Another is that
> the collaboration with Declan McManus seemed to produce some nice tracks
> (as well as some I couldn't stand).

For me, and as "fruitful" as the songwriting combo might have been, the
unfortunate aspect of McCartney teaming up with Mr. McManus was the
ridiculous comparison of the glory days of Lennon-McCartney that Macca
himself stated in an interview when asked about writing with Costello... He
said something to the effect that it brought him back to the days when he
could compose with someone looking at each other
eye-to-eye... For someone like me who is a first generation Beatle fan (and
a serious Beatle-ologist) it's hard to accept that type of comparison of a
writing/singing duo that will never be equaled in musical history (all this
imho)... So yes, the collaboration produced some nice tracks but alas,
forgettable as well give or take
"My Brave Face" which is quite entertaining... But for better or for worse
everytime McCartney "teams" up with another writing partner it usually goes
no further than one album; i.e., "Press To Play" where he might have thought
that he had found another Denny Laine in the guise of Eric Stewart...

Cheers,

Miguel