartney's post-Beatles career will note that he has tried close to everything. Released in 1980, MCCARTNEY II dabbles in new wave sound. OK, it does not satisfy as much as most of his many albums but still offers four worthwhile tracks: "Coming Up," "Bogey Music," "Darkroom" and "One of These Days." Now the newer CD version offers bonus tracks including the disco single "Goodnight Tonight," adding value. For would-be Paul McCartney listeners, I would first recommend safer bets such as BAND ON THE RUN, RAM, OFF THE GROUND, PRESS TO PLAY, WINGS AT THE SPEED OF SOUND and FLAMING PIE. But MCCARTNEY II delivers just enough, and I also like it because McCartney once again dared try to something different.