Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - Beatles (The) > Reviews > The pop master-piece of all times

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
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yes

Full review

It was thirty years ago today... or perhaps a little more. It does not actually matter. There are some master-pieces stronger than time, chronology, reality. Sgt. Pepper is one of those works crossing periods. The Beatles had been doing lots of very interesting things. They had been doing rock n'roll (Please Please Me), they had been doing "commercial" products ("commercial" with the Beatles is not "commercial" with Britney Spears, naturally). To my mind, before 1966, their best album is "Help". And they started something new with "Revolver" where songs were somewhat experimental. Something new were born. And in 1967, Paul McCartney had the idea of this imaginary band... Sgt.Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The name referred to the american-like names of bands. On the cover, some very influent personalities such as Oscar Wilde or Marilyn Monroe. Quite eclectic !
I bought Sgt. Pepper because I had been told it was the best album of the Beatles. Even though I like to argue, to contradict, to be original and unique, there is no doubt. It is not a suite of successful hits, of wonderful singles... So is Abbey Road, Magical Mystery Tour, Rubber Soul... With Sgt.Pepper, the Beatles show what is their huge talent. All the songs are bound, there is no space between them. The introduction of the album is a master-piece in itself. With A Little Help From My Friends was sung in Woodstock by Joe Cocker... LSD is one of the greatest songs of Lennon... Each Beatle has worked on the album : Harrison and his Within You Without You ; Ringo Starr sings With A little Help... This album is perhaps their only ablum where you can feel the Beatles entity behind the master-piece. In the other wonderful albums, Abbey Road or Let it Be or even the White Album, the band is about to separate. A master-piece cannot be complete and total if you feel that each person of the band wants to show he is the best. Sgt. Pepper is the zenith of the Beatles genius, because they were more than ever together, putting their energies in common for the best album of the pop history. Only buy it if you want to penetrate the very spirit of the most influent band of the twentieth century. And just have fun : they hope you will enjoy the show. So... sit back and let the evening go...