165: Another Girl

Album: Help!
Writer: McCartney
Singer: McCartney

Verdict: An unusual verse structure and I enjoy the swing-beat. Paul’s guitar playing ain’t bad either. But there’s not a lot of energy to this one and it’s very forgettable. 

164: You Like Me Too Much

Album: Help!
Writer: Harrison
Singer: Harrison

Verdict: An improvement over most of Harrison’s early stuff, and his laid-back singing work alright for this song. I just really don’t like the title. “You like me too much and I like you,” is such an awkward sentence and it throws me.

163: Taxman

Album: Revolver
Writer: Harrison
Singer: Harrison

Verdict: I like how Revolver opens, with the throaty “One, two, three four…”  The song is a bit of dark comedy and I smiled the first few times I heard it. But the guitar, while competent, is very harsh, and it’s neither pleasant on the ears or fun to sing along to. I do enjoy the “Aahh, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Heath!” parentheticals.

162: The Night Before

Album: Help!
Writer: McCartney
Singer: McCartney

Verdict: The structure of this song really appeals to me. Paul hitting the high notes as he was so good at with John and George repeating the harmony “Aaah, the night before…” over and over. I find the guitar work fairly uninspired and I wish the lyrics were more interesting.

161: Helter Skelter

Album: The Beatles
Writer: McCartney
Singer: McCartney

Verdict: If anyone on the Beatles had the voice to pull this off it was Paul. I like his energy and it was a nice departure for him to put it all out there for this vicious rocker. Unfortunately, the thrashing gets a bit too much. The sound effects are completely unnecessary and the ending takes way too long. Ringo nails the ending, though. “I’ve got blisters on my fingers!”