I thought I should try to combine the reviews for number 1 and number 2 on my favorite Beatles albums list. Not only does it kill two birds with one stone, but it also shows the difficulty of picking my number 1. So, I hope you enjoy the end to this nostalgic trip of mine with my compare and contrast review of Number 1: Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967): https://youtube/watch?v=ldcqEW0DW7A&list=PLB46FF5C3B5119CD3 AND Number 2: A Hard Days Night (1964): https://youtube/watch?v=zSm0M-BbVdY&list=PL943A0292A1479654 My first experience with the Beatles was when my parents bought a greatest hits album for my older brother, Jim, for his birthday. A majority of those songs appear on the A Hard Days Night album. And then, my Aunt Kathy showed us the movie (which is great by the way!). So it is safe to say, I have grown up with the songs on A Hard Days Night. Every time I listen to the album, I get this energetic happiness that does not occur when I listen to other albums. From the first chord of the titular song, the energy of Side A does not slow down even if the tempo may do so (like in If I Fell). Sgt. Peppers might not have the same energetic happiness like in a A Hard Days Night, but it has a similar nostalgic quality to it. This was one of the first albums I ever listened to (the first being a Randy Travis album). It may not make me happier, but it takes me on a beautiful trip. It is cohesive, it is complex, it is strange (due to the variety of sounds), it is a masterpiece. So why is Sgt Peppers my favorite album? Because it is more cohesive. A Hard Days Night suffers from a weak ending. The last three songs on that album (When I Get Home, You Cant Do That, and Ill Be Back) are duds. They arent particularly good songs and they dont capture the same energy when compared to the songs on Side A, along with Ill Cry Instead and Things We Said Today. The songs on Sgt Peppers have a flow as though it is a concept album. People may say it is a concept album, but it really isnt. Paul McCartney has even said so. It is the non-concept, concept album because it is as though the band takes you on a psychedelic journey. The band members hide behind this facade in order to explore other territories of music. They tried to do explore new territories in Revolver, but Sgt Peppers takes it another step further. There are a few duds here or there on the album, but they arent as noticeable unlike on A Hard Days Night because they continue the psychedelic journey, while the duds on A Hard Days Night slow down the energy of the album. In particular, Im not a huge fan of Benefit of Mr. Kite. However, that song is a risk and interesting, but When I Get Home is uninteresting and it disrupts the listening experience. Similar to my love of Queens Queen II, both of these albums contain songs I have grown up with since I was roughly 5 years old or so. Realizing this only now, it is strange to experience the peak of the Beatles pop sound and the peak of their psychedelic phase at such a short period of time and at a young age. I love the majority of these songs. I love how this band could change, but excel in different areas of music. It is one of the main reasons why I love the Beatles. They are the only band that I know of that have change themselves musically without changing in quality. Other individual artists have done this change (i.e. David Bowie), but a band?! Its practically unheard of and extremely difficult to do. They successfully tried to bring new ideas and trends to the music scene that have continued to influence artists today. And in the end, they created love in their music. You dont even have to listen too closely to hear that love. But if you do listen more closely, youll hear a unique experience, one that is beautiful, complex, yet simple at its core. They are lightning in a bottle. I dont think well see anyone like them ever again. Therefore, I will give Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band a 5 out of 5 stars. Favorite songs: With A Little Help From My Friends, A Day in the Life, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band And I will give A Hard Days Night a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Favorite songs: A Hard Days Night, Cant Buy Me Love, Im Happy Just to Dance with You Thank you to those have been reading my reviews. I had fun re-listening to these albums and re-experiencing my love for the band. If you havent listened to any of these albums, please do!
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 20:30:51 +0000
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