And now is the time when I make the following confession:

I’m not really into the Beatles.

I know, I know. The impact they’ve made on music is indisputable. Their songs are legendary. They’re probably lodged deeper in my psyche than I realize. All the same, I’ve never really been a fan.

Understand that I’m not saying I dislike the Beatles. I’ve just — and I know this is going to be shocking to some of you — but I’ve just never really been exposed to them. Well, I mean, of course I’ve been exposed to them, through their inescapable presence in our culture. What I’m saying is that I’ve never just sat down and put on a Beatles album and listened; I grew up in the wake of their popularity, and most of my nine older siblings had moved on to other music by the time I was old enough to pay attention.

That being the case, I thought it would be interesting to document my experience with The Beatles: Rock Band, which will really be the first time I will have ever really paid attention to these songs and these personalities. And then I thought it might be fun to bring you along for the ride. Interested?

Here’s what I’ll do: As I work my way through the game I’ll jot down some thoughts here. If you think of something specific you’d like to know about the game, feel free to leave questions in comments and I’ll do my best to answer. Sound good? Then let’s do this!

1:24 pm (all times Eastern): I don’t care how much experience you have with the band, it’s impossible to not be impressed by the gorgeous intro cinematic. I do recognize all these songs; maybe I’m underestimating my exposure to the band.

1:36 pm: Heh, achievement unlocked, for calibrating audio and video delay. Was well deserved as my RB2 guitar was having issues getting a clean signal. OK, can play now pls?

1:38 pm: Nice intro to the Cavern Club. Stylish!

1:42 pm: Definitely easier than the standard Rock Band. Four stars on “Twist and Shout” playing guitar and singing, both on Expert. I’m going to drop down to Hard for the rest, though, just so I can enjoy the songs a little more.

1:47 pm: Even I know these first few tracks aren’t representative of the rest of their catalogue, but they’re reasonably entertaining on guitar nonetheless.

1:52 pm: Least favorite song by far, so far: “Boys.” I realize that the Beatles are the reason this sounds like every other early-’60s pop song, but that doesn’t change the fact that this sounds like every other early-’60s pop song.

2:02 pm: “Can’t Buy Me Love” = awesome fun. Even with the high notes being just a smidge out of my range.

2:06 pm: Forgive me, Sir Paul, for underestimating your bass-playing abilities all these years. Really entertaining bass line on “Can’t Buy Me Love” on Expert.

2:17 pm: Aha, that’s why “Boys” sounds so pedestrian: It’s a cover of a Shirelles tune. Thanks, Beatles Rock Band Photo Album!

2:22 pm: Throat starting to hurt a little. Had to back all the way out of Story mode to drop out the vocal track. Guitar Hero 5′s Party Play has spoiled me. On the plus side, “Ticket to Ride” is a blast on Expert guitar.

2:23 pm: It’s interesting that as early as ’65 (or, at least, the songs being played in the Shea Stadium ’65 set), their songs are already beginning to show those dreamy, slightly Eastern influences that would become more prominent later.

2:34 pm: Oooh, I appear to have unlocked a Prize. It’s The Beatles’ Christmas Record, apparently sent to members of their fan club in 1963. Wow, it’s long — and quite funny. These guys were obviously having a lot of fun.

2:43 pm: Wow, “I’m Looking Through You” is hard on Expert. I mean, it’s not DragonForce hard or anything, but it’s hard enough to be a real — but very fun — challenge. Also, love the somewhat biting lyrics. Didn’t realize they ever got snarky.

2:45 pm: Interesting that some of the supplemental audio between songs can get cut off. Ed Sullivan cut out in the middle of saying “Ladies and gentlemen, The Beatles” in the last round, and the audience noise here at Shea just ended abruptly. Would have thought this sort of thing would have been cross-faded better. Yes, I realize that’s a nitpick and not at all a big deal, it’s just that I’ve just heard so many stories about how picky the Beatles Shareholders were that I’m surprised something like this made it into the game.

2:54 pm: Mm, “I Feel Fine” is great on guitar, and after playing it now I can’t wait to try it on drums. Is it just me or is Ringo really underrated?

3:01 pm: Man, “Day Tripper”  — one of the few Beatles songs I know well and really enjoy — is every bit as fun on guitar as I was hoping. But why does no one in the audience at Budokan look Japanese?

3:21 pm: It’s really interesting to play a game that tracks its way through a band’s career sequentially. The guitar in “Taxman” — especially the brief solo — is noticeably more complex than anything up to that point (in the game, I mean).

3:29 pm: True confession: Before covering The Beatles: Rock Band, I had no idea “With a Little Help From My Friends” was a Beatles tune. It’s like I’ve been going through life with this huge Beatles-shaped blind spot. Anyway, it’s a phenomenal tune, and a lot of fun to bop along to on guitar. Think I’ll try out some drums before diving into the rest of Sgt. Pepper’s.

3:45 pm: Made it through “I Feel Fine” on drums, on Expert — but just barely. That’s a fun one that should be really satisfying once I actually, uh, learn how to play it right. I do find it really interesting — and a little disappointingly prissy — that you can’t mess around on the drums before the song starts as in Rock Band.

3:55 pm: There’s something about simple syncopated songs like “With A Little Help” and “Yellow Submarine” that makes them such a riot to play on drums. Is that just me? Also: “Yellow Submarine” dreamscape: Beatles playing undewater. Kind of corny.

4:04 pm: “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds” is suitably trippy. Not terribly interesting on the drums, though. Going to play a few more old ones and switch back to guitar, I think.

4:08 pm: First failout: “Can’t Buy Me Love” on Expert drums. Arms got tired. Would be really fun if I had the wrist stamina. Shut up.

4:15 pm: “Getting Better”: Holy shit, that’s a Beatles song? I had no idea. What a great tune. You can hear how it’s influenced later bands; the chord structure, the rhythm of both the guitars and the drums, the harmonies. Really great.

4:22 pm: Halfway through “Within You Without You” and just had to say two things: 1. Sitar Hero. And 2. Ringo looks like he wants to reach out of the dreamscape and eat my face off. If this is what acid is actually like, I’ll pass, thanks.

4:27 pm: OK, “Good Morning Good Morning”? What. The. Hell. Are songs like this the reason people consider the Beatles such geniuses? If so, I have a simple explanation: drugs. Lots and lots of drugs. After that one I think I need to take a break, and I’ve just realized this post is getting very long, so I’m going to step away for a bit and start up a new thread once my brain has cooled off. Will update when it’s up.

4:54 pm: It’s up.