Almost 50 Years Later, Could “White Album” Work As A Single Album?

One of my favorite shots of the Beatles during the White Album era. They all look quite majestic here.

For the past few years in Beatleland, every other week seems to be the 50th anniversary of something. First in 2013, it was 50 years since the Beatles released their debut album “Please Please Me” and took Britain by storm. Then, in 2014, it was 50 years since the Beatles invaded America and appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.  Last year marked 50 years since the release of the landmark Beatles album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” which I wrote about here. And now, 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of two iconic Beatles projects, the movie Yellow Submarine and the release of one of the most eclectic Beatles albums, known by fans as “White Album.”

“White Album” was, like all Beatles albums, innovative and interesting for many reasons. It was released after all four Beatles took a trip to India to learn about the Maharishi and learn about Hinduism and meditation (which Ringo famously did not take to very much). It featured several songs that only had one Beatle on them, such as “Mother Nature’s Son” for Paul and “Julia” for John. Ringo also briefly quit the band while they were recording this album, though I believe that only lasted a couple of weeks. “White Album” was one of the first Beatles albums I was fully aware of, and to me it’s always marked the beginning of the Beatles coming into their own as solo songwriters.

“White Album” is also well-known for being one of the very first double albums, and the first one ever to top the charts. Even now, it’s uncommon for artists to release so much material at once that it qualifies as a double album, but back in 1968 the Beatles clearly were overflowing with inspiration. Whenever I read anything about “White Album,” it usually includes the question “what songs would you cut from ‘White Album’ to make it a single album?” Sometimes I read replies along the lines of “I wouldn’t cut anything, it’s perfect the way it is.” And I agree that its status as a double album was certainly no hindrance on the Beatles’ success. But I also don’t think that it is a perfect album. Its imperfections help solidify its iconic status, but let’s be real here, I’d be hard pressed to find a Beatles fan that truly thinks every song on this album is a masterpiece.

Theoretically, if I were to cut “White Album” down to a single album, I’d have to cut it down from 30 songs to about 17, the number of songs on disc 1 of the album. That’s 13 songs, which sounds like a lot at first. Let’s see if I can even get that far.

Songs from “White Album” that I’d honestly have no problem cutting:

“Revolution 9”- I’ve spoken about this song before and I’ll say it again, there’s a reason that I’ve only ever listened to this once. It’s scary and very confusing.

“Revolution 1”- A slower version of the “Revolution” made famous on the “Hey Jude” single, but I think this version loses a lot of its bite slowed down. It’s a little too lazy-sounding to make a statement this way, I think.

“Wild Honey Pie”- I still can’t figure out how this made it on the album, honestly. It baffles me even more than “Revolution 9.”

“Why Don’t We Do It In The Road?”- Not one of Paul’s more insightful lyrics, and while this song comes off as a bit of a joke to me, I’ve never found it that charming.

“Don’t Pass Me By”- Of the two Beatles songs that Ringo actually wrote, this is the worse one.

“Yer Blues”- It’s certainly bluesy, but I don’t think this is one of John’s more inspired Beatles songs.

“Honey Pie”- When you see quotes from other Beatles talking about Paul’s “granny music,” this is what they’re talking about. Sorry Paul, I do think it’s a cute song!

“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da”- I actually like this song, but I also am not that attached to it and could live with a “White Album” that didn’t have it.

Okay, that’s eight songs off the “White Album” that I’d be okay with cutting. That still leaves an album containing 22 songs, which for the vinyl constraints at the time is still way too many to have on one physical record. Let’s see if I can do any more trimming down to 17 songs.

Songs from “White Album” that I like, but don’t think are among its best:

“The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill”- The only hesitation I have about cutting this is that it leads directly into “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” and I do think it’s generally a good song. Still, the chorus here isn’t one of my favorites, and Yoko’s backing vocals don’t really do it for me.

“Piggies”- This one is hard for me because it’s a George song. It really doesn’t hold a candle to the other George songs on this album, but as I’m listening to it now I realize that I actually do like it a lot. Cutting this one would make me sad.

“Good Night”- As I’m writing this, it’s getting harder and harder to choose more songs off of “White Album” that I would cut. This song has a lush orchestration that is the real star here, along with Ringo’s friendly vocals. It’s actually a soothing, beautiful, almost Disney-esque song. I could cut this, but it’s so gorgeous to listen to that I’d miss it.

