Win Janszoon Over to the Beatles

**Janszoon** · 02-24-2013, 02:32 AM

Help!

Folks, I've tried for months to write a decent, in-depth commentary on this album, but I just don't have it in me. So what I have instead is a shorter, more blunt review than what I've posted in this thread so far. Here goes.

Let me start with the positives: the title track is a great song, as is "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away", I'll give that to this album. They're examples of the kind of terrific pop songwriting that made these guys famous. But beyond that, this album is a study in mediocrity. "The Night Before" is okay, just okay, like a lot of this album. "I've Just Seen a Face" is one of their better stabs at country but hardly worth a mention, and similarly "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" is a pleasant attempt at a Chuck Berry-esque, high-energy track but ultimately forgettable. "Yesterday" and "She's Got a Ticket to Ride" are well-known tracks that are of frankly middling quality, as is the less well known "Tell Me What You See".

Now the negatives: aside from the songs I've already mentioned, the album is awful. The horribly awkward use of a volume pedal and weak songwriting on "I Need You" is a prime example of what's wrong with the half-assed filler that seems to make up the bulk of the album. There's little of the variety or musicianship of their later albums found here and this feels like it was rushed to meet a deadline.

Considering that the only truly good songs to be found here are well known singles, I can't particularly recommend Help! If you like those songs just get one of their greatest hits albums. No need to waste your time here.

At any rate, thanks to Burning Down for sending this my way, I do appreciate it even if the album didn't wow me!

Up next: Let It Be.

Paul Smeenus · 02-24-2013, 02:44 AM

Help! is a transitional album. I like a lot of these songs better than you do, esp. "I've just seen a Face", but compared to what came next, well, to be honest I never spin this album on purpose, it may come up on shuffle play on my iPod.

But "Hide Your Love Away" was in large part a result of the lads meeting with Bob Dylan. To a man the Beatles were in utter awe of BD, and were blown away by what he told them. You guys are great, musically, said BD, but as of right now your lyrics are just an empty vehicle for your fine singing. Just notes, no substance. The opening line, "Here I stand head in hand" was a first step away from the silly vapid love songs of their early work, a first step toward introspection. And, like a lot of first steps, it was a little wobbly, then got steadier as they got more in touch with what they were looking to accomplish.

Hope this helps

**Janszoon** · 02-24-2013, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Smeenus

Help! is a transitional album. I like a lot of these songs better than you do, esp. "I've just seen a Face", but compared to what came next, well, to be honest I never spin this album on purpose, it may come up on shuffle play on my iPod.

But "Hide Your Love Away" was in large part a result of the lads meeting with Bob Dylan. To a man the Beatles were in utter awe of BD, and were blown away by what he told them. You guys are great, musically, said BD, but as of right now your lyrics are just an empty vehicle for your fine singing. Just notes, no substance. The opening line, "Here I stand head in hand" was a first step away from the silly vapid love songs of their early work, a first step toward introspection. And, like a lot of first steps, it was a little wobbly, then got steadier as they got more in touch with what they were looking to accomplish.

Hope this helps

I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised. That song very much sounds like it's aping Dylan.

neardeathexperience · 02-24-2013, 09:24 AM

By now if you don't like the band that has been most written about, most reissued and most listened to in the entire existence of the world what makes me think just short of asking Paul to stop by your house for tea and play Black Bird for you live could your opinion be swayed?

**Janszoon** · 02-24-2013, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neardeathexperience

By now if you don't like the band that has been most written about, most reissued and most listened to in the entire existence of the world what makes me think just short of asking Paul to stop by your house for tea and play Black Bird for you live could your opinion be swayed?

Huh?

Paul Smeenus · 02-24-2013, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I didn't know that, but I'm not surprised. That song very much sounds like it's aping Dylan.

Well, I think the term "aping" is a little harsh but not completely inaccurate. By the next album, Rubber Soul, they had found their own way to write words that mattered, especially John's stunningly beautiful "In My Life".

**Janszoon** · 02-26-2013, 12:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Smeenus

Well, I think the term "aping" is a little harsh but not completely inaccurate. By the next album, Rubber Soul, they had found their own way to write words that mattered, especially John's stunningly beautiful "In My Life".

