Revolver - Beatles (The) > Reviews > Drug addled scousers with guitars

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Diverse
Disadvantages:	Paul McCartney in love

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I was born in 1975, after Paul McCartney stopped being the cool, drug abusing Beatle and when he was the soppy, bagpipe-loving member of Wings. I think this is why I managed to go 20 years without properly listening to a Beatles album, when I did though I was hooked.

This is probably my second favourite Beatles album, the top place going to the White Album and I feel will appeal to lovers of most kinds of music. For those that like guitar-based pop groups such as Travis, its worth listening to the Beatles as they are the originals and I feel they did it best. Those that don’t like Travis, Coldplay etc. don’t worry the Beatles covered such a range of styles it’s amazing and something that doesn’t really happen in modern music. For lovers of house/trance/techno of particular interest will be Tomorrow never knows a trippy tune that is said to be the first ever prog. house has influenced many artists.

1. Taxman – The album starts with somebody counting, the sound of fingers on guitar strings and someone coughing, this builds up the excitement for the first song. It is written by George Harrison, and features a cool guitar solo by him. It is an attack on taxation that despite references to Mr Wilson and Mr Heath is still valid today. This is a fast moving song and is the kind of thing that most people will expect from the Beatles.

2. Eleanor Rigby – This is a very famous song that most people would have heard at some point. Paul McCartney sings and tells a tale. One of my favourite lines is “Wearing the face she keeps in a jar by the door… who is it for?” as I feel it is the best way to sum up the false image that most people try hard to project of themselves, though its not really aimed to fool others but themselves.

3. I’m only sleeping – This is one of my favourite Beatles songs and my favourite on this album. The line “Everybody seems to think I’m lazy I don’t mind I think they’re crazy” I feel sums up my attitude to life. From the cheery but tired tone of this song I think that this is a song from Lennon to a girlfriend.

4. Love you to – this is the second George Harrison song and features sitar and Indian percussion showing the influence of Ravi Shankar on him. This is one of the weaker tracks on the album, because while it is musically excellent and has an “on acid” sound to it the lyrics are pretty poor.

5. Here, there and everywhere – This is a Paul McCartney ballad, the kind he has produced pretty much continuously since the Beetles broke up. I’m not a big fan of this tune; I personally think it’s a bit pathetic sounding, but most people I know really like it.

6. Yellow submarine – Another famous Lennon and McCartney song though this is sung by Ringo. It later led to an album and a cartoon film. Everybody knows this song, and probably think of it as a crap kids song, but its actually quite good and I bet you won’t be able to hum, sing or at least tap your foot along to it.

7. She said she said – This is a John Lennon song about a failure of communication with a woman and has him recalling how relationships were once so much easier. This is an excellent song and one of Lennon’s best.

8. Good day sunshine –Paul McCartney song. It is a simple feel-good song about his love for Linda.

9. And your bird can sing – This song has excellent guitar work by George Harrison, and typically excellent vocals by John Lennon. I’m not sure about the meaning of this song; one of the best explanations I have heard is that it could be a dig at rival Mick Jagger and his then girlfriend Marianne Faithfull.

10. For no one – This is a really good, sad song about the break-up of a relationship. This is really simply put but puts across the emotion really well.

11. Dr. Robert – This is a song about a doctor in New York who was famous for supplying drugs to the stars. This song comes across as more of an advert than a criticism, and there is a choirboy feel on the bridges that adds an element of humour.

12. I want to tell you – This is the third and final George Harrison song on the album. This is probably the weakest tune on the album. The discordant piano riff can also annoy at times.

13. Got to get you into my life – A rocking love song sung by Paul McCartney with another excellent guitar solo by George Harrison.

14. Tomorrow never knows – This is an amazingly influential song. It is often said to be the first prog. house song. Listening to this song it’s impossible to tell that it 35 years old. It makes you realise how little music has progressed since the Beatles.

Basically, I think most people will find something they like on this album, and at £9.99 at HMV at the moment it’s worth a gamble. Almost forgot to say that the cover is designed by Klaus Voormann, don't know much about him but he's meant to be famous, I think he also designed the label for the worlds most expensive bottle of whiskey! Try this album… you might like it!