Sgt. Pepper's is a brilliant album. But honestly, I'm don't rate any of The Beatles' post-Help! work as much as the critics do.

Up until and including Help! (maybe you could go as far as Rubber Soul too), around 1965/66 when they became a strictly studio band not a live band, The Beatles made consistently good pop albums. Decent song after decent song of purely catchy, good pop music.

Around the time of Rubber Soul they started to get too artsy and pompous. Definitely by the time they made Revolver they became the sort of stuck-up, "our music is art", "we are genius", type of band that would inspire bands like Oasis and Radiohead. I don't like that.

I like the carefree, fun pre-'66 Beatles who just made really good pop tunes that didn't try to be anything more than just good pop tunes. A Hard Day's Night and Help! > Revolver and Sgt. Pepper's.

In saying that though, I don't hate their post-'66 work. I love a lot of it actually, they did made great music. But I don't love the attitude about it. I just prefer the mop-top Beatles over the hippy-Beatles.

[Edited 2/19/11 21:53pm]

I think it's time to move on from calling it "greatest album of all time". It's fine to call it an important album, because everything about it, from the cover, the inserts, and the music itself gave the rock genre credibility as an art form. It's like talking about the moment when rap stopped being a fad.

Before "Magical Mystery Tour", they had talked about making Pepper into a TV special.

dalsh327 said:

I think it's time to move on from calling it "greatest album of all time". It's fine to call it an important album, because everything about it, from the cover, the inserts, and the music itself gave the rock genre credibility as an art form. It's like talking about the moment when rap stopped being a fad.

Before "Magical Mystery Tour", they had talked about making Pepper into a TV special.

But thats not going to happen at least for another decade or so. The baby boomers have to go to the grave before the next generation can start talking bout what was the next "greatest album of all time."

If youn like it you like. Personally I think that "A Man Called E" touches all of my Fav buttons.

rialb said:

dalsh327 said:

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...blo_Fanque

For me that illustrates that this was a lazy period for John as far as writing songs goes. "A Day In The Life" is a big exception but otherwise his songs for Sgt. Pepper are kind of weak (yes, even "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds") and the album is dominated by Paul's songs (which are not his best either).

There's also the huge flaw that is George's "Within You Without You." Five minutes (which was fairly long for a song at that time) of him aimlessly noodling with Indian music. For me it stops the momentum of the album dead and I would much rather listen to "Revolution 9" which at over eight minutes feels much shorter than "Within You Without You."

[Edited 2/19/11 20:28pm]

We weren't on the same page very long. For my money, "Revolution 9" is painful in every way possible; I doubt I'll ever voluntarily listen to it again. OTOH, I quite like "Within You Without You." I didn't when I first got into the Beatles, but it grew on me over the years. Just a few years ago I fell in love with it completely when it was mashed up with "Tomorrow Never Knows" on LOVE. But George is my favorite, so maybe I'm a little biased. I mean, who else would consider "Think for Yourself" one of the group's finest moments?

alphastreet said:

I like it, but I like the simpler, popular stuff better, probably cause I remember them from when my parents played them when I was a kid. I discovered Sgt. Pepper on my own.

Tragic Kingdom was an interesting example, I also don't think it's No Doubt's best, I feel Return of Saturn is way more creative, and Rock Steady is more exciting.

I think Rock Steady is No Doubt's best.

For me , 'Thriller' has filler, at least three songs (PYT, Baby Be Mine, The Girl Is Mine). I realize two of them were Top Ten and The Girl Is Mine was the album's first #1.

Dangerous and HIStory for me are Michael's best solo albums.

I haven't listened to enough Beatles to rate their albums. I stick to their singles that I like. Even growing up in the late 60's, they did little for me. Just plain pop songs . . . . When they started getting interesting ('Come Together'), they broke up.

There's a lot of support for 'Ray of Light' as Madonna's best, but for me it's still 'Like A Prayer.'

[Edited 2/20/11 9:59am]

musicjunky318 said:

This is intended to be a general discussion, not just about the Beatles. How often do you find yourself in alignment with what so called 'experts' say or the commercial appeal of an album or single?

Is it constant or is it once in a blue moon?

Examples Where I Disagree:

No fan of MJ, but this album deserves the praise, sales and awards it gets.

