The Beatles: White Album review – Fab? No, definitely not fab

How does any musician or group follow up an album that changed the face of pop culture?

Whether by design or fault, after Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band – a concept album adorned by a colourful montage of celebrities, historical and political figures, and jam-packed with songs that caused it to be described as the most important and influential rock/pop album ever recorded – The Beatles released a double album with a plain white sleeve and a slew of songs that completely lacked cohesion.

Sleeve design notwithstanding (it was the first time the group had not appeared on one of their album covers) the album is a dog’s dinner – always has been, and always will be, despite some woolly-headed critics proclaiming its status as one of the best albums ever made.

This 50th Anniversary seven-disc box set reissue will be a boon to Beatles bores, of course, but once you sensibly skip past the mediocre (including Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da, Piggies, Don't Pass Me By, Rocky Raccoon, and the patience-sapping Revolution 9) there are gems to be found (Blackbird, Julia, Dear Prudence, I'm So Tired, While My Guitar Gently Weeps).

Fab? Not fab.