The Beatles as a fresh experience
I was always looking to 9/9/09 as the release date of The Beatles: Rock Band.
As the date drew near, I felt more interested in the related (and arguably more important) project - an expert team of engineers had set out to remaster The Beatles' entire catalog for the first time. Ultimately, games are for fun and music is life, so the latter took precedence.
Though I am unfamiliar with The Beatles' albums, I craved hearing these new ones for a few weeks. I tried to tied myself over by listening to Liz's (1987 version) copy of Sgt. Pepper, but I really just wanted to hear the new sparkly masters.
I knew I couldn't just go out and buy all of them so I settled on the following to start me off: - Revolver
- The White Album
- Past Masters (which is just a collection of all of the non-album singles)
Revolver came first, and what a good choice that was. The album is a masterpiece of composition, pacing, variety, production, and performance. I'll admit I never completely understood the timelessness of The Beatles until allow this immaculate remaster to grace my ears.
The most important thing is that I don't have to listen to this as a "classic album" or a "Beatles album" for it to connect. It feels like it is a product of genuine passion for music. It sounds like a group of proficient musicians pushing themselves to create the best record they can.
Its remastered state ups its production quality beyond most modern records. The sound of analog recording and old instruments sounds "juicy", where modern digital recordings leave the instruments sounding flat and lifeless by comparison.
I'm glad I started with Revolver, because I moved on to the White Album, and well, it just doesn't sound like a very good album. I suppose I convinced myself that getting their only double-album would just mean a better value. Instead, it feels bloated and plodding. By the time I hit the energetic tunes at the end of the second disc, I had almost lost interest in The Beatles altogether. I feel like this is an example of an album that gets a pass because it's by a classic band. We shouldn't lower our standards that way.
To be continued later...
As the date drew near, I felt more interested in the related (and arguably more important) project - an expert team of engineers had set out to remaster The Beatles' entire catalog for the first time. Ultimately, games are for fun and music is life, so the latter took precedence.
Though I am unfamiliar with The Beatles' albums, I craved hearing these new ones for a few weeks. I tried to tied myself over by listening to Liz's (1987 version) copy of Sgt. Pepper, but I really just wanted to hear the new sparkly masters.
I knew I couldn't just go out and buy all of them so I settled on the following to start me off: - Revolver
- The White Album
- Past Masters (which is just a collection of all of the non-album singles)
Revolver came first, and what a good choice that was. The album is a masterpiece of composition, pacing, variety, production, and performance. I'll admit I never completely understood the timelessness of The Beatles until allow this immaculate remaster to grace my ears.
The most important thing is that I don't have to listen to this as a "classic album" or a "Beatles album" for it to connect. It feels like it is a product of genuine passion for music. It sounds like a group of proficient musicians pushing themselves to create the best record they can.
Its remastered state ups its production quality beyond most modern records. The sound of analog recording and old instruments sounds "juicy", where modern digital recordings leave the instruments sounding flat and lifeless by comparison.
I'm glad I started with Revolver, because I moved on to the White Album, and well, it just doesn't sound like a very good album. I suppose I convinced myself that getting their only double-album would just mean a better value. Instead, it feels bloated and plodding. By the time I hit the energetic tunes at the end of the second disc, I had almost lost interest in The Beatles altogether. I feel like this is an example of an album that gets a pass because it's by a classic band. We shouldn't lower our standards that way.
To be continued later...