“Rocky Racoon”- Again, I like this song a lot, but it’s never become one of my true favorites off the “White Album,” so I’m putting it tentatively on the chopping block for now. Though I feel bad about it, because it tells a fun story.

“I Will”- A very pretty song, but of the several “Paul’s acoustic ballads” that made it on the album, this one is the least memorable for me.

Okay, so I’ve made it down to 17 songs on the “White Album.” Below, I’ll list the tracking that I’d do with these 17 songs, if I were creating the album order.

1. Back in the USSR
2. Dear Prudence (can’t mess with that one-two punch, it really works)
3. Glass Onion
4. Martha My Dear
5. I’m So Tired
6. While My Guitar Gently Weeps
7. Happiness Is A Warm Gun
8. Blackbird (this would be the end of side one of the album if it were on vinyl)
9. Birthday
10. Julia
11. Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except For Me And My Monkey
12. Mother Nature’s Son
13. Sexy Sadie
14. Savoy Truffle
15. Cry Baby Cry
16. Long, Long, Long
17. Helter Skelter (I’ve always thought that this would be a badass album closer)

After listening to this new “White Album” I came up with, it definitely works, though I think it has a bit less personality than the original album without all of the songs I left out. I like the idea of bookending this new one-disc “White Album” with Paul rockers, and honestly I wish that “Helter Skelter” had been the original album closer because it really works so well! Obviously though, the Beatles knew what they were doing when it came to ordering songs on their albums, which is why I didn’t change that many of the original album’s track orders. When all is said and done, though, I still love the double album the way it is, and even those songs that I’d cut add a lot of character to the album that I’m ultimately glad is there.

If this post interested you, share with me how you’d theoretically trim down the double album into a single LP, or listen to these 17 songs in this order and let me know how you think it flows! Until next time then, fellow Beatlemaniacs. As John once sang, “We all shine on.” 🙂

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Another Top 10 Favorite Beatles Songs

A great picture of the Beatles from 1965, my favorite period of their music. 🙂

 

As I was reformatting this blog last week and scrolling through some of my old posts, I came across the original “favorite Beatles songs” post from 2013 and examined to see which favorites have stayed the same and which have changed. Just for reference, here is the top 10 list that I wrote when I first started this blog.

I thought it might be fun to write about 10 other Beatles favorites that could easily also be a separate top-10 list. None of these were on the previous list I made, but if those other 10 songs didn’t exist, these would be my 10 favorites. I think that after 5+ years, the other list is still overall accurate – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” is still definitely my favorite Beatles song. But the Beatles have such a wide variety of fantastic songs that I could probably come up with several unique lists of 10 songs that would all qualify as my favorites. So without further ado, here are 10 more of my favorite Beatles songs, in reverse order!

10. We Can Work It Out

This is one of the best examples of a John/Paul collaboration that brilliantly showcases their individual styles. Paul’s part is upbeat and optimistic, while John’s part takes on a more somber, sobering tone. They replicate this general pattern in other songs like “Getting Better” and “A Day In The Life,” but this is one of the first instances where I think their songwriting partnership really displays how different their musical perspectives can be. The organ in this song also lends a distinct touch, and I love the bouncy rhythm throughout.

9. Dear Prudence

Though the repeating guitar lick is prominent throughout the song, I think that Paul’s bass line is the real star here. It tells a story all on its own, and I always listen for it when I hear this song. Paul also plays drums on this, and adds some fantastic drum fills that take the song to even greater heights. This is unmistakably a John Lennon song, and I think it’s one of my favorite John-penned Beatles songs actually. But Paul’s work on multiple instruments here is what makes this one of my favorite Beatles songs to listen to no matter what mood I’m in.

8. Taxman

This song has so many wonderful, intertwining elements that it’s hard to choose my favorite. From the iconic guitar solo (played by Paul), to the wonderfully melodic bass line (also played by Paul), to the lovely harmonies (some of my favorite Paul harmonies in the Beatles’ catalog), to the biting lyrics (okay, these are George’s), there’s a lot to unpack in this short song. It’s a perfect opening to “Revolver,” which to me represents the Beatles fully stepping away from their poppy image and delving into edgier material. This song, with its sneering tone, is a good one to play when you’re slightly annoyed about something. It’s also another fantastic song written by George, long before he fully came into his own on the “White Album.”

