Anarchy on Abbey Road A Punk Tribute To The Beatles CD Review
Let’s just get it out of the way: I’ve never been a Beatles fan. Never have been, probably never will be. And around here, that makes me a bit of a jackass. My wife’s kid brother? Total Beatles junkie. When I got back into vinyl years ago, there were Beatles records waiting in the wings just for him. I ended up scoring a haul of over 40 original pressings, including the infamous Butcher Cover LP. Naturally, they all went to him - still the only vinyl he owns. That’s all he cares about, give or take. To this day, he’s the only person I can listen to the Beatles with. I won’t dump on his favorite band when he’s around. So, I smile, nod, and sit through it, though most of the time I’d rather die. But now, and I never thought I’d say this, thanks to Cleopatra Records, I can finally enjoy the Beatles in my own way.
Enter “Anarchy on Abbey Road”, a Punk tribute to the Beatles that’s finally arrived to shatter any preconceptions of the band being untouchable icons of polished Pop. Cleopatra’s been on a roll with these tributes - Pink Floyd, The Stones, and AC/DC are some of the bests I’ve ever heard, and this Beatles tribute now joins those ranks.
Let’s talk about the highlights.
My boys in FEAR drop a ferocious version of “A Hard Day’s Night”. Not a track I ever imagined the band playing, but now I can’t unhear it, and I wouldn’t want to. Lee Ving still has it! The Skids transform “Eleanor Rigby” into a moody Brit-mod piece that works way better than it has any right to. That melody? Born for this kind of treatment.
JFA take “Ticket to Ride” and rip it to shreds in gloriously chaotic fashion. It’s the musical equivalent of that last questionable hook-up at the dive bar - messy, possibly regrettable, but undeniably memorable. Eater tackle “Something”, my personal favorite Beatles track (George was always the best Beatle, let’s be honest). Their noisy, psychedelic spin injects new life into a song I thought I’d never want to hear again. The guitar work? Fan-fucking-tastic!
Peter & the Test Tube Babies deliver a blistering, sneering version of “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road”. I’m honestly pissed that I never thought to cover it like this myself. This is how the song should sound. Same goes for 999 on “I Saw Her Standing There”, their version is kooky and soaked in Garage Punk filth, and it absolutely rips.
Of course, The Queers show up to do “In My Life”. It fits their vibe perfectly - sentimental but raw, a fitting tribute with just enough grit. And saving the best for last: Lemmy. Yes, that Lemmy. His version of “Twist and Shout” doesn’t need an intro. If you’ve heard it, you know. If you haven’t, what the hell are you waiting for? The man may be gone, but his voice and spirit still tear through the speakers like a chainsaw through velvet.
“Anarchy on Abbey Road” is dropping this May via Cleopatra Records. Vinyl and CD releases are on the way, and if you’ve been digging their recent tributes, this one is a MUST HAVE. Whether you’re a Beatles fan or a proud hater like me, this record proves that a little Punk Rock attitude can make even the most sacred classics sound dangerous again.