
(John Downing/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
(John Downing/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
SGT. PEPPER'S LONELY HEARTS CLUB BAND was sort of the BEATLES' LEMONADE—a concept album of impeccable craft, unified as much by its production as by anything else, fully worthy of a "best of all time" debate, and equally worthy of the debate in which you wonder if it's one of the three or four best albums in the artist's catalog. (The Beatles didn't have to go up against ADELE at the GRAMMY AWARDS, though.) I prefer the three that came immediately before it for songwriting and production and the double album that came 17 months later for the artistic reset, which leaves "Pepper" as merely a great album by a great band at its peak. I'm unclear why anyone needs a remix of it in 2017, but I trust GILES MARTIN, son of GEORGE, to do it right, based on the work he did on LOVE, and I welcome the chance to revive all the old arguments. MusicSET: "'Sgt. Pepper' at 50: Remixing, Re-remembering and Re-debating the Beatles"... It's never too early to think about the song of the summer, apparently. Today's the first day you're allowed to wear white, and PITCHFORK, THE FADER and BILLBOARD have already checked in with their predictions. All three agree LIL UZI VERT's "XO TOUR LLIF3" and DJ KHALED and crew's "I'M THE ONE" are strong contenders; and don't forget "PASSIONFRUIT," "DESPACITO," "BAD LIAR," "SLIDE," "HUMBLE," "HARD TIMES" and "MAGNOLIA." In case you need to start getting your LABOR DAY barbecue playlist together... Words of wisdom to college seniors from JANELLE MONÁE, PHARRELL, LITTLE STEVEN and BON JOVI... Ayyy... It's FRIDAY and besides the aforementioned FAB FOUR that means new music from LIL YACHTY, JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, FLOR DE TOLOACHE, HELIOCENTRICS, SHAKIRA, MARTIN REV, MAYSA, KRAFTWERK, DANZIG and BOBBY BARE... Fare thee well, RODNEY BINGENHEIMER... MusicREDEF is taking a long weekend to contemplate more possible songs of the summer. We'll be back on Tuesday morning.