Andrew Reviews

Book Review #6: The Chronicles of Narnia

Some brief (and informal) thoughts on the classic children’s series which I finished recently. Whilst I read the series in publication order, this review will be arranged in chronological order as this is the way the books are now published.

A map of Narnia, illustrated by Pauline Baynes

The Magician’s Nephew (1955)

A prequel to the Narnia series, this story details the creation of Narnia by Aslan the lion. There is a real sense of wonder and scope with the transition from Victorian London to the creation of Narnia. The locations and scenery are also beautifully depicted with some gorgeous imagery throughout. Lewis’ creation of ‘the wood between the worlds’ is genius writing, and I wish we could explore this place more. Jadis, the White Witch, is a formidable and hilarious antagonist with some fantastic lines. Overall an excellent story with a clever and touching ending that ties in well with The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Rating: 9/10

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1950)

The original classic and arguably still the best in the series. As with The Magician’s Nephew, there is a real sense of wonder as the Narnian world is explored by the Pevensie children. Jadis is a dangerous, beautiful and cruel antagonist with more witty and savage dialogue from Lewis. The first appearance of Aslan is magnificent and the climactic battle and coronation is depicted vividly and brilliantly.

Rating: 10/10

The Horse and His Boy (1954)

A very different story to the rest of the series, The Horse and His Boy takes place during final years of King Peter’s reign in Narnia, and explores the land of Calormen to the south. The premise and its unique Middle Eastern vibe initially sound interesting but unfortunately as the chapters progress the story and its characters become rather boring and unengaging. There is also a problematic hint of racism in the way the Calormites are depicted and the way that Christianity triumphs over others in the final battle. Nonetheless the desert scenes are vividly depicted and the pacing of the novel is excellent.

Rating: 5/10

Prince Caspian (1951)

A disappointing and inferior sequel to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Too much of the story is given to Prince Caspian’s origins and background, whilst the trek and journey across Narnia is excruciatingly slow and boring. There is a strong influence from Hamlet with Caspian’s revenge against his uncle Miraz but this unfortunately is a poor adaptation/homage of Shakespeare’s great play. There are some interesting supporting characters as well but their presences are brief and their backgrounds aren’t explored much in detail.

Rating: 4/10

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)

A highlight of the Narnia series, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader depicts the story of King Caspian sailing into the Great Eastern Ocean to find seven lost lords of Narnia. The story overall is excellent with a brilliant beginning, and lots of action, adventure and wonder as the crew explore the various islands, all with unique attributes. The last several chapters and ending are also wonderfully written by Lewis. Eustace Scrubb also has an interesting story arc, turning from an annoying child into a more mature and courageous adolescent. Reepicheep the Mouse is a highlight of the novel as well.

Rating: 7/10

The Silver Chair (1953)

In contract to the adventures in the rest of the series, The Silver Chair has a rather cold, grim and darker tone than usual. This is complemented by the cold, harsh and tough landscape of the Ettinsmoor and the Northern lands of the Giants. Puddleglum, the marsh-wiggle, is an outstanding character with some excellent and funny dialogue, and is arguably the best character in the Narnia series. The Underland is a fantastic dark landscape and is depicted brilliantly. Sadly the Queen of the Underland is a poor antagonist when compared to the White Witch of previous novels. Jill Poole and Eustace Scrubb, the children, also get more character development than in previous novels.

Rating: 7/10

The Last Battle (1956)

The final novel of the Narnia series is a disappointing and confusing mess. A false Aslan is set up in Narnia which eventually leads to its destruction. The Christian allegory here with the allusions to Noah’s Ark, Jesus and heaven is overwhelming and ruins the novel overall. Racism and sexism are also present, with the Calormenes again depicted as barbarian ‘darkies’. What is truly grating however is Lewis’ callous treatment of Susan, who is now banned from Narnia simply because she has other interests and wishes to explore her sexuality. This is a depressing and violent book with one-dimensional characters and a story that is unengaging and disappointing. The ending, with its overtly religious tones, is a confusing and chaotic mess.

Rating: 2/10

My personal ranking for the series:

The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe
The Magician’s Nephew
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader
The Silver Chair
The Horse and His Boy
Prince Caspian
The Last Battle

https://www.narnia.com/

Book Review #5: The Man with the Golden Gun

Mister, there’s something quite extra about the smell of death.
Care to try it?

The Man with the Golden Gun is the twelfth and final James Bond novel by Ian Fleming, and was originally published posthumously in 1965.

Missing and presumed dead after his last mission in Japan, Bond returns to Britain, brainwashed by the K.G.B. to assassinate his superior, M. To prove his value and worth to the Secret Service, he is instructed to find and kill his deadliest opponent yet: ‘Pistols’ Scaramanga – The Man with the Golden Gun…

Dustjacket and cover of the UK first edition, first published by Jonathan Cape in 1965.

Incomplete and unfinished are perhaps the best words to describe Fleming’s final Bond novel, The Man with the Golden Gun. By this stage ill health had begun to affect him and his writing process, resulting in a decrease in his writing rate. Consequently only a first draft of the novel was completed in March 1964, and Fleming was unfortunately unable to rework and complete a second draft of it before his death in August 1964.

