Forty-two years after the breakup of that little band he was in, Paul McCartney has released perhaps the most Beatles-esque single of his solo career. The melody and structure of “New” are informed by a bit of “Got to Get You Into My Life,” the cheery bounce of “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” and a nod to a songwriting peer (the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson) — not to mention the sudden appearance of a harpsichord. Meanwhile, Mark Ronson’s production re-creates the superb depth of field in McCartney’s ’70s classics “Band on the Run” and “Venus and Mars.” While “New” certainly finds a well-traveled middle ground (lyrically, it’s about personal satisfaction derived from taking control of one’s life), the completed construction of the track makes it stand out from McCartney’s last two decades of songs. Here he sounds natural, focusing his ambition on the harmonic structure rather than storytelling depth, and creating a sunny record for early fall.
