APPLE
How best to improve an album that most people agree is too long at 30 songs? Make it longer, of course. Such a counterintuitive move has come about now that the widely bootlegged Esher Demos recorded at George Harrison’s Surrey home finally get an official release for The Beatles’ 50th anniversary. Those 27 demos join a new Giles Martin mix which, like his take on Sgt. Pepper’s… last year, generally beefs up the original album. Also familiar from last year, if Martin Jr’s takes on the acoustic tracks are a tiny bit too bassy, then he undeniably adds bounce to the likes of Birthday and Happiness Is A Warm Gun. Here, even Why Don’t We Do It In The Road? becomes menacing, rather than the undercooked slap of the original.