Consequently, The Man with the Golden Gun is a shorter novel that lacks much of the detail, suspense, mystery and drama that is typical of previous Bond novels. As the novel was basically half-finished, it would seem somewhat churlish to criticise its flaws.

Note – mild spoilers follow.

The novel itself actually isn’t bad per se, but feels more like a very ordinary (and somewhat boring) read. The opening, where Bond returns to London after his last mission to Japan, is actually excellent. Bond’s brainwashing by the K.G.B to assassinate his superior M in his office is a brilliant storyline, and the chapters in London are intriguing as Fleming describes the work and operations of the Secret Service. It is a brilliant twist to the typical Bond novel openings and gives the novel a major action kick.

The rest of the novel takes place in Jamaica, and is unfortunately not very interesting, especially as Jamaica as a location was previously explored in Dr No. There is a distinct lack of suspense and action here which is replaced by meetings and dialogue, and the novel subsequently drags with boring characters and events. Bond’s first meeting with Scaramanga is a disappointment – and Scaramanga hiring Bond as a henchman on the spot is unexpected and coincidental. The subsequent chapters at Scaramanga’s hotel, where he meets his business partners to conduct some mafioso operations of drug smuggling, prostitution, money laundering and destabilising the local sugar industry, feels stale and has a strong ‘been there, done that’ vibe. The climactic finale however, with Bond and Scaramanga’s duel in the swampland, is brilliantly executed and written with vivid imagery.

Due to the novel’s brevity, unfortunately most of the characters (if not all) are thinly written and are not very interesting or compelling. Bond himself is dull, with little character development after the cataclysmic events of You Only Live Twice. Scaramanga, the main antagonist and assassin, never really comes off as a truly dangerous or formidable adversary for Bond and seems like more of a criminal, henchman or thug, rather than a mastermind. Mary Goodnight, Bond’s former secretary who appears in Jamaica, is another boring and underdeveloped character compared to previous Bond girls, and her flirtations with him are… rather camp. It is fantastic to see Bond’s C.I.A. friend Felix Leiter again posing as a hotel manager, but sadly the novel doesn’t give him much to do. Finally, Scaramanga’s business associates are all one-dimensional characters and are a disappointment compared to the gangsters in Goldfinger or the SMERSH operatives in From Russia, with Love.

The Man with the Golden Gun is a sad and disappointing end to Ian Fleming’s James Bond series. Due to its brevity and incompleteness, it lacks the trademark traits of action, suspense and mystery of previous Bond novels, and is sadly a boring and stale read.

Rating: 4/10

Since this is the final novel of Ian Fleming’s James Bond series, I thought I would list my Top 5 Bond novels:

From Russia, with Love
Moonraker
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
Thunderball
Dr No

Also here are my Top 5 Bond films:

Casino Royale
On Her Majesty’s Secret Service
GoldenEye
Licence to Kill
Dr No

Album Review #3: George Harrison – All Things Must Pass

All things pass

A sunrise does not last all morning

All things pass

A cloudburst does not last all day
Lao Tzu

Upon the breakup of the Beatles in 1970, George Harrison began working towards developing an album from the enormous number of rejected and unused songs he had written for the band. The result was All Things Must Pass, one of the first triple albums ever released, and widely regarded as one of the best Beatles solo albums.

George Harrison: All Things Must Pass Album Review | Pitchfork

Fifty years on from an album’s release is a long time. Many aspects of life and society from 1970 would seem alien and strange to us today. Yet some things from that time endure. One of them is All Things Must Pass, George Harrison’s seminal post-Beatles album, which was recently remixed for its 50th anniversary edition release in 2021.

A brief explanation of the album will perhaps be beneficial. For the album Harrison recruited dozens of musicians to contribute, with notable names including Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Klaus Voorman, Billy Preston, and Bobby Whitlock. Beatles collaborator Phil Spector was also invited by Harrison to co-produce the album using his famous Wall of Sound production. Released in November 1970, the original vinyl contained two LPs of songs, and a third disc of jams named Apple Jam. This was complemented by a poster showing Harrison standing in an iron-framed window in his home.

For the album’s re-release in 2021 several different formats were made available, but the most common includes the 5 CD / 8 LP Super Deluxe Edition, which contains 42 previously unreleased demos, and a 3 CD / 5 LP Deluxe Edition. The 3 CD Deluxe Edition contains the album on 2 discs and an extra disc of Session Outtakes and Jams along with the original poster, and a 20-page booklet. This review will be covering the 3 CD Deluxe Edition.

The 3 CD Deluxe Edition, released in 2021.

Listening to the album for the first time in 2021, the album remains strikingly raw, powerful and fresh, over 50 years since its original release. The album itself is gorgeous to listen to, with Harrison covering themes of philosophy, religion, faith, love and death across its 106 minute runtime.

The production, orchestration and instrumentation is outstanding throughout. Opening track I’d Have You Anytime eases the listener into the album with a sublime lead guitar part from Eric Clapton. Harrison pioneers the use of slide guitar on My Sweet Lord and Isn’t It A Pity (Version 1) with remarkable effects, creating gorgeous sounding melodies. Spector’s Wall of Sound production is particularly evident on Wah-Wah, with its dense guitars and horns complementing the lyrics of Harrison’s frustration with the Beatles. This is also present on Let It Down, where its aggressive and thundering orchestral opening and choruses are complemented by relaxed and calmer verses for a thrilling listen. In contrast, Harrison also explores country and folk rock on tracks such as If Not For You, Behind That Locked Door, and Run of the Mill, which all have a slower tempo and quieter sound.

