32 Comments
Oct 4Liked by Walter Martin

This episode reminded me that what I probably like most about your show is your enthusiasm for what you play — how 75% of what you play is followed by “isn’t that great? I love that.”

I’m also obviously the only person with solo Paul taste because that other stuff sucked 😂

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Oct 7Liked by Walter Martin

Oof...this was a tough listen. I agree with Austin in that I prefer when you have enthusiasm for the music you're playing. Angry Walt is fun, but it's a different vibe.

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Yeah I think I backed myself into a corner with this one- certainly feels better to tell people about music I love!

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Ha - yeah that later stuff hall gave me the willies…

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Oct 29Liked by Walter Martin

I loved your perspective and found it amusing when you got worked up into a lather. And you raised some good points! I'm a Beatles fan first and foremost, then a Lennon fan, but some of Paul's stuff hits pretty hard despite the facile quality he has trouble quieting.

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Oct 14Liked by Walter Martin

Great episode, love the passion and the perspective and the laughs. But overall, I disagree with the whole premise! Picking or preferring John or Paul feels like it misses the point: John and Paul are halves of a whole, like Sun and Moon, Night and Day, Hot and Cold. You may prefer one, but each needs the other to properly exist.

(also of course John (tragically!) "lived fast died young left a beautiful corpse" so we can't pore over his late-career solo missteps..)

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Yeah it's sillly to pit them against each other - I really do love both and when they were actually writing together in the early days it was magic. And I of course love George and Ringo too! I think John and Paul just loom large in my imagination and have come to represent two different artistic philosophies to me -- and I have fun wrestling with them. Both are important for sure. thx for listening, and for the note ✌️

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Oct 8Liked by Walter Martin

Growing up in England immersed in The Beatles, it's interesting how after 60 years, so much of their music feels like wallpaper, and after a while you stop really listening. So this program was a great reconnect for me, and I've been going back through playlists and the vinyl. Paul was and is a clean cut guy - everybody's mum loved Paul, and I think that shows in his music. That's not a criticism by the way, he's one of the absolute greats, but in a different way to John for instance, who was much more reactionary. The alchemy of The Beatles is the four of them together. I found Paul's solo music a bit insipid but that's just my taste. As you say, just enjoy his music for what it is. Thanks for a great program!

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Oct 7Liked by Walter Martin

I loved this episode. For me, your passion for music is a fun listen, even when it's not positive vibes.

This had me re-listening to The Beatles (When Ringo Shook His Mop Top) with a fresh microscopic lens. And, I've got to say, there's no sign of disdain towards Paul in that tune.

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Ok cool thanks . yeah no real disdain for paul in my beatles song. But i do say, "John's songs are dark and pretty. Paul's songs are sweet little ditties." - not unlike what i ranted about in the episode.✌️

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Oct 7Liked by Walter Martin

Did you ever see the Netflix series Love? Paul Rust’s character sings “Jet” at a party, and I really loved that scene, even though that had been one of my least favorite songs for decades.

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Oct 7Liked by Walter Martin

This one hurt as a Paul fan :/ I agree with what you said about people trying to show his sensitive side by picking slow songs. I would’ve gone the opposite and picked all high energy! Rock Show, 1985, Jet, Maybe I’m Amazed etc etc

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Oct 6Liked by Walter Martin

As a Ringo girl, this episode was very painful.

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Oh I love Ringo! And Ringo solo! I’m a huge flag waver for solo Ringo. I gotta do an episode on him. This just somehow turned into a Paul episode…

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Oct 5Liked by Walter Martin

When you said you can’t help picturing Paul’s big annoying smile when you hear those songs - I FELT SEEN.

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Oct 5Liked by Walter Martin

Paul has the best scream

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Oct 5Liked by Walter Martin

Haha you make a great case! I love many Paul songs but he’s just straight up CORNY all too often.

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Oct 5Liked by Walter Martin

Great episode. Lots of laughs. Though of course this is no laughing matter. I do like this tune “New” off his 2013 album of the same name. I think I heard it on the short-lived Pete Holmes show Crashing. Now of course it sounds like the phony work of a craftsman, but I still like it. Great melody, nice horns. Maybe obvious lyrics, but nice. Maybe give a listen once you’re in a better state of mind.

I asked my parents, who are massive Beatles fans if they had any Paul songs that they would go to the mat for and there was a long pause and a “let me think about it.”

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Honestly, making this episode helped me appreciate Paul more. It really did.

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Love reading this comment. Glad to help reconnect you with the beatles! And thanks for listening.

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hmm no never saw it. I don't think I know Jet, but people have mentioned it to me. I'll check it out

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I appreciate the Paul defenders! After i put up the episode I was worried the comments here would be a pile-on against Paul but I'm glad to have push-back!

I don't know those songs you mention, I'll take a look ✌️

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I have had times when my affection for Paul's work ebbs and flows. As a 20 something living in NYC and going to every Jonathan Fire*eater and Walkman show I could, I too saw Paul as trying too hard to be commercial. His collaborations with Michael Jackson still make me angry. Two things have made me truly appreciate Paul's work lately - 1. My kids love of Paul's work. 2. A deep dive into his early solo work which is a roadmap for LoFi.

I forgive his missteps because his highs are so damn high.

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