Magical Mystery Tour: A playlist of influence…
Published on October 18th, 2012 | Jonny Abrams
The recent re-release of The Beatles’ Magical Mystery Tour film had Rocksucker going back to the album for a thousandth listen or so, and our desire to write about this glorious work without repeating what’s been said a million times already – dig the rampant exaggeration – led us to have a think about which of our favourite recordings from the last three decades remind us of a track from Magical Mystery Tour, and why. This is what we came up with…
“Magical Mystery Tour”
Supergrass – “Going Out”
Ecstatic acid harmonies; giddy psychedelia; revelling in the freedom opened up by its own grinning possibilities.
“The Fool on the Hill”
Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci – “Miss Trudy”
Wistful woodwind; playful character portrayal with a devastatingly melancholic core.
“Flying”
The Flaming Lips – “Approaching Pavonis Mons by Balloon”
Positively airborne; triumphant yet gentle trajectory; ever so warm and fluffy
“Blur Jay Way”
The Olivia Tremor Control – “Can You Come Down With Us?”
Claustrophobic psychedelia; ominously hushed vocal; a paranoid fog upon LA (or, in The Olivia Tremor Control’s case, Athens, Georgia).
“Your Mother Should Know”
The Divine Comedy – “A Woman of the World”
Slyly swinging would-be Gershwin number that weaves in and out of keys, throws in some campy backing vocals and occasionally clears the way for minor-key water-gazing.
“I Am the Walrus”
The Apples in Stereo – “Strawberryfire”
Slow, authoritatively clattering drums (okay, Ringo drums); detached, lysergic vocal delivery.
…or any song you’ve ever heard that has uses the cello psychedelically.
“Hello, Goodbye”
Blur – “Tracy Jacks”
Hits planes of easy-going rapture inaccessible to most bands; beautiful use of overlapping vocals parts; extended instrumental outro.
“Strawberry Fields Forever”
Gomez – “We Haven’t Turned Around (X-ray)”
Should be fairly obvious, this one.
“Penny Lane”
Pugwash – “It’s Nice to Be Nice”
Trotting, chiming piano chords; all-round air of the ridiculously in love with life; Thomas Walsh’s ever-so-McCartney-ish line “…and did you hear about so-and-so?”
“Baby You’re a Rich Man”
Cornershop – “Sleep on the Left Side”
Lightest and brightest of grooves; Indian influences assimilated seamlessly; dizzyingly high and funky with it.
“All You Need is Love”
Super Furry Animals – “For Now and Ever”
A vampish, ridiculously loved-up drunken sway; triumphant and final; as playfully embracing as can be.
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