7.  Paperback Writer

I think this was one of the first Beatles songs I ever heard. I seem to have much older memories of it than I do of most other Beatles songs, and I’ve always really liked it. Once again, it has a really interesting bass line, and also has some of my favorite harmonies in the Beatles catalog. Another fun fact is that it was the last new song that the Beatles played on tour before calling it quits in August 1966. Paul shows off his storytelling prowess very well here, and also shows his songwriting maturity, as this song (unlike many of his previous ones) has nothing to do with love or relationships. Though it’s well known, I think it’s among the more underrated #1 hits the Beatles had, which I realize sounds like an oxymoron.

6. Happiness is a Warm Gun

The more I listen to this, the more I marvel at how many moving parts there are in such a short song. But they all work together perfectly and make for a very interesting song. There’s something new to hear every time I listen to it, though at the moment I’m particularly drawn to the driving guitar part in the “Mother Superior jumped the gun” section. It’s another stellar track from the “White Album,” which though uneven at times has some of the most innovative and timeless songs that the Beatles ever recorded.

5. Helter Skelter

I imagine that if I had heard this song when it first came out in 1968, I would have been amazed that this came from the Beatles. It’s one of the hardest rocking songs in their catalog. The only song I think it resembles in this regard is “Revolution,” though only the intros to both songs are similar. Every guitar part in “Helter Skelter” is worth paying individual attention to, from the lead part to the thumping rhythm sections. This is the song to play to anyone who says, “Didn’t the Beatles just do pop songs?” No, they didn’t. And they recorded this heavy rock song months before Led Zeppelin released their first album. Once again, with practically every song they did, the Beatles invented a new genre of music and reinvented themselves.

4. You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away

This is one of the musically simpler songs on this list, but I’ve always loved the melody here. It’s one of my favorite Beatles songs to sing to myself throughout the day. This is a great example of how I think John’s best Beatles songs came from 1965 and 1966, as he’s really the star of “Rubber Soul” in my opinion. The acoustic guitar part sounds so modern that it could have been recorded today. As I said in a previous post, I could play this on repeat for hours and not get sick of it.

3. Not A Second Time

I put this as one of my most underrated Beatles songs here, but as I’ve listened to it more and more, it’s become one of my favorite Beatles songs, period. This is one of the most unique-sounding early Beatles songs, and the melody here is one of my favorites that John sings. This is another one I love to sing along to wherever I am, and the drum fills here show how Ringo was instrumental in the Beatles’ success even in the early years. This is probably the “least mainstream” Beatles song on this list, but every time I listen to it I wish that it were more highly regarded among their earlier songs.

2. Eleanor Rigby

I wrote about this song in my tribute post for George Martin, which you can find here. And I’m shocked that I didn’t put this on my previous list of favorites, but this is one of those songs that has grown on me immensely. It’s a masterpiece. Every time I listen to it, I’m amazed at how compact the lyrics are and how intricate the string arrangement is. Beyond that, the melody for this is I think one of the best Paul has ever written, and the harmonies are some of my favorites in the Beatles’ catalog. Clocking in at just over two minutes long, I really feel like I’ve gone on a journey every time I hear it. I really can’t write enough about how amazing I think this song is. This one is honestly tied with the #1 song on this list, but I’ll put it at #2 here just because it has a more serious tone.

Which means #1 has got to be…

1.  Here Comes The Sun

This is one of those later Beatles songs that’s so perfect, it’s hard to believe a person actually wrote it. As I listen to the later years of the Beatles’ catalog, songs like “Hey Jude,” “Let It Be,” and this one stand out as songs that have somehow always existed, like they just floated down from the sky as textbook examples of how to write a timeless song. Like many of George Harrison’s most beautiful songs, “Here Comes The Sun” seems to give its listeners a comforting hug. This is one of those songs that I wish could just automatically play in nature every time I walk outside. I smile every single time I hear its iconic intro, though my favorite part of this song is the descending guitar line in the middle. But the main reason I put this at #1 here is because it tells such a beautiful, optimistic story that I think its existence alone genuinely makes the world a better place.

When I’m thinking about my favorite Beatles songs now, I’m thinking about songs that I sing to myself all the time, songs that always make me smile, songs that I really think are perfectly crafted. These 10 songs all do that for me, despite being absent from my previous list of favorites.

Also I discovered while making this post that it seems like, at long LONG last, the official Beatles YouTube channel has uploaded all of their albums! Hooray! And they’re all the remastered versions! It has been notoriously difficult to find Beatles songs on YouTube over the years thanks to copyrighting, but even though I already have all of their songs on iTunes, this is a huge deal. It will make doing many of my Beatles-related song posts much easier. Happy early birthday to me, and happy weekend to all of you!

