It’s not surprising that James McCartney should sound like his father, Paul McCartney. The younger McCartney not only sounds like dear old dad, he’s obviously been schooled by his elder in the areas of songwriting and arranging. Paul and David Kahne co-produced, so that’s a lot of industry expertise. The apple has fallen close to the tree, but what a wonderful tree. It’s hard to fault anyone for sounding so sweet and alluring. “My Friend” is a satisfying ballad that builds in energy and excitement. The first single, “Angel,” is everything a pop single should be: quick, catchy and filled with attractive textures. “Denial” is the futuristic track, with drones and dense instrumentation taking the McCartney franchise into the 21st century. The Neil Young cover “Old Man” is a competent performance of one from one of Paul’s contemporaries. Imagine the restraint it took for Sir Paul to not suggest one of his own tunes. Good genetics and common sense win out.