The legendary drummer wastes no time reflecting on his well-documented history with the opening tune “Liverpool 8”: a timeline song where Starr fondly acknowledges his old fling, Liverpool, but doesn’t regret his strides to destiny that left Madryn Street staring at his back. A fun, quirky track marking one of the rare instances that Ringo doesn’t bellow the word “love,” “Liverpool 8” is Ringo at his most genuine.
However, once “Liverpool 8” fades out and the jam-rock beat of “Think About You” kicks in, Liverpool 8 plummets to embarrassing levels not seen since The Magical Mystery Tour television movie. With Ringo’s peace mission firing on all cylinders, Liverpool 8 will force enough gushy-love in your system until it clogs your coronary arteries. Never one known for his lyrical prowess, Ringo flings out trite lyrics almost as if it’s a primary bodily function. “Now That She’s Gone Away”, contains wave after wave of hackneyed songwriting including this troublesome rhyme undoubtedly robbed from a heartbroken 10-year-old boy’s journal entry:
“What am I gonna be / What am I gonna say / What am I gonna do / Now that she\'s gone away.”
Not that a Ringo Starr album should be a lesson in masterful lyricism, but Liverpool 8’s nauseating repetition of a tired pop theme turns Ringo into a mockery of himself…and that’s pretty damn hard to do to a openly-goofy character like Ringo.
After the fifth love song in a row, it’s easy to question if Ringo’s even trying anymore or just relying on a mushy catchphrase generator to pump out another silly four-minute pop romp. Liverpool 8’s peace veil and slogan of affection aren’t enough to cover up corny, and mostly uninteresting, compositions of forgettable pop.
"Liverpool 8" is on sale January 15, 2008 from EMI.
