The “big issues” that have always made human existence such a mix of beauty and misery (“Love”, “God”, “Mother”, “Isolation” etc.) are tackled here in sweeping 3-minute pop songs carried by sparse musical arrangements (often solo acoustic guitar and voice). Say what you will about Lennon’s intentions, his detached 30-year-old pop star perspective, his many contradictory character flaws, or what have you, there is a grainy texture to this album that gets under the skin.
It’s not very often that moving, simplistic, lyrical statements of this sort come in such perfectly crafted, pop-song-shaped spaces (“Isolation”, “Love”, “Look At Me”, and so forth). This is the perfect pop record in my opinion and (dare I say) far superior to much of Lennon’s half-assed doodling from the 60′s. Nothing but focus here – constantly haunting, often disturbing, soft and gentle in places, ultimately life-affirming. (w.g.)
Buy John Lennon – John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band (1970)
I Met the Walrus on You Tube
August 24 1981: Mark David Chapman is sentenced to 20 years to life in prison for murdering John Lennon.
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