The boundaries of “pop music” are perhaps as broad as they’ve ever been.  The only true constant is production– 21st century pop can be identified by artificial gaining to cut through radio clutter, frequencies being polarized between synth-heavy lead lines and booming, percussive bass.  Hip hop has gotten recognition, in some circles, as a true postmodern art form, and the creative crate diggers/knob twiddlers of years past get credit for introducing kids to old soul and jazz records, even if only in looped 10-second increments.

The new Beatles Box Sets (to be released 9/9/09, in stereo and mono) are not directly connected to our remix culture, but nonetheless they are a bid to lure yet another generation to fall in love with the Fab Four.  It’s also worth noting that Apple is holding a conference on that same day boasting the tagline “It’s only rock and roll, but we like it,” and they’re likely not referring to the Rolling Stones, who have been selling their albums through iTunes for years.  Last but not least, the stanalone game “The Beatles: Rock Band” will also be released on the same date, further pushing the importance of 9/9/09 to a can’t-miss day in the life of any Beatles fan, young or old.  Paul’s thoughts on the rock-star-miming experience are a particularly interesting read.

Even Sir Paul looks like an idiot playing Rock Band.

The relationship between the gatekeepers of the Beatles’ legacy and their young “digital native” fans has been fraught with disappointments and false starts, but you have to admire the multi-pronged approach they are finally taking to courting our generation.

The remasters are bright and full of space, and Abbey Road in particular has pushed the round low end and birdsong synthesizer melodies up front, perhaps (in part) an effort to make the recordings sound less dated to T-Pain fans.  But the retooling is artful and faithful to the original intent and atmosphere of the originals, including studio noise/chatter that may or may not have been intentional.  All of the small, endearing “mistakes” of the old recordings remain, and are sometimes made more prominent.  Being behind the boards calling the shots for these uber-hyped remasters was likely no enviable position, but the result is a resounding success that was worth the wait.

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