Unpopular Opinion: 'Revolver' Is The Greatest Album Of All Time | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Unpopular Opinion: 'Revolver' Is The Greatest Album Of All Time

The Beatles have made nothing but hits.

510
Unpopular Opinion: 'Revolver' Is The Greatest Album Of All Time
PopMatters

Recently, I sent out this tweet that sparked some controversy within my relatively small follower base.

I know what you're thinking and yes, I have listened to"Lemonade" and "The Life of Pablo," but when selecting my personal nomination for the best album of all time I cannot ignore the timelessness of The Beatles. When it comes to vouching for an album as the true G.O.A.T., few will disagree with me–the honor has to go to The Beatles.

But why "Revolver"?

I could stare at this album cover for hours.

"Revolver" encapsulates a period of transition, coming out in 1966 and bridging the gap between their 1965 release of "Help!" and the 1967 release of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." The album seems to seamlessly combine the quintessential sound of The Beatles' that rocketed them to mainstream popularity with the avante-garde twists (social critiques, existential lyricism, use of the sitar, backwards tracks, heavy symbolic imagery etc.) that would come to represent their later work. "Revolver" presents to its audience a variety of tracks that come together naturally as a unified vision of what the music of The Beatles is, was, and will be


Every song on "Revolver" is a standout track.

"Taxman" is an absolutely iconic socioeconomic critiques.

If you don't shed a tear listening to "Eleanor Rigby" or "For No One" you have no heart.

"I'm Only Sleeping" should be everyone's dreamy, lazy Sunday anthem.

"Love You To," "Tomorrow Never Knows," "She Said She Said" and "Yellow Submarine" give us glimpses of the adventurous, kaleidoscopic, mind's-eye-stimulating tracks The Beatles will deliver down the road.

"Good Day Sunshine" is the best classic, feel-good jam to set as an alarm for any dreary day that comes your way.

"And Your Bird Can Sing" features one of the greatest guitar solos of all time amidst an incredible extended dual-guitar melody.

No drug dealer has gotten the VIP treatment quite like "Doctor Robert."

And "Here, There And Everywhere," "Got to Get You Into My Life," and "I Want to Tell You" round out the album by providing us with the pop-y love songs that are so emblematic of the early Beatles' style.

And if you can't tell already, I just really like the whole album.

Let's take a look at the top competitors:

"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"

Why It's a Contender:

"Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" is undoubtedly a groundbreaking album. Its 1967 release ushered in a cultural shift not only affecting music but also language, fashion and the artistic mindset of the times. Every song brings something exciting to the table and makes for a wholly entertaining listen. Also, album art game so strong.

Why It Falls Short:

Some (myself included) would argue that the album's heavily thematic nature adds a layer of unnecessary gimmickiness to its strong track list. And couldn't we say that "Revolver" paved the way for "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"'s ultimate success?

"Abbey Road"

Why It's a Contender:

"Abbey Road" features some of The Beatles' most consistently praised songs including "Come Together" and "Oh! Darling" while also experimenting with the fragmentation and restitching of songs through the unorthodox 9-track sequence featured on the album's second A-side. I also can't ignore the fact that the "Abbey Road" album cover is absolutely historic.

Why It Falls Short:

Is this album innovative? Yes. Is it textually interesting? Yes. Was it popular? Yes. Does it feature some incredible songs? Of course. But can it really stand up to the levels of innovation, cultural relevance, popularity, and general incredibleness as we see in not only "Revolver" but also in other Beatles albums? I don't think so.

"White Album"


Why It's a Contender:

This 1968 album is critically acclaimed and was released at #1 on the Billboard charts. While the album may not be the most coherent or easy to listen to, the "White Album" is without a doubt interesting as a text given its smattering of attempted satire, the band's turbulent interpersonal relationships during its production, and the influence of The Beatles' recent meditation training in Rishikesh, India.

Why It Falls Short:

"Wild Honey Pie."

"Rubber Soul"

Why It's a Contender:

Because one of my so-called friends suggested it on Twitter and because a Pitchfork contributor described it as The Beatles' "first undisputed masterpiece [...] their quietest and most folky record."

Why It Falls Short:

It's honestly a good album, but an undisputed masterpiece? That is hardly the case. "Rubber Soul" represents some of The Beatles' first forays away from pop and into a more grounded form of psychedelia, but that certainly doesn't make the album an automatic success.

With all this having been said, one has to recognize that essentially every album that The Beatles have produced has been if not brilliantly entertaining at least an exceptional act of innovation in the music industry. With a quick Google search of "best album of all time," you'll find a camp supporting any one of their albums.

What it boils down to is how we choose to define the best album: sales, musical complexity, deviation from tradition, clarity of vision... And how do we accurately measure and account for any of these factors? Ultimately, it's all about personal preference and with The Beatles, it's impossible to go wrong.

Want to argue with me? Think my friends are wrong too? Drop me a line @yespleasebro on Twitter.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

10 Wonderful Things About The Holidays

Some of the best things about the upcoming holiday season.

1571
christmas decoration

As the holidays approach, there are many wonderful things that start to appear. From weather to food and even to the decorations, there are so many wonderful things about the holidays.

1. Cold Weather

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

14 Thoughts Every College Student Has During Winter Break

The most common: "Is it time to go back to school yet?"

3817
nothing on to-do list

Winter break is a cherished time for many after enduring a grueling fall semester. It’s a time of relaxation and time spent with loved ones over the holidays. However, once the new year rolls around, we’re all ready to go back to school. Here are thoughts every college student has during winter break.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Little Changes You Can Make That Will Have a Big Impact On The Enviroment

Simple switches to eco-friendly habits could add up and have a positive effect on the environment!

837
flower in hand
PxHere

In the past decade, there has been a recent surge of compassion for the environment. Many people are beginning to realize how much of a negative impact their daily lives have on the environment. In case you weren't aware the average person has about four pounds of trash per day and American's make up only 5% of the world population and produce a startling 40% of the world's waste. If you care about the environment, here are some smalls changes you can make that will have a big impact!

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Facts All People In A Large Family Can Confirm During The Holiday Season

The holiday season can be the best and most stressful time of the year, especially when more people are involved.

5112
kids jumping

The holidays are full of lights, sweets, sweaters, and your favorite movies. There's nothing quite like this period from the beginning of December through January. Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Years. The fun of it all.

I don't know about you but with my large Italian family something is always going on during this season. It can be the most wonderful time of the year while also being the most hectic. These are a few things you know if your family is anything like mine during this time.

Keep Reading...Show less
10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over
reference.com

To those who celebrate, you just spent an entire day cooking an elaborate meal with all of your favorite foods. You probably ate your body weight in pumpkin pie and mashed potatoes. What happens now? Oh yea, Christmas. It’s time to take out all of the decorations and Christmas themed things that have been sitting in the attic since last year; it’s time to make a reappearance. So, here are 10 things that happen the second Thanksgiving is over.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments