What is it with vocalists spoiling things? Singers don’t have to be tone perfect or drenched in technical ability, take Kate from the Long Blondes.. Exercising the most glorious self belief wrapped up in a deafening wail, or Joe from Hot Chips childlike wonderment.. Add to that Cass McCombs’ fragility. Singing like that is really good, it’s not forced, it’s unique and nigh on impossible to imitate.
Unanimously hailed to be the worst Beatle, here we catch Ringo Starr flaunting his imperfections to the max. It’s not that Starr is a bad singer, just one lacking in any charm or originality. Starr is far from irresistible as he precariously ploughs through a million clichés in his thick vocal style, the type of clichés that only an ex-Beatle could manage, “I always followed my heart” / “Destiny was calling”, Etc etc. Unforgivably radiating a pre-executed idea of how an ex-Beatle should sound: genuine, warm, working class. It’s here in it’s full glory, add to that a good sprinkling of epic strings, fist in the air la la la and come-on chants; and we have a rollicking attempt at a highly polished album.
Not only are the things he sings of crushingly hilarious , it’s the emphasised everyday Joe articulation of this that really irritates. “Liverpool I left you, but I never let you down” This combination of plodding, dulcet tones with references to Ringo ’standing in line together’ is far too much to take.
Fans of this album are going to be difficult to identify. The evil looking one’s attempt at a record is only here because he was in the Beatles, an exercise in self belief and money making. Curse your Mum for buying Beatles vinyl, banish your brother for getting the CD re-issues. No effort has been injected to create anything inspiring. Damn even Madonna has roped in Timbaland and Timberlake on her new effort, her eleventh offering to be precise.
To sate an American audience we also have a scattering of Beatles influences throughout: the fade-out quirks of string out-takes and studio chit chat on ‘Liverpool 8’, the stripped back guitars of ‘think About You’, and preoccupation with love and, lo, the sun on ‘For Love’. Bah humbug.
Ringo Starr is massively lacking as a singer, and even more noticeably, as a solo artist. You’re a drummer, now please go away.
