George Harrison - Brainwashed (Special Edition)

George Harrison may have been known as the quiet Beatle, but his final album Brainwashed is a portrait of a man with a lot to say. The famed singer/songwriter passed away before the album was completely finished, but his son and recording partner, Dhani took the reins and finished his father's record. And he did the late Beatle justice.

Brainwashed is pure George Harrison - all of the elements that helped him standout from his legendary band mates are here. There are bouncy ukulele tunes, spiritual and mystical explorations and life lessons galore - all wrapped into a compact 12 track album.

Harrison was a man well-aware of his own mortality and a large portion of Brainwashed finds the Beatle at peace with the life he's led and ready to embrace the next part of his journey. As a strong believer in Hindu teachings, Harrison believed that death was not the end, only another beginning.

"Looking for my Life" finds the singer impatiently waiting to meet his maker as he laments "Oh lord, I feel so stuck / I can't get to you". It is almost a hymn to the heavens. "Any Road" is a rollicking good guitar song that manages to sneak in a message as well about taking the time to make the right choices. It's vintage George Harrison!

The man who still loved to kick back and make music was obviously still out in full force during the latter part of his life. "Pisces Fish" has a beat that rolls like the ocean waves - cresting and dipping. The lyrics mention the river running through the soul and Harrison and his cracker-jack team of musicians made sure the music reaches that spiritual place as well.

"Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" is an old-school shanty song that the Beatle decided to cover and it's no surprise. It's the type of tune that lets him bring out the ukulele and make it hum and sing and is sure to bring a smile to even the hardest of hearts.

Brainwashed's crown jewel is the melancholy song "Stuck Inside a Cloud". It's wistful and lovely and could have had a home on Beatles albums like "Abbey Road" or "Let It Be". As gentle as that particular tune may be, the title track "Brainwashed" is anything but. Harrison is determined to stick it to just about every possible person or idea that could corrupt the human mind.

"Brainwashed by our leaders/ By our kings and queens" wails the singer as he warns his listeners to block out easy rhetoric and search for the truth that comes from inside. The song may come on a bit heavy, but it does make a good argument for the power of individual thought.

The Special Edition of Brainwashed also comes with a small-sized poster, a sticker and a seven minute DVD documenting the making of the album. The DVD may have a short running time but it's a loving tribute to the musician. There are glimpses of Harrison walking in his prized gardens with his son and playing with studio musicians.

One of the best moments is when the ex-Beatle describes how he still makes music like he did back in the 1960s and 70s and that it's "not rap or techno".

There are reminiscences from others on the DVD that describe Harrison as "honest as a lyricist" - and they couldn't be more right. While a good amount of the Lennon/McCartney tunes may have been careful at times to follow a strict pop formula, George Harrison wrote without limits or boundaries of any kind. He was truly an artist of the mind, heart and spirit.