Sir Robin Of Camelot
You seem angry. Miserable, even.
The Beatles: 4/5 stars. (I am reviewing the album commonly referred to as "The White Album.")
I've been listening to this album everyday for the past four or five days. I've heard each song at least 3 to 4 times, so I have a good feel of each. I did this because a lot of songs with this album take multiple listens to understand and reach a verdict on.
At times, I have slightly mixed feelings about this album, but as a whole piece of work, I'll take the good and the bad with this album and admit that I really enjoy it.
Here's what I liked about this album- unlike seemingly everything else released at the time, this album has specific songs that are disjointed from the rest of the album. While I enjoy a concept album ("The Wall") just as much as the next guy, there is something to be said for an album that lets you listen to each song on its own. And their foray into so many different genres, some genres with success; others, not so much- well, it was an admirable decision to try, in my opinion.
I will definitely agree that this should have been a single album. The only songs I'd keep off of Sides 3 and 4 are "Sexy Sadie," "Revolution 1," and "Savoy Truffle." I'd be willing to keep on "Revolution 9," which I did sort of enjoy in an extremely weird way that I can't describe, but I'd be fine if you cut it and don't view it as essential to The Beatles catalogue. If you keep these three songs, you can cut "Back In The U.S.S.R.," "Wild Honey Pie," and "Why Don't We Do It In The Road?" from the first two sides. There, a single album that might be The Beatles' single best album of all time.
As it is, I will take Sgt. Pepper (4/5 stars) over this one. I like some songs on here more than some on Sgt. Pepper, but I do have to knock it for not being succinct and compact enough.
I'll now list my 5 favorite songs off The White Album:
5. The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill
4. Blackbird
3. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
2. Martha My Dear
1. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Some notes about my top 5... "Piggies" and "Revolution 1" were near misses. I was shocked to read that "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" has been critically maligned (and the sheer amount of contempt people have for it). I love the song and while yes, it's corny, it epitomizes the "don't worry, be happy" from earlier Beatles work- but with even better production. It's also catchy as hell. I love it.
"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" slides into my top 3 Beatles songs, after "A Day In The Life" (second favorite) and "With A Little Help From My Friends" (my favorite). All three would likely land in my top 100 songs of all time, regardless of genre.
In a weird sort of way, I sympathize, or at least identify, with this album. I don't think I'm a genius or anything, but in a lot of my work in life, I put out everything that I'm thinking, without editing or trimming it for succinctness. It's something I've got to improve.
The White Album was the first Beatles album I had to "learn" how to like. I was 12 when it came out and it was a little inaccessible to me initially. Plus it came after "Magical Mystery Tour" so little 12 year old Robin was a bit jaded... at first. But... I hold this one up right under "Abbey Road" and the "Rubber Soul/Revolver" albums in my favorites list now. Some of my favorite Lennon songs are on this one ("Julia"; "Yer Blues" and the acoustic "Revolution")... and "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" is just absolute greatness and genius (I presume you know by now that there is a "session guitarist" playing the solo at the end - if you don't, I won't spoil it by telling you who it is). It's one of those albums that I prefer to listen to in sequence as opposed to randomly. It's also the last album they did where they were - for the most part - on the same page as a band.
Side note - a late friend of mine had a vinyl copy of the album with the white platters. His brother has it now. Wish I could get my hands on it just once to take a picture. It landed on three turntables and was played once on each. Mine was one.
Love it. Great album.
(BTW - favorite Lennon song is "Hey Bulldog" from the "Yellow Submarine" album... for the record)