CD Review: Rubber Soul

1) Drive My Car
2) Norwegian Wood
3) You Won't See Me
4) Nowhere Man
5) Think For Yourself
6) The Word
7) Michelle
8) What Goes On
9) Girl
10) I'm Looking Through You
11) In My Life
12) Wait
13) If I Needed Someone
14) Run For Your Life
The Fab Four still had its mop tops and clean-shaved faces, but had become more adventurous than they were in the Please Please Me days. They had a little more experience and maturity in writing and performing, and started to take inspiration from things other than love - like drugs! Many tracks still have that early 60s feel, and some are the filler common to early Beatles albums, but the good outweighs the bad more than enough.
Paul had just broken out with "Yesterday", and was slowly becoming the band's second leader. His songwriting and vocals shine on the groovy "You Won't See Me", the English-French amalgam of "Michelle", and the riff-driven rocker "I'm Looking Through You". Meanwhile, George began to grow as well, with the funky "Think For Yourself" and folk-y "If I Needed Someone", not to mention his sitar's debut on "Norwegian Wood", while Ringo bangs the drums, shakes the tambourine, and continues to bring the country with "What Goes On".
John was still the star, but earned his spotlight by giving the disc its best moments. He mixed the Beatles' style with those of Indian musicians and Bob Dylan to create "Norwegian Wood" and proved that Beatles songs didn't have to be about love with "Nowhere Man".  Not to mention one of the greatest songs of all time - the introspective and retrospective "In My Life".
Tracks like "Drive My Car" illustrate the teamwork that became rare in later albums - that song and "Wait" can't be easily labeled as "a John song" or "a Paul song".  The latter track is a hidden gem - John initially sings lead, with Paul taking over in the middle, then they alternate.  It's a collaboration in the style of the later "A Day in the Life", with a more explicit theme.
Rubber Soul is, arguably, the band's first truly great album - the earliest work that some could seriously consider their best.  After quite a few previous albums, the guys had developed into more mature musicians.  The disc showcased more creativity than ever before, and the next few albums just got even better.
****1/2 out of five

So, I finally saw Across the Universe...

I, the world's greatest movie critic, as well as the world's biggest Beatles fan, along with being the world's most modest person, approve. Not a great movie, but the good outweighs the bad. The movie makes no sense, like any work of true psychedelia. The fact that all the songs were written by the Beatles helps. I might not have liked the movie so much otherwise.

Un-Butchered Ringo: 1981-

"Matchbox" - Ringo, Eric Clapton, and Carl Perkins. Enough said.
"The Logical Song" - Back in 2001, my dad and I saw Ringo with his All-Starr Band, which included, for that tour, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp fame. The All-Starrs included some Supertramp classics in the set, including this gem. Great keyboard and drum work, nice vocals, and a killer sax solo.
"Never Without You" - This song sounds a lot like something from the early days, but with a more melancholy tone, being a tribute to George. Beautiful backing vocals and guitar work from Eric Clapton.
"Give Me Back the Beat" - Here's another one with a retro early Beatles feel, with a pinch of country.
"Boys" - I want that old time rock and roll, and Ringo delivers it. It's a good thing.
"Liverpool 8" - Here's another look back in the vein of "Never Without You", but with a totally different sound. Guitar effects? Strings? Sweet.

Un-Butchered Harrison: 1981-2001

"All These Years Ago" - A blues-tinged, upbeat tribute to John with Ringo on drums and Paul on backing vocals. Listen to George's soaring vocal. John and George, rest in peace.
"Johnny B. Goode" - George becomes the leader of a big old band in this all-star rendition of the Chuck Berry classic. Love the rockabilly guitar!
"I've Got My Mind Set On You" - This cover of a 60s oldie has charm, despite lyrics that are a bit too repetitive. I love the blasting horns in the middle, with George's clean lead guitar.
"This is Love" - The message of this song lives on, even if the cheesy 80s synthesized sound didn't.
"When We Was Fab" - The sound of this song has many callbacks to the good old days - the strings and timpani hearken the more orchestral work of the Beatles. The background vocal harmonies recall the beautiful chords George made with Paul and John. Hey, there's even some harpsichord!
"Any Road" - Limerick lyrics, catchy melody, and the wonderful sound of many guitars make one of George's final messages a charming one.