Paul McCartney “Gets Back” To His Roots With “Carpool Karaoke”

This picture should be an official ad for happiness.

Whenever Paul McCartney is in the news, I (and the rest of the world) pay attention. Sometimes he’s announcing a new concert tour or a collaboration he did with another prominent musician. And sometimes, he’s appearing on late night television with another British celebrity, driving around his old stomping grounds and reminiscing about his Beatle days.

When I saw “Paul McCartney Carpool Karaoke” pop up in my YouTube feed last week, I figured that it would be an amusing, nostalgic drive in London filled with many of my favorite Beatles songs. I did not expect that James Corden would be driving Paul around Liverpool and going to many of the actual sites that Paul has written about in his career. Here’s the clip in its glorious 23-minute entirety, for your viewing pleasure.

I watched all 23 minutes of this video with an ear-to-ear grin on my face. I was already a big fan of the Late Late Show’s “Carpool Karaoke” series before this aired, and I must confess that it had never consciously occurred to me that Paul would be a perfect guest. But as perhaps the most famous musician in the world, Paul seemed quite delighted to drive around for what was probably hours and regale James with stories about growing up in Liverpool. I geeked out when Paul signed his name on the Penny Lane sign, which reminded me of when I visited Abbey Road and gleefully signed my name on the wall outside the studio. I’ve now made a mental note to visit Liverpool one day and add my signature on that sign next to his.

I have thought many times over the years about how I’d love to take a pilgrimage to Liverpool and immerse myself in Beatles lore. Paul’s “Carpool Karaoke” certainly intensified that desire, while showing me yet again of why I fell in love with the Beatles in the first place. This segment, like the Beatles’ career, radiated positivity and love from beginning to end. It also reminded me that Paul’s music is a unifying force in this increasingly divided world. This was evidenced by the touching sequence where people of all ages rushed in off the street when they saw Paul unexpectedly playing a set in a local pub, and it looked like every person there was having the time of their lives. I couldn’t even imagine the chaotic thrill they must have felt as they saw their idol performing only several feet away, in a pub they’ve probably been to many times before.

I certainly did not go into this clip expecting to tear up, but I did get a bit teary-eyed at the constant sight of Paul greeting adoring fans and making their day, probably their life, everywhere he went. Of course, I was mentally putting myself in their shoes and imagining how I would feel absolutely elated if I ever met Paul in person. It was also humbling to hear him share how he and the other Beatles had no idea their music would even be remembered beyond the 60s. It is truly astonishing that this band had such a concentrated period of genius musical output in the 60s that still inspires people to love one another. I know that Paul has been famous for 55 years and probably tires of doing interviews and such, but I was inspired by his energy in this segment and how he gracefully handles his megastar status in the real world.

Of course, Paul’s wonderful songwriting has continued long after the Beatles disbanded, and I loved how this segment also promoted his upcoming album, “Egypt Station.” After watching this “Carpool Karaoke,” which featured a singalong to his new single “Come On To Me,” I immediately went to YouTube and listened to it and his other new song, “I Don’t Know,” on loop.

At age 76, Paul clearly has not lost his musical inspiration. These songs both highlight his knack for weaving together unexpected musical turns and catchy melodies. I particularly adore the musical break in “Come On To Me” that features a lively horn section, as well as the gorgeous piano intro to “I Don’t Know.” Though his last album, “New,” relied heavily on modern musical production and more techno-sounding touches, it seems like this album will have more of that classic instrumental feel that he’s done so well before. However, if Paul has taught me anything over the years, it’s that you can never quite predict what he’s going to do next. So I’ll reserve my full judgment until I can listen to the entire album when it comes out in September. Though I tend to blog sparingly during the school year, you can bet that I’ll do a post reviewing Paul’s new album as soon after that as I can.

As people often comment on particularly resonant YouTube videos, “I didn’t know how much I needed this until I watched it.” James Corden and the whole “Carpool Karaoke” team outdid themselves with this one. I don’t know if late night segments are even  eligible for awards, but this segment is the most Emmy-worthy piece of television I’ve watched in a long time. And we all need a little dose of Paul McCartney spreading joy every once in a while. He may be getting older, but I am so grateful that I still share this world with him and can enjoy new Paul McCartney songs as he releases them. What an incredible privilege it is to be able to say that I once saw him in concert. I am so glad that Paul and James teamed up for this latest “Carpool Karaoke” and gave the entire world a reason to smile for 23 minutes. It was truly a beautiful collaboration.

