REVOLVER

"Revolver" is the 7th full-length studio album by UK pop/rock act The Beatles. The album was released through Parlophone Records in August 1966. The material for the album was recorded from April to June 1966 at Abbey Road Studios and the album was produced by George Martin. The Beatles had begun their transformation from a single based act to an album based act on their previous album "Rubber Soul (1965)" and that development was continued on "Revolver".

Stylistically "Revolver" is also the natural successor to "Rubber Soul (1965)", but it sees The Beatles experiment even more with various recording effects and studio technology innovations (reverse tape loops, backwards played sections, the use of automatic double tracking) and also incorporates the band´s (particularly George Harrison´s) new found interest in Indian music and culture, and ethnic Indian instruments like citar and tambura. The latter instruments and the experimental use of effects and recording methods often give the songs on "Revolver" a psychadelic twist.

"Revolver" opens with the hard rocking and quite angry sounding "Taxman" but immediately changes into a somber melancholic mood on "Eleanor Rigby". A track featuring only Paul McCartney´s lead vocals, John Lennon and George Harrison's harmony vocals, and a string octet arrangement by George Martin. Other highlights include "I´m Only Sleeping", "Love You To", "For No One", "Doctor Robert", "Got to Get You Into My Life" and "Tomorrow Never Knows". The latter a particularly innovative track in terms of studio recording techniques and use of Indian instruments and definitely one of the most interesting tracks in the band´s discography. The comedy pop/rock track "Yellow Submarine" needs to mentioned too as it´s a standout track on the album. It´s up for debate if it´s a great track with its childish main melody and flat and slightly out of tune lead vocals by Ringo Starr, but it arguably stands out.

"Revolver" may be a huge step forward for The Beatles in terms of creating a full album experience and the above mentioned innovative recording techniques provides the album with something special (especially considering that it´s a 1966 release), but the core ingredients of The Beatles are still here in abundance. The relatively simple vers/chorus song structures (save for a few tracks), the instantly catchy melodies and sing along choruses, and the exquisite vocal melodies and choir/harmony arrangements.

"Revolver" is a landmark release in The Beatles discography. "Rubber Soul (1965)" introduced some psychadelic ideas, but "Revolver" more fully embraces those ideas, while still retaining their melodic pop/rock sensibilities. It´s the stylistic diversity which is the great strength of "Revolver" (and it´s incredibly detailed and well sounding production), and what makes it such an intriguing listen from start to finish. Every song sounds unmistakably like The Beatles, but can still be very different in sound and style from the track preceding it. A 4 - 4.5 star (85%) rating is deserved.