REVOLVER

I don't know much about the history of music, but from a cursory glance at the prog albums released pre-1967, we can see that there was nothing until God said: Let there be Revolver. This is thus the definitive proto-prog album, if not the ultimate inspiration of the entire genre, if such generalizations can be made. So it is absolutely deserving of the full 5 stars. However, this album is not merely a great prog album, it one of the best albums in the history of popular music.

1. Taxman (2:39) - There's never been a better opener...the tension builds up with all sorts of studio noises, a recognizably Liverpudlian voice counts off...1, 2, 3, and then comes the most gratifying OH! you can hear while not in bed with someone. 2. Eleanor Rigby (2:07) - An early example of symph rock. 3. I'm Only Sleeping (3:01) - Sounds a bit like Beck...psychedelic slacker anthem, the sitar is great, but used more interestingly on the next song, I think. 4. Love You To (3:01) - The Beatles pioneered the use of the sitar in Western pop music, and thus raga rock. This song the sitar in a genuinely Indian way, not as a strange folksy instrument (like on 'Norwegian Wood, from Rubber Soul) 5. Here, There and Everywhere (2:25) - Beautiful. 6. Yellow Submarine (2:40) - A misunderstood song. Some people like to mention this song whenever the Beatles are brought up, because it is supposed to persuade us that they were nothing but a boy band. This ignores the rest of the album, and the entirety of the Beatles discography post-Rubber Soul. The song was, in fact, innovative for its musique concrete influence. 7. She Said She Said (2:37) - Hilarious psychedelic lyrics. Just imagine a bunch of people on hallucinogens having a conversation like this... 8. Good Day Sunshine (2:09) - My favorite song, which isn't really a prog track. It's just amazingly simple and uplifting. 9. And Your Bird Can Sing (2:01) - An inspiring pop track. 10. For No One (2:01) - a perfectly subtle piece of melancholy. 11. Doctor Robert (2:15) - The song title refers to the dentist who introduced The Beatles to LSD. 12. I Want to Tell You (2:29) - Searing, manic, and totally speaks to the geek in all of us. 13. Got to Get You into My Life (2:30) - lots of brass, definitely a pop number. Not my favorite, though I suppose it's fine. 14. Tomorrow Never Knows (2:57) - One of the earliest, and best, psychedelic tracks of all time. It heralded a new age. It's hard to know just how vitally important this song must have been.