Paul McCartney has come a long way since his time with the Beatles and has produced many solo albums since the break up of the band. His 24th post-Beatles album, NEW, however, is the biggest departure from his normal sound that has been released thus far.

The pace of this album puts artists who are in of today’s Pop generation to shame.

McCartney admits that when he is stumped on the creative process of a new album, he will still turn to John Lennon for help and direction. In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, McCartney recalls having imaginary conversations with Lennon in the creation of “New,” gaining his guidance in whatever way possible, even if it is just what McCartney would imagine Lennon saying. Quite shockingly, McCartney admits that also during the creation of this album, his long-standing bitter relationship with Yoko Ono (Lennon’s widow), has turned a sharp corner.

McCartney’s famous saying, “I don’t want to become too smug to think I’m great,” is echoed in the album, along with his fear of being complacent. McCartney has always had an attitude that continues to push him to greatness. He has never settled for sub par and is continuously working on something new and exciting; an attitude that may have been the sole reason for the Beatles gaining fame in the first place.

My all-time favorite song off of “NEW” is definitely “Looking at Her.” This song not only combines the classic Rock flare that McCartney has always had the gift of recreating, but a miraculous discovery of how new-age sounds and techno production can revamp just about any classic song to a chart-topping hit.

If I had to choose one word to describe this album it would be, for lack of a better one, trippy. This album is like watching the Beatles movie, “Across the Universe,” with David Bowie’s, “Major Tom,” and The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” all playing on repeat the entire time. McCartney’s classic Beatles style and tonal qualities meet his newly found appreciation for the 1980’s and today’s alternative Rock.

I believe this album is the perfect mix of who McCartney used to be, and who he is continuing to evolve into, and it should make the artists of today’s market extremely envious. Even though McCartney has already had his time in the spotlight, he is continuing to set the bar for the music industry in his own unique way and is a force to be reckoned with.

If you are a music lover, I highly suggest sitting down and listening to “NEW,” not only for it’s amazingly unique sound, but for its lyrical elements that mean so much more than today’s Top 40 hits.