Win Janszoon Over to the Beatles

Burning Down · 03-03-2012, 07:36 PM

Great review on Abbey Road! I can't wait to see what you have to say about the other ones.

**Janszoon** · 03-03-2012, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burning Down

Great review on Abbey Road! I can't wait to see what you have to say about the other ones.

Thanks! I kind of felt like it was a little rough around the edges because I'm trying to do these reviews in a more off-the-cuff way than I normally write. So I'm glad to hear it didn't turn out too poorly written. I'm currently partway through my write-up of Revolver and should have that posted either tonight or sometime tomorrow.

**Janszoon** · 03-03-2012, 11:12 PM

Revolver

I was happy this was the second album I was sent (thanks James!) because it's probably the one I was most interested in checking out. Like Abbey Road, I don't think I've ever actually listened to the whole thing before, or if I have, I don't remember it. Unlike Abbey Road, this album does not start on a promising note for me though. The first track, "Taxman", is a song I've always disliked, and listening to it again hasn't really changed my opinion, though I have come to the conclusion that the bass line is its one redeeming feature. Fortunately, "Eleanor Rigby", which I like a lot, is the second song on the album and so things quickly get on track. I think the contrast in styles between these two tracks actually says quite a bit about the kind of material I like and don't like by the Beatles. Their more straightforward rock songs are very hit or miss for me, while their multilayered and/or bittersweet tracks I'm more likely to enjoy (so score two points for "Eleanor Rigby" there).

From there on in Revolver is pretty solid. The one downside to this is that roughly a third of the album is merely solid. "She Said She Said", "And Your Bird Can Sing", "Doctor Robert", "I Want To Tell You" and "Got To Get You Inyo My Life" all fall into this category. None of them are terrible songs, but none of them are particularly noteworthy either. That said, the rest of the album (excluding "Taxman" of course) is fantastic. The well-known tracks "Yellow Submarine" and "Good Day Sunshine" are both upbeat and fun, with the latter seeming almost like a precursor sister track to "Here Comes the Sun" in this context. "For No One" is Revolver's contribution to my "great Beatles song I had forgotten about" pile, and is the kind of heartbreakingly beautiful track I mentioned earlier. "I'm Only Sleeping" and "Here, There and Everywhere" are both terrific, simple pop songs, and I love the jazzy bass and backward guitar in the former. This brings us to the album's two most unusual songs: "Love to You" and "Tomorrow Never Knows". "Love to You" is great, especially the robot voice like drone of the tambura, but "Tomorrow Never Knows" is even better. This track really is the Beatles at their best—quirky and experimental, yet still poppy—and is a terrific way to end the album.

Overall, I would say I enjoyed this album roughly as much as I enjoyed Abbey Road. Both have their less than astonishing moments, but both are nevertheless very good albums overall. Together, these two have certainly won me over to actually wanting to listen to Beatles music (which, frankly is a huge accomplishment), though I can't say I've been won over to the Beatles as the greatest rock band of all time notion at this point. Thanks again James, I did enjoy this album very much and have already listened to it a good four or five times.

Up next: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Engine · 03-04-2012, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urban Hatemonger

I'd like to state that any rumours going around the forum that I am going to start a similar thread on Wings discography are totally false.

Hey, I sent you Back To The Egg for a reason; I want a comprehensive review.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

Okay, first review...

... "I Want You (She's So Heavy)", on the other hand, I found kind of directionless, but even though I don't think it's particularly satisfying overall, I really like the last three minutes or so of the song. It almost sounds like some kind of proto doom metal to my ears, which was surprising but very cool.

I've always thought Abbey Road is easily their worst album. I like Octopus's Garden well enough (the "novelty" Ringo song outdoes the others' serious stuff for me) but I feel that the only truly good song on it is "I Want You..." maybe for the reason you stated. It almost seems like it doesn't belong on Abbey Road which is full of songs that I only like, maybe, the first 15 seconds of some of them. Of all the Beatles albums to have on vinyl, I only have two and this is one of them. I don't have a record player anymore but when I did I remember putting this album on it often thinking 'I should like this, I must be missing something' but then ALWAYS skipping to "I Want You.." and really loving it.

I'm excited for your Rubber Soul review. To me, it's essentially a way better version of Revolver.

Overall, I seriously doubt any one album of theirs will win you over but its fun to see your reactions.

blastingas10 · 03-04-2012, 01:51 AM

How can you not like the solo in 'Taxman'? Cmon now

**Janszoon** · 03-04-2012, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

How can you not like the solo in 'Taxman'? Cmon now

What solo? Do you mean that boring ten second guitar "freak out" that happens twice in the song?

TheBig3 · 03-04-2012, 08:34 AM

If they get you, zooney, can ya let me know why? 10 songs - sure - I love them. The rest...I have no idea how they're that popular.

blastingas10 · 03-04-2012, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

What solo? Do you mean that boring ten second guitar "freak out" that happens twice in the song?

