Carousels And Music Boxes - Magic Whispers (The)

Advantages: Paved the way for every great guitar band since 1989.
Disadvantages: Slightly muted production, "Don't Stop".

...or the spoken word, human unity and optimism are the order of the day here. The song would be distinctly average if it were not for the five minute jam and guitar solo that is plugged firmly, but appropriately, into the end of the song. I think this is an important point - to me, it is not the most complete song in the world, and the opening three minutes do seem a little detached from the final frantic five. However, musically, the outro is simply triumphant. The guitar gleams and then snarls, before turning into a fairy box and back again. The bass is thick and meaty, supporting the distortion and then opening out into a jazz infused line that frees the drums to weave the magic. It is the sound of musicians at the peak of their powers, and words do not do it justice. The Verdict A regular in any list of the greatest albums of all... Read review

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Advantages: Lots of brilliant stuff
Disadvantages: Some not-so-brilliant stuff, "Revolution 9"

...of a flute), "Fixing a Hole," and "Strawberry Fields Forever." Musically, Ringo's drums and tambourine dominate, and this is a great rocker. "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" is typical Paul. It's very sweet-sounding, happy, and easy to sing along with. My favourite part is when Paul messes up the lines and says, "Desmond stays at home and does his pretty face." Also listen for George and John's shouts of "Arm!" and "Foot!" when Paul says, "Molly lets the children lend a hand." "Wild Honey Pie" is another Paul song, featuring mostly stringed instruments and shouts of "Honey pie! Honey pie!" over and over. It's pretty weird, and I know a lot of people hate it, but I kind of like it. "The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill" is about a tiger hunter named Bungalow Bill, but it could be about war, too. "The children asked him if to kill was not a sin/ Not... Read review

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Advantages: Totally OUT THERE....
Disadvantages: Gets a bit claustrophobic at times

...on the cover, but after that the influence of Warhol on events became distinctly less important. He had only ever had a marginal impact on their music and their sound if truth be known - his chief contribution lay in image and approach - check out The Comic Strip Presents … Eddie Monsoon (A Life) for a savage denunciation of the Warhol approach. Stripped of The Pale One, the Velvet Underground sought to produce something which pushed the boat out a little more when they set about their second album, the follow up to 1967’s ‘The Velvet Underground & Nico’. The first album had been patchy - something of a schizophrenic mix of the classic (I'm Waiting For The Man, Venus In Furs, Heroin, Black Angel's Death Song, European Son), the gorgeous (Sunday Morning, Femme Fatale, All Tomorrow's Parties, There She Goes Again, I'll Be... Read review

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