The Beatles???? They’re really good, but they’re nothing more than an outstanding ’60s rock act. Enough pseudo intellectual drivel about it already!

Josh, I agree with your assessment of that NYT editorial (surprised not to see Jann Wenner’s byline there), but I think you’re underestimating the Beatles’ importance. It’s pretty much boilerplate by now that the Beatles were largely responsible for unlocking American youths’ libidos, which paved the way for the free-love mindset that later permeated the ’60s. Sure, the Beatles’ music was/is fun, but it and the band were also revolutionary. The Beatles later became a substantial sociopolitical force and consequently the FBI kept voluminous files on the actions of John Lennon. All of this is ripe for “pseudo-intellectual drivel”and serious cultural inquiry.