Album: Rubber Soul
Artist: The Beatles
Release Date: December 3rd, 1965
RS Greatest Albums of All Time Ranking: #5
Songs You'll Know: Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown), In My Life
Songs You May Have Missed: Run For Your Life, I'm Looking Through You
A Little History/Why This Album Is Famous: Anyone with even a little knowledge on The Beatles' history will know that they started as pop heartthrobs and ended as experimental rockers. You can thank a ferocious desire to be seen as genuine musicians, and drugs, for that. Rubber Soul is the turning point between the two sides of the Beatles. This is the album where the Fab Four moved away from the 2-3 minute pop songs to longer form (but still relatively short by today's standards) songs with more texture and depth. It is only their second album to contain all original music (A Hard Day's Night was the first) and the first that was intended as an artistic work. This album is also famous for its cover art: the iconic stretched photograph that was originally a slide projection mishap. It is also the first album cover which does not have "The Beatles" printed on it.
Comments: In my opinion, this is the first album where we as listeners start to get to know the Beatles both as a group and individually. As a group, we hear their actual intentions as musicians: they want to combine styles, stretch the bounds of popular music, and explore possibilities. They want to write about more than girls and love (though there's plenty of that). They want to write about politics, free thinking, and peace. John wants us to know he's got jealousy issues: turn to "Norwegian Wood" and "Run for Your Life" for that. George wants to promote individuality: the somewhat oxy-moronic "Think For Yourself". Paul is still kinda stuck on love songs: "Michelle" and "You Won't See Me". And this is probably the first time we start to realize that Ringo feels overlooked: "What Goes On". Ringo didn't write it, but they're his vocals and I don't buy that the lyrics are coincidental.
This album is full of really great songs. Everything referenced in the previous paragraph could easily get stuck in your head or become a "I've got to listen to this 10 times in a row" type of song. That being said, there are a couple clunkers. In my opinion, "Girl" is a little sleepy, though that might have something to do with the amount of literal sighs in the song. Give it a listen; you'll know what I'm talking about. I also find "The Word" and "If I Needed Someone" to be skip-able on occasion. If you listened to our recent The Lettuce Podcast episode about Charlotte's favorite music, you'll know that I don't have much taste for when an artist is "preachy" with their life philosophy. In the context of the episode, I was talking about Jason Mraz, but these same feelings apply to the Beatles' "The Word". I'm wholly supportive of perpetuating peace and love, but I can't handle the presentation of this ideal in "The Word". My criticism of "If I Needed Someone" is that I've heard this song minimum 20 times and would not be able to sing the chorus to you right now. So, there's that.
As with most of the albums in the top 10 slots on Rolling Stone's list, this is kind of essential for a popular music historian. It is not only a mark of the style change for the Beatles, but the style change for music in general. All of the protest songs, folk music, psychedelic/experimental rock, etc start around this time. I'm not saying Rubber Soul is the cause for all of that, I'm saying Rubber Soul is an essential part of that period of music. And even if it wasn't a mark for a generation, it's full of seriously great tunes. You can skip a couple here and there, but the bulk of this album is really fantastic. And of course, it's all up to personal taste- you might love every single track or you might hate it. Whichever way the wind blows, I think anyone who hasn't listened to Rubber Soul all the way through should do it ASAP. And get back to me with you thoughts!
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It's been a while since I've blogged about this project and if you're new to TLP blog, you might not quite know what's going on here. I, Laura, am on a mission. That mission is to listen to and critique all of the albums on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. I am not the first to do this. I assume I will not be the last. I just love music and love talking/writing about it. Come along with me, Lettuce Heads, and learn about music! Join me next time as I explore the #6 album Marvin Gaye's What's Going On.
Until then,
Argualater!
