ABBEY ROAD

I believe this album to be the start of progressive rock. I've never heard a band evolve the way The Beatles did. Remmember when they were still singing Roll Over Beethoven (very decent track too)? This album shows depth, and much more musicianship than ever before. So here are some reasons for my everlasting love for this album.

Come Together. Well...a timeless classic. Eventhough you can find this on the cheapest Beatles Greatest Hits, it still bashes the old idea of what I thought of Paul and John. Deny it if you want: this is one of the best basslines in Rock Music. I also love Harrison's wining guitar in the end (it's amazing how it compliments John Lennon's voice. 10/10

Something. Maybe this is the only track that reminds me of their later work, because it's still a very basic pop song. However, Abbey Road would not be what it is without this track. It does have a middle part which I love, that doesn't have a lot to do with the rest of the song. 8/10

Maxwell's Silver Hammer. I cannot imagine what my childhood would've been without this song. I remmember my dad taking me to school, and us too rocking all the way. Such a silly, but unbelievebly AMAZING song. The rythm, THE LYRICS...such a happy but dark song, about this psycho-kid, killing away with a hammer. That idea alone is enough for me haha. 10/10

Random note: one of the things which make this a beautiful prog album is how the songs unite almost as one SINGLE big song. One of the best examples are Something with Maxwell's Silver Hammer, or Because with You Never Give Me Your Money. Just beautiful...

Oh Darling. Simply my favorite love song of all time. But this is not just a love song...it's so full of McCartney's energy (the when you told me bit is just mindblowing, accompanied by those amazing keyboards). It really makes me feel like the guy's begging for mercy, something I really enjoy, maybe because I've lived it. This track is just a big part of my life, and it has saved me in obscure times. 10/10

Octopus's Garden Probably the most inocent part of the album. This, however, in my opinion at least, is the best song Ringo ever wrote.Eventhough it's naive and out-of-the-blue, it gives so much contrast to the rest of the album. The backing vocals are mellow and very enjoyable, as well as Harrison's guitar-playing. The backing vocals actually give a very sea-like effect to the song. And it's just so happy!! 9/10

I Want You (She's So Heavy) Just perfect. PERFECT. Talk about guitar-voice synchronization!!! Absolutely amazing breaks, where you can listen to that oh so beautiful bassline. Harrison's style changed completely, beginning to get a bit messier. The She's So... part is so unexpected, it barely lets me stand up straight. And that middle-solo is so compatible, immitating what the voice had already done: so new, so bluesy, so PROG. For me, this song tops anything else The Beatles ever did. 10/10

Here Comes the Sun. One of the strongest possitive vibes I've felt through music. It's always seemed to me this song was writen after a heavy rain (maybe that's because I've heard it a lot after it rains, and not just in a literal way). It is a reminder of hope, and beauty in general. It kills me when these guys's voices come together. Even though it's not a very prog song compared to the ones beside it (I Want You and Because), it is also a contrast climax in the album, and an all-time classic. 9/10

Because. A stoner song...yes, I know. I don't care, though. For me, it's difficult to get better than this. Just an attempt to understand the global picture, I think. Voices melt together perfectly, which is my favorite aspect of this song. However, one can always distinguish between them. Another fantastic example of guitar-voice synchronization, which is definately one of the strong features of this album. 10/10

You Never Give Me Your Money. Because has just ended, and suddenly this incredible piano line kicks in with unspeakable dexterity. McCartney's mellow voice runs through the verse, when it suddenly takes a whole different style in the middle-bridge (a style competely new to him, in my opinion. And here comes the prog ingredient, when the song takes another twist, and one realizes there is actually a track inside the track, if you know what I mean. Harrison's middle solo gives passage to something else, and no...the song is not yet over. When McCartney starts with One sweet dream.., the rythm has changed, the essence has changed, a completely different thing. And hey, talk about amazing lyrics. What else can one ask for??? 10/10

Sun King. Are we in India or WHAT?! A very very mellow song, perfect for stoners. I have played this track (bass) and only by doing this, I realized how beautiful it really was. Again, a mindblowing bassline, perfectly joining a smooth guitar, and suddenly, voices melt again, somehow returning to a Here Comes the Sun motive, and finally...is that Italian? Surprise after surprise. I cannot competely express how much I love this track, but these are definately some of my reasons. And there are more surprises coming...far from over. 10/10

Mean Mr. Mustard, Polythene Pam Another perfect track. Simply amazing how it comes together with Sun King. Very catchy rythm and lyrics, about a very every-day story. For me, this track and Polythene Pam are a single song, eventhough they are different in style. But again, here can one find the beginning of prog: these guys are working on concepts, not just random and isolated tracks. The story actually continues in the next track, Polythene Pam, which is full of energy, and in a competely different direction, ending with an amazing guitar solo. 10/10

She Came In Through the Bathroom Window Blending prefectly with Polythene Pam, this track starts with McCartney's voice, and off they go again. The chorus is my favorite part, because it's partially written in the minor scale, giving amazing contrast to the song. Both verses are moody and catchy, and then blend into the amazing line Did Anybody Tell Her? 10/10

Golden Slumbers Probably the best song of the album. Eventhough I don't like Rock accompanied by orchestras, they did a great job on this track. McCartney's voice in the middle part is...I had never heard a voice so powerful, so full of emotion. One can feel everything through those few lines. It also blends perfectly with the songs beside it, with a great piano intro, which gives way to these wonderful lyrics. 10/10

Carry That Weight Complimenting Golden Slumbers, this is a more playful song, but it never loses its integrity and ballance. I never believed McCartney could master this amazing style, but this song comes to show it (Oh yeah, all right...now you're gonna be in my dreams)This is followedby an unexpected and brief drum solo that comes rushing in. In this song, one can find another prog aspect, which is going back to a previous motive, in this case the one in You Never Give Me Your Money, but now immitated by brass instruments. 10/10

The End. The beginning of this song is much like the one on Golden Slumbers, with some piano chords before the voices melt again, showing for the first time, the exit. For me, the most beautiful part is Harrison's amazing guitar (especially how it gives way to the last song). 10/10

Her Magesty. I think I've never heard such a bizarre ending to an album. Maybe I haven't listened to enough music, but this is weird. The most unexpected thing happens. A very funny guitar line joins MCCartney in a very very very mellow and joyful song, which only last a couple of seconds, leaving us with some sort of mystery. I have never understood it, but this somehow makes it a great ending. 8/10

I am sorry I have used the words incredible, mindblowing, amazing, etc etc so much, but in this case in particular, they are simply unavoidable. If you want to know how rockers started thinking differently, go back and listen to this incredibleamazingmindblowing album. I promise you won't regret it. If I could give more stars to this album, I definately would.