The Beatles: Rock Band (Harmonix) is now available in stores, as well as the remastered editions of the band's studio albums on CD, both individual albums and in two box sets. There are no digital downloads available yet, but MSNBC is speculating that there will be an announcement at Apple's iPod meeting next Wednesday, and sadly, loyal vinyl fans are out of luck too.
Music nerds have been losing their shit over the mono box set, which are already sold out of pre-orders. Apparently the sound quality (The Beatles didn't work with stereo until later, and actually didn't care for it) is rich beyond belief, as more care was taken in recording. Messageboards are busting with comments about the superiority and the complexities of all the recording processes, but try to get someone to explain dynamic compression to you in a way that makes sense, without actually hearing it? Good luck. I've only heard the mono version of "Love Me Do," so I can only speak to the stereo remastered albums.
There are these guys, but then there are the casual to keen Beatles peeps, who knows the words to all the songs, have a favourite Beatle (George), but don't want to invest in an expensive box set. Are the stereo remastered albums worth it, or is this the biggest cash grab this side of Ponzi? Sure, the Digipaks feel really good in the palm, and the photos---many of which I haven't been seen before---are lovely to own. There are mini-documentaries contained on each CD, and it's still a chill-worthy experience listening to their voices, especially with a pair of great headphones. Imagine John Lennon whispering in your ear.
Sound-wise, teams of audio engineers, with the precision of surgeons playing Operation, worked with new and vintage technologies to remaster the classic songs. The ironic thing is that you really don't want them to sound different. And often they don't, except that the overall sound quality is fuller, somehow. Definitely louder. More bass. But then you think that maybe it's the trickery of expectation.
But there's no mistaking the richer, bigger orchestral sound on "The Long and Winding Road" and the choir on "Across the Universe." The guitars on "Get Back" are so intimate. But sometimes it doesn't work. "Maxwell's Silver Hammer" clangs, and wearing my headphones during the opening of "Eleanor Rigby," I could feel the jump from left to right, as if there were Beatles perched on either side of my head, taking turns singing into my ears. It wasn't as obvious when listening on the stereo--apparently the mono versions are much better suited to headphone and iPod listening.
If music reviewers are to be believed, I'm sure the mono box set is worth the money, especially if you get pleasure as a collector, or as an audiophile. But millions of people didn't fall in love with this band because of their pristine sound. When I used to sneak off with my parents' original vinyl records--thick, crackling and worn with scratches--and play them on my shitty Mickey Mouse record player, it didn't matter. And judging from the thousands of people who watched Paul McCartney from the Common's tennis courts, there are plenty who agree.
So have you heard the mono versions? Played Beatles Rock Band? Let us know if it's worth the hype.
