Poor old Paul McCartney could probably release the greatest album ever made tomorrow and it would still get criticised for not sounding enough like the Beatles. With this in mind, it's time to give credit where it's due: Driving Rain is easily his best collection of songs in over a decade. Recorded in double-quick time with a posse of LA session musicians, there's a freshness and lightness of touch here that's often been lacking in McCartney's recent work. It also provides some insight into his recent personal upheavals, with several tracks clearly dedicated to his late wife Linda and current love Heather (whether there's any significance in the fact that the latter gets all the best tunes is one for the psychologists to ponder). An uncomplicatedly enjoyable album, marred only by McCartney's trademark vices of excessive sentimentality and nursery-rhyme lyrics.
