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I was fortunate enough to recently be gifted the Beatles stereo remasters boxset after hearing part of it at a friends house. My parents had most of the the albums , Rubber Soul, Abbey Road, Revolver et al and played them while growing up, but if it wasn’t Hall&Oates, Prince or Duran Duran when I was kid I wasn’t trying to hear it. I’ve only ever owned two Beatles album in my record collecting history. Of course I’m familiar with all the hits and the classics same as the rest of the world, those songs are ubiquitous. But I am very excited to listen to the complete albums as they were intended to be heard (except for in stereo).
I’ve started with Abbey Road only because that was the album that came up 1st in itunes. Already I’m overwhelmed with my familiarity to the music. I recall singing “Octopus’s Garden” with my hippie counsler’s on the way to day camp as a child. Inversely there are songs titles that given just the name I would be hard pressed to come up with the melody. At the same time the Beatles reach is so deep within popular culture that this past summer I officiated a friends wedding and recited a quote from “The End” I found on the internet. I don’t think I had ever actually heard that song until today. “Mean Mr. Mustard” is a song that some tie-die wearing friends of my used to talk about ALL THE TIME in high school. Easy to overlook their opinions due to their fashion choices, but not a bad song.
From a song writing and production stand point by 1969 obviously the Beatles have co-opted the styles of many that have come before them. And that’s cool… that’s cool. But arguably EVERYONE who has written a pop/rock song since, has bitten a little piece off the Beatles. It’s weird to me how much ” I Want You ( She’s So Heavy) ” would fit so well on the Black Keys – Brothers lp.
And of course all this has been said before, books have been written about it, college courses ( I’ve taken) have been taught and people more learned than I have spoke about this, But my point, is have you actually listened to this stuff LATELY?
I’m going to listen to the entire boxset, should I be inspired I will write about it. Up next Let It Be.
Like Did You Hear That on FB.
How Do I Love Thee Oh So Protective One?
You ever heard of the second person omniscient point of view? It’s like when someone sings like they know what’s going on inside your head. Inside your heart, even. They won’t teach you about this narrative mode in your English textbooks. You gotta learn it by listening to rock & roll ballads like “Thee Oh So Protective One.”
I’ve had the new Girls EP, Broken Dreams Club, on medium-to-heavy rotation for the past few weeks. It’s an instant hook not unlike their debut, Album. But solid as it is from start to finish, it’s hard for me to get to the other five tracks without repeating this one two or three times. Or four or five.
I mean, who among you ladies has not once thought to yourself, “I wonder if he is impressed/Should I have worn the other dress?” And yet, that line is sung by a bro. No wonder they call their band Girls.
But the icing on the cake here is the mariachi brass section. I have not heard a trumpet solo this impressive since Love’s “Alone Again Or.”
It ain’t easy to write a good sentimental rock song. Wearing your heart on your sleeve is a gamble. But Girls managed to roll the dice and win.
-Pam Torno
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