Plastic Ono Band
The signature John Lennon blues compacted into an album that was clearly very important for John as a person and an artist.
Throughout this album, he laments the death of his mother, the end of the Beatles, and comments upon the struggles he faces now.
The album is saying goodbye to his past and welcoming his future. He is in a transitional phase – some things are still bumpy, needing to be worked out, and he is not sure what will be coming next, but he believes in himself and his wife. He believes that through love, they will prevail, no matter how tough the long and winding road may be.
If that doesn’t scream John Lennon, I don’t know what does.
Musically, Lennon is on point, honing a laid back blues sound with screamed, pained, repetitive minimalist lyrics that would become a staple through his solo career. A similar style can be seen on The Beatles’ White Album song, Yer Blues.
After writing years of pop/rock with The Beatles it makes sense that when given the reigns, John is experimenting and delving into heavier/gritter territories sonically. Listening to this album now, it is clear to see why Kurt Cobain liked John Lennon so much. The entirety of the Nirvana discography has “Plastic Ono Band” written over it. Even noise rock bands such as Sonic Youth clearly take inspiration from John here.
This album is the birth of a new John Lennon. A John Lennon who will speak his mind, who will fight for what he believes in and what he loves. But also a John Lennon who can admit he is scared and sad, with no pastiche, no jokes to hide behind, no obfuscation.
A John Lennon that has matured.