The Beatles - Abbey Road (1969)

Gavin B. · 02-12-2009, 01:46 PM

I have conflicted feelings about Abbey Road. Abbey Road represented the technological triumph of the immaculately produced high concept album, over the primative low fidelity production values of garage bands whose primary currency of trade was the the 45 rpm single.

That being said, I'm still in awe of Abbey Road as a musical statement. The complex vocals arrangements on the album are so delicate and ethereal they sounded celestial in origin. It's amazing to think that in the course of five short years, the Beatles had evolved from teen idol "boy band" status to zeitgeists who elevated rock and roll to high art.

My favorite Beatles album is still the white one but that's a completely different discussion.

starrynight · 06-29-2011, 03:35 PM

The most perfect album they did probably, it's very difficult to criticise any of it.

Ellington · 06-29-2011, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by starrynight

The most perfect album they did probably, it's very difficult to criticise any of it.

I agree. It's my favorite album of all time. Period. That said, I've heard it criticized on the basis of Maxwell's Silver Hammer and Octopus' Garden!

starrynight · 06-29-2011, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ellington

That said, I've heard it criticized on the basis of Maxwell's Silver Hammer and Octopus' Garden!

Probably some rock snobs.

There's plenty of variety on this anyway. And I think Octopus' Garden is perhaps better than Yellow Submarine, and Maxwell's Silver Hammer is as good as Good Day Sunshine at least and compares ok to When I'm 64.

CitySlickCaptain · 11-27-2011, 03:55 PM

There's not one uninteresting second of I want You (She's So Heavy)

Chives · 11-29-2011, 01:22 PM

It's amazing how much damage Maxwell's Silver Hammer does to what people think of this album given how much work Paul put into getting it "just right". It does break their stride, though...

Abbey Road is my third favorite Beatles album, after Sgt. Pepper and Revolver. It just has such a fresh production to pretty much the entire thing and it really stands out. Even when they are mucking about in Octopus's Garden and with Maxwell, it always sounds nice at the very least. I'll admit, though, that there are times when I listen to Come Together/Something, then flip the record over and just listen to the second side instead.

I Want You (She's So Heavy) is awesome. It ends the first side on a perfect note and just really just brings that part of the album all together. I find it almost hypnotic and times flies when I listen to it.

PerlJammer · 12-05-2011, 05:29 PM

I always thought Abbey Road was kind of a letdown. They had made some of the most pivotal rock albums of all time, and then seemed to take a step backward with this one.

Ska Lagos Jew Sun Ra · 12-05-2011, 06:44 PM

I personally really like Abbey Road. Feel that with Sgt. Pepper they were trying to prove they could innovate, and keep with the times. With the White Album they were seeking a culmination of everything they stood for. Abbey Road, however, has nothing to prove, so they just remain relaxed, and just wrote songs.

Shame 'Let it Be' had to exist. Think Abbey Road would have been a much better bowing out.

starrynight · 12-05-2011, 07:15 PM

Well Abbey Road was the last recorded music they did I thought? Let It Be was the last released but that's just an accident of how things came about I suppose.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PerlJammer

I always thought Abbey Road was kind of a letdown. They had made some of the most pivotal rock albums of all time, and then seemed to take a step backward with this one.

I just look at music as music than as part of influence or history or whatever. And as music I like it and that's all that matters to me.

s_k · 12-07-2011, 03:11 PM

I can't ever decide what album I like best. Revolver or Abbey Road.
It's an absolute gem, that's for sure. Love it.
Songs of this album I like least are probably Maxwell's Silver Hammer and Octopus's Garden. They're fun songs, they're not bad. But they sort of distort the 'groove' that goes on througout these albums. I never liked the 'funny' Beatles songs. Like O-bla-di or Back in the USSR.

I love Come Together.
Come Together drags you right into the album. Probably one of the best riffs ever

02-12-2009, 01:46 PM	#41 (permalink)
Gavin B. Model Worker Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,248	I have conflicted feelings about Abbey Road. Abbey Road represented the technological triumph of the immaculately produced high concept album, over the primative low fidelity production values of garage bands whose primary currency of trade was the the 45 rpm single. That being said, I'm still in awe of Abbey Road as a musical statement. The complex vocals arrangements on the album are so delicate and ethereal they sounded celestial in origin. It's amazing to think that in the course of five short years, the Beatles had evolved from teen idol "boy band" status to zeitgeists who elevated rock and roll to high art. My favorite Beatles album is still the white one but that's a completely different discussion. __________________ There are two types of music: the first type is the blues and the second type is all the other stuff. Townes Van Zandt

06-29-2011, 03:35 PM	#42 (permalink)
starrynight Music Addict Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 937	The most perfect album they did probably, it's very difficult to criticise any of it. __________________ non-cliquey member of every music forum I participate on

11-29-2011, 01:22 PM	#46 (permalink)
Chives Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 299	It's amazing how much damage Maxwell's Silver Hammer does to what people think of this album given how much work Paul put into getting it "just right". It does break their stride, though... Abbey Road is my third favorite Beatles album, after Sgt. Pepper and Revolver. It just has such a fresh production to pretty much the entire thing and it really stands out. Even when they are mucking about in Octopus's Garden and with Maxwell, it always sounds nice at the very least. I'll admit, though, that there are times when I listen to Come Together/Something, then flip the record over and just listen to the second side instead. I Want You (She's So Heavy) is awesome. It ends the first side on a perfect note and just really just brings that part of the album all together. I find it almost hypnotic and times flies when I listen to it. __________________ [My last.fm] [My Tumblr]

12-07-2011, 03:11 PM	#50 (permalink)
s_k Music Addict Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,206	I can't ever decide what album I like best. Revolver or Abbey Road. It's an absolute gem, that's for sure. Love it. Songs of this album I like least are probably Maxwell's Silver Hammer and Octopus's Garden. They're fun songs, they're not bad. But they sort of distort the 'groove' that goes on througout these albums. I never liked the 'funny' Beatles songs. Like O-bla-di or Back in the USSR. I love Come Together. Come Together drags you right into the album. Probably one of the best riffs ever __________________ Click here to see my collection

11-27-2011, 03:55 PM	#45 (permalink)
CitySlickCaptain Groupie Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 15	There's not one uninteresting second of I want You (She's So Heavy)

12-05-2011, 05:29 PM	#47 (permalink)
PerlJammer Groupie Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 18	I always thought Abbey Road was kind of a letdown. They had made some of the most pivotal rock albums of all time, and then seemed to take a step backward with this one.