Album: Highway 61 Revisited
Artist: Bob Dylan
Release Date: August 30th, 1965
RS Greatest Albums of All Time Ranking: #4
Songs You'll Know: Like a Rolling Stone, Ballad of a Thin Man
Songs You May Have Missed: Tombstone Blues, Desolation Row
A Little History/Why This Album is Famous:
Bob Dylan is America's song-and-story man and Highway 61 Revisited just might be his magnum opus. It marks a significant turning point in Dylan's career, as it was his first album to be recorded using mostly electric instruments. Up until then, Dylan had recorded mostly acoustic music, which is one of the most defining characteristics of folk music. Because of this, Highway 61 Revisited has a bit of controversy surrounding it. On July 25th, 1965, Dylan famously performed an electric set at the Newport Folk Festival and was booed by the crowd for doing so. Some people felt performing with electric instruments did not align with the culture surrounding folk music and may have even regarded the decision to go electric as "selling out". Despite the poor reception, Dylan kept the electric sound and went into the studio 4 days later to record Highway 61 Revisited. The result produced an album referred to as "the start of the 60's" conceptually. This album is 50 years old (nearly to the day of this post!) and has continually been praised for its artistry, poetry, story-telling, and message. Beyond the controversy, Highway 61 Revisited is majorly famous for combining the sultry nature of blues music and the social consciousness of beat poetry. Dylan's voice, both vocally and creatively, is unique and it shows on this album
Comments:
When
I first heard this album in about 2010, I was completely transfixed. I
had never heard a Dylan album in full length and my knowledge of Dylan
songs was more or less limited to "All Along the Watchtower" and "Like A
Rolling Stone". I know, I know. That makes my status as a music lover
questionable. Please accept my apologies. Anyway, I was really impressed
with many aspects of the album: it's toe-tappin'-honky-tonk feel,
masterfully written lyrics, and a high dose of harmonica solos. One
thing that caught me negatively was Dylan's singing voice. Many people
love his voice and I won't deny that it fits his music. That being said,
it still hits my ears in an unpleasant way and does lower my affection
for the music. However, when I give this or any other Dylan album a
listen, it usually isn't long before I listen past the vocals and focus
on the music and lyrics.
Highway 61 Revisited
boasted Dylans top three most performed songs: "Like A Rolling Stone",
"Highway 61 Revisited", and "Ballad of a Thin Man". It's easy to see
why; these are three pretty killer songs. "Like A Rolling Stone" is
possibly Dylan's most successful hit single. Even if you aren't very
familiar with his music, you probably know it. Though I enjoy these
three tracks, I have a different favorite from the album. "Tombstone
Blues" is the absolute representation of the blues/folk mash-up sound
for which this album is so famous. It has a driving beat that always
toes the line of going off-kilter, but somehow manages to stay balanced.
Above the bluesy guitar, a lyrical story about the abuse of power and
the relationship between America's upper crust and lower class is spun.
This song also features one of my most favorite lyrics: "The sun's not
yellow, it's chicken". For me, this is basically a perfect Bob Dylan
song. It has everything you're looking for.
As the years have gone by since my inaugural listen, combined with further exploration into the Bob Dylan catalog, my love for the album has waned a bit. I've come to terms with the fact that I am not a huge Dylan fan. I see the artistry and the importance of his music. There are usually a few tracks from each album that I genuinely love; I just haven't fallen head-over-heels for a full album yet. The closest I've come is Highway 61 Revisited and the album still remains special to me due to how I felt when I first heard it. Like many of the albums that are high on Rolling Stone's
list (particularly the top 10), this album is an important piece of
music history. Any of these albums may not be your cup of tea, but their
place in music makes them worthy of a listen. Go forth and listen with
open ears!
That's all for now. Up next is the Beatles' Rubber Soul.
Arugalater!
