The Beatles - Rubber Soul

Genre: Pop/Rock, Folk-pop

Year: 1965

What does it mean anyway; Rubber Soul? Doesn’t matter as long as my ears are pleased. And they are!

The Beatles showed much promising growth with each consecutive album. An early highpoint was achieved with pop-masterpiece “A Hard Day’s Night”, an album of such quality that would seem near impossible to surpass. However as it is, the Beatles proved yet again that they were no one trick ponies, and along came Rubber Soul yet another masterpiece of the Beatles legacy. What is it that makes this record so special?

Well first of all it’s a Beatles album, so it’s specked full of one amazing melodic tune after another, and every song has the potential of getting stuck in your head for the rest of your lifetime.  But the true gift of this album is how it effortlessly combines well-composed song craft with artistic and emotional depth. It’s essentially the same Lennon/McCartney tunes we know and love, but this time around we get creative arrangements, and the lyrics show even more depth and maturity than ever before.

The rock and electric guitar palette have been exchanged for a softer acoustic sound, which really helps giving the songs their almost immortal status as classics. “Norwegian Wood” is a nice folk-pop song with a resourceful use of the Sitar (courtesy of George Harrison), while “I’m looking through you” picks up the pace and delivers. “Michelle” is the result of McCartney trying to emulate Chet Atkins guitar playing, a song with beautiful harmonies and a perfect melodic bass-solo to boot.” In My Life” Is equally outstanding!  Such a melancholic, yet pleasing, melody, and a well fit classical-inspired piano solo, truly a classic in every sense.

One blooper though… (Ringo Starr, you’re the best glue a man can get. But please don’t sing!)

A pop masterpiece! A musical masterpiece! Too many songs too little time! If only one album should heard, let it be this one!

 5/5