James McCartney: The Complete EP Collection

Having a Beatle for a dad comes with a lot of perks, including—but not limited to—seemingly infinite riches, cool “uncles,” and access to the finest amenities a young musician could hope for. The downside is that anything you do can scarcely measure up to the tunes made by your old man almost 50 years ago. That’s certainly the case for James McCartney, son of Paul, on his debut full-length, The Complete EP Collection. Combining two previously released EPs (Available Light and Close At Hand) with five previously unreleased tracks, the record is a bland, scattershot take on adult-contemporary melodies. McCartney’s voice is a little thin, and the instrumentation—which he mostly tackles himself—lacks real direction and oomph. (Considering how much of Collection could use a good, solid beat, it might not be a bad idea to give Zak Starkey, Ringo’s son, a ring.) Tracks like “Wings Of A Lightest Weight” and “I Love You Dad” are mildly charming at first listen, but ultimately forgettable. Throw in two covers—Neil Young’s “Old Man” and Carl Perkins’ “Your True Love”—and it’s not unlike many of the records McCartney’s dad has made for years: passable, but not much to write home about.