Reissue of the 1971 album. Paul McCartney's 2nd solo album, which was credited as a collaboration with his wife, Linda, is a more substantial and produced effort, yet it has much of the same homemade charm as its predecessor. Divided between simple pop/rockers and cleverly constructed mini-suites like 'Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey' and 'Back Seat of My Car', Ram doesn't gel into any major statement, but it has many pleasurable detours. McCartney layers the ramshackle rhythm tracks with odd sound effects and off-kilter arrangements. While the production might not always work, it does make for pleasant ear candy, not only on lovely songs like 'Heart of the Country' but also on throwaway numbers like the hard-rocking 'Smile Away' and 'Monkberry Moon Delight'. Packaged in a paper sleeve. EMI. 2005.Technically, it was Paul and Linda McCartney, since this album was very much a collaboration between them. Some of the material was of the standard we expected ("Monkberry Moon Delight," "The Backseat of My Car," "Uncle Albert/AdmiralHalsey"), but somehow it all seemed entirely too whimsical, as if they'd spent a bit too long isolated on the farm. It was the expectations that were the problem, of course. Paul was simply making a lighthearted album, and we wanted earth-shaking pronouncements. Take Ram on its own terms (i.e., fun), and it's throughly enjoyable. --Chris Nickson
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