Philosophy and spirituality are prominent themes on the second disc. Beware of Darkness warns against corruptive influences in life with its vivid imagery and haunting melodies. All Things Must Pass explores the passage of time and the nature of human life and existence, with its influence from Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching radiating its sunny and relaxed tone. Art of Dying explores death and reincarnation with an electrifying guitar opening, and is an outstanding orchestral rock song with an urgent and rapid tempo. Elsewhere, Harrison further explores folk tunes on Apple Scruffs and Ballad of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll). The Bob Dylan influence is strong on Apple Scruffs, with its solo acoustic guitar and harmonica paying tribute to some very dedicated Beatles fans. Let It Roll is an interesting journey through the house and grounds of Friar Park, a mansion that Harrison bought in 1970, with its relaxing acoustic guitar, piano and vocals. Finally, album closer Hear Me Lord explores religion and faith by creating a gospel-rock music style using Harrison’s prayer-like vocals and lyrics, backing piano keys, guitar melodies and choral backing vocals. The result is a powerful and exhilarating experience for the listener.

The poster included in the album, taken by Tom Wilkes in Harrison’s home.

As for the Apple Jams, these are mainly filler tracks that audiences probably won’t listen to more than once. It’s Jonny’s Birthday, written by George for John Lennon’s 30th birthday, is however a wonderfully entertaining and weird listen. Thanks for the Pepperoni is arguably the best jam with its entertaining guitar solos and would also be an excellent driving song.

The Session Outtakes and Jams on disc 3 are also an intriguing and entertaining listen into the production and recording process of the album. Affably titled the ‘party disc’ by Dhani Harrison, this consists of alternative takes and recording of album tracks, as well as some bonus non-album tracks. The opening track, Isn’t It A Pity (Take 14), is a hilarious introduction. Notable highlights also include a 9 minute recording of Hear Me Lord (Take 5), an acoustic orchestral version of Get Back sung by George, and a slower acoustic version of Isn’t It A Pity (Take 27), which is a delight. The non-album tracks include Wedding Bells (Are Breaking Up That Old Gang Of Mine), which appeared on Gene Vincent’s debut album Bluejean Bop in 1956, and Woman Don’t You Cry For Me, which later became the opening track on George’s seventh album Thirty Three 1/3 in 1976.

All Things Must Pass is an outstanding album by a musician pushing their creative talents to the limit as a songwriter, producer, vocalist, and arranger. The instrumentation, sound, lyrics and production is excellent. George Harrison had a unique gift in combining rock, religion and rhythms to create fantastic and remarkable songs. The 2020 remix is also brilliant, with far greater clarity for instrumentation and vocals than ever before. Over fifty years later this masterwork is still as powerful, ambitious, and enthralling as it was back in 1970.

Rating: 10/10.

‘All Things Must Pass’ 50th Anniversary Releases

Official Trailer from 2021.

Book Review #4: You Only Live Twice

You only live twice:
Once when you are born
And once when you look death in the face.
after Bashō, Japanese poet, 1643-94

You Only Live Twice is the eleventh James Bond novel by Ian Fleming, and was originally published in 1964. It is the third and final book in the Blofeld / SPECTRE trilogy, which began with Thunderball and was continued in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.

Following the murder of his wife Tracy at the hands of Ernst Stavro Blofeld, James Bond is a shattered and broken man whose is drinking and gambling heavily. Given one last chance at redemption, his superior M sends him to Japan on a semi-diplomatic mission. There he is given the impossible task to kill Dr Guntram Shatterhand, a scientist who operates a “Garden of Death” in the Japanese countryside…

You Only Live Twice (novel) - Wikipedia — Cover of the UK first edition, published by Jonathan Cape in 1964.

In many ways You Only Live Twice is perhaps the most unique, strangest and most unusual of the Bond novels written by author Ian Fleming. The end of On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, where Bond’s wife Tracy is murdered, sets the tone and mood for the aftermath and events that occur in this novel. This is a grim and slower novel that dispenses with much of the action, humour and gadgetry that is typical in the Bond novels and films. Fleming substitutes this by introducing themes of philosophy, religion, rebirth and death. Also explored is the post-WWII decline of the British Empire and its diplomatic relations with the United States and Japan. (This likely mirrors Fleming’s own declining health and the breakdown of his own marriage). Bond’s journey and experiences in Japan complement this as he is placed in a strange, foreign world where he must conform with its culture and values, and follow bushidō, the conduct of the samurai, in order to carry out his mission.

The novel is divided into two parts. The first explores Bond’s introduction to Japanese society and culture, whilst the second explores Bond’s mission to the Garden of Death to kill Dr Shatterhand.

Unfortunately, the first part is rather disappointing and slow. The opening is excellent with Bond trying to recover and put his life back in order in order to carry out his mission from M. However, once he arrives in Japan things slow down as Fleming explores Japanese politics, history, culture and society for the audience through Dikko Henderson, an Australian intelligence officer, and Tiger Tanaka, the head of the Japanese Secret Service. This part reads more like a travelogue than an action thriller and is where the where the novel shows its age. It may have been an entertaining read in the 1960s when Japan was still a hidden exotic land for most Westerners, but today it comes off as stale and uninteresting. This section could easily have been reduced with more focus and insight on Dr Shatterhand, the Garden of Death, and Bond doing some detective work, but alas it drags and can become tedious reading.

