Sketches, alternatives, and a beautiful 50th anniversary restoration of the eponymously titled landmark Beatles double LP.
Taken on their own, the session tapes are absorbing listening, but they also have the side effect of making the finished The Beatles not seem like a mess, but rather a deft, cleverly constructed album that accurately reflects the abundant creativity of these sessions.
The Beatles is now seen as the album on which they started to break up. But it was wisely titled: a self portrait of the band at odds but pulling together behind each writer, playing as they always did: in service to the song.
This Technicolor version of The White Album is more of a diary than the classic we remember—a day in the life from sweet to sour.
The Beatles is perfect as it is. All four were in top form in their instrumentation and their writing. I am glad it is back and in this form.
A blank canvas, as if any sleeve image couldn’t possibly do the myriad pleasures it contains justice. And now there’s even more to lose yourself in. “No one will be watching us,” Paul sang, but 50 years later, we all still are. With very good reason.
The Beatles always contained the clues for what drove the group so quickly to disintegration, but this new set, from the laid-back, jovial acoustic demos through to the demanding, tense studio sessions and the complex final product, gives something close to the full account.
Was all the effort worth it? Hell yes.
It always amazed me how The Beatles were at such odds with each other, and how this album seemed like 4 solo projects put into one, yet it came out as being such a cohesive masterpiece. In my opinion, every member was at their songwriting peak here. I'll admit it though, there are some tracks on this thing that don't really need to be here, but I'm sure as hell glad that they are. Going from 'Wild Honey Pie' to the amazingly wonderful 'The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill' is always such a ... read more
one of the most satisfying remasters so far
the new mix adds so much weight and detail to the album, the compression isn't awkward like it's usually in remasters specially from albums this old where the different mastering practices from different times clash.
not only that but the humongous amount of extra content, takes ans such is so satisfying and entertaining to listen to and doesn't feel like they're scrapping the bottom of the barrel.