Review Summary: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band can play at my house anytime
You guys knew this one was coming. After the steps that Revolver made to change the Beatles's sound to more of a psychodelic style, they then took it one step farther when they released (some say their best) album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. This is probably the most well, loved Beatles album of all time except for maybe the perfect Abbey Road. And although most say that it was mainly Paul who kept the band together during this point, which I'm not quite sure about because everybody seems pretty energetic on the record (even Ringo, and he sounds damn bored on his other songs like Act Naturally and Yellow Submarine) so it obviously wasn't just Paul's doing, that's being pretty unfair to the other Beatles. But it is one of the best Beatles albums in terms of how well their in sync.
The first song is a introduction to the Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band itself, simply titled Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Its done in a weird faked stadium sound, like their a different band playing a live show. I have to admit, begrudgingly, that it's a pretty great concept. But then by the second song its pretty much not brought up again until the very end of the album. This really gives the album a weird flow and although it still works because all the songs are exceptionally great and well done, it still seems off because they introduce a weird concept like that, drop it, then pick it back up during the next to last song, then drop it again for the finale. I honestly don't get the design choices here, and it bugs me a lot. But it's still a great album.
Some other highlights include the second song, With a Little Help from My Friends as you may remember from the theme song of the Wonder Years. The third track Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is a great one too with some very fun and almost Willy Wonka sounding lyrics (marmalade skies sounds like something right out of the movie)...Another great song is Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite which is "supposedly" based off a poster for a high flying circus and although it doesn't make much sense, it sure has a great sound. Overall it is probably top 2 on my short list of best Beatles' albums coming in from behind, just behind Abbey Road.