I've reviewed that as well in this thread.

Paul Smeenus · 02-26-2013, 12:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janszoon

I've reviewed that as well in this thread.

I just took a looksee, and I pretty much agree with your assessment other than reversing "Norwegian Wood" and "In My Life" for the two best songs on the album. And I like "Wait" better than you but COMPLETELY AGREE about the inept "What Goes On". Ringo takes a lot of flack about being a weak drummer (ok so he's not Neil Peart but I really like Ringo's playing, he has outstanding meter) but he's a TERRIBLE songwriter. I dunno why he even got his songs on the records, ferpisssakes.

Paul Smeenus · 02-26-2013, 10:09 PM

One song you didn't mention in your review that I absolutely love, IMO a quintessential dance/pop '60's song, I can picture this with go-go dancers in those hanging cages at a '60's night club

**Janszoon** · 02-26-2013, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Smeenus

One song you didn't mention in your review that I absolutely love, IMO a quintessential dance/pop '60's song, I can picture this with go-go dancers in those hanging cages at a '60's night club

Meh. That one's definitely in the "sort of okay" category for me.

02-24-2013, 02:32 AM	#231 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	Help! Folks, I've tried for months to write a decent, in-depth commentary on this album, but I just don't have it in me. So what I have instead is a shorter, more blunt review than what I've posted in this thread so far. Here goes. Let me start with the positives: the title track is a great song, as is "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away", I'll give that to this album. They're examples of the kind of terrific pop songwriting that made these guys famous. But beyond that, this album is a study in mediocrity. "The Night Before" is okay, just okay, like a lot of this album. "I've Just Seen a Face" is one of their better stabs at country but hardly worth a mention, and similarly "Dizzy Miss Lizzy" is a pleasant attempt at a Chuck Berry-esque, high-energy track but ultimately forgettable. "Yesterday" and "She's Got a Ticket to Ride" are well-known tracks that are of frankly middling quality, as is the less well known "Tell Me What You See". Now the negatives: aside from the songs I've already mentioned, the album is awful. The horribly awkward use of a volume pedal and weak songwriting on "I Need You" is a prime example of what's wrong with the half-assed filler that seems to make up the bulk of the album. There's little of the variety or musicianship of their later albums found here and this feels like it was rushed to meet a deadline. Considering that the only truly good songs to be found here are well known singles, I can't particularly recommend Help! If you like those songs just get one of their greatest hits albums. No need to waste your time here. At any rate, thanks to Burning Down for sending this my way, I do appreciate it even if the album didn't wow me! Up next: Let It Be. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

02-24-2013, 02:44 AM	#232 (permalink)
Paul Smeenus David Hasselhoff Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Back in Portland, OR Posts: 3,681	Help! is a transitional album. I like a lot of these songs better than you do, esp. "I've just seen a Face", but compared to what came next, well, to be honest I never spin this album on purpose, it may come up on shuffle play on my iPod. But "Hide Your Love Away" was in large part a result of the lads meeting with Bob Dylan. To a man the Beatles were in utter awe of BD, and were blown away by what he told them. You guys are great, musically, said BD, but as of right now your lyrics are just an empty vehicle for your fine singing. Just notes, no substance. The opening line, "Here I stand head in hand" was a first step away from the silly vapid love songs of their early work, a first step toward introspection. And, like a lot of first steps, it was a little wobbly, then got steadier as they got more in touch with what they were looking to accomplish. Hope this helps

02-24-2013, 09:24 AM	#234 (permalink)
neardeathexperience Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2013 Posts: 531	By now if you don't like the band that has been most written about, most reissued and most listened to in the entire existence of the world what makes me think just short of asking Paul to stop by your house for tea and play Black Bird for you live could your opinion be swayed?

02-26-2013, 10:09 PM	#239 (permalink)
Paul Smeenus David Hasselhoff Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Back in Portland, OR Posts: 3,681	One song you didn't mention in your review that I absolutely love, IMO a quintessential dance/pop '60's song, I can picture this with go-go dancers in those hanging cages at a '60's night club