"Revolver" - The Beatles

It's kind of surprising that after having this blog for over a year, it's only now that I'm finally reviewing a Beatles album, since they are my favourite group by a long shot. Maybe I didn't want to go with albums that were 'obvious' to me. But after all this time, I will talk about what is probably my favourite Beatles album, "Revolver" (on most days that is.... on other days it would be "Abbey Road").

The album is a perfect mix of everything The Beatles represent. The avant-garde/experimental songs ("Tomorrow Never Knows"). The catchy singalong songs ("Yellow Submarine"). The achingly gorgeous love songs (the ethereal "Here, There and Everywhere" and the more upbeat "Good Day Sunshine"). The trippy/psychedelic songs ("And Your Bird Can Sing"). Possibly my favourite song on the album is an uncharacteristically depressing and hearbreaking Paul McCartney song, "For No One". This song has always caught my attention; there is something about this tale of a broken relationship and the picture that he paints that you can't forget. This album is also important in terms of the growing role that George Harrison was assuming, as he gets three songs on the album, including the classic opening track, the hard-rocking "Taxman".

Growing up,  I had the American version of this album on cassette, which has three less tracks than the complete British version which means that whenever I listen to the album now on CD, the three 'new' tracks ("I'm Only Sleeping," "And Your Bird Can Sing" and "Doctor Robert") somehow seem out of place.... even though they were meant to be part of the album and were missing from the American version of the album due to Capitol U.S.' insatiable appetite for more and more Beatles' albums (which led them to subtract songs from the British versions and eventually put them together with singles to create 'new' albums such as "Yesterday And Today," the one that originally had the infamous 'butcher' cover). And even though I've had this album on CD for 15+ years now.

If you've somehow never heard an entire Beatles album from start to finish, this would make a nice start.

What a cover

"Tango In The Night" - Fleetwood Mac

This album represents the classic Fleetwood Mac sound of "Rumours" and "Tusk" brought into a 1980s setting. That doesn't necessarily sound like a good thing, and this album isn't quite up to the sound of those two classic albums. But it is still one of their best albums with a consistently solid lineup of good to great tracks, including hits such as the almost mystifyingly depressing "Little Lies" and the uplifting "Everywhere". Another classic love song on the album is Stevie Nicks' "Seven Wonders". The album opens up with Lindsey Buckingham's memorable and funky "Big Love," which has been sampled a number of times since its release.

Unfortunately this was the last studio album featuring Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie. They are three very talented writers and it's there combined strength that makes this album such a classic. While it does a bit too '80sish,' it is still highly recommended.