Review #11: "LOVE"

It's hard to believe it, but they have released three albums and two box sets (four discs each) in the new millennium.
They include 1 (2000), the fastest-selling album in history, Let It Be...Naked (2003), a collection of stripped-down tracks from the most tumultuous sessions in music history, The Capitol Albums, Volume I & II (2004 & 2006), two four disc sets of 8 of music's most important albums and... "LOVE".
What is "LOVE"? As John Lennon said, "Love is real...real is love..." It is not only a soundtrack to the Cirque De Soilel production in Las Vegas, but it is an album of remixed tracks by the single greatest band ever...THE BEATLES.

When you first put the CD in, there is about four or five seconds of silence. Why? It let's us think: What will we hear? What will it be like? Will it be like anything else we've ever heard before?
Yes...it will.
But at the same time...it won't.
Most of us have heard all of the songs contained on this CD. "Strawberry Fields Forever"..."A Day In The Life"..."Yesterday"..."Something"..."Octopus's Garden"...etcetera...but none of us have heard what "What You're Doing" sounds like with the backing track of "Drive My Car" or what "Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite"'s organs sound like under the thunderous riff from "I Want You (She's So Heavy)" and the screaming vocal of "Helter Skelter".
The 26 track CD, lasting nearly 80-minutes in length contains songs die-hard fans devote their lives to make people notice them ("The Word"..."Can You Take Me Back?", the hidden link between "Cry Baby Cry" and "Revolution 9" on The White Album) and songs all people around the world hold close to their hearts ("All You Need Is Love"..."Eleanor Rigby") all remixed together in ways you could never expect.
Upon listening, it might seem perfect, but there are some things that aren't as good as you might expect. "I Am The Walrus", one of the ultimate mixes of noise, goes nearly untouched and might have been included for old time's sake. Also, there is lack of pre-Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band tracks (Rubber Soul is only represented by "The Word", "Drive My Car" and a bit of "Nowhere Man" that isn't even listed).
The Martins (father and son team of George and Giles) created an incredible mix that is original to the point that you don't expect it. The sound is incredible. This is a great preview of what the remastered albums (that good-old Beatle pal/Apple head-honcho Neil Aspinall confirmed) should sound like. For example, listen to "I Am The Walrus". The track is virtually identical to the original Magical Mystery Tour track (as mentioned above), except for the link from "I Want To Hold Your Hand", but it's sound! Even on a basic car stereo you will hear sounds and noises you have never heard before. It is amazing and certainly sends shivers up my spine.
"LOVE" is available in two formats. The cheaper format is the sole CD and the other is the incredible deluxe edition which includes a bonus DVD audio disc that includes an extra three minutes. The deluxe edition's packaging is amazing. The booklet includes a three page introduction by the Martins and eight amazing photographs combining pictures of the four Beatles (two for each) and pictures of the Cirque show, along with two shots from the performances.
Overall, "LOVE" is a great addition to The Beatles' catalogue, one that anyone could listen to over and over again, and much like the actual Beatle albums themselves, you will always discover a new sound.

MUSIC: 4.5/5
BONUS DVD: 4/5
PACKAGING: 5/5
OVERALL: 4.5/5

Next up: The Bee Gees- The Studio Albums, 1967-1968.