Off the Ground: Paul McCartney in the 1990s

Sharing a title with McCartney’s 1993 studio album, this is a sharp-edged and expansive account of a decade’s worth of Macca’s music and other creative output. Moores (Electric Wizards: A Tapestry of Heavy Music, 1968 to the Present) argues that the 1990s were the most significant years of McCartney’s career (except of course for the 1960s). The 1990s, Moores writes, “would see McCartney re-emerge with…energy, momentum and reinforced self-belief.” This decade saw him record live and studio albums, compose music in a variety of genres, including classical and electronic, collaborate with other artists, embark on mega tours, and much more. Moores looks at McCartney before the 1990s and discusses the Britpop music scene, projects like the Flaming Pie album and the multimedia retrospective The Beatles Anthology, and other music with a critical yet appreciative eye. His crackling narrative highlights the decade’s music scene, its players, and, more importantly, Sir Paul’s role in it. There are extensive notes and a select discography for further exploration.