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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Beatles best album... and here's why, 22 Oct 2005
Overshadowed by the massive adulation afforded to "Sgt. Pepper" - which for at least two decades after was considered the Beatles, and even rock music's finest hour - time has shown "Revolver" not only to be a better but much more pivotal work.Why? Well caught, in early 1966, between a global audience who simply wanted more of their peerlessly tuneful "pop" songs, and a musical mind-set that was a million miles away from where they'd been only a year or so before, the Beatles pulled off the extraordinary feat of pushing rock music's boundaries out to the edge while showing that musical innovation could still be integrated into a satisfying melodic framework. The result? Well at its most extreme "Revolver" has "Tomorrow Never Knows" & "Love to You" (two of the mid-60's best avant-garde tracks) colliding head-on with "Here There and Everywhere" "Eleanor Rigby" & "For No One" (three of the most beautiful MOR ballads ever made) with each sitting, quite comfortably, within what has to be the broadest musical canvas ever committed to disc. But it's what goes on between these extremes that makes "Revolver" such a brilliant album. In "Taxman", "I'm Only Sleeping", "She Said She Said", "And Your Bird Can Sing", "Doctor Robert" & "I Want to Tell You" the Beatles took the explorations that others (most notably the Yardbirds and the Byrds) had started and then applied their outstanding song-writing skills to them to show just how good this new music could be. And, because it was so good, they catapulted it straight into "the mainstream", laying down a reference point which others were bound to follow. What happened over the following year of huge musical change, culminating in "Sgt. Pepper's" anthemic but far less challenging celebration of it, owed a huge debt to "Revolver" - not only the Beatles best album but the catalyst for a scale shift in rock music. If you haven't done so recently, play it and be amazed... and if you still don't own it, get it straight away.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Staggering, 16 April 2006
There is so much to marvel at on this 1966 album that is it is difficult to know where to start. I think if one thing stands out it is the sheer melodic brilliance of Paul McCartney whose songwriting is at an absolute peak throughout. 'Here There And Everywhere' is just about his most affecting ballad, even perhaps topping 'Yesterday' from the previous year. The melody is made in Heaven and I don't use that word lightly. 'For No One' is a masterpiece with its descending chord sequence and beguiling melody. And this is from a man with no classical music training! And if that wasn't enough we have 'Eleanor Rigby'. No wonder Lennon was effusive in his praise of his partner on this album. The standard of these three songs is so high it's not even funny. McCartney would reach these heights in later years but when you've reached this level it is hard to equal. Here on this album his touch is one of sheer genius. The other two McCartney songs are hardly lightweights either: 'Good Day Sunshine' brims with optimism and colour, in the same way that Harrison's 'Here Comes The Sun' was to do 3 years later. And 'Got To Get You Into My Life' is a soulful classic with its distinctive horn refrains and thought-provoking and uplifting lyrics.
And that's just Paul's contribution.
Meanwhile Lennon is exploring other avenues such as the world of dreams in 'I'm Only Sleeping' and 'Tomorrow Never Knows' and when one hears these songs presented alongside Paul's melodic masterpieces, one can truly wonder if this is the same band. Here John and Paul perfectly compliment eachother and although the styles are different, it makes for a captivating listen. On this album, The Beatles were at the peak of their powers and believe it or not were still touring the world singing 'She Loves You' at this point. No wonder they quit touring. They saw it first on 'Rubber Soul' from 1965, that there was another world to discover in the studio, away from the screams and adulation. Where they could reach artistic heights only dreamt of previously. There is still some evidence of the rock and roll days from Lennon on the blistering 'And Your Bird Can Sing' and 'Doctor Robert' both featuring some great electric guitar and harmonies to boot. 'She Said She Said' may not be much of a song but the delivery is electric. And Loud.
And then we come to The Quiet One. George Harrison. 'Taxman' is one hell of an opener and timeless in its message and about the most pulsating thing Hari Georgeson has committed to vinyl. Even Roy Carr and Tony Tyler were impressed. The other two George tracks are weaker for sure but fit the format perfectly.
And somwhere buried in here is 'Yellow Submarine' which many people have slighted over the years. OK so it's a children's song which sounds a bit lost amidst it heavier brothers here. But in its way it is timeless. And after all it led to the film of the same name which must stand as one of the greatest animated films for kids. Ever. Ask any Blue Meanie if you're not convinced of this.
And Ringo. Well he learnt to play chess on Sgt Pepper. Here he is more than once called upon to produce the goods, particularly on 'She Said She Said' and 'Tomorrow Never Knows'. And on the single 'Paperback Writer/Rain' single released at the same time but not featured on the album. On these tracks his drumming is massive. No wonder this is the accepted pinnacle of The Beatles' entire career. Up against some pretty stiff competition for sure but song for song I struggle to see how any band could topple this album. Not even The Beatles. One word to sum it up? So many spring to mind but I will settle for one. Staggering :-)
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
the most important album ever made, 21 Feb 2003
In 1966, the Beach Boys released their masterpiece, 'Pet Sounds', after being inspired by the Beatles' 'Rubber Soul' which had been released the previous year. It presented a creative challenge to the Beatles, and the world waited to see whether they could respond with an album worthy of restoring their primacy in the compelling artistic competition between the two bands. With 'Revolver', they did that and more. Here we have the most important exponents of popular music captured at the peak of their powers. Containing the finest moments of Lennon ('Tomorrow Never Knows'), McCartney ('Eleanor Rigby') and Harrison ('Taxman'), 'Revolver' is not merely the best album by the Beatles, but quite possibly the best album by anyone. More seamlessly than any of the Beatles' albums, 'Revolver' combines entertainment with innovation. Even its poppiest tracks, such as 'And Your Bird Can Sing' and 'Doctor Robert', feature pioneering qualities - the most notable of which are the aggressively guitar-driven melodies. Indeed, for the prominence of the lead guitar, this is the most Harrisonian of all their albums. Even more original is McCartney's 'Eleanor Rigby' - in my opinion the greatest of all the Beatles' songs. That a normal human being like you or I could produce something so special with a violin, a voice and 120 seconds of recording tape is extraordinary. The motherlode of imagination, however, is Lennon's 'Tomorrow Never Knows' which, despite being the first track to be recorded in the 'Revolver' sessions, provides the album's finale. Built on a recurring drum loop and backed by psychedelic sound effects, Lennon's vocal soars (reaching a glorious zenith with "love is all and love is everyone") despite being engineered to sound remote and detached. 'Tomorrow Never Knows' achieves the impossible in being both psychedelic and perfectly coherent and convincing. And this, remember, was pretty much their first attempt at psychedlia. 'Revolver' represents the genesis of modern rock. It is integral to the history and development of popular music, and should be passed down from generation to generation as solemnly as a family heirloom. Maybe if the Beatles hadn't recorded it, someone else would have eventually come along and made something of similar quality and importance. We, however, cannot know and must therefore revere this plastic disc as Christians revere the Bible.
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