Review Summary: If the production was at top notch and all the tunes flowed with one another (*cough*(SeeWhatHappens)*cough*) this really coulda been an album for the ages.
Now, to call this album a cheap rip-off of the Beatles "classic" album, 'Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" would be entirely inaccurate. Doing psychedelic albums was the thing to do, the Stones weren't the only ones to do it after the Beatles, and the Beatles weren't the first. This album, by far, has a stronger psychedelic feel to it than Sgt. Pepper, occasionally feeling like you are actually tripping when your listening to Their Satanic Majesties Request. Though in comparison of production and how well the songs flow, it's inferior. Many argue that this is the Stones worst album, or at least Brian Jones era album; another false statement. For the Jones era had no bad albums, all were excellent or classic, while Their Satanic fits right in the middle. Thus leading me to give this album a 4.5/5...as it isn't perfect, but still is a great album nevertheless.
Sing This All Together...4.5/5 - To my mind, this was a really great way to start off this album. Even though the song lacks a lot of lyrics (only having two verses and repeating the same chorus more than a couple times) it keeps you interested: with two Beatles singing the chorus, plenty of fun and hip-shaking percussion instruments (as nearly, if not all, every other song on the album has) which pulse the song's rhythm, and of course the horns which add a very nice touch it. If not for it's repetitiveness, this would easily be a 5.
Citadel...5/5 - Like some other tracks off the album, this one is a grower. I found myself hating this song, giving it not much of a listen the first few times I played it. But as the days went by, I actually have come to really love it. It's one of the more "rocking" songs on the album, and it's chorus fits in perfectly with the rest of the song (meaning that it isn't out of place, or sounding like an entirely different song). Due to it's rock-themed guitar riff, the listener can relate this song to other Stones songs off different albums. But with the production and Mick being in psychedelic mode, it has the atmosphere of a Hippie song.
In Another Land...4.5/5 - If I'm not mistaken, this was released as a single off Their Satanic Majesties Request...I can see why. This has 'ACID TRIP' written all over it. The Stones credited this tune to Bill Wyman (their bassist) which is no surprise seeing how it IS his song (he wrote the lyrics and sung it etc.). The opening, even though it's odd, seems to grasp me into the song, yet I can see why some dislike this tune very much. The effect they put on Bill's voice, though to me fitting, can be a little odd. Another thing which is quite annoying, is that when listening to the stereo version (during the chorus) you hear Bill's very faint and soft voice on one side of the speakers, but then there is Mick and other's singing loudly on the other side. It is the most annoying aspect on the song...also the 12 second ending of Bill snoring could have been taken out.
2000 Man...4.5/5 - This is one of my favorite tracks off the album, but when reviewing it, there is just one flaw that is enough to knock it down .5: the beginning minute (around one minute, probably longer, but you'll know when it changes) and the rest of the track sound like two separate songs. As stupid as that may seem, it makes the song not flow well. If only it would've actually separated into two parts, it probably would've made more sense and been more enjoyable. It's still a great song though.
Sing This All Together (See What Happens)...1.5/5 - Talk about one big glob of a mess. It starts off cool, right before the guitar kicks in you hear Mick ask, "where's that joint?" Obviously the reasoning to this songs mess, they were all tripping and stoned out of their, and everyone else's, minds. It does have some really attractive sounding horns that can please the listener, but for the most part you aren't sure where the song is headed, what you're hearing, and what in God's name were they thinking when putting this on the album.
She's A Rainbow...6/5 - I know, I'm supposed to give it a 5/5, but this song is the glowing, bright star for this album. It's really a great tune, with an amazing piano that leads the entire song. The intro is unnecessary and in the last 30 seconds the off beat bongos and the scratching off either the guitar or violin strings were also pointless.
The Lantern...4/5 - I would give this a higher rating, but the production raped this tune. It has nice use of an instrument you don't often hear used in Stones' songs: the flute. The production also made Mick's vocals very eerie and spine-chilling to the listener, either a plus or minus. Not the best, but not the worst...it keeps the listener interested.
Gomper...3.5/5 - It has a nice piano in the beginning, colliding with some very catchy bongo drums. This all leads into Mick singing and with a couple instruments making their entrance...that's the song. It has a nice laid-back feel to it, one of the more relaxing tunes off the album. The bongos were used very properly throughout this tune.
2000 Light Years From Home...5/5 - This is the second best song off the album, in my opinion, and could have possibly received a 6/5, but it doesn't have as great of an impact as "She's A Rainbow". It starts off quite odd, creepy one may say, with sounds being thrown occasionally. The song finally starts with Keith's, possibly Brian's, quite guitar riff, then jolts into space travel. It stays in that course through, nearly, the whole song...but it's pleasing, not bad. It's also wild to know where Mick wrote the lyrics; jail. Anyhow, this tune is definitely one any fan of the psychedelic genre should own.
On With The Show...4.5/5 - A very proper end to the whole album, Mick talking as if he were a ringleader, and the rest of the band jamming along. The negative, again, is the production. This would've been one of the best if not for that simple reason. The Stones really had it sound as if they were gathering one and all into a party of theirs; a very warm welcome indeed.