The second part, thankfully, is far more intriguing and entertaining as Bond disguises himself as a Japanese man and arrives on the remote Kuro Island to carry out his mission. Here Fleming does a superb job of depicting and illustrating The Garden of Death with all of its deadly plants, animals and horror. The drama and tension here is also excellent as Bond explores the garden and castle silently whilst trying to remain hidden and alive. Finally, the climactic battle between Bond and Shatterhand is also brilliantly written and depicted and is one hell of an ending for the novel and the SPECTRE trilogy.

Blofeld - You Only Live Twice — Dr Shatterhand and the Garden of Death

Note – SPOILERS follow from here.

Unfortunately, the overall plot for this story is a tad ridiculous and preposterous, compared to the more realistic Bond novels, such as Moonraker or Thunderball. Several explanations for events that occur in this novel seem based on coincidence and chance rather than a developed and realistic story. There are numerous plot holes in the novel that upon closer examination simply would not stand up, such as why Bond is asked to kill Dr Shatterhand instead of the authorities arresting him, or the fact that Shatterhand coincidentally just happens to be Ernst Stavro Blofeld in disguise. His motivations for moving to Japan to become a “Collector of Death” are also never explained clearly. Bond turning himself into a Japanese miner by shaving his eyebrows and darkening his skin is also hilariously ludicrous, and seems like a yellowface stereotype.

The characters in this novel overall are developed well. Bond’s colleagues in Japan Dikko Henderson, and Tiger Tanaka, are entertaining supporting characters and it is fantastic to read the witty dialogue when Bond argues with them over different customs and behaviours in Japan. (Most of this involves drinking lots of sake). Fleming based these characters on his own experiences in Japan, with Australian journalist Richard Hughes and journalist Taro Saito spending time with him in Tokyo to explore Japanese culture. In particular, Tiger acts as a wise mentor and teacher as he assists Bond to understand Japanese life, whilst also training him to become a ninja.

The Bond girl, Kissy Suzuki, is another brilliant and unique character, being brave, strong, tough and kind. Their relationship is beautifully developed, and their relaxing and carefree lives on Kuro Island is a highlight of the book. As for Blofeld’s character, this is sadly a disappointment. Here the SPECTRE No. 1 is a shadow of the evil, ruthless genius that was present in Thunderball and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and it simply isn’t plausible that he would just retire to Japan to live a quiet life as a scientist. Unlike the previous books, there isn’t enough development of his character, motivations and story here, with Bond’s encounter with him lasting only two short chapters.

You Only Live Twice is unfortunately not a great Bond novel. The plot has many holes, and the first part is slow and drags tediously. Nonetheless the philosophical themes of life, death and rebirth are intriguing, with characters and vivid surroundings that are overall well developed.

Rating: 5/10.

Observant Bond fans may note that the recent Bond film No Time to Die takes several plot elements from this novel. Further information about this can be found below:

No Time to Die Is the Best You Only Live Twice Adaptation

Andrew’s Best of 2021

The Year in Review

What a insane and crazy year it has been. Here are some personal favourites:

Best Album: Dreamers Are Waiting (Crowded House, 2021)

Best Album Reissue: All Things Must Pass: 50th Anniversary Edition (George Harrison, 1970)

Best Book (fiction): On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (Ian Fleming, 1963)

Best Book (non fiction): Imperial Twilight – The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden Age (Stephen Platt, 2018)

Best Film (Australian): The Dry (Robert Connolly, 2020)

Best Film (20th century): Lawrence of Arabia (David Lean, 1962)

Best Film: Dune (Denis Villeneuve, 2021)

Best Game: Euro Truck Simulator 2 (SCS Software, 2012)

Best Podcast: The Party Room (Patricia Karvelas and Fran Kelly, ABC Radio)

Best Song: Coloratura (Coldplay, 2021)

Best Soundtrack: The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Harry Gregson-Williams, 2005)

Best TV Series: Deutschland 83 (Sundance TV, 2015)

and some other honourable mentions:

Most Underrated Album: The Ol’ Razzle Dazzle (Missy Higgins, 2012)

Most Underrated Bond Film: Licence to Kill (John Glen, 1989)

Most Underrated Film: Kundun (Martin Scorsese, 1997)

Sporting Moment of the Year: Chelsea FC winning the UEFA Champions League, 2021

Andrew’s Highlights #6

December 2021

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Film:

The Dry (Robert Connolly, 2020)

Dune (Denis Villeneuve, 2021)

Inside Llewyn Davis (Joel and Ethan Coen, 2013)

The Tragedy of Macbeth (Joel Coen, 2021)

War Dogs (Todd Phillips, 2016)

TV:

Deutschland 86 (Sundance TV, 2018)

Doctor Who: The Evil of the Daleks (BBC, 2021)

Music:

All Things Must Pass (George Harrison, 1970) (2020 Mix)

Dune (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Hans Zimmer, 2021)

John Lennon / Plastic Ono Band (John Lennon, 1970)

Literature:

A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership

James Comey (Macmillan, 2018)

Sport:

The Ashes (Australia leading the series 3-0 against England)

Film Review #5: The Tragedy of Macbeth

“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and cauldron bubble.”
Macbeth, William Shakespeare

The Tragedy of Macbeth — "Whence is that Knocking?" Teaser | Apple TV+ - YouTube

The Tragedy of Macbeth is a film adaptation of Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, written and directed by acclaimed filmmaker Joel Coen. The film is currently available in cinemas and will be released on the streaming platform Apple TV+ from January 14, 2022.

