Flowers in the Dirt/McCartney+Costello

[Carl's Son]

I've been relistening to Flowers in The Dirt. It's not great is it?

I can see why it was hailed as return to form. It's a shift away from the big eighties megastar vibes of Tug and Peace and the production nightmare of Press to Play.

It sounds a bit Of It's Time now but it's the least Eighties sounding of all his Eighties albums and compared to what proceeded it the arrangements and production seem unerringly tasteful. That said, most of the actual songs are bland and forgettable. This One and Put It There are good songs but the three Costello co-writes are head and shoulders above the rest and they sound great too.
Unfortunately I don't like the production on the ones that ended up on Off The Ground but wouldn't people agree that it would have been better if Paul had commited to a full album with Elvis?

[Matt Wilson]

Well you just named five songs you like from the album, so obviously you don't think it's that bad.

[Carl's Son]

Well, sure, but for a supposed return to form from one of the world's greatest living songwriters for half of it to disappoint isn't great.

The main thing is the actual album really suffers from comparison to the McCartney/Costello demos on the archive edition. Surely almost anyone you ask would rather hear those fleshed out properly than Motor of Love or Distractions? It seems like a missed opportunity.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

Distractions is a GREAT song!

[Matt Wilson]

It is.

[toomanyhatz]

It's brought down by stuff like "Rough Ride" (not to mention "Ou Est Le Soleil" - no, seriously, better to not mention it), but I find most of it pretty enjoyable. It's far better than what came before or after, that's for certain.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

(not to mention "Ou Est Le Soleil" - no, seriously, better to not mention it)

The video is incredible. It should be shown with The Room at midnight screenings:

[The Modernist]

I quite like that track! It has a balaeric vibe to it.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

Is “balaeric” French for shit sandwich?

[Neige]

McCartney and Costello should have made an album with the songs they wrote together.

[Geezee]

Well you just named five songs you like from the album, so obviously you don't think it's that bad.

That was my thought too

[Geezee]

I wouldn't call myself a solo McCartney expert, but of his cannon from the last 30 years this would probably come top for me.

[Quaco]

Flowers in the Dirt was a good album, but with McCartney, people's expectations and judgements are so out of whack. Many want to feel that exact same feeling they felt in 1964 or 1966 or 1974, so a song with that sort of feeling gives of the promise that you might end up in that never never land again. "This One" (sitar) or example, or "My Brave Face" (major sixth chord). But as has been noted above, "Distractions" is a fine song in a classic vein. And then the Costello collaborations hint at a Lennonish feeling that had been missing since the second verse of "Band on the Run", which also excites the inner Beatlefan. Though McCartney/Costello produced some strong songs, I can't help but think had they all come out on the same album, we'd find some reason not to completely love it.

I like "Motor of Love" a lot, actually, despite the flat title/concept. Beach Boys influence always yields good rewards in McCartney's hands. It may be corny, but it's about my favorite McCartney song post-Venus and Mars.

[Davey the Fat Boy]

I’m glad someone else likes Motor of Love. I think it a fine song.