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Ringo Starr
Liverpool 8
(Capitol)
First Appeared in The Music Box, January 2008, Volume 15, #1
Written by John Metzger
Thu January 10, 2008, 06:40 AM CST
January typically has been the dumping ground for albums that likely were
slated to be critical and commercial disappointments. More recently, however, a
different story simultaneously has unfolded as the early part of the year also
has been used to highlight quality endeavors that would have gotten lost in the
shuffle of the competitive holiday shopping season. Most notably, Rosanne Cash’s
autobiographical Black Cadillac was ushered to market in 2006, where it
carefully was fed and nurtured until it rightfully became her most highly
revered effort. Twelve months later, Peter Rowan and Tony Rice issued Quartet,
and Gill Landry unveiled The Ballad of Lawless Soirez. While neither of
these outings received as much attention as Cash’s foray, there’s no doubt that
the timing of their release helped the artists to garner a bigger audience for
their works than they otherwise would have found. With Liverpool 8, Ringo
Starr improbably joins this growing yet select cast of characters who have
leveraged the quiet of winter to make a bigger impact.
Of the former members of The Beatles, Starr has struggled most to gain
respect for his pursuits. On the one hand, he is so affable and easy-going that,
when combined with his legendary status, his work has been hard to dismiss
completely. At the same time, he also has leaned so heavily on his pals for
support that he hasn’t truly made the case that he is capable of standing on his
own. Nevertheless, as his recently updated retrospective Photograph: The Very
Best of Ringo Starr made clear, he at least has assembled a rather sturdy
catalogue of hits. Still, the problem remains: Starr has been viewed entirely as
a pop singer who makes singles, not as an artist who necessarily writes songs
and makes albums. Liverpool 8 has been designed specifically to realign
expectations.
On his previous endeavor Choose Love, Starr provided hints that he was
working toward a bigger goal, but although he had constructed a framework for
the effort that was more focused, he also continued to be so mired in his past
that he musically seemed to be going through the motions. While Choose Love
was far from the worst of his outings, it also wasn’t realized fully.
Fortunately, by heading back to the drawing board, Starr corrected the
deficiencies in his blueprint and found a fresh perspective. The result is that
Liverpool 8 stands as the most cohesive outing in his solo canon.
To put it simply, Starr is as charming as he’s ever been, though it helps
considerably that throughout Liverpool 8, he, along with co-producer Dave
Stewart, never strays from the notion of playing to his strengths. As he has
done almost without fail since the demise of The Beatles, Starr alludes to his
life and his previous songs. The title tune, for example is a reflection on
leaving his hometown behind in order to follow his dream, while Gone Are the
Days playfully drops the titles of two of his singles — It Don’t Come
Easy and Choose Love — into his lyrics. Where his self-referencing
statements previously had a tendency to seem a little egotistical, however, they
now fit quite comfortably within the scope of the project. Although he doesn’t
fight his amiable personality, Starr also doesn’t make it the primary focus of
the endeavor. Instead, he sounds like a plainspoken guru who wants nothing more
than to share his enlightened outlook with the masses.
In a similar fashion, the music conjured by Starr and his backing band on
Liverpool 8 is decidedly Beatle-esque in tone. The sharply written melodies,
the psychedelic shadings, and the looseness of his approach all unite in a way
that pays the utmost tribute to the Fab Four without sounding trite. While it’s
true that an idealistic, heart-on-his-sleeve streak of sentimentality lies at
the core of Liverpool 8, Starr delivers each lyric with such a convincing
smile that it’s impossible to resist his moves. Just as John Lennon turned
All You Need Is Love into an anthem for a generation, Starr sings about
peace, love, and a higher power without flinching. His ideas may be simplistic,
but as he, Lennon, George Harrison, and Paul McCartney knew so well, they also
may be just what the world needs to hear.  ½
Liverpool 8 is available from
Amazon.com. To order, Click Here!
For some strange reason, this album is
no longer available in Canada.
For UK orders, please
Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2008 The Music Box
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