Off the Ground - by Jr Moores (Hardcover)

About the Book

"A sympathetic but clear-eyed exploration of Paul McCartney's work in the 1990s, arguably his most important since the rise of the Beatles."--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

A sympathetic but clear-eyed exploration of Paul McCartney's work in the 1990s, arguably his most important since the rise of the Beatles.

Paul McCartney's 1990s was an era like no other, perhaps even the most significant decade of his entire career after the 1960s. Following a shakier 1980s, the decade would see McCartney reemerge with greater energy, momentum, and self-belief. JR Moores's sympathetic but not uncritical new book explores McCartney's '90s, with its impressive studio and live albums, colossal tours, unexpected side-projects and imaginative collaborations, forays into classical composition, some new Beatles numbers, and a whole lot more besides. Moores reveals how McCartney's reputation began to be perceived more generously by the public, and he argues that Macca's output and activities in the '90s would uncover more about the person behind them than in any other decade.

Review Quotes

"The material dissecting The Beatles and Paul McCartney potentially rivals the artists' songwriting quantity. It is an even greater feat, then, that Moores finds bountiful fresh ground, uncovering vital examinations of an uncharted era in the Beatle's career. . . . The final chapters use the book's best elements while wrapping up its primary manifesto in a clinical, stylish and professorial bow, ending McCartney's 'cuddly vs edgy' narrative by declaring that his pop/savant Midas touch rests in his ability to combine the tones. This finishes the book in a revolutionary conclusion, extracting the nub of the songwriter's genius and longevity like no previous writer has."-- "Louder Than War"

"I can go on to praise the brilliant Off the Ground: Paul McCartney in the 1990s by Moores, a new treatise from Reaktion that looks at Paul McCartney's work and output in the 1990s specifically. . . . While Moores's book is an in-depth and meticulously researched look at McCartney's life and work, he is excellent in placing all this into context too. . . . Any McCartney fan worth their salt should pick up a copy of this book: in the seemingly neverending list of publications about the Beatles that somehow still keep coming today, this is one that is genuinely worth reading. It's appreciative, critical and contextual, somehow making for an unputdownable read for this Beatles fan."-- "Book Munch"

"Massive world tours, unusual collaborations, experiments with classical music, and even a few 'new' Beatles songs make a strong case for the 1990s as Sir Paul's best decade since the 1960s."-- "Washington Independent Review of Books"

"Sharing a title with McCartney's 1993 studio album, this is a sharp-edged and expansive account of a decade's worth of Macca's music and other creative output. . . . [Moores's] crackling narrative highlights the decade's music scene, its players, and, more importantly, Sir Paul's role in it. . . . A must-read for fans of '90s music and Beatlemaniacs."-- "Library Journal"

"Moores argues with wit and passion that the sheer breadth of [McCartney's] work suggests an artist re-energised and reframing the narrative around his career. . . . As The McCartney Legacy has raised the bar for solo years-specific reference books, Off the Ground sets a new standard in criticism of the great man's post-Beatles career, a must read for serious Beatles fans."-- "Record Collector"

"[Off the Ground] assesses a decade when McCartney toured extensively, becoming 'cool again' as the Britpop movement took hold."-- "Yorkshire Post"

"Moores contaminates you with obsession. He is a quite brilliant fascinator, and whatever he has been obsessed with will soon obsess you too. I had barely listened to McCartney's work of the '90s until I picked this book up--now I can't leave it alone."--Robin Ince, comedian, writer and broadcaster

"Moores has the keys to understanding McCartney--he conveys with ease his music's joy, spontaneity, willingness to mess about and that special melodic knack that no one else in the world has access to. Off the Ground is a wonderful, engrossing book, full of entertaining digressions, that carefully puts McCartney's '90s work in context with Britpop (and the Dadrock that followed) as well as his own legacy. The best, and most enjoyable, book on McCartney I've ever read."--Bob Stanley, musician, journalist and author of "Let's Do It: The Birth of Pop" and "Bee Gees: Children of the World"

"Moores is one of my very favourite writers plying this tawdry trade today. Every time he publishes something--a review, a column, a four-word tweet--I race to read it. This whole book on Paul McCartney's 1990s (though, of course, it is about so much more) is a treat beyond treats. Very funny, clever, intrepid, audacious and many more adjectives besides. A joy to read, as his work always is."--Jude Rogers, journalist, broadcaster and author of "The Sound of Being Human: How Music Shapes Our Lives"

About the Author

JR Moores is resident psych-rock columnist for both the Quietus and Record Collector, and his work has also appeared in the Wire, the Guardian, Bandcamp Daily, and Vice. He is the author of Electric Wizards: A Tapestry of Heavy Music, 1968 to the Present, also published by Reaktion Books.