16 March, 2012

134. The Beatles | The Beatles (a.k.a. The White Album) (1968)



Tracks
  1. Back in the U.S.S.R.
  2. Dear Prudence
  3. Glass Onion
  4. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
  5. Wild Honey Pie
  6. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
  7. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
  8. Happiness Is a Warm Gun
  9. Martha My Dear
  10. I'm So Tired
  11. Blackbird
  12. Piggies
  13. Rocky Raccoon
  14. Don't Pass Me By
  15. Why Don't We Do It in the Road?
  16. I Will
  17. Julia
  18. Birthday
  19. Yer Blues
  20. Mother Nature's Son
  21. Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except Me and My Monkey
  22. Sexy Sadie
  23. Helter Skelter
  24. Long, Long, Long
  25. Revolution 1
  26. Honey Pie
  27. Savoy Truffle
  28. Cry Baby Cry
  29. Revolution 9
  30. Good Night

The Beatles is a stunning album. Aside from Revolution 9, this is the Beatles' most straightforward rock and roll album in a while. Compare this album to With the Beatles and you get to see how much they have developed musically in five years. In general, the songs are louder and heavier, but the songs retain that signature Beatles melody. The music sounds leaner and less-layered than Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Revolver.

I don't think there's a bad song on this album. There are instant classics and there are songs that grow on you after repeated listenings. However, this album lacks a focus that other Beatles albums have had. It's more like a collection of great songs all made at the same time. The lack of focus is definitely a consequence of being a double album. Had they made just a single album, it would have been the most incredible album ever made.

I know I predicted that every Beatles album would be ten stars and musically this album is a ten-star album, but it gets nine stars for lacking focus. Actually, it deserves nine-and-a-half stars, but my ratings aren't that precise.

All the songs are worth listening to and they are all outstanding. The stratospherically exceptional songs are: Back in the U.S.S.R., Dear Prudence, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Happiness is a Warm Gun, Birthday, Helter Skelter and Revolution 9.

★★★★★★★★★☆

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