My Top 10 Favorite Song Intros

The Beatles in the control room, undoubtedly crafting another timeless song introduction.

Well, after an entire semester of no blog posts, I am making my triumphant blogging return with a post that I’ve been meaning to do for a while. For whatever reason, even before I became a Beatles fan, I’ve always been really intrigued by what makes a good song intro. The Beatles have many of them, of course, but there’s something about a really well-crafted intro to a song that can truly elevate the content of the entire song. There’s a saying about not judging a book by its cover that could technically also apply to “not judging a song by its intro,” but I almost feel that you should judge a song by its intro in many cases. Just like with a job interview, if your first impression about a song in the first few seconds is negative, you probably won’t want to stick around and listen to the rest.

With some songs, I actually prefer the instrumental intro to the song itself, if only because it ends up being more memorable for me. I also believe that a really good song intro immediately grabs the listener’s attention and makes it extremely difficult to change the song. So here I’ve decided to return to one of my favorite blog post formats, the ten-item list, and explain my reasons for choosing these ten songs as containing some of my favorite introductions.

10. Ready to Go- Republica

Though this admittedly is the only song I know by Republica, I have always been a big fan of this song’s intro. I’m a sucker for a song that starts with an acoustic intro that then segues into a biting electric guitar, and that’s exactly how this song begins. Just as a minor side note, I love when songs directly juxtapose a softer acoustic guitar sound with a harder electric guitar sound, one right after the other. It makes both sounds more interesting to listen to, and adds to the overall musical depth of an already awesome song.

9. My My, Hey Hey- Neil Young

Though I’m not hugely well-versed in Neil Young’s catalog, I’ve always really liked this song, and I’m pretty sure it’s because of the haunting guitar riff that opens the song and continues throughout the song. This is among the more musically simple song intros on this list, but it goes along with my logic that a really well-crafted, memorable song intro can be as simple as a strum of an acoustic guitar.

8. All The Way From Memphis- Mott the Hoople

This is one of my favorite “rock piano” songs, written by a very underrated band from the 70s. The beginning is simple enough musically, but the driving, pounding piano beat stands alone as a very worthy introduction to a wonderful song. It’s a great example of how an energetic song intro can get the listener excited about a song long before the lyrics and guitar kick in.

7. Beauty and the Beast- David Bowie

Originally when I came up with the idea for this post, I thought of this song mostly as a placeholder, an example of a song with a cool intro that I could theoretically put on this list. However, as soon as this song popped into my head, I started listening to it more and more, and I realized that I actually really do love its intro a lot. Like with “All The Way From Memphis,” this song makes great use of a driving piano/keyboard intro that gradually layers with guitar, drums, and vocals until it explodes into the first verse.

6. Desecration Smile- Red Hot Chili Peppers

Whenever this song comes up on shuffle, I always end up playing it on repeat just to hear the intro over and over again. It’s all acoustic guitar and drums, but this instrumental sequence manages to convey so much emotion and sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the song. The moment when the first acoustic riff in the intro segues into the second is just beautiful, and the song as a whole is one of my favorites by them. This is one of the more musically subtle Chili Peppers songs I know, but with that, it’s also one of their most heartfelt, soothing tracks. This intro reminds me that the Chili Peppers, despite their sometimes wild exterior, really are master craftsmen of emotionally touching melodies.

 

 

5. Drive It Like You Stole It- Sing Street

I’ve already mentioned this movie briefly on this blog I believe, so once again, it’s packed with wonderful 80s-inspired musical goodness like this song. This starts with an awesome synth-packed punch and only gets better from there as the rest of the instruments kick in. More than any other song on this list, the intro for this song instantly makes me want to get up and dance. It’s so infectious and upbeat, and it’s a perfect culmination of the kids’ musical efforts throughout the movie.

4. Blow Away- George Harrison

This song was my morning alarm for quite some time, mostly because of the absolutely gorgeous, soothing intro that helped me ease into the day (I later changed my alarm song because this song was too relaxing and I kept sleeping through it…). There’s something about how this song begins that just sweeps you away into another world. Like so many George songs, it exudes love for this world without saying a word. This is 100% one of George’s best solo songs, and its lilting, somewhat melancholy yet also hopeful intro has a lot to do with that.

