Ima Magical Mystery Tour Groupie!

Overall Album Score: 10plus out of 10

Before this, the Beatles came up with the revolutionary Sergeant Pepper album that made everyone and their dog keel over and die, it was so special. And, as if making an album that convinced the world that rock-and-roll is a real art form wasn't enough, the Beatles follow-up album, The Magical Mystery Tour, convinced the world that hip-hop could be an art form, too!

........................

What's with those blank stares? Don't you believe me?

Yes. It's true. The Magical Mystery Tour introduced the world to the hip-hop glory we would later hear from such arteests as Grandmaster Funk Daz J, Snoop Doggy Homie, Jay G-Meister Z Yaltzenberger, etc. Just check out the lyrics of the title track.

The lyrics to "Magical Mystery Tour"

WHAD UP! WHAD UP WIT DA MYZTERY TOUR!

........................

What? Oh. Well, my sources have just told me that I misheard the lyrics and The Magical Mystery Tour is not, in fact, the world's first hip-hop album. Oh well. In fact, there's not a whole lot of difference here than Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. I guess that's okay.

In one respect, this is an interesting album when you compare it to Sergeant Pepper. On one hand, Sergeant Pepper is a much more impressive album than Magical Mystery Tour not to mention more revolutionary! However, Magical Mystery Tour has slightly better songs on it. WHAT CAN YOU MAKE OF THAT?!?!?!?

I guess this album is almost a compilation. It is comprised of the film soundtrack (of the same name, which I still need to see) as well as the content of a few singles. And ... these songs are as strong as ANYTHING!

This album has the landmark song "I am the Walrus" in it, which might be the most famous (and the best) psychedelic song ever written. But, my personal favorite lies and will probably always lie with that enchantingly pleasant pop tune: "Penny Lane." AND THAT'S NOT ALL, FOLKS! This album also has the wonderful "Strawberry Fields Forever," the SUPER "All You Need is Love" and the beautiful "Fool on a Hill" on it. On any other band's album, either of these songs would have shone above all. And ... to have them all on the same album is breathtaking! (And, every song I haven't mentioned are also great. Every single one. Even "Flying" is special.)

Overall Album Score: 10plus out of 10 (Another Beatles album breaks my ratings barrier! Ah... it's just as well, anyway. No other band could probably do this. No other band that I am aware of, at any rate.)

Average Song Score: 10plus (Listening to these songs are like hearing one priceless moment after another. These are WONDERFUL songs! It even broke the barrier.)

Album Tilt: 10 (Great songs make a great album! Utterly splendid.)

Artist Rating: 10 (Even though this is essentially the same thing as Sergeant Pepper, The Beatles somehow manage to make it something different. All of these songs shine with glistening gold.)

Track Reviews

Magical Mystery Tour 10/10

Boy... I wasn't even going to give this one a 10 just because it's not as great as some of these other songs. But ... HEAVEN HELP ME ... it deserves it! The song, as an introduction, is perfect in every way one could possibly think of. The tune, while not among the greatest Lennon/McCartney penned songs, works perfectly with the studio treatment they give it. (And that car passing by! Who would have thought of that?) It's happy, fun and goofy! Greatness dribbles from its lips.

The Fool on the Hill 10/10

Another classic. This one is a slow and beautiful song that is probably a McCartney composition. It utilizes flutes, a slightly drunken recorder, and ... it gives one an undeniable sense of comfort. For the HOT TUUUB.

Flying 9.5/10

Even this utterly goofy track (which is credited to all the Beatles members), which might have just been an outtake of a sort of jam session. Just check out McCartney's baseline on here, and Ringo's great, great drumming! Don't these suckers together have more attitude than KISS or Aerosmith was EVER ABLE TO PROJECT IN THEIR ENTIRE UNWORTHY CAREERS?????!!!! I think so! The goofy operatics here are really funny, too. I like it!

Blue Jay Way 9.5/10

For my money, this Indian-tinged George Harrison composition is better than "Within You, Without You" on Sergeant Pepper. It just seems more enjoyable to me ... and a little bit more in-tuned with my "Western" ears. That said, this track is really a weak-link in the album. (But ... imagine ... an album whose weak link gets a 9.5! This is a chain fit for Goliath!)

Your Mother Should Know 10/10

A purely pleasant and poppy (and semi-Vaudevillian) track that's PROBABLY by Paul. It has such a nice tune that it makes one want to get up and actually sing this old song. It might be a little bit too fluffy, but this is good fluff. Cotton candy with a lot of protein in it?

I am the Walrus 10/10

John Lennon gives us a heavy psychedelic tune that's THE BEST. I'm sure we all know this song. It's a landmark to say the least. It might be the best track of the album ... but I'm still attached to "Penny Lane." It's certainly more interesting than "Penny Lane." It even has a very fun ending that's long and drawn out (something that many-a-band would try to repeat, but never equal). CLASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSIC.

Hello Goodbye 9.5/10

This one is the least memorable song in the album. Why? 'Cause I can't automatically recall the tune when I see the title. I remember all the other songs. But not this one. Nevertheless, this song is still SINFULLY good.

Strawberry Fields Forever 10plus/10

Rightfully deserving of that 10plus here, I think. This song is particularly wonderful just how it seems to flow. This song either feels like it's floating down a calm river or it coaxed itself with oil. And the melody ... oh the melody! ... it has hooks up its nostrils. And, you can't forget about the psychedelia aspect of it! A bit o' sitar. An orchestra. A trippy beat. A little bit of wall 'o sound. A bizarre ending. Innovative work in the studio. It's all good.

Penny Lane 10plus/10

ANOTHER ONE??!?!?!? This is one of the ultimate pop masterpiece songs ever written. The melody is the greatest and ... man! ... I can't even write this track review! I just have to listen to it. Everything about it reeks of greatness! GRRRRRRRReat! I know I'm going out on a limb, but this is my favorite track from this album. One day I might wise up and proclaim "I Am the Walrus" as such, but not today, baby!

Baby You're a Rich Man 10/10

I love this song, too. This is a good little hippie song for the HIPPIE IN ALL OF US! (And we've all got a hippie. Even cops have a hippie in them. Even cops with a buzz cut and an extensive country-western music collection have an inner-hippie. I'm serious!) Wonderfully wonderful with wonderment.

All You Need is Love 10/10

ANOTHER favorite of mine. It starts out and ends as if it were a cable cooking show, but then it turns into an especially good Beatles anthem proclaiming that everyone needs LOVE. Of course, we all realize this, but hearing this from John makes it feel like we haven't realized it yet. Oh man! The album is over, too. This was definitely an album of greatness. ACCEPT NO SUBSTITUTES! (Except Sergeant Pepper. You can accept that substitute. But nothing else.)

Is this review magical? Or is it a mystery that I praised it so much? Leave your tours here here

freedomspiritual@yahoo.com (Alan "Fossil" Brooks) received Nov. 4, 2004

Blue Jay Way is very soothing, but it puts me to sleep. I skip the track, not because it sucks but because I like staying awake when playing an album.
rating:
the song: C-
the album: B

Sleepwalker_1977@hotmail.com (Sir Alex) received July 4, 2005

Me again, pinhead-
Go with the motif that rap originated on this album. Think of how Lennon sang "I Am The Walrus." It's very much like rap, and makes about as much sense, lyrically. Except Lennon didn't suck.
Alex the Grapehead