Yes. It's a pretty unique 10 second solo

TheBig3 · 03-04-2012, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blastingas10

Yes. It's a pretty unique 10 second solo

Hard to be accused of plagiarism when you're the only one doing it.

Electrophonic Tonic · 03-04-2012, 12:38 PM

My favorite Beatle is George, so maybe I'm biased. But 'I Want to Tell You' is one of my favorite songs by him. If there is anything George did better than John or Paul in terms of songwriting, it was how he made emotion much more noticeable and on the forefront. And 'I Want to Tell You' is a great example, as it's really about how even in 1966, he's upset about how treated as a third wheel in the band, but how he can't really express it in his music. And George's songs always had a unique quirk to them: (The experimental noise on 'It's All Too Much', the atonal outro on 'Long, Long, Long', the most terrifying-sounding Beatles' song 'Blue Jay Way' and of course the Indian influences.)

03-03-2012, 11:12 PM	#93 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Revolver I was happy this was the second album I was sent (thanks James!) because it's probably the one I was most interested in checking out. Like Abbey Road, I don't think I've ever actually listened to the whole thing before, or if I have, I don't remember it. Unlike Abbey Road, this album does not start on a promising note for me though. The first track, "Taxman", is a song I've always disliked, and listening to it again hasn't really changed my opinion, though I have come to the conclusion that the bass line is its one redeeming feature. Fortunately, "Eleanor Rigby", which I like a lot, is the second song on the album and so things quickly get on track. I think the contrast in styles between these two tracks actually says quite a bit about the kind of material I like and don't like by the Beatles. Their more straightforward rock songs are very hit or miss for me, while their multilayered and/or bittersweet tracks I'm more likely to enjoy (so score two points for "Eleanor Rigby" there). From there on in Revolver is pretty solid. The one downside to this is that roughly a third of the album is merely solid. "She Said She Said", "And Your Bird Can Sing", "Doctor Robert", "I Want To Tell You" and "Got To Get You Inyo My Life" all fall into this category. None of them are terrible songs, but none of them are particularly noteworthy either. That said, the rest of the album (excluding "Taxman" of course) is fantastic. The well-known tracks "Yellow Submarine" and "Good Day Sunshine" are both upbeat and fun, with the latter seeming almost like a precursor sister track to "Here Comes the Sun" in this context. "For No One" is Revolver's contribution to my "great Beatles song I had forgotten about" pile, and is the kind of heartbreakingly beautiful track I mentioned earlier. "I'm Only Sleeping" and "Here, There and Everywhere" are both terrific, simple pop songs, and I love the jazzy bass and backward guitar in the former. This brings us to the album's two most unusual songs: "Love to You" and "Tomorrow Never Knows". "Love to You" is great, especially the robot voice like drone of the tambura, but "Tomorrow Never Knows" is even better. This track really is the Beatles at their best—quirky and experimental, yet still poppy—and is a terrific way to end the album. Overall, I would say I enjoyed this album roughly as much as I enjoyed Abbey Road. Both have their less than astonishing moments, but both are nevertheless very good albums overall. Together, these two have certainly won me over to actually wanting to listen to Beatles music (which, frankly is a huge accomplishment), though I can't say I've been won over to the Beatles as the greatest rock band of all time notion at this point. Thanks again James, I did enjoy this album very much and have already listened to it a good four or five times. Up next: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

03-03-2012, 07:36 PM	#91 (permalink)
Burning Down The Music Guru. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Beyond the Wall Posts: 4,858	Great review on Abbey Road! I can't wait to see what you have to say about the other ones.

03-04-2012, 01:51 AM	#95 (permalink)
blastingas10 Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 2,126	How can you not like the solo in 'Taxman'? Cmon now

03-04-2012, 08:34 AM	#97 (permalink)
TheBig3 killedmyraindog Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Boston, Massachusetts Posts: 11,172	If they get you, zooney, can ya let me know why? 10 songs - sure - I love them. The rest...I have no idea how they're that popular.

03-04-2012, 12:38 PM	#100 (permalink)
Electrophonic Tonic Your Ad Here Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 876	My favorite Beatle is George, so maybe I'm biased. But 'I Want to Tell You' is one of my favorite songs by him. If there is anything George did better than John or Paul in terms of songwriting, it was how he made emotion much more noticeable and on the forefront. And 'I Want to Tell You' is a great example, as it's really about how even in 1966, he's upset about how treated as a third wheel in the band, but how he can't really express it in his music. And George's songs always had a unique quirk to them: (The experimental noise on 'It's All Too Much', the atonal outro on 'Long, Long, Long', the most terrifying-sounding Beatles' song 'Blue Jay Way' and of course the Indian influences.)