Josiah Reynolds's Album Reviews
Likely due to the more dated sounding, sappier cuts featured on the album such as 'Misery' and 'A Taste of Honey', Please Please Me rarely gets high acclaim and is often left to the wayside when discussing Beatles albums, but it's actually my personal favourite pre-Rubber Soul Beatles album and always has been.
To me, The Beatles nailed it from the start, and originals such as the timeless rocker 'I Saw Her Standing There' with its lifted but ultra catchy bass line and iconic intro, infectious hit single 'Please Please Me' and the introspective 'There's a Place' with its unusual melody and stunning harmonies, are as good showcases of the band's unbeatable songwriting talents as any. Even the frequent covers on the album are masterfully done, with the beautiful 'Anna (Go to Him)' (great lead vocals by John), and the iconic closer 'Twist and Shout' (also great lead vocals by John) which The Beatles essentially made their own. Even Ringo's debut and sole lead vocal on the album is not only a good performance by the drummer himself as a vocalist and drummer but is a terrific performance by the rest of the band too, with supremely groovy bass playing and some tasty guitar licks, and hell, even a killer guitar solo... all on a song that some seem to dismiss as a relic.
Nothing on Please Please Me even remotely approaches average... it is consistently excellent from start to finish, and it rocks my world. The Beatles do justice to their inspirations (largely black R&B artists) and pave the way for a new era of pop in the best way possible.
The Beatles were a boy band? Really? When, and in what universe? Even on arguably their sweetest record do they pull out the rock and roll punches with their fantastic musicianship and undeniably stunning vocals, performing raw but well honed songs that echo the sound of their live performances in the cavern brilliantly.
Unquestionably, Please Please Me is a 5/5 to me. I don't see myself ever getting sick of this thing. It's rock and roll bliss devoid of pretensions.
-9.5/10
To me, The Beatles nailed it from the start, and originals such as the timeless rocker 'I Saw Her Standing There' with its lifted but ultra catchy bass line and iconic intro, infectious hit single 'Please Please Me' and the introspective 'There's a Place' with its unusual melody and stunning harmonies, are as good showcases of the band's unbeatable songwriting talents as any. Even the frequent covers on the album are masterfully done, with the beautiful 'Anna (Go to Him)' (great lead vocals by John), and the iconic closer 'Twist and Shout' (also great lead vocals by John) which The Beatles essentially made their own. Even Ringo's debut and sole lead vocal on the album is not only a good performance by the drummer himself as a vocalist and drummer but is a terrific performance by the rest of the band too, with supremely groovy bass playing and some tasty guitar licks, and hell, even a killer guitar solo... all on a song that some seem to dismiss as a relic.
Nothing on Please Please Me even remotely approaches average... it is consistently excellent from start to finish, and it rocks my world. The Beatles do justice to their inspirations (largely black R&B artists) and pave the way for a new era of pop in the best way possible.
The Beatles were a boy band? Really? When, and in what universe? Even on arguably their sweetest record do they pull out the rock and roll punches with their fantastic musicianship and undeniably stunning vocals, performing raw but well honed songs that echo the sound of their live performances in the cavern brilliantly.
Unquestionably, Please Please Me is a 5/5 to me. I don't see myself ever getting sick of this thing. It's rock and roll bliss devoid of pretensions.
-9.5/10
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