LET IT BE

The Beatles - Let It Be (1970)

Overall Rating: 9-12 (depends*)

Best Song: What are you asking me for? LET IT BE

This is it, the REAL swansong. It also ties together to make itself my favorite Beatles album, overall. And I know what you're thinkin': How the hell could this ignorant, sadistic prick ever have a 'favorite' Beatles record? It's gotta be some smug scam he's pulling over us, but we're to smart to get caught in it...

Yeah, I'm no fan of the band, man, and my mandatory plan is in the pan. That is to say, this is the record by the flab four that touches me, most. Let It Be is their most convoluted album of all, too. No, it's common 'esoteric' knowledge that the sessions for Let It Be were recorded before Abbey Road, but I don't care, because whether or not it truly was their career swansong, or it was that of Grabbing Toad, who cares? This particular album has the spirit of swansong, more than anything they did. Now, while I might prefer the first side of the other to...well, anything these chumps ever did do, I have a soft spot in my heart for quite a lot of material on here.

The first thing I saw was how chaotic and... uhm, full of turmoil the record is. It's ruled primarily by balladry that strikes me as if they were trying to out-Band the Band (and not entirely failing. Not succeeding, hells no, but not failing, either). It's a tormented collection of songs, and where the stresses of real life finally start bleeding through and dissolving the dream. That's what everything they did before was: a big, fake, painted dream of pop, smothered in a psychedelic butter. This stuff is almost twined to bluesy roots rock, though. To me, it's the most sincere the ever got, and that means a lot to me. These songs can actually, I don't know, get into my soul, some days.

Let It Be is also kind of raw, with weird clips and effects capping certain tracks. I don't dock points for this, and it all makes me feel more at home on the record, so...kudos. Again, most songs strive for that blues-pop angelic essence, and with fine slabs of Elton Johnery on the title track, I am actually sucked in, a little. The vocals are stronger, and the melodies are more serious. Yes, this is possibly the only album by the Beatles that don't got a real sense of humor. It happens to be my favorite, go figure. I guess I'm humorously dead on the inside. No, that isn't to say I'm dead on the inside, and it just happens to be humorous. It means I've got no soul.

It's a shame, though, that this album suffers from the SAME EXACT PROBLEM that plagued Abbey Road. Near the end of side two, they just totally give up. One After 909 is nothing more than sleazy throwaway rock and/or roll. After they waltz into my heart for the first freaking time, they do a damned jig on it with stiletto heels! Oh man, those assholes! At least it's a cool solo, or whatever. I think the Long And Winding Road could have fit on a post 1960's solo record, but the strings don't go over well on me. It's a well established vocal melody, and the song is good, but it doesn't hit me as hard as the first half did. Still, this is the first and only Beatles album that really plunders my feelings for some semblance of musical catharsis, where everything else was intent upon making me have a good time, and god damn it, I don't want a good time!

Get Back could have probably fit snugly as an old, long lost single. Not that I love it (hardly), and it feels like a silly album end, even if it is leagues better than the absolutely worthless For You Blue shuffle. What a sorry means for ending such a tumultuous and striking record on their catalog. I hate them. * This album's rating is entirely off the rocker. For me, it's a really high 11, even if I prefer it to Abbey Road for biased reasons. If you prefer your Beatles with good humors, dock this chink a handful of points for napping on the job. If you came in (like I did) through the post Beatles work of Lennon and Co., and prefer your music a little more serious, a 12, or heck, even a terribly low 13 might not seem too nutty. God, I hate the Beatles.

****

Share this THE BEATLES review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to Alitare
• Report this review (#294094)
• Buy THE BEATLES music online with PA partners
• Show all THE BEATLES MP3/Stream
• Go to THE BEATLES page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Let It Be page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for THE BEATLES related discussions