Un-Butchered McCartney: 1980-

"Coming Up" - Disco inferno.
"Pipes of Peace" - No one makes melodies like Paul. I like how this starts off like something from the Let it Be era, then gets a little groovier, with a hint of ska.
"No More Lonely Nights" - A sincere ode to Linda...rest in peace.
"Hope of Deliverance" - I like the Latin feel.
"Dance Tonight" - Love that back beat, bass, and mandolin - all played by Paul himself!?!
"Ever Present Past" - What do you know, Paul can still sound fresh. Am I the only one reminded of OK Go?

Un-Butchered Lennon: 1977-1980

"Real Love" - Behold, the 1977 demo of a song that George, Paul, and Ringo put some overdubs on in 1996! Love that piano riff. Some great introspective lyrics here, classic Lennon.
"Now And Then" - Is it just me, or does this 1978 demo sound a little like "Chopping Broccoli"? At least the beginning - then we hear the strain as John goes falsetto, then a striking chorus.
"Beautiful Boy" - Coolest lullaby ever.
"Starting Over" - How bittersweet this rocker became after Lennon's death. Lennon had just begun a new phase, one of true maturity, only for his life to be cut short. This and the other songs in this post display John's newfound perspective which spawned the lyrics to his inspired melodies.
"Watching the Wheels" - Instead of looking back on the glory days, Lennon looked forward to the future. "There's no problem, only solutions", he sang in this soulful toast to tomorrow.
"Woman" - John was older and wiser, and hadn't lost it at all. He could still write great stuff, like this, one of the best love songs ever. The melody and lyrics are beautiful in their simplicity.

DVD Review: Live in Red Square

1) Getting Better
2) Band on the Run
3) Can't Buy Me Love
4) Two of Us
5) I Saw Her Standing There
6) We Can Work It Out
7) I've Just Seen a Face
8) Live and Let Die
9) Let 'Em In
10) Fool on the Hill
11) Things We Said Today
12) Birthday
13) Maybe I'm Amazed
14) Back in the USSR
15) Calico Skies
16) Hey Jude
17) She's Leaving Home
18) Yesterday
19) Let It Be
20) Back in the USSR
Paul McCartney live. Enough said. He and a superb backing band give the people of Russia, and all the fans watching the D.V.D., what they want.
You get the hits you paid to hear - "Band on the Run", "Hey Jude", "Yesterday" - and some more obscure tracks from Paul's long career - "Calico Skies", anybody? Where did "Getting Better" come from? Oh, yeah.
Hell, they even bust out "I've Just Seen a Face", a lost classic from the Help! album. In short, the set list is sure to satisfy both casual fans and people like me and Chris. Paul's catalog has its highs and lows - seriously, "Let 'Em In"? - but he knows what the people want.
"I Saw Her Standing There" still gets the people dancing. Others, like "We Can Work It Out" and, of course, "Hey Jude", are impossible NOT to sing along to. And "Live and Let Die" just brings the house down, despite the crappy lyric "and in this ever changing world in which we live in."
Paul's well aware that the audience doesn't care about his more recent material - "Calico Skies", anybody? - but delivers the oldies with a fresh sound. Needless to say, he's playing some damn good songs. Credit must be given to his talented partners - Rusty Anderson, Brian Ray, Paul Wickens, and Abe Laboriel, Jr. Back in 2003, these guys put on a show in Red Square that even Putin had to check out.
***** out of five

Un-Butchered Ringo: 1969-1978

"Octopus's Garden" - This song is just pure fun, tightly performed by the mature Beatles of 1969. You gotta love that lead guitar, those sound effects, those three-part harmonies.
"It Don't Come Easy" - Pure 70s. Just listen to that soulful backing - the horns, the gospel singers, the piano chords.
"Photograph" - Love that intro! Then Ringo comes in, his distinct singing shining against a symphony. Billy Preston on organ!
"Six O'Clock" - Paul wrote this song and backs Ringo on vocals and keys. "Six O'Clock" has Paul written all over it, but Ringo's singing and drumming couldn't be any better.
"You're Sixteen" - I love the blues, and Ringo, with a little more help from Paul, does a great job with this Sherman brothers composition. I adore the piano part.
"Drowning In The Sea Of Love" - More disco!

