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Rating:
"It's just an album. It's rock'n'roll played at different speeds, and it doesn't contain a particularly deep message; the only reason I make records is because I'm supposed to."
This is what Lennon himself said about Mind Games, so you can imagine its artistic value. To avoid being harsh, I'll say that Mind Games is not a bad album, but if you've listened to it, you'll find it hard to believe me. I'd say it is a tired, weak, somewhat lifeless album, that's all. It doesn't have much to say, with few recycled and confused ideas, slow, foggy rhythms. Fortunately, it's neither pretentious nor ambitious.
After Some Time in New York City, Lennon returned to producing a rock-pop record, finished his career as an angry radical, and resumed being a musician. He was in crisis with Yoko and with the immigration office, moreover, the global scene was changing, the Woodstock Generation was dead, Vietnam was ending, Nixon was reeling from the Watergate scandal; John was taken aback, but it didn't worry him too much.
The album opens with the title track Mind Games, the most beautiful song on the album; some references to psychology, some to pacifism, a catchy pop melody, a valid track, the only one that goes beyond mediocrity, the only one later included in various The Best compilations. I could stop here, but I'll continue even though there's very little to say. Tight As $ I can't even remember well how it goes, yet I've heard it many times, which explains its value. Aisumasen is the usual syrupy apology to Yoko, titled in Japanese. One day (at a time) could even be nice, but it's the tone of the album that buries it, embarrassing choruses that completely wash out the melody, which deep down is quite enjoyable. Bring On The Lucie (Freeda Peeple) has something good, a small dose of angry commitment and some rock'n'roll sound save it, listenable and rhythmic.
A couple of seconds of silence are the anthem of the nation Nutopia (New Utopia); a nation created by John&Yoko, a sort of reinterpretation of Thomas Moore's philosophy; an idea that interested no one, unsuccessful and quite ridiculous. The trio of songs that follow (Intuition, Out Of The Blue, Only People) isn't too bad, songs with an acceptable melody, easy to listen to, also easy to forget.
I Know is perhaps the only ballad on the album, I'd put it in second place after Mind Games (imagine that). A pleasant folk guitar riff, linear chords, not much but above average. Following is You Are Here, fake exotic, an anthem to interracial love, an avoidable song. The album ends with Meat City, roaring rock reminiscent of certain previous productions by John.
This is John's most insignificant album that came before his famous lost-weekend with Keith Moon, Ringo, and other "drinking buddies." It's the sleepy atmosphere of the arrangements (by John himself) that makes it mediocre, the absence of Phil Spector (savior of Lennon's previous works) is greatly felt. The voice-guitar demos made for the songs of Mind Games are much better than the album versions.
An album that brings nothing new nor nothing old, just nothing.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Mind Games (04:14)
We're playing those mind games together
Pushing the barriers, planting seeds
Playing the mind guerrilla
Chanting the mantra, peace on earth
We all been playing those mind games forever
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil
Doing the mind guerrilla
Some call it magic, the search for the grail
Love is the answer and you know that for sure
Love is a flower, you got to let it, you got to let it grow
So keep on playing those mind games together
Faith in the future, outta the now
You just can't beat on those mind guerrillas
Absolute elsewhere in the stones of your mind
Yeah we're playing those mind games forever
Projecting our images in space and in time
Yes is the answer and you know that for sure
Yes is surrender, you got to let it, you got to let it go
So keep on playing those mind games together
Doing the ritual dance in the sun
Millions of mind guerrillas
Putting their soul power to the karmic wheel
Keep on playing those mind games forever
Raising the spirit of peace and love
Love...
(I want you to make love, not war, I know you've heard it before)
06 Intuition (03:11)
My intentions are good, I use my intuition
It takes me for a ride
But I never understood other people's superstitions
It seemed like suicide
As I play the game of life
I try to make it better each and every day
And when I struggle in the night
The magic of the music seems to light the way
Ah, Intuition takes me there
Intuition takes me everywhere
Well my instincts are fine
I had to learn to use them in order to survive
And time after time confirmed an old suspicion
It's good to be alive
And when I'm deep down and out and lose communication
With nothing left to say
It's then I realize it's only a condition
Of seeing things that way
Ah, Intuition takes me there
Intuition takes me anywhere
(Takes me anywhere, alright)
Ah, Intuition takes me there
Intuition takes me there
Intuition takes me there
Intuition takes me there
Intuition takes me there
Intuition takes me there
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