Review Summary: A timeless release that will follow me to my grave.
Ever since I was able to walk, The Beatles have been a part of my life in some way or another. I don’t just say this because I think it makes a decent introduction, but rather due to the fact that I couldn’t picture my life without their music. Before you declare fanboy!! and such, consider this: I’ve been listening to The Beatles ever since I was born. I’m more than just a fan..they’re a part of me. They’re my dad’s all-time favorite band and even before I could speak or take my first steps, John Lennon and Co. were already becoming embedded into my DNA. There are literally family videos of me running around in my diapers foolishly dancing to the fan favorite ‘A Hard Day’s Night’. All this wouldn’t really matter if the band were simply tied to a nostalgic memory, but their music is just as captivating to me now as it was then, albeit for different reasons.
Without a doubt, The Beatles discography is one of the most solid in the history of rock music, but their most impressive release has to be “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” Many will agree with me while I prepare my shield for the naysayers, but this album remains my favorite effort from the British rock legends. It’s loaded with relentless energy and the psychedelic aspects of it put it on a plane all of its own as we are taken on a ride not unlike “The Magical Mystery Tour”, but even better. What really makes it a classic, however, is the insane amount of variety. Some songs are undeniably quirky, such as ‘Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite’ or ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’ while tracks like ‘A Day In The Life’ are much more serious in nature and contain some of the band’s most thought provoking lyrics. Then of course there’s the songs that are just too damn fun to ignore. ‘When I’m Sixty-Four’ and ‘Lovely Rita’ remain two of the most charming songs on the album as The Beatle’s let loose and just have a good time.
At the end of the day, however, what really keeps me coming back to this album is a deeply ingrained connection I have with it. Unlike some of the band’s work, this is an album that is tied to so many numerous memories, both old and new. I’ve jammed "Sgt. Pepper’s" in my old bedroom as a teenager. I spin "Sgt. Pepper’s" to pass the time at work. My dad rocked out to it throughout most of my childhood. So to say nostalgia isn’t a major reason for my undying love for this release would be a lie. But no matter how hard I try, I can’t convince myself this effort is deserving of anything less than a perfect score.
We all go through different chapters in our lives, but no matter how far I wander, "Sgt. Pepper’s" manages to find me again. The Beatles were there when I learned how to walk, and I have no doubts they’ll be there for me during my dying days. Getting older is just a part of living, but it’s nice to know there’s a band I can turn to as I progress through this thing they call life. Which begs the question: will I still listen to this album when I’m sixty-four? You bet your ass I will.