Un-Butchered McCartney: 1969-1979

"Goodbye" - This starts off sounding a little like Simon and Garfunkel, then Paul comes in with those high notes. Superb guitar and vocal work.
"Maybe I'm Amazed" - This song manages to simultaneously be a ballad and a rocker. It has what many slow love songs lack - balls.
"Band on the Run" - Nobody makes pure cheese more enjoyable than Paul. The timpani, horns, and guitars combine into a sound that gives Phil Spector and Brian Wilson runs for their money.
"Bluebird" - Some more fine guitar work backs an unpredictable melody.
"Live And Let Die" - Hey, Chris Cornell, THIS is what a Bond theme sounds like. Nothing against this fine singer, but can you set off fireworks to "You Know My Name"? I think not.
"Silly Love Songs" - Listen to the words. Too often, the lyrics to a song go in one ear, out the other, causing listeners to mistake this satire for just another empty song with the word "love" in the title. Well, who cares, anyway? You can disco dance to it!

Un-Butchered Lennon: 1970-1975

"Instant Karma!" - Gotta love that back beat.
"Working Class Hero" - Here's a haunting, Bob Dylan-influenced song. Hear that cynicism? And was that an F-bomb I heard? This, my friends, is the difference between John and Paul.
"Imagine" - Never mind that, in his most famous song, John advocates the abolishment of all religions and a world-wide switch to socialism. That's the thing about politics - everyone wants the same basic goal - in this case, world peace. But no one can agree on how we should get there. Take this song for what it essentially is - a call for a better world.
"Jealous Guy" - Oh, Phil Spector. You and your strings. Even John himself didn't like the cheesiness that Spector added to his genuine, emotional works of art.
"Happy Xmas" - Sorry, Liz, but THIS is the best Christmas song ever. Countless musicians cash in on the holiday season, but how many have written songs like this, an extension of the message in "Imagine"? A Christmas song with a cause? Hell yeah.
"Stand By Me" - It's easy to ruin this Ben E. King classic, but John's rocking arrangement and passionate vocals do it plenty of justice.

Un-Butchered Harrison: 1970-1979

"My Sweet Lord" - Look past the plagiarism, and one can appreciate this soulful ode. Love the guitar work and gospel vocals.
"Wah Wah" - This is more like it. Guitars, drums, keys, and a choir rocking out in perfect harmony.
"Bangladesh" - George put together the Concert for Bangladesh, a benefit concert featuring himself, Ringo, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and others, which raised $243,418.50 for refugees of the Bangladesh Liberation War. The closing song of that show was this, a Phil-Spector produced seventies symphony. Classic rock for a cause? Okay!
"Give Me Love" - The idealism of the 60s lived on in George's music of the 70s. Holy harmonizing guitars, Batman!
"The Pirate Song" - I'd like to be a pirate, a pirate's life for me! All my friends are pirates, and they sail on the BB Sea! Enough said.
"Blow Away" - Get out the lighter again.

CD Review: Love

1) Because

2) Get Back

3) Glass Onion

4) Eleanor Rigby/Julia

5) I Am the Walrus

6) I Want to Hold Your Hand

7) Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing

8) Gnik Nus

9) Something/Blue Jay Way

10) Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!/I Want You/Helter Skelter

11) Help!

12) Blackbird/Yesterday

13) Strawberry Fields Forever

14) Within You Without You/Tomorrow Never Knows

15) Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

16) Octopus's Garden

17) Lady Madonna

18) Here Comes the Sun/The Inner Light

19) Come Together/Dear Prudence/Cry Baby Cry

20) Revolution

21) Back in the U.S.S.R.

