{"id":39620,"date":"2006-01-24T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2006-01-24T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/reviews\/the-beatles-the-white-album\/"},"modified":"2006-01-24T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2006-01-24T00:00:00","slug":"the-beatles-the-white-album","status":"publish","type":"review","link":"https:\/\/dailyvault.adishjain.in\/index.php\/reviews\/the-beatles-the-white-album\/","title":{"rendered":"The Beatles (“The White Album”)"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

The Beatles<\/i> — better known as “The White
\nAlbum” — was my first Beatles album, and it certainly seemed at
\nthe time to be a huge waste of $30. I have vivid memories of
\nsitting in my room, just thinking over and over again “What the
\nhell is this crap? Weren’t the Beatles supposed to be the greatest
\nband ever?” So, it languished in my collection for years, and my
\nfeelings towards it did not change.<\/p>\n

But I just recently finished the new Beatles
\nbiography by Bob Spitz, and so my interest in the group was
\nrekindled. Of course, I was drawn to the controversial White
\nAlbum<\/i> like a moth to a flame. So I gave the record another
\nlisten — and this time, I liked it!<\/p>\n

A double album always has filler on it, without
\nexception. The success of the album in turn rests largely on how
\ngood the filler material is. Up to this point, I considered most of
\nThe White Album<\/i> to be eccentric, uninspired, and messy. What
\nreally allowed my view to change was having listened to the
\nBeatles’ solo careers. The strengths of each individual member of
\nthe Beatles are on display on The White Album<\/i>, which gives
\nthe album its scattershot reputation.<\/p>\n

One can argue the overall merits of the album;
\nhowever, there is no question The White Album<\/i> contains some
\nof the band’s best work. McCartney’s gentle, folksy “Blackbird”
\nremains one of his best songs. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” has
\ngrown in status over the years, and rightly so. In my eyes, this
\nwas George Harrison’s first knockout track, helped in no small part
\nby Eric Clapton’s brilliant guitar performance. “Dear Prudence” has
\nalways been an underrated classic; Lennon could write a damn good
\nballad when he put his mind to it. Along those same lines, the
\nsoothing “Julia” is really touching, showcasing John’s talents for
\nlyrics. When it came down to expressing pure feeling, few could do
\nit better than Lennon.<\/p>\n

It really boggles the mind to think that when the
\nBeatles were slumming it, they still churned out material better
\nthan almost anyone out there. Take a song like “Martha My Dear” —
\nit’s inconsequential in every way, but that doesn’t matter. It’s
\ngreat pop, highlighting McCartney’s vocal prowess. “Back In The
\nU.S.S.R.” hits the Beach Boys style right on the head, musically
\nand lyrically (essentially becoming a parody of “California
\nGirls”). Hell, the boys even managed to essentially inspire the
\npunk genre with “Helter Skelter.” Is there any line more immortal
\nthan Ringo’s closing “I’ve got blisters on my fingers!”? George
\nHarrison’s “Piggies” goes Animals<\/i> on the listener,
\nexpressing the same sentiments.<\/p>\n

It is the experimental material on The White
\nAlbum<\/i> that is hit or miss. Some of it is carried out
\ncompetently, like the country stylings of “Rocky Raccoon” or the
\nbig band send off of “Good Night.” You can’t help but bop along to
\n“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da,” one of McCartney’s more inspired efforts.
\nUnfortunately, the Beatles also managed to write some truly insipid
\nmaterial. “Wild Honey Pie” could literally be construed as the band
\ngiving the finger to the fans, it’s that pointless. And, of course,
\nwhere would a review of The White Album<\/i> be without mention
\nof “Revolution #9.” Anyone who defends this track as having any
\nmerit whatsoever desperately needs a CAT scan. It’s experimental,
\nyou say? Well, that doesn’t mean it isn’t terrible. Thanks,
\nYoko.<\/p>\n

And while I enjoy the music to “Why Don’t We Do It In
\nThe Road” and “Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me And My
\nMonkey,” there’s just no way not to call the boys out on the
\nlyrics. As Chris Thelen so eloquently put
\nit<\/a>, “What the hell was this about?”<\/p>\n

The true problem facing The White Album<\/i> is the
\none everyone mentions; the wealth of material. There’s no doubt
\nsome of the songs are useless, and should never have seen the light
\nof day. By the same token, the great moments just about equal the
\nworst in number, and the quality of the filler material is
\nimpressively high. It took a long time, but I finally came around
\nto The White Album<\/i>.<\/p>\n

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