3. Coming of Age- Foster the People

For whatever reason, the intro to this song makes me feel nostalgic, but for nothing in particular. Maybe it’s because of the 80s-vibe that this entire song projects, similar to though less bouncy than “Drive It Like You Stole It.” I can’t quite put my finger on it, but I always feel strangely emotional whenever I hear the beginning of this song, and I feel that if the first 10 or 20 instrumental seconds of a song can make me feel something, that certainly bodes well for the rest of the song.

2. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds- The Beatles

Much like with “Coming of Age,” the fascinating intro to this song is definitely my favorite part of the song, and I often wish I could just play the very beginning over and over whenever I hear it. The melody of this synth riff, which repeats throughout the song, is beautifully and perfectly constructed so that it comes across as almost hypnotic, which relates well to the song’s themes of mysterious voyaging. The Beatles had a masterful way of imbuing many lyrical themes from their songs into the construction of their instrumental melodies, this being perhaps the best example I can think of. It’s haunting, addictive, and some of the Beatles’ best work.

In case anyone is curious about the link I attached, it is often extremely difficult to find original Beatles songs on YouTube, so to hear the intro to “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” from this Anthology track I found, go to 0:33 in the video link.

And finally… Without further ado…

1. Warrant- Foster the People

This, ladies and gentlemen, is my favorite intro to any song ever because I genuinely think it could stand on its own without the rest of the song and still be amazing. I don’t quite know how the beginning to this song came about, but the way it begins with an echoing chorus and gradually adds in the other instruments is just stunning to listen to, and something that I’ve rarely heard other bands do in recent albums. I’ve seen it compared to Zelda and other video game soundtracks, but I also find the choral opening to be very Beatles and ELO-esque, which might be why I always respond so positively to it. It’s hard to describe why this intro is so amazing, but whenever I hear it, I feel like I’m being transported to a fantasy world and then in an action-adventure music video. It’s probably the most cinematic intro on this list, but for an alternative rock/pop band that normally doesn’t do “cinematic,” I think it’s an extraordinary achievement.

So there you have it. Creating this list, and including “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” certainly got the gears turning in my head about my favorite Beatles song intros, which could easily be a whole separate post that I’ll have to write in the future. But for now, enjoy listening to these fantastic songs!

Foster the People’s ‘Sacred Hearts Club’: A Perfect Album for Summer 2017

Though I love the Strypes dearly, this was by far my most anticipated album of 2017. As I’ve blogged about before a couple of times before, I have been a huge fan of Foster the People since several months before I became obsessed with the Beatles. Three years after the release of Torches, I did a review of their second album, Supermodel, which you can find here, and in that post I gave the album a glowing review and said that it reignited my love of Foster the People that had blossomed in 2011.

Well, perhaps unsurprisingly, after Supermodel came out, I listened to it religiously for a while, realized it was brilliant and exactly what I had been hoping for from Foster the People, then sort of forgot about FTP again for a couple of years. Especially when the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album came out last year, my love for FTP fell dormant for a while. That is, until they announced tour dates back in the spring, one of which fell on an extremely convenient day and in an extremely convenient location. As soon as I got tickets, I began to listen to them obsessively once more. This obsession magnified when they dropped an EP of three new songs back in April and later announced a full album coming out this summer.

I just listened to the album again, for the third time, and my ears are ringing with delight from playing it at full volume through my headphones. This is an album to turn all the way up and play as loudly as you can to get the full experience of its magic. Sacred Hearts Club is not as acoustic-sounding as Supermodel and not quite as electronica-heavy as Torches, but it is a fantastic fusion of their previous sounds into a wonderful new album. Once again, if critics (and fans) would stop comparing every single song that FTP releases to Pumped Up Kicks (in my opinion, not even close to their best song), they would realize that Foster the People is a much needed breath of fresh air from other music and from the turbulent world in general. Mark Foster even said in an interview that regarding this album, “I felt like people needed a hug,” which is so lovely and pure that it fills me with even more love for FTP.

Foster the People stated that they created this album to be joyful and “give people a break,” and I actually can’t remember the last time I heard an artist I like explicitly say that about their music. I feel similarly to music how I feel about theater, which is that there is nothing wrong with it having a social purpose or message, but there is also nothing wrong with it being catchy and genuinely happy. SHC accomplishes both of those missions expertly, combining the perceptive and thoughtful lyrics that I’ve come to expect from Foster the People with innovative musical elements that literally make me grin from ear to ear. It is more tightly constructed and upbeat than Supermodel and more musically diverse than Torches. While I haven’t heard it enough to fully determine its ranking among FTP’s overall discography, I already think very highly of it, and I can’t wait for my opinion to evolve as I listen to the album more.

