Zack: The Beatles have obtained a level of cultural
significance that permeates into any and all segments of society. Don’t believe
me? Look to Kanye’s MBDTF, when he asks, “What’s a black Beatle anyway? A
fuckin’ roach?” Or when LeBron compared the way the Miami Heat were selling out
stadiums to the Beatles, prompting the great Heatles nickname (which I still
endorse, by the way). Or when Jay-Z comments that, legacy-wise, he is “on the
Beatles’ ass.” There are a few points from this. First and foremost is that I
know a lot about hip-hop and basketball and will look for any opportunity to
bring those topics up. But the main one is that the Beatles are so widely known
that every member of our society is at least familiar enough with them to make
some passing reference to their legacy. Who else can claim that? Off the top of
my head I would say Elvis, Frank Sinatra, and Michael Jackson. You could make a
case for Bob Dylan or the Rolling Stones, but I don’t think it’s as persuasive.
And if you questioned these same people, who are all at least moderately
familiar with the Beatles, do you know how often Revolver would be mentioned?
Seriously, do you? My guess is not nearly as often as it should. Revolver
routinely trades spots with Sgt. Pepper’s as the greatest album of all time on
most critic publications, but doesn’t have anywhere near the same level of name
recognition. I think. Once again, and I cannot stress this enough, I have done
exactly zero research on this because I’m too lazy. Which is crazy to me, since
I think Revolver is the Beatles best album. It’s just a better representation
of what the Beatles were all about. It takes their traditional pop-rock sound
but also blends in their obsession with innovation, this time in the form of
Indian instrumentation. Plus, it has Eleanor Rigby, which is a huge advantage.
Basically, Revolver is the Beatles at their absolute best, a lofty peak that
few others can compare to.
Favorite Tracks: Eleanor Rigby; Glad tot Get You Into My Life;
And Your Bird Can Sing
Emily: What an apropos time to be returning to this
album! Just a few weeks ago, Mad Men (one of Zack’s and my favorite shows) used
Tomorrow Never Knows as the ending coda of an episode. Don plays this last
track from Revolver after his young wife tells him to open his mind to the
equally young Beatles, but cuts it off halfway through. Now that I’ve listened
to the track (and all of Revolver) fully, I see the genius in Matt Weiner’s
choice of the song for this season of Mad Men. You see, both Revolver and this
season Mad Men depict their subjects in a state of transition – not surprising
in 1966. Don, Roger, Pete, Peggy, and the other members of SCDP are facing
numerous personal and professional challenges to their status quo. The Beatles,
on the other hand, challenged their own status quo on Revolver. There are hints
of their earlier pop/rock and roll sound, but it also foreshadows the radical
reimagining of sound and image that came next with Sgt. Pepper. Love You To
highlights George Harrison’s growing interest in India, Eleanor Rigby uses
shimmery strings (unusual for any pop or rock song, let alone in 1966), Got to
Get You into My Life has some R&B and soul going on…I could do this for
every track; they all sound unique, looking both back and forward in the
Beatles’ history. As the closing track, Tomorrow Never Knows gives a great hint
to the future with its psychedelic, somewhat experimental arrangement.
Transitionary albums aren’t often a band’s best work; they’re trying to work out
the kinks of a new sound that can still sound rough or confused. However, much
like the current transitionary season of Mad Men, Revolver is one of the
Beatles’ finest, most eclectic efforts.
Favorite Tracks:
Eleanor Rigby; Tomorrow Never Knows; Got to Get You into My Life
Matt Brune: A band that revolutionized music and culture
in the United Kingdom, the United States, and so many other countries. They
hardly need an introduction, as remnants of Beatlemania still exist today,
nearly 40 years after they disbanded. Here is Revolver, the Beatle’s 7th album,
released in 1966. The album shows a change for the Beatles, a movement away
from the rest of the British Invasion and into the psychedelic sounds of the
60s. Two of the Beatles’ most famous songs, Eleanor Rigby and Yellow Submarine,
are both on this album. Personal favorites from this album include Eleanor
Rigby, I’m Only Sleeping, as well as And Your Bird Can Sing. If you are looking
for a Beatles record that is not Abbey Road, The White Album, or Sgt Pepper’s,
than this is your album, post-Mod Beatles.
Favorite Tracks: Eleanor Rigby; And Your Bird
Can Sing; For No One
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