The natural stopping point of the first Wings era

1970-76 - Wings Over America is the natural stopping point of the first Wings era, although that era could be further subdivided into 1970-73 (“indie” Wings) and 1973-1976 (stadium Wings)

1977-1982 - Wings fragments, and the quality of the work varies wildly, some of Paul’s very best music comes from this era, as well as some of his very worst. Hard to believe that the same person made Back to the Egg (bad) and McCartney II and Tug of War (intermittently brilliant).

1983-1988 - The lost years. Still has some hits, like “Say, Say, Say,” but Pipes of Peace and Broad Street are embarrassments, Press to Play is a failed attempt to do something different, albeit at least an attempt to do something different.

1989-1997 - Beatles Nostalgia Time! From the My Brave Face video to Flaming Pie, Paul trades on his Beatles goodwill, tries to find a John substitute in Elvis Costello, and, unlike Wings Over America, his tours now rely far on his Beatles legacy than on his new material.

1999-2005 - Creative Rebirth. Woken out of his slumber by Linda’s death, Paul makes three of his best and most interesting albums in Run Devil Run, Driving Rain, and Chaos and Creation.

2007 - present. Coasting On His Laurels. He’s a living legend, he’s losing his voice, he’s trading on Beatles nostalgia again, there are still good songs to be heard on his albums, but fewer and fewer of them as each new album drops. Egypt Station is his most scattershot, confused, and not-good album since Back to the Egg.