1. Pay The Man – I didn’t love it when it first came out, but it’s grown on me as I’ve listened closer to all of the cool sounds and instrumental elements. An interesting opener because it’s not super upbeat, but it sets the tone for the album well.
2. Doing It For The Money – This has gotten a lot of flak from FTP fans for being too “poppy” and “mainstream,” and while it is both of those things, it’s actually a better version of the genre it is imitating. It sounds the least like FTP out of all the songs on the album, but it still retains enough distinctive FTP touches to pique my interest.
3. Sit Next To Me – This also grew on me immensely after the studio version came out, which in my opinion works better than the song does live. This is possibly my favorite musical production on the album; it sounds amazing on headphones and has a nice groove that keeps me interested throughout.
4. SHC – A fantastic guitar riff opens this song, though it sounds just a tad too much like a potential car commercial for it to be a favorite. This was definitely a fantastic concert opener though, and has an infectious energy that I quite enjoy.
5. I Love My Friends – Though I think the lyrics for this song are unusually uninspired in parts for an FTP song, particularly the chorus, it’s certainly a lot of fun and I love the second half. I think this will grow on me as I continue listening to the album.
6. Orange Dream – An interesting interlude, though the first few seconds are a bit jarring. I can’t say this is my favorite part of the album, but it doesn’t stand out negatively.
7. Static Space Lover – A BEAUTIFUL song that is a clear love letter to one of Mark Foster’s biggest influences, the Beach Boys. From the transcendent backing vocals, to the absolutely delightful instrumental break, to the friendly drumbeat and guitar solos, this is one of my favorites on the album.
8. Lotus Eater – Tied with “Static Space Lover’ as my favorite song on the album. It is everything I wanted from FTP on this album because it’s a straight-up rock song with a fantastic guitar part and biting, clever lyrics. I wish there were more songs like it on the album, but because there aren’t, it stands out in a wonderful way, and it seems to inject me with instant energy.
9. Time To Get Closer – “Lotus Eater” seamlessly fades into this interlude, which at first I wished were longer but now feel is the perfect length. It’s a gorgeous slice of musical beauty that has a psychedelic haze washing over it.
10. Loyal Like Sid and Nancy – This song has also gotten a surprising amount of hate among FTP fans for being “a mess” or “too clubby,” with which I wholeheartedly disagree. Despite the hip hop beats,  this song is a structural masterpiece, and I actually like it better than similar FTP songs like “Miss You” and “Life On The Nickel” from Torches. It needs a few listens, but it’s quite a stunning achievement.
11. Harden the Paint – The beginning of this song is a bit jarring, but the song as a whole is an all-encompassing listening experience. I haven’t heard anything like it, from FTP or anyone else, but the more I hear this the more I’m a fan.
12. III – A lovely album closer, and the highlight of this song is definitely the piano break. One of the few consistently slow songs in FTP’s catalog, but it has a beautiful melody that gives me an image a boat sailing into the ocean on a long journey.

What I’ve determined after writing this song-by-song review is that, contrary to my opinion of most albums, I like the second half of this album better than the first. It’s more structurally and musically daring, which is what makes Foster the People so special to me. They reiterate in their interviews that they are in love with the creative process of making a cohesive album and sharing their music with the world, which I respect in today’s singles-driven music industry. If I were to compare this album to Foster the People’s previous albums, I’d say it and Supermodel are similar in that they both had to grow on me, whereas I was obsessed with Torches from the very first listen.

But that is taking nothing away from this album, which unlike perhaps any other album I know fills me with energy and motivation. Every time I’ve listened to it, I am left feeling refreshed and uplifted, which is exactly what musicians should strive to achieve in this day and age. Foster the People should not be slammed for “failing to create another Pumped Up Kicks” or “selling out” (which they haven’t). They should be celebrated for continuing to extend their musical range and mature their sound. Listening to Foster the People has forced me to expand my ears and appreciate different musical sounds and genres I had previously dismissed. They challenge me as a musical listener, but always leave me completely fulfilled. I feel so completely alive when I listen to them. Sacred Hearts Club may not be the album the world deserves right now, but it’s certainly the album we need.