The Rewind Button is a group blogging project that I’m participating in. We’re taking on Rolling Stone‘s Top 40 albums of all time and writing our own reviews of them. There will be a new album and review each Thursday.

The Beatles’ Revolver album is like a middle child, in that it’s often overshadowed by its siblings immediately older and younger than it. I admit that I keep forgetting about the album. When reaching for some Beatles to listen to, I’m more apt to grab Rubber Soul (the older sibling) or Sgt. Pepper’s (the younger). Shame on me, because Revolver holds its own quite well.

This album should appeal more to me, because it features three tracks by George Harrison (my favorite Beatle), but I prefer Paul McCartney’s songs the best. “Here, There and Everywhere” is the perfect definition of a song that will melt me every time. The ohs and ahs and harmony and that little guitar run at 1:05 in the track make me want to close my eyes and forget every bad thing in the world. Then you have “Eleanor Rigby,” “Good Day Sunshine,” “For No One,” and “Got to Get You Into My Life.” McCartney was at the top of is craft on Revolver.

My biggest criticism–and it’s a subjective one–with Revolver is the actual cover. The line drawings and collage look amateurish, and perhaps that’s why I keep forgetting about this album. I’ve blocked the ugliness from my mind. I realize that we’re primarily reviewing the songs. However, “greatest albums” should include packaging. An album is a piece of art work (or they used to be). All elements should point to greatness.

Revolver is No. 3 on Rolling Stone‘s “Top 40 Albums of All-Time” list. It should definitely be higher than Pet Sounds, because of the variety of voice and styles it offers. But dammit, a picture of goats is preferable to line drawings. Remember that, kids. Animals trump humans.

Please visit these other blogs participating in The Rewind Button project: