Competing with the success of The Beatles is nearly impossible, even for a former band member like Ringo Starr. However, Y Not manages to both touch the stardom of his former band and also establish a place for Starr’s own talent to shine through, even with Paul McCartney and Joss Stone by his side.
Starr has had a fairly successful solo career full of hit albums and singles. Known for his eclectic mixture of genres, the overall vibe on Y Not unsurprisingly falls into the rock ‘n’ roll category. With his baritone voice sliding over a background full of basic drum beats and formidable guitar solos, Starr reinforces and perfects his stripped-down stylings on Y Not.
“Walk With You,” marks the first duet between Starr and former Beatle Paul McCartney. The track uses sweet and sometimes childish lyrics to describe the sheer comfort that comes from an enduring friendship. McCartney’s vocals are not particularly showcased in this duet, as they only follow Starr’s in the chorus. Despite this, the tune is incredibly catchy and well worth a listen.
Another noteworthy track would be “Peace Dream.” With lyrics such as “Last night I had a peace dream/ You know how real dreams could be/ The world was a better place/ For you and me,” the song could be likened to John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Singing of a world in which war, hunger and poverty no longer exist, Starr sends out a powerful message accurate to the memory of the deceased Lennon. The elementary lyrics and the repetitive chorus make the whole thing sound a bit like a beauty pageant speech, but “Peace Dream” remains an interesting track, especially with McCartney on bass.
Quite easily the most impressive song on the album, “The Other Side of Liverpool” is evidence of Starr’s efforts to include a small glimpse into his life, a theme that carries from his prior album, Liverpool 8. The track details childhood experiences from his hometown of Liverpool, addressed to various members in Starr’s life, including his absent father. The content of “The Other Side of Liverpool” does not initially seem upbeat and catchy, and yet its hooking chorus makes it so.
Other tracks worthy of mention include the title track “Y Not” and “Who’s Your Daddy.” “Y Not” is a prime example of Starr’s willingness to experiment with music, as it opens in a way similar to the rest of the tracks on the album but takes a surprising turn by ending with Arabic backup vocals. “Who’s Your Daddy,” on the other hand, features Joss Stone to infuse the song with blues influence. Stone’s powerful vocals are the focus in this track, complemented by Starr in the chorus. With lyrics like, “You give me chicken wings/ But baby I want diamond rings,” this final track not only ends the album solidly, but on an almost whimsical note.
While nothing can ever truly touch the stardom of The Beatles, Starr is still going strong. A well-known name for several decades, Starr starts off 2010 strong.
3 1/2 stars out of 5.
