10. January 2025
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Media Review

Ringo Starr – Look Up

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Ringo Starr - Look Up

Ringo Starr - Look Up
4.1

Rating

 4.1/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Ringo Starr does country music
  • Interesting guest stars
  • Very straight and well-written traditional country music sound

Flyctory.com Cons

  • Here and there, a bit of lengthy

Ringo Starr is going country music – this news in late 2024 felt really exciting to me. More than that, the first single releases by the music legend felt very promising. On 10th January 2024, music fans could have a more detailed listen, as the artist released his album Look Up. I definitely wanted to dig deeper into it.

 

Ringo Starr – About The Artist

Sir Richard Starkey, better known under his artist name Ringo Starr, was born on 7th July 1940 in Liverpool. He is, of course, best known as the dummer of The Beatles. However, he got introduced into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame twice, as a member of the band in 1988 and as a solo artist in 2015. However, he is in fat the fourth drummer of The Beatles (after Tommy Moore, Norman Chapman and Pete Best) and thus the only member of the Fab Four, which is not a founding member of the band.

Soon after the breakup of the legendary band, Starr released solo albums, starting with Sentimental Journey in March 1970. Look Up is the 21st studio album by the artist. Even though he has been very influential as a musician and especially as a drummer, the commercial success has been rather limited. Only one album, the 1973 Ringo, received a platinum record (in the United States). Ringo starr has also a quite decent career in acting. He also founded the supergroup Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band in 1989, which is still active.

 

Ringo Starr – Look Up – Track by Track

The eleven song album lasts 37 minutes.

1. Breathless (feat. Billy Strings)

Ringo Starr is majorly working with guest musicians on his country album debut. For the first song, he invited Billy Strings to join in. The collaboration at Breathless works really fine. The song comes with nice country and rock’n’roll vibes. It feels like the perfect soundtrack for a road trip.

2. Look Up (feat. Molly Tuttle)

The most present guest musician on Look Up is Molly Tuttle. She is also joining Ringo Starr in the title track. The song is laid back, could even profit from being a bit more smashing. You just cannot deny a bit of a Beatles feeling in this slightly melancholic track.

3. Time On My Hands

Time On My Hands is one of two songs, in which Ringo Starr is not accompanied by other musicians. The song is slow and again spreads a bit of a sad and traditional mood. A howling steel guitar is adding to this impression. A nice, emotional track, which works out and also underlines that the Liverpool legend can do country on his own as well.

4. Never Let Me Go (feat. Billy Strings)

Billy Strings is back for the fourth song, Never Let Me Go. After the opener already came with some rock vibes. The song does not go into this direction, though, it feels a bit too slow and repetitive – especially the almost looped Never Let Me Go gets me down quite a bit.

I will never leave you lonely
I will never fade away
I will be your one and only
I will love you night and day

5. I Live For Your Love (feat. Molly Tuttle)

Molly Tuttle is quite present in this duet, from which the song definitely profits. The style is similar to the songs before, even though you feel the influence of the co-star in this song. The song lasts less than three minutes, but especially in the context of the album, it feels lengthy to me.

6. Come Back (feat. Lucius)

The New York-based country-pop band Lucius is appearing on Come Back. The rhythm is suitable for a senior’s dance afternoon in Nashville. However, the musical add-on, especially the voice of Jess Wolfe, adds some good vibes. If you don’t wait for retirement home, you can also use this for a slow sunny evening ride or hike.

7. Can You Hear Me Call (feat. Molly Tuttle)

Can You Hear Me Call feels a bit more modern and rousing, compared to its predecessors. Even though the tempo is not speeding up too much, the groove and rhythm of this track is very welcome. Furthermore, the duet style with Molly Tuttle turns this one to one of the most catching songs of the album.

8. Rosetta (feat. Billy Strings & Larkin Poe)

The recording studio was a bit more filled up for Rosetta. Apart from Billy Strings, the Larkin Poe Lovell sisters and their band joined Ringo Starr. If they would have been more brave, this could have been a really smashing track. Nonetheless, it is the gem of Look Up.

Every time I remember when
We held each other close and then
We could feel the planet spin
We could always stop the clock
We could always crack the lock
We could always reel and rock
Rosetta

9. You Want Some

After this country star ensemble, Ringo Starr is going solo again with You Want Some. The song feels like a typical 1970’s country track. Traditional country music lovers will feel a lot of warmth in their heart while listening. Finally, it is the best song for that audience on Ringo Starr’s excursion into country music.

10. String Theory (feat. Molly Tuttle & Larkin Poe)

Starr is joined by Molly Tuttle and Larkin Poe again for the second last listen of the record. The style stays traditional, but you feel that the ladies’ country music heart makes the song quite strongly move away from the slight rock spirit you feel in Look Up. A nice listen, which again misses a bit of a striking catch.

11. Thankful (feat. Alison Krauss)

Alison Krauss only appears in the chucker-out of Look Up. That’s really a shame, as the song is definitely one of the finest on the record. It is also a rather contemporary listen, without diverting too much from the general style of this one. A really nice one.

 

Ringo Starr – Look Up – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Ringo Starr – Look Up – My View

First of all, I am really thankful for this album. It will lead to a certain spotlight on country music, especially in less “developed” country music states like Germany. The style is a bit outdated and here and there, there are lengthy passages. But in total, Look Up is a really nice one by a great artist.

Favorite Song: Rosetta

 

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