As a fan of Shakespeare’s plays (particularly his histories), I was interested to check out this film, which had been receiving excellent reviews from critics and audiences alike since its release. I went into the film knowing little about Macbeth apart from a brief plot summary that I read online, having not ready the play before. Thus other reviewers who are better versed with the play may offer better reviews, but for what its worth this is my (brief) thoughts on the film.

The Tragedy of Macbeth Premieres at New York Film Festival - Variety

Firstly, wow. This is a beautiful and gorgeous looking film made by a production crew who clearly love cinema, and the art of filmmaking. The direction from Joel Coen is sublime with some fantastic portrait and facial shots of actors speaking their Shakespearean dialogue. The film is also shot in a traditional 4:3 aspect ratio to give it a more classic feel.

Shot in black and white, the production design and cinematography on this film is also excellent. The production design goes for large sets and backgrounds whilst having minimalistic and empty foregrounds, which makes things very interesting when there are props or objects in place. In other words, many rooms and halls are bare apart from a typical window, chair or table. The cinematography is also incredible with some excellent shots both indoors and outdoors during the day and night, with very effective use of lighting, shadows, fog and sound to create a hugely atmospheric film.

The acting in this film is also excellent. Denzel Washington gives an outstanding and captivating performance as Macbeth that grabs the viewers attention every time he is on screen. An Oscar nomination (and win) is looking likely. Frances McDormand also gives a somewhat disturbing performance, as Lady Macbeth slowly descends into madness and delirium as the events unfold. The rest of the cast is also excellent as the Scottish nobles but a particular highlight is Kathryn Hunter as the three witches – a terrifying, creepy demented performance that will stay with you long after the film has ended.

The main issue for most audiences going into the film will be the dialogue throughout the film, which details the story and plot. As this is a direct adaptation of Shakespeare’s play, his original lines from the text are adapted and used, which can make it difficult for general audiences to understand what is going on. A large portion of the film is also dedicated to dialogue and speech, rather than action or violence. Thus this is an intellectual film and your enjoyment (and understanding) will depend on your enjoyment and familiarity with Shakespeare’s works. For audiences without a background knowledge of the play, a general understanding of the plot and its characters will be beneficial. That being said, it is still possible to understand the plot and events of the film if you pay attention to the dialogue and performances on screen.

Also just as a note and disclaimer – this is a violent film with some pretty violent scenes.

The Tragedy of Macbeth is an excellent film and adaptation of Shakespeare’s play Macbeth, and is highly recommended for the film, theatre, or Shakespeare fan.

Rating: 7/10

Album Review #2: The Beatles – Let It Be (2021 Mix)

“I’d like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves, and I hope we’ve passed the audition.”
John Lennon

Noted for its troubled and difficult production, Let it Be is perhaps one of the most controversial and intriguing albums in rock history. Generally regarded by critics and the public a sad and weak ending to The Beatles as a band, it is often rarely discussed or praised as a product of their great legacy. The recent release of a 6 disc super deluxe edition with a remix by Giles Martin and Sam Okell provides us with an opportunity to further understand the troubled production process of the album, whilst also giving us a chance to reassess and re-evaluate the traditional critical opinions of this much maligned album.

A brief explanation of the background and production process of the album will perhaps be informative. By 1969, The Beatles were growing apart and beginning to crack, with increasing tensions between the band members following the recording sessions for the ‘White Album’. As the band’s creative ‘leader’ and instigator at the time, Paul McCartney hatched an idea for the band to create, rehearse and perform new songs whilst being recorded by film cameras for a documentary, with the intention to eventually play these new songs to a live audience. The recording sessions at Twickenham Studios were a hostile and miserable experience for all. The band eventually relocated to Apple Studios, where the atmosphere improved, especially after keyboardist Billy Preston arrived to assist with recording. Their infamous rooftop concert was played on 31 January 1969 at Apple Studios at 3 Saville Row. Yet the original Get Back album mixes by engineer Glyn Johns were indefinitely shelved or postponed as the band worked on recording sessions for Abbey Road. Let it Be was eventually released a year later on 8 May 1970. The final album was produced by Phil Spector, who added several orchestral overdubs on tracks such as Across the Universe and The Long and Winding Road, much to McCartney’s objection.

