Meet the Beatles

1; The Beatles; Capitol/EMI

By Luke Smith

Daily Arts Writer

New Britpop quartet the Beatles enter a music market flooded with pre-fab boy bands, and in an attempt to hang with popsmart rockstars and countrymen Blur and Radiohead, they have released their pretentiously-titled debut album 1.

Borrowing heavily from the Rolling Stones and the Dave Clark Five, the Beatles have jumped on the British bandwagon, hastily following in the footsteps of Travis and Oasis. The Gallagher sound-a-likes borrow melodies and even hairstyles from the '95 Oasis release What's the Story Morning Glory?

"Love Me Do" finds itself delving deep into the land of "pop" music with simple chord changes and catchy lyrics. The ambitious "I Want to Hold Your Hand" brings a trite concept geared towards the affections of your parents and their parents. "When you say that something/I wanna hold your hand."

Lyrically, the Beatles are certainly taking a backseat to Radiohead.

Complementary songwriters John Lennon and Paul McCartney pen a few sharp tunes of their own, but pale in comparison to the genius of the brothers Gallagher. "Hey Jude" drags endlessly through a chorus of "na na, na, na-na-na-na" which typify the redundance of the pop ballad.

Liam-esque front man Lennon lacks the beer-swilling swagger of his counterpart but sports the Gallagher trademark sunglasses, as well as the ear for a sweet melody.

"Help!" marks the beginning of the change within the record, as giddy titles and melodies shift to more abstract concepts; clearly this was a period of development during the recording of 1.

"Yellow Submarine" gives itself to a different vocalist, with drummer Ringo Starr lending his vocals to the lead. Starr's no-nonsense approach is a fresh-faced change from the pitch-shifting dueling harmonies of Lennon and McCartney.

"Hello Goodbye" finds itself awash in three-part harmonies and lyrics about coming and going, and saying little and nothing at the same time.

The four mop-top Liverpudlians are sure to elicit screams from female fans in the midst of the boy band craze, and the newly leather-clad Backstreet Boys may have something to fear in the suit-wearing pop quartet. Despite the all-too-clear nods to the Police and Oasis, the Beatles have proven themselves to be more than pop rip-offs. The 27 songs on 1 very possibly could top the charts if they are ever released as singles. An instant classic.

Grade: A+