Laura
Album: Revolver
Artist: the Beatles
Release Date: August 5th, 1966 (UK) & August 8th, 1966 (US)
RS Greatest Albums of All Time Ranking: #3
Songs You'll Know: Yellow Submarine, Elenor Rigby
Songs You May Have Missed: And Your Bird Can Sing, Doctor Robert
A Little History/Why This Album is Famous: This album is a big deal for the history of music. Many critics regard Revolver as the album that redefined the parameters of popular music. This album, released a year before Sgt. Pepper's, showed that the Beatles had grown from a heartthrob pop band to a mature experimental rock band. Revolver features many of the musical techniques for which the Beatles are now famous: tape loops, sitar/Indian music influence, and the use of classical instruments. This album is the middle point of the Beatles' recording career. It also marks the time in their career where Lennon and McCartney were most equal with their songwriting credits. Up to this point, John Lennon had been the main contributor to the band's musical vision. Conversely, Paul McCartney became the main musical figurehead post-Revolver. George Harrison also had three writing credits (more than he'd ever had before) on this album: "Taxman", "Love You To", and "I Want To Tell You". Lastly, this album is famous for two non-musical reasons. One, the Grammy Award winning cover art by Klaus Voorman. Two, it was released in the midst of the controversy of Lennon's "bigger than Jesus" statement. If you don't know what the "bigger than Jesus" scandal is, consult your search engine of choice IMMEDIATELY! You need more musical help than I can provide.
Comments: I'm a huge Beatles fan, so it won't be a shock when I say that this album is rad. I find it to be a much more cohesive album than Sgt. Pepper's and therefore more enjoyable. Sgt. Pepper's has many merits, but can be a bit meandering at times. Revolver is an album you can play all the way through and stay in touch with its vision. Though the song styles are pretty varied, there aren't any true speedbumps. Nothing that interrupts the flow of the music. Nothing that comes across as experimentation for experimentation's sake. Not every track on this album is a home run ("I'm Only Sleeping" is appropriately a bit of a snooze), but everything makes sense together. This album, to me, feels very complete.
"Taxman" is a perfect opening track and an even more perfect roadtrip song. I really enjoy this collection of songs that cover a wide variety of subject matter, tempo, and tone. From the sweet "Here, There, and Everywhere" to the happy-go-lucky "Good Day Sunshine" with a pit-stop for some bitterness in "And Your Bird Can Sing". If social issues are more your thing, you can look to the aforementioned "Taxman" or "Doctor Robert". All this leads to the iconic final track "Tomorrow Never Knows". This was the Beatles' first foray into psychedelic music and it's super cool! I'm not even a drug user and I think it's cool!
There are many more things I could say about the album, but it would become redundant pretty quickly. I mean, how many times can a person say "IT'S COOL! IT'S COOL! IT'S COOL!" before it gets annoying? I am aware that some people do not like the Beatles. They are strange people, but they do exist. I think Revolver is an essential album for both the Beatles fan and the music historian. If you aren't a fan of the Beatles and/or don't feel that this album is worthy of praise, I would love to hear your opinion! Likewise, if you love Revolver, let me know why and tell me your favorite tracks.
That's all for now. Up next is Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited.
Arugalater!
Laura
Album: Pet Sounds
Artist: The Beach Boys
Release Date: May 16th, 1966
RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time Ranking: #2
Songs You'll Know: Wouldn't It Be Nice, God Only Knows
Songs You May Have Missed: You Still Believe in Me
A Little History/Why This Album is Famous: Imagine a world where a band that is mostly famous for songs about surfing, cars, and girls drops a staggering album that dares to explore the complications of man coming to terms with himself and the world around him. Now add a thoroughly rich and complex instrumentation not quite like anything human ears have heard before in popular music. These are the elements that made Pet Sounds a special album. This album boasts some of the greatest songs written in American history, inspired countless other bands' and artists' sounds, and showed the world that the surf-rock band known as the Beach Boys had more to say. The jury is out on whether or not this was an intentional concept album, but the fact remains that it is an extraordinarily thematic piece of art. The amount of care that went into every note and lyric of this album is the reason why it was so groundbreaking.
Comments: *UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT!* I am not a huge fan of this album. There, I said it. I understand and fully acknowledge its place in popular music history. I see its merits and would never argue with someone who champions it as one of the greatest albums of all time. It's just not my cup of tea. Something about the tone of the album hits my ears wrong; I don't know if it's too sad or if I have not reached a point in my life where I can fully appreciate the sadness. Whenever I listen to this album, I find myself wishing for a change of pace. Most of the tracks fall on a medium-slow tempo and that leaves me wishing for something to break it up a little bit.
