• Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Sep 13, 2005
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 271 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 19 out of 271

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  1. JT.
    Sep 21, 2005
    1
    Paul McCartney's trip back down Abbey Road, lead to heartache and aching ears after suffering through this miserable album. I listened with much anticipation for something with a good beat. I was sorely disappointed. The songs on this album are not the smooth runnings of a musician, but the strung together words and phrases of someone trying to force a song out of nothingness. Paul Paul McCartney's trip back down Abbey Road, lead to heartache and aching ears after suffering through this miserable album. I listened with much anticipation for something with a good beat. I was sorely disappointed. The songs on this album are not the smooth runnings of a musician, but the strung together words and phrases of someone trying to force a song out of nothingness. Paul should never have released this album. The rythms are mechanical and have no essence of personality to them. I would imagine that even the spirits of John and George, who McCartney said he felt "looking over his shoulder" are cringing at the long drawn out chords, rifs and choppy wording on this album. Paul, do us all a favour, stick to singing your past hits, cause your potential new ones just don't make the grade. You were once a rocker, with an easy side, now that easy side has slid into melencholy and borderlines on being boring. Wake up Paul and smell the essence of rock and roll again. Complacency does not fit you. Expand
  2. GlennG
    Sep 19, 2005
    3
    Pretend you are listening to an unknown singer/songwriter on and MP3 site. WOuld you say these are great songs? No. Not anywhere near what Paul McCartney is capable of when he's inspired and on his game.
  3. DougP
    Sep 23, 2005
    0
    I am a long time McCartney fan who thought it couldn't get any worse than Driving Rain. I was wrong. Utter garbage from start to finish. Can this possibly be the same man that gave us Once Upon a Long Ago?
  4. VazquezA
    Sep 18, 2005
    0
    This is a horrible cd.
  5. Mary-LynneS
    Nov 16, 2005
    0
    For something I looked forward to I foolishly didn't pre-listen and wound up with wasting my time & money! By far the worest CD I ever had the misfortune to waste my hard earned money on garbage from someone who has far more talent. Was astounded to think someone with so much talent and such success would allow this to even be on the market and have their name attached to this! Where For something I looked forward to I foolishly didn't pre-listen and wound up with wasting my time & money! By far the worest CD I ever had the misfortune to waste my hard earned money on garbage from someone who has far more talent. Was astounded to think someone with so much talent and such success would allow this to even be on the market and have their name attached to this! Where is your pride Mr McCartney? Shame on you & whoever was giving such rotten advise! Expand
  6. BoredSilly
    Dec 18, 2005
    0
    I watched the BBC2 doc last night, but had to turn it off when he played English Tea. What a load of shite. If you thought the Frog Chorus was bad, think again. The man has surpassed himself. He should do us all a favour and retire!
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 19 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 17 out of 19
  2. Negative: 0 out of 19
  1. The quiet nature of Chaos and Creation may mean that some listeners will pass it over quickly, since it's a grower, but spend some time with the record and becomes clear that McCartney is far from spent as either a songwriter or record-maker.
  2. Billboard
    70
    McCartney continues to surprise, opening this set with four of his best songs in ages. [17 Sep 2005]
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    There's no question that in places, it's a tad too twee. But what we're hearing is an artist honestly following his muse--always a compelling event. [16 Sep 2005, p.84]