Ringo is the Starr in new solo album

Through his music, Ringo Starr has taken listeners along with him to places like far back in time with an old photograph to an octopus’s garden in the furthest depths of the sea. 
   “Y Not” marks Starr’s 16th studio album outside of his extensive work with The Beatles, and is a journey deep into Starr’s personal life with the usual humor and charm of his work.
   Released on Jan. 12, “Y Not” is the first album that the 69-year-old Starr produced himself, but he called upon an array of musical talents to take part in the making of the music itself, according to Starr’s official Web site. Guest vocalists include Joss Stone, Ben Harper, and former Beatles bandmate Paul McCartney. Past Eagles member Joe Walsh lends his electrical energy on the guitar and Benmont Tench of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers showcases his skills on keyboard.
   As a whole, the album encompasses an optimistic outlook that is instantly infectious. With Starr’s usual upbeat style of music, listening to “Y Not” has the remarkable ability to remove the hopeless feeling of a bad mood or a terrible day. Many of the tracks even run the risk of provoking listeners to dance — not a graceful form of dance comprised of conscious choreography, but the kind of uncoordinated, spastic motions that ensue when the melody of a song completely takes over the body, like a supernatural spirit.
   Paul McCartney accompanies Starr on bass in “Peace Dream” as he sings about his late-night visions of peace, proving that John Lennon isn’t the only member of The Beatles capable of raising a little worldwide consciousness. Starr gives mention to the late Lennon when he sings, “Just like John Lennon said in Amsterdam from his bed/ One day the world will wake up to see the reality.”
   While the two musicians were working together on “Peace Dream,” Starr decided to give McCartney a preview of an early working of his song “Walk With You.” Listening to the tune, McCartney was struck with the idea to jump in with his own vocals, according to Starr’s Web site. Fortunately, Starr was not one to begrudge a former bandmate of contributing on his track, or to deprive the world of their stunning vocal harmony.
   This sweet-sounding single stands out as one of the most beautiful songs on the album. Paul McCartney accompanies Starr in the chorus just a beat behind him and the soft mixture of their voices has an enchanting effect. A subtle orchestral element adds a Celtic sound to the duet about meaningful friendship. Although the sound is entirely different from that of The Beatles, there is an indescribable sort of magic in hearing Starr and McCartney together, uniting their vocals in such a complementary way.
   Although Starr’s lyrics have often been characterized as being simple and surface-level, he dares to delve a bit deeper on “Y Not.” The song “Everyone Wins” has some of the album’s most insightful lines, with Starr singing, “Harmony is fine, but after a time the key must change.” In “The Other Side of Liverpool,” Starr touches upon the darker days of his childhood, which was marked by his father leaving when he was just 3-years-old.
   Certain to put a positive spin on an otherwise negative day, Starr’s solo album is definitely a worthy listen. But before pressing play, be careful to check that no one else is nearby incase it sparks a series of awkward dance maneuvers. Or, on second thought, just play it anyway and let the music take over, ignoring the bewildered stares. Y Not?