The definitive version of the Beatles' "Let It Be" doesn't exist — but this new deluxe remix sizzles | Salon.com — The Beatles rooftop concert, 30 January 1969

The 2021 stereo mix and rerelease of Let it Be comes in many different formats. Headlining this are the 5 CD + Blu-ray and 5 LP Super Deluxe Editions, followed by a 2 CD Deluxe Edition, 1 CD Standard Edition, and a 1 LP Standard Vinyl. The 5 CD + Blu ray Super Deluxe Edition contains the new 2021 stereo mix of the album, 2 CDs of recording sessions and rehearsals, the 1969 Glyn Johns Mix of Get Back, a Let it Be EP, and a Blu ray disc which contains audio of the new album mix in Dolby Atmos and 5.1 Stereo. A 100 page hardcover book is also included. Of particular interest is the the original 1969 Glyn Johns Mix of Get Back which has never been released before. Supplementing the music releases is a 240 page hardcover book titled The Beatles: Get Back covering the creation of Let it Be, and the 3 part documentary series of The Beatles: Get Back, which was directed by Peter Jackson and released to Disney+ streaming recently.

The Beatles: Get Back: Beatles, The, Harris, John, Russell, Ethan, McCartney, Linda, Kureishi, Hanif, Jackson, Peter: 9780935112962: Amazon.com: Books

So, what of the album, the new mix, and the extra material on this release?

Well whilst Let it Be will never rank as high as a Beatles album compared to say, Sgt. Pepper or Abbey Road, I have always considered it to be an underrated and underappreciated collection of songs, with plenty to enjoy. The mixture of studio and live recorded songs is an interesting blend and gives the album an authentic feel.

Two of Us is a fantastic folk tune with a great duet from Lennon and McCartney complemented by some great acoustic sounds. Lennon’s Across the Universe is another gorgeous acoustic-driven cosmic dreamlike tune. Let it Be is one of the best songs and ballads that Paul McCartney has written and needs no introduction, with an excellent guitar solo from Harrison. Dig a Pony, I’ve Got a Feeling and One After 909 are brilliant hard rock tracks recorded live at their rooftop concert, with Billy Preston excelling on the electric piano. George Harrison also hints at the increasing division and tensions within the band on I Me Mine, whilst For You Blue is another acoustic-driven blues hit with Lennon on lap steel guitar. Finally Get Back ends the album on a rocking high with some classic guitar riffs.

The new 2021 mix of the album sounds generally very similar to the excellent 2009 remaster. One notable difference is that the orchestral overdubs on Across the Universe and The Long and Winding Road seem to have been brought out louder and more prominently.

In terms of bonus material there are hours of rehearsals, outtakes and jams on the Super Deluxe Edition but for this review I purchased the 2 CD Deluxe Edition, which contains one disc of outtake highlights and a 40 page booklet. All the tracks from the original album contain one take of rehearsals/jams with several small interesting extras added in. The crowning jewel of this disc is by far the first live rooftop performance of Don’t Let Me Down, in which John hilariously forgets a few lines in the second verse and ends up singing gibberish. Billy Preston’s piano skills are also a highlight on alternative takes of For You Blue (Take 4) and One After 909 (Take 3). Another interesting track is the raw recording of The Long and Winding Road (Take 19) by Paul without Phil Spector’s orchestral overdub. Also included is an alternative take of Get Back (Take 8), which has a slower tempo and is extended with some interesting dialogue from Paul. Finally, the previously unreleased Glyn Johns 1970 mix of Across the Universe is another interesting raw track, with the band’s backing vocals and electric guitar being faded out on this mix.

The Beatles – Let it Be is an excellent new remix with some fantastic previously unreleased material of studio takes, sessions and jams. This is a fantastic release and is highly recommended.

Music Review: Coldplay – Part 2

With the recent release of Coldplay’s ninth album, Music of the Spheres, today we go take a dive into their back catalogue and review all nine albums of their discography…

Mylo Xyloto (2011)

Celebrating its 10^th anniversary recently, Mylo Xyloto, Coldplay’s fifth album, sees the band explore a more pop and electronic sound compared to their previous albums. For this album the band fully embraces the concept of ‘stadium rock grandeur’ – big loud pop songs intended to be played to a live audience. Prime examples of this are tracks like Paradise, Hurts Like Heaven, and Every Teardrop is a Waterfall. The sounds and instrumentation are also louder, and feel more alternative and electronic.

The instrumentation on the album is the defining highlight, with some fantastic new sounds sprinkled throughout the album’s 14 tracks. Hurts Like Heaven has a brilliant backing drum beat combined with some groovy guitar riffs that sail through the air. Paradise is a classic Coldplay anthem with a big chorus and bigger instrumentation of synths, strings, guitar and piano. Charlie Brown has another excellent lead guitar riff leading the song. Every Teardrop is a Waterfall has an infectiously catchy guitar riff that builds to a gorgeous crescendo with some fantastic drum work. Major Minus is an angry, aggressive track with a deep bass line that feels in place on A Rush of Blood to the Head. Princess of China, the duet with Rihanna, is an interesting experiment in electropop with a rather touching storyline. Don’t Let It Break Your Heart is a fantastic electronic rock song, even if somewhat overproduced with instrumentation.

Unfortunately, as is standard with several Coldplay albums, whilst the instrumentation is good, the lyrics and songwriting are not. The Nineteen-Eighty Four inspired theme of a bunch of young rebellious artistic kids against an Orwellian society just isn’t very engaging or interesting, especially since it has been covered before by many artists. The lyrics and songwriting, upon examination, are also thin, cheap general clichés about love, life and positivity that have little impact on the listener. Furthermore, there are a few too many tracks on this album, at 14, with some tracks better off being excluded. (To be fair, however, three of these are brief instrumental interludes). These are mainly the quieter acoustic ballads that feel bland, like Up in Flames and Up with the Birds. The album title is also ludicrous.

