Quote:
Originally Posted by ewalling
My feeling is that Yoko may have been what ultimately tipped the scales, but the Beatles were already floundering as the foremost creative band. The White Album has some excellent songs, but they are fragmented, all over the place, and the closest they could get to the new modern style of rock was to fall back on traditional rock 'n roll as on Back in the USSR. Abbey Road stands out only for the second side, which, after all, is Pepper-rooted only not as good.
In one interview, Lennon described the new music scene and how he felt alienated from it. He talked of the jam sessions where people would roll up and improvise and that he avoided these occasions because he simply couldn't do it. But that was the direction that contemporary music was headed: improvised, virtuoso soloing, a heavy sound, and 'vocalists' rather than singers.
I sometimes wonder if Mick Taylor didn't rescue the Stones a little in this regard. Keith Richards was pretty much stuck in the Chuck Berry rhythmic style with short staccato lead breaks, but Taylor was a 'young 'un' who played the new Claptonesque style with fast, fluid solos, overdrive, wah. His playing gives the Stones a sophisticated 'modern' early 70s feel that was absent in the Brian Jones era.
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Can you link the Lennon interview?
I’d say the White Album is a game changing masterpiece — mostly because of John’s songs. Yes, it’s uneven. Paul in particular added some real filler. But the album is a culmination of what made the band unique: their incredible versatility and range. Only they could have Martha My Dear, followed by I’m So Tired. The engine of John-and-Paul, the yin and yang, was rolling full steam.
As for modern rock style (which isn’t really a single thing, but several different approaches), Everybody’s Got Something to Hide is way more on cue than Back in the USSR.
Also, I disagree about the Stones. Mick was a magical player. I love him. But what changed the game was Keith going to open tunings. This is what wrote the new riffs. This is what gave us Beggars Banquet — before Taylor joined.