Beatles
Revolver

THE REVIEW

I have nothing against the Beatles; on the contrary, I believe they were certainly an important band, with excellent albums like "Rubber Soul" or the White Album. Not to mention tracks like "Strawberry Fields Forever," "A Day in the Life," or "I Am the Walrus," truly genius.

However, the Liverpool quartet also produced several things whose value contrasts sharply with the "masterpiece in any case" status that the conformity of certain official criticism attributes to every one of their productions, including monumental idiocies like Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da. I believe "Revolver" is emblematic in this regard. In general, it is considered even the greatest album ever, which frankly seems embarrassing to me. I think "Revolver" is the weakest record in the band's mature discography. Let’s analyze it.

· Taxman That the mythical record of the fabulous '60s opens with this track is truly depressing. Overlooking the music (a very banal blues-rock), what is truly terrifying is the text. "If the 5% seems little to you, be grateful I don't take it all." Harrison, the "poet," the one who would push the band into the arms of Eastern philosophy, indulges in populist, paranoid, and very material statements, "thanking" in his own way the country that just made him a baronet. Surely Tremonti, Previti, and Briatore appreciated it... 1/5

· Eleanor Rigby A track undoubtedly worthy of its fame, between the famous string quartet and a text that lives up to the social importance attributed to the band. 4/5

· I'm Only Sleeping. A great Lennon piece, a malicious melody even if less brilliant than the similar "Rain," but with excellent guitar parts. 4/5

· "Love You To". As sincere and reliable as the "Licenziare Zen" from Gialappa’s, Harrison returns from exhausting meetings with his accountants, who spoiled his mood by announcing he's bankrupt, and he relaxes, embracing sumptuous Indian spirituality and "different" sounds, distant from us. While in "Norwegian Wood" the sitar worked because Lennon knew how to write songs, the result here is abysmal. 1/5

· "Here, There and Everywhere" The most saccharine Macca takes the stage, and in this case, spreads sugar over sugar, catching influences from the Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds." The effect is lethal for diabetics. Who knows if he sang it to his second wife... 1/5

· "Yellow Submarine". A charming comic strip, at least in the stadium it served as a base for many chants. 2/5

· "She Said, She Said". Excellent composition by Lennon, refining his songwriting with moderate doses of psychedelia. Harrison shows that if left only to lead guitar, while trying to emulate the Byrds, he does no harm. 4/5

· "Good Day Sunshine" A calm little song, inspired by the Lovin' Spoonful. Really nothing special. 1/5

· "And Your Bird Can Sing", more pop sweetness, with a bit more creativity in the bridge and guitar parts. 3/5

· "For No One" A mature ballad stripped of certain rhetoric, a good piece and sumptuously arranged. 3/5

· "Doctor Robert". Annoying. A "She Loves You" type piece, with a useless psychedelic part at the end. Truly banal, 1/5

· "I Want to Tell You". Once again Harrison, once again such a bore... 1/5

· "Got to Get You into My Life". Fun and shrewd, the Motown horns inspire one of the most unusual songs in the entire Beatles catalog. 3/5

In short, a record where the disparity between fame and actual value is evident. "Rubber Soul" is better, more genuinely pop and with far fewer pretensions, while "Sgt Pepper's" will better balance the pop and experimental soul. "Revolver" is instead a big bluff.