Postcards From Paradise

There’s a heartfelt, backward-gazing feel to Ringo Starr’s 18th studio album, and, within the tropes of classic rock ’n’ roll, it’s done extremely well. There are hints of raga (“You Bring the Party Down”), reggae (“Island in the Sun”), piano balladry (“Not Looking Back”), and full-on nostalgic pop (“Rory and the Hurricanes”). The zydeco-flavored Van Dyke Parks co-write “Bamboula” is a witty turn that recalls Harry Nilsson, and “Confirmation” could’ve been The J. Geils Band. His All-Starr band, including Steve Lukather, Todd Rundgren, and others, lend musical hands and songwriting co-writes. And Ringo’s voice hasn’t aged a day.

Check out our album review of Artist's Postcards From Paradise on Rolling Stone.com.

With its chintzy synths, plastic horns, and feather-lite reggae and lifeless white-guy funk, the album might as well be made up of outtakes recorded 30 years ago.