It is the zenith of consumer friendly, kid friendly, pop confection.

The professionalism and craftsmanship of mj and Quincy is pitch perfect and hair raising.

This does not move me in the same sense as Revolver or Sign O the Times, works of fine art by masters of their media, but as something as great and perfect as a Hershey Bar.

[Edited 2/23/11 6:26am]

It's obviously a classic album, but Abbey Road is better, obviously.

How great is Her Majesty. Here Comes The Sun, good God. Prince, take notes.

Songs in the Key of Life is overrated.

2freaky4church1 said:

Songs in the Key of Life is overrated.

Comparing to the stuff he released in the 70s? Yeah, I agree.

Comparing to the bullshit that gets spoon fed to us right now on the daily? Not even by the longest shot.

[Edited 2/20/11 10:44am]

2freaky4church1 said:

Songs in the Key of Life is overrated.

Preach on, brother. It's a great collection of songs but for me it's not as good as the three, maybe four, albums that immediately preceded it. There's a degree of overindulgence in Songs in the Key of Life that is not present on his other great albums. For example, "Love's in Need of Love Today" and "Joy Inside My Tears" are, in my opinion, not great songs and the fact that they both run three minutes longer than they should makes them even worse. There are some fantastic songs on this album but it is not as consistently great as some of his other albums. Of course you could throw out the argument that it would have been a killer single album but I suspect that much like Emancipation you would get wildly divergent opinions about what songs to keep and what songs to cut.

V10LETBLUES said:

This does not move me in the same sense as Revolver or Sign O the Times, works of fine art by masters of their media, but as something as great and perfect as Hershey Bar.

This statement seems to reek of the kind of rock ideaology that I feel taints a lot of modern pop music criticism.

[Edited 2/20/11 11:24am]

Songs in the Key is hersheys, Talking Book is Godiva.

SUPRMAN said:

alphastreet said:

I like it, but I like the simpler, popular stuff better, probably cause I remember them from when my parents played them when I was a kid. I discovered Sgt. Pepper on my own.

Tragic Kingdom was an interesting example, I also don't think it's No Doubt's best, I feel Return of Saturn is way more creative, and Rock Steady is more exciting.

I think Rock Steady is No Doubt's best.

For me , 'Thriller' has filler, at least three songs (PYT, Baby Be Mine, The Girl Is Mine). I realize two of them were Top Ten and The Girl Is Mine was the album's first #1.

Dangerous and HIStory for me are Michael's best solo albums.

I haven't listened to enough Beatles to rate their albums. I stick to their singles that I like. Even growing up in the late 60's, they did little for me. Just plain pop songs . . . . When they started getting interesting ('Come Together'), they broke up.

There's a lot of support for 'Ray of Light' as Madonna's best, but for me it's still 'Like A Prayer.'

It's funny how people can have such different opinions. For me "Baby Be Mine" is the best song on Thriller and Dangerous is riddled with filler (although History is probably my favourite album, so that's something we agree on).

I would rate "Come Together" as possibly their worst number one. It's very pedestrian and I don't find much to like about it. I'm convinced that if anyone else had released that song it would not have cracked the top forty.

2freaky4church1 said:

Songs in the Key is hersheys, Talking Book is Godiva.

As a vegan, that comparison means nothing to me.

This one was a classic and regarded a classic the day it was released.

Nobody ever gave a shit what critics said about it. Is has always been an unspoken truth to anyone who loves music, Prince or otherwise. On first listen one just naturally acepts this as one of the greatest records ever made. It was born and released a classic. It was the culmination of an artist just snowballing in greatness.

Same with this one.

The rest are subjective.

[Edited 2/20/11 21:25pm]

Sign O The Times is a masterpiece cause it demonstrates how many influences prince had, and what he pulled from. Each track from rock n roll, to funk, to gospel. to psydeclica and pop this album was him hitting each style with a white hot poker. Every cut was top notch.

Sgt. Pepper is a masterpice because, I think, it was the first time that the idea of a concept album came to real fruitation. Each track weaves into the other, previous ideas and subjects, grow and mature and then are brought up later. It showcases where music and techology was at and where it would go. Plus it had just enough cleverness to be accesible to all. Cmon a dog whistle and a constant repeat at the end of the record. Brilliance.

lazycrockett said:

Sign O The Times is a masterpiece cause it demonstrates how many influences prince had, and what he pulled from. Each track from rock n roll, to funk, to gospel. to psydeclica and pop this album was him hitting each style with a white hot poker. Every cut was top notch.

