Reviewing universally-accepted "classics" or popular music can be frustrating. On the one hand, I firmly believe that just because it's old and popular doesn't mean it deserves 5 stars. On the other hand, though, people get disgusted with me if I give something by the Beatles or Zeppelin anything less than a 5. I've decided to hold my head up high, however, and try my hand at reviewing Revolver, one of the most beloved albums in the history of rock music.
Revolver, from the Beatles' "middle period," is considered by many fans and most critics to be the greatest rock album of all time. While I personally feel that U2's The Joshua Tree was the pinnacle of rock music, I definitely think that Revolver was the greatest in certain areas. Regardless of how you rank in among other rock 'n' roll classics, it's obvious that Revolver is a brilliant piece of music, and the upsides far outweigh the downsides.
The Beatles are arguably the most famous rock band of all time, and they have many claims to fame. Among these are their innovative studio trickery and their witty songwriting. Both of these elements are prominent on Revolver, which is why I like it so much. The record frequently finds itself into my CD player entirely because of the clever wordplay of John, Paul, and George, and the mad experimentation of the Beatles and producer George Martin.
Musically, the Beatles were years ahead of their time. They obviously worked very hard on trying to create new, one-of-a-kind sounds. Their experiments covered everything from playing their guitars backwards on "I'm Only Sleeping" to creating bizarre collages of loops on "Tomorrow Never Knows." Not only did this spirit of adventure make the album fun and exciting to listen to, but it also revolutionized the music world- everyone from U2 to Radiohead to Oasis has borrowed from the Beatles, to varying degrees.
If you're unfamiliar with the Beatles' work, you may be a bit scared by now. Rest assured, though, that Revolver sounds nothing at all like Radiohead- it's experimental, but not abstract. There are also plenty of "normal" moments on the record, as well. The guitar solos on "Taxman" are among my favorite of all time, the strings on "Eleanor Rigby" are charming, and John Lennon's piano adds a cheery atmosphere to Paul's already-perky "Good Day Sunshine." The Beatles were musical geniuses, and it shows more clearly on Revolver than on any of their other albums.
Besides their studio innovation, Revolver's greatness is also partially due to the witty lyrics on the recording. John Lennon's songs are at times a bit uppity, but his offbeat sense of humor and his strange drug references make his tracks memorable. Paul McCartney's selections combine simple storytelling with quick wit, making them even more enjoyable than John's, but my personal favorite lyrics on the album come mostly from the underappreciated George Harrison. "Love You To" is one of the Beatles' most underrated pro-love songs, but Harrison's true wit is revealed on "Taxman." This track opens the album with a wry political commentary, and contains the album's only laugh-out-loud funny lines in it ("Don't ask me what I want it for/ if you don't want to pay some more," "If you take a walk I'll tax your feet... if you get too cold I'll tax the heat").
While the lyrics of Revolver take a back seat to the musical side of things, and most songs are smart enough to be satisfying, I feel that I must point out something to you. Revolver contains its share of love songs ("Got to Get You Into My Life"), songs about drugs ("Doctor Robert," which is actually about the first time the Fab Four were offered drugs by Bob Dylan), and total nonsense ("Yellow Submarine"), but the album really doesn't have much to say. If you are the kind of person who takes lyrics very seriously, and you spend hours looking at the lyrics inserts of CD's to analyze all of the songs meanings, Revolver may not be for you. The fact is, the Beatles never really had anything deep to say, and this record is no exception.
Revolver is a true classic of popular music, and for good reason. It really made a difference when it came out back in 1966, and it continues to impact the way we make music today. I have a few minor quips with some of the songs, but, all in all, it's an ingenious album that is a must-have for any true fan of rock 'n' roll music.
Josh's Score: 4.5/5
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