By R.J. Melby 

Writer/Reporter 

Paul McCartney’s new album dropped last Friday, and it seems the soon to be eighty-four-year-old musician and former Beatle hasn’t lost his touch. 

“The Boys of Dungeon Lane” was released on May 29^th,  and I had the wonderful chance to listen to the album while driving my dad to the airport. As I pulled out from my driveway, I was mesmerized by McCartney’s hypnotizing opening track “As You Lie There” and its spoken-word poetry introduction.  

Despite his age, McCartney’s been relentless, continuously touring and recently appearing on  
“Saturday Night Live.” He has shown a dedication to his work few can match, and “Dungeon Lane” proves a worthy addition to the musician’s many achievements. 

Every song on the album has a distinctive ring, with powerful hooks and McCartney’s nuanced lyrics. McCartney demonstrates that this is an album of nostalgia, but it is far from soft spoken. It has punch, a drive to it that refuses to back down despite the weight of the years.  

There are references to the pre-Beatle days, about times growing up as a boy in Liverpool. “Down South” reminisces on McCartney’s days learning guitar with former Beatles bandmates George Harrison and John Lennon. Speaking of “The Days We Left Behind,” another reminiscent song, McCartney told Zane Lowe in an interview, “We started to look at memories of the past,” which is an apt way to describe the approach in recording this album. 

Through the reverberating bittersweet melodies, McCartney delivers an album of epic proportions. Ringo Starr, former Beatle bandmate, collaborates with McCartney on the track “Home to Us.” The lyrics of the songs have a wistful bite filled with joyful memories. Other songs have vision swept by teardrops and LSD. “Mountain Top,” for example, isn’t shy about McCartney’s past, with imagery reminiscent of the sixties “Sgt. Pepper and Magical Mystery Tour” era.  

The album is good old-fashioned rock and roll, and we love that. You feel the weight of the years, and the story of McCartney’s life as he walks you along memory lane. For those who think McCartney’s golden days are behind him, think again. This album is another triumphant return.