I Just Read About That…

SOUNDTRACK: BEATLES-Rubber Soul (1965).

After the breakthrough of Help!, the Beatles followed up with their first proper album that is full of all original songs and which really pushes the envelope.

The opening song, “Drive My Car” opens the disc with a unique sound and style.  And yet, lyrically, “Baby you can drive my car, and baby I love you,” is as lame as The Doors, “Hello, I love you won’t you tell me your name?” in terms of dealing with the opposite sex.

But with “Norwegian Wood” things really get interesting.  It introduces the sitar–the first inclination towards their flirtation with Eastern/Indian influences.  And I can’t help but think it must have been rather shocking in a rock song in 1965.  It also features “Nowhere Man,” a song featured in the Yellow Submarine movie.  The song is a standout, from the harmonies to the language play.

I suppose everyone knows a person named Michelle who hates the song “Michelle.”

They really mix up the styles on  this disc (while always sounding like The Beatles). “What Goes On” is a sort of country tinged rocker, while “Girl” feels sort of tin pan alley ish, (the big sighs during the chorus are a bit excessive, but work within the song).

The disc ends with the really distrubing, murderous boyfriend lyrics of “Run for Your Life.”  I’m not sure what inspired this song, but frankly it’s lyrics are really dreadful. It’s not the first “I’ll kill you if you date someone else” song and it’s certainly not the last, but it mars an otherwise really catchy song.

Amazingly, all of the songs still clock in under 3 minutes, except “You Won’t See Me”.  While Rubber Soul is probably their first fully realized disc, it’s not until the next album (just a few months down the line) that they blow the lid of the joint.

[READ: May 28, 2010] Something’s Not Quite Right

This book almost doesn’t count a there are virtually no words (one per page). But the book is so awesome that it has to be included just because.

Something’s Not Quite Right is 32 pages of oversized pictures in which, yes, something is not quite right.  Note the cover illustration for an idea.

So, each page features a brilliantly rendered piece of art.  There’s a caption for each picture which reflects (often humorously) on the picture.  The book is a children’s book (Clark enjoyed the nonsense very much).  But even adults will say, Whoa, cool, when they look at these pictures that are just…wrong.

Here’s another example.

Billout also has a website with many of his images available to browse.  His talent is immense and his sense of humor is even better.  I’m so glad I discovered this book.