Mind Games: An Analysis

Alright now. I have taken some time with this because I was debating whether or not to state the 2002 reissue or just keep it simple. However, in my opinion, that particular reissue of this album is by far the best example to use while going through this album. The sound quality is simply extraordinary, and as a John fan it felt like I was listening to a brand new album the first time I played it. So...if there are any issues with my singling out this, please feel free to rate each song from your own copy. I mean no harm by feeling so passionately that this is the superior CD version. I always felt the original had a muddled/reverb-y sound that took away from the beauty of the songs.

Now that I got that out of the way...



Mind Games was released in 1973, following the commercial and critical disaster of the very misunderstood and underrated Some Time In New York City. John no doubt felt compelled to return to the formula of pop songwriting that he had honed and that would be more aesthetically appealing to the general public. In any case, he did so with Mind Games, and though it wasn't a critical smash it has now come to be seen as an underrated gem by most music critics. In my opinion, it is a STUNNING album filled with some absolutely beautiful, melodically and lyrically rich songs. I love to recommend it to casuals because there's a lot for everyone on here: deep/intricate ballads, powerful/soulful anthems, and fantastic rockers. It's quite a balanced album, and perhaps John himself- retrospectively- didn't feel as passionately about MG, but in my opinion John was his own worse critic so let me just give him the side eye right here------>

Mind Games is a very interesting album, one that has a very special place in my heart because nearly every song has moved me in some way. I can't put my finger on exactly what word I could use to properly describe this album, as he seemed to be drifting away from the bandwagoning but still very dedicated to the message of love, despite his and Yoko's own personal situation at the time (ahem: their separation was just on the brink).

Even the cover of the album shows a man sort of "lost" in a field, with the background a large setting Yoko:



Let the analyzing begin!!