Mylo Xyloto is a good electropop rock album from Coldplay with some excellent sounds and instrumentation. Unfortunately, it is also let down by average lyrics and songwriting and a derivative central concept and theme. Nonetheless, the album is overall an interesting and enjoyable listen for casual audiences.

Favourite song: Every Teardrop is a Waterfall

Rating: 6/10

Ghost Stories (2014)

Ghost Stories (Coldplay album) - Wikipedia

Strange, somber, and unusual. These are the words that can be used to describe Ghost Stories, Coldplay’s sixth album.

For this album the band explored a softer ambient, electronic and acoustic sound, based on the experiences of lead singer Chris Martin’s separation from his wife Gwyneth Paltrow. The result, both lyrically and musically, again is a mixed bag with some tracks working better than others. Lead single Magic is a catchy tune with a brilliant drum beat sound in the background. Midnight is incredible in its sound production and is an album highlight. Oceans is a soothing and hypnotic acoustic ballad about love and loss, perfect for a late night listen. A Sky Full of Stars is the commercial ‘loud’ song (compared to the other tracks) that wouldn’t feel out of place on the band’s other albums. O is a fantastic, graceful album closer with a beautiful hidden track. The rest of the album, however, is unfortunately unmemorable and forgettable, with some questionable musical choices, especially on Ink.

With the exception of A Sky Full of Stars, very little here is intended for the commercial market here, and the band must be commended for pursuing and exploring a very different sound compared to their previous works. The artwork, marketing and videos for this album are also beautifully crafted. Overall however, as a whole the album feels incoherent and underwhelming. The overarching themes also aren’t very engaging or captivating, compared to their previous works. Chris Martin and the band could have developed a deep album that explored the traumatic consequences of separation and divorce. Unfortunately, this isn’t it.

Favourite song: Midnight

Rating: 5/10

A Head Full of Dreams (2015)

After the sombre and muted sounds on Ghost Stories, Coldplay returned a year later with A Head Full of Dreams – an album that could not be more diametrically opposed and different to their last record. This is an endlessly positive, bright and loud album about discovery, exploration and relationships. As a pop album, there are also an endless amount of collaborators here, which include Beyonce, Tove Lo, Noel Gallagher, producer Stargate, and even President Obama. The sounds here are also somewhat similar to Mylo Xyloto, except that the lead and bass guitar are used less regularly, being replaced with synths and electronics. Sounds exciting right?

Unfortunately, whilst there are some good tracks and interesting sounds on this album, this is a ‘pop’ album that does sound like a thousand other songs played on your commercial radio. This will sadly disappoint fans of Coldplay, like myself, who prefer the rock and experimental sounds of their previous and forthcoming albums. The lyrics and songwriting, again, are a disappointment – endless drivel about miracles, stars, angels, birds, and how beautiful life can be if we explore the world.

Singles Adventure of a Lifetime and Hymn for the Weekend are typical commercial Coldplay songs about “feeling alive again” and “getting drunk and high“. Everglow, a subdued piano ballad about love and loss, is excellent and an album highlight. Fun, the collaboration with Tove Lo, is an enjoyable listen with some good percussion sounds. Kaleidoscope and Color Spectrum are experiments that unfortunately fall flat in their attempt to move the album away from the regular pop songs. Army of One and Amazing Day again are enjoyable listens but have little depth or substance in terms of story or lyrics. Up & Up finishes the album with an entertaining guitar solo from Noel Gallagher, but again with empty lyrics about positivity.

A Head Full of Dreams is an album that has endless optimism, big and loud sounds, and some interesting instrumentation. Unfortunately, it is also generic, bland, hollow and boring, with sounds and themes that have been done many times before. If you’re looking for a good Coldplay pop album, give Mylo Xyloto a listen instead.

Favourite song: Everglow

Rating: 3/10

Everyday Life (2019)

Everyday Life (Coldplay album) - Wikipedia

Experimentation. It is a theme and influence that always been prominent in Coldplay’s discography, and makes their music interesting for their audiences.

On Everyday Life, the band pursues this theme vigorously and emphatically. The result is an album that is their most creative, unorthodox and experimental since Viva la Vida in 2008. There is an extraordinary range of music on this album, both lyrically and thematically. The overarching theme and ideas for the album seem to be the highs and lows of ‘everyday life’ in humans, and seeing the daily joys and struggles that we all face. Supplementing this are themes of religion, humanity, unity, hope, racism, war, and pain and loss. Thus there is quite a lot of ground to cover in 53 minutes. The results, as ever, are mixed.

The first half, Sunrise, begins very well. Sunrise is a beautiful and soothing orchestral opening track with some gorgeous strings. Church is a fantastic relaxing song with some great orchestration and vocals in English and Arabic. The gospel songs, Broken and When I Need are Friend, are excellent examples of the band’s creativity peak at work. In contrast, Trouble in Town, which highlights the police brutality in the US, never really lifts of the ground in its message lyrically, despite a good crescendo from Jonny Buckland’s guitarwork. WOTP / POTP, an incomplete demo recording, is a strange inclusion that really should have been omitted.

