ADRIAN THRILLS reviews Look Up by Ringo Starr – Ringo goes country with a little help from his friends
Ringo Starr: Look Up (Decca)
Verdict: Ringo goes to Nashville
Six decades since Beatlemania and the British conquest of U.S. music charts, the most renowned musical acts hailing from Liverpool continue to make headlines.
Regardless of their separation in 1970, The Beatles found themselves back on top of the music charts by the end of 2024.
In 1970, they went their separate ways, but by the close of 2024, the Fab Four had climbed back to the pinnacle of pop music.
Beyond a luxury vinyl collection and a Disney+ documentary produced by Martin Scorsese, Paul McCartney concluded his Got Back tour in December with an impressive series of four victorious concerts in Manchester and London.
Currently, Ringo Starr, who unexpectedly joined Paul McCartney on the final night of their tour, is jumping into the mix with a fresh solo album that’s among his finest works in recent years.
Since his album “What’s My Name” in 2019, he collaborates with producer T. Bone Burnett on a collection of country-leaning songs that complement his relaxed vocal delivery and free-flowing drumming technique.
Last year, country music experienced a comeback due to collaborative projects like the albums of Beyoncé and Post Malone, as well as Shania Twain’s performance at Glastonbury.
However, it would be hard to claim that Ringo, at 84 years old, is just hopping on a trend. In fact, inspired by country-blues artist Lightnin’ Hopkins, he attempted to immigrate to the United States even before reaching adulthood.
Apart from being a member of The Beatles, he also took the lead vocals on their 1965 rendition of the classic country and western tune “Act Naturally,” originally by Buck Owens. This song is one he continues to perform live. Moreover, in 1970, he released his debut country album titled “Beaucoups Of Blues.
In his usual manner, he often leans on the assistance of friends on Look Up. However, instead of solely depending on experienced musicians, producer Burnett has added some variety by matching him with up-and-coming talents as well. Among these newcomers are Grammy-winning bluegrass guitarists Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings.
Singers Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig, of country-pop band Lucius, are also on board.
Among these 11 songs, it is nine that Burnett either wrote alone or collaborated on, while Ringo Starr received credit for penning only one of them.
However, the ex-Beatle, having tracked his performances at his Los Angeles home studio, appears to be completely invested. Contrasting with six years ago when he seemed content in a laid-back, low-key phase on What’s My Name, he now seems to be embracing risks more enthusiastically.
Kicking off the album is the track “Breathless,” which establishes a mood of love tunes and melancholic ballads. This blues-influenced country song features playful drum accents.
As Burnett suggests, Ringo’s drumming style significantly influenced every drummer that followed, and his performance in this piece is commendable – strong yet uncomplicated, much like the man himself.
Elsewhere, bluegrass virtuoso Tuttle adds striking female harmonies to the optimistic title track.
On “I Live For Your Love,” she adds more vocals, plays both the guitar and mandolin, while on “Can You Hear Me Call,” she takes part in a complete duet performance alongside Ringo.
In simpler terms, during the song “Rosetta,” Joe Walsh – a well-known companion in the band The Eagles – performs an energetic slide guitar solo. The tune “Time On My Hands” expresses sadness over a past romance.
Ringo Starr’s only co-written track, titled “Thankful,” concludes the album on an uplifting note. The addition of bluegrass virtuoso Alison Krauss’ harmonies brings to mind the two albums produced by T Bone Burnett that she and Robert Plant created together. It’s a heartfelt ballad that serves as a perfect closing piece.
Released in the UK on Decca, the label that famously turned down The Beatles in 1962,
Look Up represents a fashionable comeback, and it rectifies, albeit tardily, one of pop music’s significant past injustices.”
“Returning with style is Look Up, an act that eventually sets right one of the long-standing wrongs in the history of pop music.
Franz Ferdinand: The Human Fear (Domino)
Verdict: Art-rockers grow up gracefully
20 years back, Franz Ferdinand, with their snug pants and spiked cords, were a key component of the final powerful surge of British guitar-driven music, as evidenced by their debut album.
The Glasgow band, named after an Austrian archduke whose death ignited the First World War, received a Mercury Prize for their self-titled album. However, they’ve yet to fully regain the initial energy that propelled them.
In the year 2004, they aimed to create music suitable for dancing by women. On their sixth album, titled “The Human Fear”, they continue encouraging us to dance, but the tunes penned by lead singer Alex Kapranos have grown more melancholic over time.
Currently a married man with one child, there’s a sense of midlife anxiety lingering in his tone, yet his implicit advice appears to be: stay composed and persevere.
On the song ‘Audacious’, he croons about having felt the threads of reality fraying, backed by shiny guitar riffs and a hook reminiscent of Mott The Hoople’s interpretation of All The Young Dudes.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: “After getting used to the round-the-clock care and companionship from the dedicated nursing staff, I find myself reluctant to leave the hospital, even with my improved health. There’s something comforting about having someone to talk to and a thermometer always at hand.
These standout tracks – Everyday Dreamer, Night Or Day, and Bar Lonely – echo the dynamic power of our early chart-toppers like Take Me Out and The Dark of the Matinée.
Attempts at different genres such as synth-pop and reggae sometimes lack the same powerful effect.
An exception worth mentioning is the song “Black Eyelashes,” which deviates from the norm as it’s a rock track that includes a bouzouki, serving as a significant tribute to Kapranos’s Greek lineage.
While most of his music strays away from this, there’s a unique exception in the form of “Black Eyelashes,” a rock song that incorporates a bouzouki, showcasing a respectful nod to Kapranos’s Greek heritage.
Today, both albums have been released. Starting on March 5, Franz Ferdinand will embark on a tour at the Shepherd’s Bush Empire in London, with tickets available through ticketmaster.co.uk.
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2025-01-10 04:28