22) While My Guitar Gently Weeps

23) A Day in the Life

24) Hey Jude

25) Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

26) All You Need Is Love

The Beatles' catalog deserves the special treatment it gets.  Many great artists have come and gone before and after this band was active, but none produced such a quality array of songs.  And someone made a remix album?

Thankfully, that someone was George Martin, the guy who produced most of the Beatles' songs.  He had some help with all these modern technological do-hickeys from his son, Giles.  So, don't worry, my fellow Beatles fanatics.

Just check out "Drive My Car/The Word/What You're Doing".  The Martins created a seamless mash-up of the three songs, embellished with the horns of "Savoy Truffle", the guitar solo of "Taxman", and the backing vocals of "Helter Skelter".  Any obsessed fan who read those last two sentences is now salivating with delight.

It doesn't end there.  The circus sounds of "Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!" segue perfectly into the raw jamming of "I Want You".  The familiar finger-picking of "Blackbird" introduces another beautiful ballad, "Yesterday".

I could go on forever about all the cool moments.  Just check this CD out, if you haven't already, and listen to it all the way through, like a truly great album.  THIS is how to treat the Beatles' catalog.

****3/4 out of five

Un-Butchered Beatles: 1969

"Get Back" - The band's experimental phase was done, but they were still making classic rock.  Their work during this year sounds very different from that done in the early years.  Almost a decade had passed, and the guys had matured greatly, though they were still in their twenties.  With help from keyboard master Billy Preston and legendary producer Phil Spector, they made the classic album Let it Be, and "Get Back" is certainly one of the highlights, what with its sweet guitar and electric piano solos.  These guys can jam!

"Don't Let Me Down" - Enjoy this soulful tune by John.  It may be an ode to Yoko, but his are the feelings we all get when we've fallen for someone.  I dare one of those Idol finalists to match the greatness of John's passionate vocals.

"Let it Be" - From the guys who brought you "Hey Jude", it's another lighter-waver.  This song may be the closest the Beatles ever got to gospel.  Note the inspiring lyrics from the eternal optimist, Paul McCartney, and awesome organ work from the late great Preston.

"The Long and Winding Road" - Paul also happens to be one of the greatest ballad-writers of all time.  Around the same time John and Yoko hooked up, he got hitched to the late Linda McCartney, the love of his life who inspired many a tender ode.  This is a great tune, whether you prefer this subtle version from a five-piece or Phil Spector's epic remix.

"Here Comes the Sun" - George's compositions are among the very best moments of the amazing Abbey Road.  He spent the 60s in the shadows of John and Paul, but his songs are every bit as good as theirs.  His guitar work was also a key element of the band's sound.

"Something" - For further evidence of George's greatness, check out this song.  Doesn't get any better than this beautiful ballad.  Gorgeous melody and lyrics, done justice by a superb performance by the band.

Next: The band breaks up, but does some damn good solo work.

Un-Butchered Beatles: 1967-1968

Before we begin, I'd like to dedicate this post to the Beatles' road manager, Neil Aspinall.  Rest in peace.  And now, some highlights of the Beatles' work from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band up until Let it Be.

"Strawberry Fields Forever" - This song was a major turning point for the group.  The band was suddenly crafting music radically different from anything they'd done previously.  This track boasts some impressive production from George Martin, who took a slow take with just the Beatles and a fast one with an orchestra and combined the two into the final product.

"Hello Goodbye" - Can you say "power pop"?  This song is chock-full of riffs, from the backing vocals during the chorus, to the killer guitar motifs, to Paul's melodic bass line.  Cheesy?  Sure, but a well-crafted tune nonetheless.

"I Am the Walrus" - Proof of my obsession with this band: during the ski club's trip to Waterville Valley back in January, this song played on the lodge speakers, and I might have been the only person in the entire resort singing along.  Who but a fanatic would know every nonsensical lyric?  Hell, I also might be the only one in the world who likes Jim Carrey's cover, where he's hammy to the max, making the song every bit as silly as John intended it to be.

