The Walrus - Music With Big Fuckin' Teeth!

01/22/2008

The Better Beatles Make The Beatles Better

Omaha, Nebraska has always been (in my mind) a breeding ground for Mid-Western abstraction. Whether it is something in their Omaha steaks, or their air, I don't know, but there must be an explanation as to why the same city produced Manheim Steamroller, Nick Nolte, and The Better Beatles.

In 1981, The Better Beatles recorded a 7" single covering the Beatles "Penny Lane." What makes this 7" so novel is it's blatant dismissal of familiarity in such a recognizable classic. Video arcade-ish synthesizers open the song, sonically prefacing what is to come throughout the rest of the track. When the droning bass and sluggish drums join the fray it is suggestive of someone reciting the lyrics of "Penny Lane" in their sleep. I absolutely love it.

Kudos to Siltbreeze Records for introducing me to this delightful Midwestern DIY gem. If you like what you hear, pick up the full length LP Mercy Beat at Hook or Crook Records.