Unsurprisingly, my two favorite tracks from Pet Sounds are the two most upbeat: Wouldn't It Be Nice and Sloop John B. Wouldn't It Be Nice is a masterfully written song that will get stuck in your head for days. It's thoroughly creative and toes the line between simple and complex effortlessly. Sloop John B is just a fun little ditty. It also really encapsulates the "Wall of Sound" production method created by Phil Spektor and popular at the time.
Though Pet Sounds is not a favorite album of mine, I do feel is it a necessary part of any music lover's collection especially if the history of popular music intrigues you. About once a year, I take the time to give it a listen to see if it hits me any differently. Surprisingly, I have never personally met anyone who loves this album. That is most likely due to my age and the fact that most of the people I know fall into my same age group. If you LOVE this album (regardless of age, but I'd be doubly interested if you're in your late 20s!) leave me a comment and let me know! What about Pet Sounds grabs you? What are you favorite tracks? Do you think this album should be in the #1 slot?
That's all for now. Next up is the Beatles' Revolver.
Arugalater!
Laura
Album: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Artist: the Beatles
Release Date: June 1st, 1967
RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time Ranking: #1
Songs You'll Know: With A Little Help From My Friends, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Songs You May Have Missed: Fixing A Hole, Lovely Rita
A Little History/Why This Album is Famous: Sgt. Pepper's reputation often precedes it: it might be the most famous album ever made. It forever changed the vibe of the band that forever changed the sound of rock music. It introduced the world to the experimental, psychedelic Beatles. The public had gotten a taste of this side of the Beatles in this album's predecessor Revolver, but Sgt. Pepper's introduced a new mood for rock music. It also showed that the sitar is a way cooler instrument than the electric guitar!
Comments: I must admit I love this album and I have loved it for as long as I can remember. This is the first album I remember hearing as a child. It was often the soundtrack to family road trips and one of the albums in my parents' totally boss record collection. In addition to the sentimental value, I genuinely love this album. I sometimes find myself humming bars of the title track or When I'm Sixty-Four while working. What is it that makes this album great? The songs from track to track are quite unique and varied in style, yet somehow still fit together to make a good album. I think that's a pretty impressive feat.
Though I love this album, it is not flawless. I enjoy all of the tracks, though some rank higher than others. I will admit that Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite, while fun and interestingly scored, is a bit of an odd song amongst the other tracks. Some consider Within You Without You to be a bit of a speedbump and I tend to agree, though I enjoy the use of the sitar greatly.
If you're a Beatles fan and don't own this album, you seriously need to reevaluate your life. It is a must-have, no exceptions! If you own it and love it, leave me a comment and let me know your favorite track. If you don't care for it, let me know why!
That's all for now. Next up is the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds.
Arugalater!
Laura
Several years ago, I embarked on a lofty journey: to hear and assess the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time as decided by Rolling Stone magazine. It's been an interesting project and is far from over. To compliment listening, I began writing a blog to report my findings. In fact, some people who visit this blog may remember my posts! I wrote entries for the first 20 or so albums and then became disinterested in writing. When considering potential topics for blog entries, I realized that reviving the Rolling Stone project would be a perfect fit for The Lettuce!
Though I stopped blogging, I have continued to journey through the 500 albums. Along the way I've discovered new favorite albums, artists, and even genres. I have also discovered some things that are not quite my cup of tea. It has been an interesting, fun, and educational way to expand my musical tastes. Throughout this new post series, I will discuss each album's cultural and historical impact, my personal opinions about the music, and even some fun facts! So, come along with me! Explore the list and help me decide whether or not Rolling Stone got it right.
According to Rolling Stone, the #1 greatest album of all time is The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Join me next time for some psychedelic fun with the Fab Four!
Arugulater!
-Laura