"Helter Skelter" - Enough psychedelia.  Let's go back to rock, starting with this White Album cut that put blisters on Ringo's fingers.  It rocks THAT hard.

"Hey Jude" - Sadly, John never spent much time with his first son, Julian, who was closer to Paul than to his father.  Here, Paul assures Jules that life is good, even after the nasty divorce of John and Cynthia.  Blast this anthem while waving a lighter.

"Revolution" - John was both a friend and a foil to Paul, countering Paul's optimism with cynicism.  Perhaps nowhere else is this more evident than here, John's B-Side to Paul's "Hey Jude".  Whichever personality you prefer, they are both legends, two of the greatest musicians there ever were, and these two titans made their band the greatest of all time.

Next: The band makes two classic rock albums, then...NO!  SAY IT AIN'T SO!  IT'S ALL YOKO'S FAULT!

Un-Butchered Beatles: 1963-1966

Anyone who knows anything about me knows that I'm a Beatles fanatic.  To the chagrin of fanatics all over the world, the Beatles' songs are back in the spotlight in a very bad way, and we've been bombarded with the following two questions...

1) Did you see Across the Universe?

No, but I've heard good things about it, so I'll rent the recently-released DVD one of these days.

2) Did you hear [insert bad singer here] sing [insert Beatles song here] on American Idol?

Yes, no thanks to my mother and sister, who blast the TV while I'm just trying to not do my homework.

In case you haven't figured it out, I'm picky when it comes to Beatles covers.  Theirs was the greatest band of all time, and if one is to even touch one of their songs, it better be damn good.  If not, I will grow muscles and turn green.

Each song has a story to tell, a mood to create, you know, all that good stuff.  And over the past two weeks, these amateurs have been completely missing the mark, just to garner screams from the teenage girls in the audience anyway.  And God forbid Simon or Randy say anything bad, or else they'll get booed, those meanies.

It's clear to me that these kids have no idea how these songs should sound.  So, as a public service to the youth of America, the Wakefield Étudiant presents Un-Butchered Beatles, a crash course in Beatles history.  With the help of YouTube, I will be presenting a few classic tracks from each period.  This first post in the series focuses on the early years, i.e. everything up until Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

"Love Me Do" - Witness the world's greatest band in its infant state.  This is a simple love song at first listen, but musicians can appreciate just how tight this band already was.  Love the bluesy harmonica and soulful two-part harmonies.

"And I Love Her" - Bossa doesn't come to mind when thinking of early Beatles, which makes this ballad stick out.  Thusly, it put the band's versatility as songwriters and performers on display.  Check out the guitar solo, where George Harrison's clean, melodic style shines through even on an acoustic.

"Help!" - The lyrics sound like Dylan: "Help me if you can, I'm feeling down/And I do appreciate you being round/Help me get my feet back on the ground".  The guys were maturing rapidly over these early years.  This is more famously exemplified by the following song...

"Yesterday" - Each member had a public persona, and Paul's was "The Cute One", the naive optimist whose heart was prone to injury.  This was his saddest song yet, and stuck out like a sore thumb on the album Help!  This song paved the way for emo, a genre with the same lyrical themes, sans sincerity, so Pete Wentz can thank Paul for his millions and millions of dollars.

"In My Life" - Here's a love song of a different color.  The boys look back on the past with their 60s garage band sound, with a little help from a sped-up piano solo.  Between this and the strings on the studio version of "Yesterday", the band was getting much more ambitious in the studio, leading to songs like the next one...

"Eleanor Rigby" - The band had come a long way from "Love Me Do", creating stories like this, about old age, death, and loneliness.  Gone is the traditional garage band instrumentation, replaced by strings right out of the Psycho score.  The Beatles were done with the same old and ready to really branch out and experiment.  This was one of 14 classic tracks on Revolver, one of the band's very best albums.

Next post: A song about a walrus, and more!