Driving Rain

He was the “cute” Beatle who wrote silly love songs and didn’t get shot, but that’s no reason to bash Paul McCartney. Though his post-Beatles career has been hit-or-miss, this latest solo effort reaches deep into his bottomless well of gorgeous pop melodies. “I Do” and “About You” conjure the magic of the late-era Fab Four, and even songs that obliquely reference his late wife (“Lonely Road”) and explicitly mention his new lady (“Heather”) aren’t too tacky. It won’t cause the excitement of yet another repackaged Beatles collection, but Driving Rain is a worthwhile stop on Mac’s long and winding road.