Sgt. Pepper is a masterpice because, I think, it was the first time that the idea of a concept album came to real fruitation. Each track weaves into the other, previous ideas and subjects, grow and mature and then are brought up later. It showcases where music and techology was at and where it would go. Plus it had just enough cleverness to be accesible to all. Cmon a dog whistle and a constant repeat at the end of the record. Brilliance.

Yessssss.

I love concept albums.

lazycrockett said:

Sgt. Pepper is a masterpice because, I think, it was the first time that the idea of a concept album came to real fruitation. Each track weaves into the other, previous ideas and subjects, grow and mature and then are brought up later. It showcases where music and techology was at and where it would go. Plus it had just enough cleverness to be accesible to all. Cmon a dog whistle and a constant repeat at the end of the record. Brilliance.

If that's the case then what about this album?

V10LETBLUES said:

No fan of MJ, but this album deserves the praise, sales and awards it gets.

It is the zenith of consumer friendly, kid friendly, pop confection.

Being able to recognize its impact on the industry and how it changed the way music is marketed is one thing and that does not mean you have to kick yourself if you don't actually enjoy any of the 9 songs on it. Same goes for Sgt. Pepper, I understand its impact, the concept-album thingy and how everyone wanted to copy it, but I still don't care for it and if I want to hear Beatles I'll play the '1' compilation instead.

I prefer The Beatles' 'Magical Mystery Tour' but I understand the 'Pepper' was groundbreaking in many ways and really represented the era.

As for Prince, 'Sign 'O' The Times' has never been my favourite, maybe because I saw the film first and prefered the live arrangements. I'd take 'Lovesexy' over 'SOTT' any day.

As for Madonna, 'Ray Of Light' was a watershed moment for her and is definately one of her best albums, but not my favourite. That goes to 'Erotica.'

I think Sgt Pepper is a career turning point, but not the pinnacle of their creativity.

Sgt Pepper is their Purple Rain.

Abbey Road is their Sign O The Times.

SquirrelMeat said:

I think Sgt Pepper is a career turning point, but not the pinnacle of their creativity.

Sgt Pepper is their Purple Rain.

Abbey Road is their Sign O The Times.

and Revolver their Parede?

and A Hard Day's Night their Dirty Mind?

and Rubber Soul their 1999?

Abbey Road is my own favourite.

Unholyalliance said:

lazycrockett said:

Sgt. Pepper is a masterpice because, I think, it was the first time that the idea of a concept album came to real fruitation. Each track weaves into the other, previous ideas and subjects, grow and mature and then are brought up later. It showcases where music and techology was at and where it would go. Plus it had just enough cleverness to be accesible to all. Cmon a dog whistle and a constant repeat at the end of the record. Brilliance.

If that's the case then what about this album?

Oh I consider Pet Sounds also a Masterpiece, but the OP didn't mention it.

Unholyalliance said:

lazycrockett said:

Sgt. Pepper is a masterpice because, I think, it was the first time that the idea of a concept album came to real fruitation. Each track weaves into the other, previous ideas and subjects, grow and mature and then are brought up later. It showcases where music and techology was at and where it would go. Plus it had just enough cleverness to be accesible to all. Cmon a dog whistle and a constant repeat at the end of the record. Brilliance.

If that's the case then what about this album?

This is brilliant because I listen to it. lol

At one point I tried to figure out why it was so celebrated. But I have no problem listening to it all the way through.

Still not sure why it's so glorified but I'm impressed that I still listen to it.

Unholyalliance said:

If that's the case then what about this album?

When I first listened to Sgt Pepper, my mom made me listen to Pet Sounds telling me the Beatles never would've recorded Pepper without it.

Years latr I've read all of the stories of how Paul was inspired by it...there's just no comparison IMO.

Outside of "Wouldnt It Be Nice" and "God Only Knows", I just dont dig it.

The beach boys and pet sounds are the most overrated act and album in pop music. period.

To put the beach boys and The Beatles in the same sentence is like comparing mj to Mc Hammer.

[Edited 2/21/11 14:58pm]