The second half, Sunset, is another subdued affair with moments of power and intensity. Guns is a brilliant fast-paced acoustic track that demonstrates its madness with intense vocals and profanity. Orphans, the albums lead single, unfortunately comes off as the commercial ‘stadium anthem’ of previous works with its ridiculous ‘woo woos’ designed to annoy the casual listener on the radio. The acoustic melodies of Eko, Cry Cry Cry and Old Friends are another delight for easy listening, even if the lyrics never fully take off. “بنی آدم” is another very strange experiment that falls flat. Finally, Champion of the World and Everyday Life are uplifting and hugely enjoyable, but ultimately forgettable songs.

The album’s highlight, by far, is Arabesque. Its brilliant raw sounds of guitar, brass, and saxophone combine perfectly with Chris Martin’s vocals, creating a very powerful and effective song about human unity. Plus there is an incredible saxophone solo from Femi Kuti and a climax that is one of the band’s best in a long time. Same f*cking blood!

Everyday Life is a creative and interesting experiment. It is an admirable direction and effort for the band with some very interesting sounds and production. Whilst some of the album’s ideas and sounds work well, the results are uneven with some questionable thematic choices. Yet there are some excellent tracks here that make the album a worthwhile listen for people wanting something more obscure and deep.

Favourite song: Arabesque

Rating: 7/10

Music of the Spheres (2021)

Music of the Spheres (Coldplay album) - Wikipedia

Oh dear, how the mighty have fallen.

Unfortunately, Music of the Spheres is not the wonderful cosmic journey of sound through that eager fans have been anticipating and waiting for this year. Instead, musically, lyrically, and thematically, this album is a disaster. By trying to replicate the commercial success of their previous ‘pop’ albums, Mylo Xyloto and A Head Full of Dreams, Coldplay’s music and lyrics have been dumbed down to the level of a five year old child. The sci-fi concept of a galaxy of imaginary planets and stars sounds shallow and desperately derivative, whilst the use of emojis as titles of the album’s tracks is blatantly absurd. The music, unfortunately, isn’t much better.

A lot of the album is boring, monotonous and uninspiring, like the modern pop garbage that is regularly played on the mainstream radio today. It almost feels like the band, stung by the commercial failure of their last album, Everyday Life, are desperately trying to stay commercially successful in today’s pop music industry. Higher Power, whilst pleasant enough, seems like an attempt to replicate the neon synthpop sounds of The Weeknd’s Blinding Lights. Humankind has some of the strangest and blandest lyrics on the album – “were capable of kindness, so they call us humankind”, and comes off as desperately hollow and dull. Let Somebody Go, a duet with Selena Gomez, sounds like an unused track from the recording sessions of Ghost Stories or A Head Full of Dreams, and feels somewhat out of place. People of the Pride wastes a good guitar riff with lyrics and music that goes nowhere. My Universe is a classic example of “stadium pop Coldplay” designed rule the radio airwaves and Spotify streams. Penultimate track Infinity Sign is an interesting experiment, but is ruined by a football chant at the start.

The album’s only saving grace and highlight is its final track, Coloratura, which is a 10-minute space odyssey. Coloratura is an incredible listen, and unlike many of the tracks on this album, actually feels like a “space” song that is accompanied with some gorgeous orchestration of piano, guitar, electronica, and strings. I’m hoping this will be regarded as an orchestral pop masterpiece by the public in a decade or two.

Ultimately, Music of the Spheres is an album lacking in focus or direction thematically, lyrically, and musically. Too much of the album feels bland, monotonous and uninspiring, and has been covered before by the band or by other artists.

Favourite song: Coloratura

Rating: 1/10

Next review: The Beatles – Let it Be (2021 Mix)

Andrew’s Highlights #5

October – November 2021

Film:

Blade Runner 2049 (Denis Villeneuve, 2017)

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (Michael Apted, 2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (David Yates, 2010)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (David Yates, 2011)

The Lighthouse (Robert Eggers, 2019)

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Extended Edition (Peter Jackson, 2003)

No Time to Die (Cary Joji Fukunaga, 2021)

The Silence of the Lambs (Jonathan Demme, 1991)

TV:

Doctor Who: Horror of Fang Rock (BBC, 1977)

Inside Central Station: Australia’s Busiest Railway (SBS, 2021)

Music:

Girlhood (The Preatures, 2017)

Let It Be (The Beatles, 1970) (2021 Mix)

Music of the Spheres (Coldplay, 2021)

On a Clear Night (Missy Higgins, 2007)

Prospekt’s March (Coldplay, 2008)

Temple of Low Men (Crowded House, 1988)

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 ‘Eroica’ (Frankfurt Radio Symphony, 2016)

Holst: The Planets, Op. 32 (Los Angeles Philharmonic, 1997)

Literature:

Imperial Twilight: The Opium War and the End of China’s Last Golden Age

Stephen Platt (Atlantic Books, 2018)

This is Shakespeare: How to Read the World’s Greatest Playwright

Emma Smith (Pelican Books, 2019)

The Six Wives of Henry VIII

Alison Weir (Arrow Books, 1995)

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

C. S. Lewis (Geoffrey Bles, 1952)

Upcoming reviews for December 2021:

Coldplay – Part 2 (almost finished)
The Beatles – Let it Be (2021 Mix)
Imperial Twilight – Stephen Platt
No Time to Die