Beatles-esque Mix

September 7, 2009

It’s hard not to get caught up in Beatlemania this week. The complete set of Beatles Remastered albums are being released (stereo and mono) as well as the much-awaited game, Beatles: Rock Band.  There’s even rumors of the band finally being added to iTunes at tomorrow’s Apple music event. I think it goes without saying that The Beatles had a huge impact on my music development growing up. I was 14 years old when The Beatles 1 was released and I think that was the only album I listened to for an entire year. Eventually, I acquired all the Beatles albums and grew to love their entire body of work. To this day I can put on any of their albums and have a wave a nostalgia rush over me as I revisit some of the greatest songs every put on record.

Obviously, the Beatles’ influence on music has been extraordinary and their influence can be felt everywhere from the biggest pop artists to the most obscure of indie bands. Some tracks stand out to me though as having an instantly recognizable Beatles-esque sound. I’ve collected some of my favorite of these songs (with necessary context) for this mix. I know there’s hundreds more songs that could easily go on this and I encourage you to also list some of your favorite Beatles-sounding songs in the comments. If I get enough good suggestions I may even make a part two. Enjoy!

MP3 Belle & Sebastian – Step Into My Office, Baby

The Lads from Liverpool are an obvious influence on Belle & Sebastian and this is one of their most overtly Beatles-sounding songs. You can especially hear it in the harmonies on “my place at 9″.

MP3 The Shins – Saint Simon

This track is reminscent of a Paul McCartney composition from the strings (think “Yesterday”), to the harmonies, to the guitar part during bridge.

MP3 Oasis – Don’t Look Back In Anger

Oasis have long been accused of Beatles-copying, a fact which they haven’t tried to hide. Noel was quoted as saying that this song is like “something the Beatles might’ve done”. The opening piano chords are almost identical to “Imagine” and even some of the lyrics (”start a revolution from my bed”) reference John Lennon.

MP3 Wilco – My Darling

This track is, in my opinion, Wilco’s homage to the Fab Four. The drums are right out of “Hey Jude”, the mellotron has “Strawberry Fields Forever” written all over them, and the “ba ba ba’s” seem like their nod to the Beatles’ early work.

MP3 The Polyphonic Spree – Hold Me Now

In the press release for this song the band claimed that “‘Hold Me Now’ is like a condensed ‘A Day In the Life’ had the Beatles managed to fit in a profound romantic declaration for a jittery age.” I’m not sure about all that but the trumpets do sound straight out of the Magical Mystery Tour era.

MP3 of Montreal – Your Magic Is Working

The Beatles are one of Montreal’s most constant influences and you can especially tell on tracks like these that they were moved by the Beatles’ early work. The bouncy melodic pop is similar to many of the bands work circa ‘64-’65 and the harmonies have a subtle “Here, There and Everywhere” feel to them.

MP3 Elliott Smith – Say Yes

Elliott Smith is another artist that was heavily influenced by the Liverpool quartet and the closing track on Either/Or is one of his most Beatles sounding songs. Notice how Smith holds out the line “and you see how it is” which is almost exactly like John Lennon does on “I am the Walrus”.

MP3 Franz Ferdinand – Eleanor Put Your Boots On

Franz Ferdinand seemed to be conciously aiming for a Beatles sound on this song, with a title that nods at “Eleanor Rigby” and a pretty piano melody similar to some of McCartney’s ballads.

MP3 The New Pornographers – The Bleeding Heart Show

The New Pornographers have always excelled at their multiple part vocals which is Beatles-esque in itself, but the end of this song in particular with it’s “hey-la’s” seems to be directly influenced by the coda of “Hello, Goodbye” (listen to them sequentially, you’ll see what I mean).

MP3 Midlake – Balloon Maker

Midlake’s first album draws from the warbly, psychedelic side of the later-era Beatles, and this song with it’s trumpets and marching drums, in particular, sounds like it could have been a Sgt. Pepper’s b-side.

MP3 Spoon – Black Like Me

This is one of Spoon’s prettiest and best songs. The symphonic chamber pop of the track feel can be linked to much of the Fab Four’s work and the drums, piano, and spiraling string crescendo of the climax are very reminiscent of “A Day In The Life”.

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Don’t forget to add your favorite Beatles-esque song in the comments. Happy Labor Day!

Posted by Taylor in Mix