musicians reviewing musicians

I just discovered a album review of Revolver by Ray Davies circa 1966. Any other cool examples of this?

BEATLES and Brian Epstein were so delighted with "Eleanor Rigby" and "Yellow Submarine", two of the tracks on the new "Revolver" LP out next Friday (August 5), that they're also being issued a single for the same date.

But if that celebrated songwriter Ray Davies is a reliable judge, the Beatles have made a big mistake. Ray thinks Miss Rigby was definitely dedicated to John and Paul's music teacher back in primary school; while "Submarine" should sink into a dustbin. "It's a load of rubbish, really", remarks Ray.

Disc and Music Echo decided to turn over the task of reviewing the "Revolver" album - and the Kink certainly spoke his mind.

Here's the album, track by track, with Ray's inter-round summaries:
Side One: "Taxman" - "It sounds like a cross between the Who and Batman. It's a bit limited, but the Beatles get over this by the sexy double-tracking. It's surprising how sexy double-tracking makes a voice sound."

"Eleanor Rigby" - "I bought a Haydn LP the other day and this sounds just like it. It's all sort of quartet stuff and it sounds like they're out to please music teachers in primary schools. I can imagine John saying: 'I'm going to write this for my old schoolmistress'. Still it's very commercial."

"I'm Only Sleeping" - "It's a most beautiful song, much prettier than 'Eleanor Rigby'. A jolly old thing, really, and definitely the best track on the album.

"Love You Too" - "George wrote this - he must have quite a big influence on the group now. This sort of song I was doing two years ago - now I'm doing what the Beatles were doing two years ago. It's not a bad song - it's well performed which is always true of a Beatles track."

"Here There and Everywhere" - "This proves that the Beatles have got good memories, because there are a lot of busy chords in it. It's nice - like one instrument with the voice and the guitar merging. Third best track on the album."

"Yellow Submarine" - ""This is a load of rubbish, really. I take the mickey out of myself on the piano and play stuff like this. I think they know it's not that good."

"She Said She Said" - "This song is in to restore confidence in old Beatles sound. That's all."

"Good Day Sunshine" - "This'll be a giant. It doesn't force itself on you, but it stands out like 'I'm Only Sleeping'. This is back to the real old Beatles. I just don't like the electronic stuff. The Beatles were supposed to be like the boy next door only better."

"And Your Bird Can Sing" - "Don't like this. The song's too predictable. It's not a Beatles song at all."

"Dr. Robert" - "It's good - there's a 12-bar beat and bits in it that are clever. Not my sort of thing, though."

"I Want To Tell You" - "This helps the LP through though it's not up to the Beatles standard."

"Got To Get You Into My Life" - "Jazz backing - and it just goes to prove that Britain's jazz musicians can't swing. Paul's sings better jazz than the musicians are playing which makes nonsense of people saying jazz and pop are very different. Paul sounds like Little Richard. Really, it's the most vintage Beatles track on the LP."

"Tomorrow Never Knows" - "Listen to all those crazy sounds! It'll be popular in discotheques. I can imagine they had George Martin tied to a totem pole when they did this."

So, after listening to each track three or four times, the Ray Davies verdict:
"This is the first Beatles LP I've really listened to in it's entirety but I must say there are better songs on 'Rubber Soul'. Still, 'I'm Only Sleeping' is a standout. 'Good Day Sunshine is second best and I also like 'Here, There and Everywhere.' But I don't want to be harsh about the others. The balance and recording technique are as good as ever."

so much of that review is capital-everything RONG

cool :)

lol @ Tomorrow Never Knows review

It's also hilarious.

I know! The review is pretty spot on and love Revolver to death.

Davies reviewing a Beatles album is like having Noel Gallagher review a Blur album

That would also be hilarious.

I agree w/ davies

my favorite is "This'll be a giant" in reference to one of the only songs on the album I've never heard of

that is a totally lolsome description of "Eleanor Rigby" and a complete lack of understanding Haydn all wrapped up in one handy package

They had discotheques back in 1966?

http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/facepalm.jpg

No I think he just invented the concept and the term right there.

actually it's cool if you see the original draft he mentions dubstep and beardo disco too

"the boy next door only better" lmao

Also, I wonder why he skipped "For No One"--seems like he would've liked that

"This song is in to restore confidence in old Crabcore sound. That's all."

It sounds like a cross between Studio and Sunn))o

actually, not the same thing as this thread is asking about but interesting nonetheless: http://dustedmagazine.com/features/835 Oneida dude reviews his reviewer.

Well, I agree with him about the best track on the album.

its funny cuz "im only sleeping" sounds like a nick of "sunny afternoon"

Al wtf, "Good Day Sunshine" is one of the most ubiquitous songs on the record.

Certainly the song from the record that gets played most on oldies radio around here.

I think all these songs get massive radio play outside of I want to tell you, Dr. Robert, and Love You Too.

Speaking of which....

"Love You Too" - "George wrote this - he must have quite a big influence on the group now. This sort of song I was doing two years ago - now I'm doing what the Beatles were doing two years ago. It's not a bad song - it's well performed which is always true of a Beatles track."

Did the flip side of You Really Got Me contain some indian raga I'm unaware of?

Davies is referring to "Fancy"

and "See My Friends"

hmm i'll have to listen to "Good Day Sunshine" tonight and see if i recognize it --- title doesn't ring a bell at all

It's pretty ubiquitous.

I didn't even know it was a Beatles track until I got Revolver in high school - I thought it was just a jingle written for Raisin Bran

sounds like they're out to please music teachers in primary schools. I can imagine John saying: 'I'm going to write this for my old schoolmistress'

this is sorta my take on some beatles tunes, except mccartney is the culprit

"Fancy" came out in 1966 and "See My Friends" late 1965, so I'd say Ray's making a bit of an overstatement.

xxxxpost

he can't tell Paul from John do you really think he knows what year it is

it's a lot easier to tell them apart now ... one of them is dead.

what a disaster for Ray Davies

circa 2006:
THE KINKS frontman RAY DAVIES is desperate to see SIR PAUL MCCARTNEY move away from middle-of-the-road music and produce something extreme. The WATERLOO SUNSET rocker is convinced the former BEATLE is hiding behind a smokescreen and should either strip down his sound, or take it to the other end of the spectrum and collaborate with SIR ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER. Davies says, "I'd like to hear him stripped down musically, then maybe more of him could come through. "I still think there's a camouflage there and I don't know whether that's intuitive or planned. I'd like to hear him sound like what he is, one of our great folk heroes. Let's try to restore that. "Or he should work with Andrew Lloyd Webber: I really think that is the marriage I am waiting for. Get more real or go that far."

lol

would love to have heard what the Beatles made of Village Green at the time...

it's not really a review, but pat metheny's article about kenny g is good times.

"Got To Get You Into My Life" - "Jazz backing - and it just goes to prove that Britain's jazz musicians can't swing. Paul's sings better jazz than the musicians are playing which makes nonsense of people saying jazz and pop are very different. Paul sounds like Little Richard. Really, it's the most vintage Beatles track on the LP."

other than misidentifying this as 'jazz' i think hes totally otm about this ... first thing i thought when i heard it was 'this track is stiff as hell' -- which doesnt mean its not still a great song, but the performance was hella stilted