By Christian Cullen, Staff Writer

Abbey Road by the Beatles, turned 55 years old on Sept. 26. This record is the 11th studio album by the British greats, and is simply iconic. The cover alone has been remade thousands of times. A well-paced track list at only 47 minutes long, this has been named one of the best albums of all time. 

“Come Together” kicks off the album, and what a beginning it is. The beat is effective at drawing the listener in and lets us know that this album is going to be swinging. It’s a good song that rings-in a great album. This song is what you listen to when you are driving somewhere with a good group of buds. 

“Oh! Darling,” is one of my favorites. The emphasis of the song title within the song gives off a feeling of longing that feels almost out of place. However, it feels out of place in the exact right manner. You listen to this song while slow dancing with your lover in the kitchen at 2 a.m. 

A review of Abbey Road is not complete without playing in the “Octopus’s Garden.” A fun melody, convincing lyrics and, of course, some aquatic adventures all tie this song together. This is the song you play when you’re on that family road trip and your dad is trying, with little success, to get you and your siblings excited for a ten-hour car ride. 

With “Here Comes the Sun,” the guitar picking at the front brings you into the melodic vibes of the song. This is likely the song that everyone knows, regardless of whether you are a Beatles fan or not. John Lennon’s brilliance shines through in the lyrics, which makes them as comforting as they can possibly be. This is the song you listen to while sipping a hot chocolate on an early mountain morning. 

There is only one proper song to finish this review with and that would be “The End.” Abbey Road was the last album The Beatles recorded, even though Let It Be would come out after this album, so the fact that the album ends with a song called “The End” is pretty on the nose.

It does not feature many vocals but is a rather empathetic close to the Beatles recording career with the joy and raucousness that we love The Beatles for. The opening riff just brings one into the song, a recognition of the end of an era but in a celebratory, not a somber, manner. I cannot think of a better ending to The Beatles’ recording career than this song and this album. 

Overall, this is a 10/10 album. I could not even talk about some of the best songs on the record, like “Carry that Weight” or “Golden Slumbers.” However, I can at least mention the genius that is the medley of the second half of the album, where each song brilliantly weaves its way into the next. It allows the listener to have a wonderful experience.  I cannot recommend this album or this band enough. Happy birthday to Abbey Road, and happy listening dear reader!