Ringo Starr says Y Not to new album

Releasing his 15th solo album, Y Not, former Beatle Ringo Starr not only reflects on his past, but also looks forward to the future.

Starr co-wrote all of the tracks, assisted by a variety of musicians. With the help of music legends Joe Walsh and Paul McCartney on a number of tracks, the main appeal of Starr's latest work is the proof that rock gods stick together, no matter how many years go by.

The theme of embracing the future and appreciating the past carries through in Starr's songs, especially the first four tracks, which will appeal particularly to the older audience who will likely reach for the album first. The tracks are not only filled with guest appearances but their retro rock sound is also a perfect fit for the topics they explore.

"Fill in the Blanks," the lead-in song, was co-written by Walsh. Opening with Walsh on guitar, the chords scream of his style and Starr's familiar voice chimes in. Walsh also plays guitar on the song "Peace Dream," which features McCartney on bass.

The track is an obvious homage to the late John Lennon and his "give peace a chance" ideals, as Starr sings lyrics like "No more hunger, no more pain … Just like John Lennon sang from his Amsterdam bed."

The standout track happens to be Starr's most personal song, "The Other Side of Liverpool," an account of his poor life in his birthplace. It features drab music and Starr puts on a droning voice. Guitarist Billy Squier joins Starr, as he paints a picture of his past and the city he left behind.

The following song is the Starr and McCartney duet "Walk With You." McCartney only supplies part of the chorus, making sure to leave Starr in the spotlight. The song explores the reassurance of a lasting friendship, probably reflecting that of the two remaining mop tops themselves.

But as this song ends, so does Starr's reflection on the past. He moves on to a more modern sound and explores different values, specifically looking toward the future.

Starr adds female backup voices to some tracks, which is always slightly odd when paired with a Beatle voice and a funky beat, like in the song "Time." He then switches gears for the next few songs, providing more relaxed beats.

While these songs fall short when compared to the first four tracks, Starr continues to interestingly experiment with style, even including an Eastern style at the end of the title track, reminiscent of George Harrison's preferred sound.

Closing the album is the song "Who's Your Daddy?" This is where Starr loses his key demographic by including Joss Stone on lead vocals, while he provides only the chorus. This soulful song is extremely different from everything else on the album and doesn't mesh well. Still, Starr is able to provide the playful quality he is best known for, similar to his lead in "Yellow Submarine."

While this album strays from the sound Starr created with the Beatles and his solo country sound, his experimentation shows that he remains young at heart. His choice to focus on the themes of the past is where the main strength of this collection lies and Starr never falls short on the role he is best known for — "the fun Beatle."