Rubber Soul review

With their 6th album, The Beatles came of age. Here, they go into more sophisticated, musically advanced territory and into even higher realms of critical acclaim.

Tracks:

1. Drive My Car: 9/10 a combination of a brilliant melody and lyrics that are far smarter than they first look.

2. Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown): 8/10 it tells its story without enough lyrics to fully explain the song's subject matter, but as songs about affairs go it's not bad at all.

3. You Won't See Me: 9/10 this song is proof that not all great relationship songs have to depict success and joy.

4. Nowhere Man: 10/10 cynical, emotional and powerful, this is John Lennon at his best.

5. Think for Yourself: 7/10 a forgettable song that could be skipped, but only in the context of the rest of the album so far. As a song, it's absolutely solid.

6. The Word: 8/10 it's very corny. It's also an enormously catchy song that won't fail to make you smile.

7. Michelle: 9/10 a very nice love song with an intelligent use of French.

8. What Goes On: 7/10 it feels somewhat familiar, but still has plenty to say.

9. Girl: 9/10 similar to the other songs on the album, but the writing is so brilliant any flaw is overshadowed.

10. I'm Looking Through You: 8/10 a bittersweet relationship song that is effective, although it feels like a thematic copy of the previous song.

11. In My Life: 9/10 a masterpiece of songwriting, even if it's short on the instrumental wonders The Beatles often work.

12. Wait: 8/10 this is a good song, although it betrays Rubber Soul's lack of versatility as a collection of songs.

13. If I Needed Someone: 7/10 a perfectly good listen, but it's somewhat confusing.

14. Run for Your Life: 8/10 this angry, energetic closing track finishes the album on a memorable note.

Best song: Nowhere Man
Worst song: What Goes On

Summary: A very important chapter in the history of The Beatles. This was the album where they truly involved into one of the best bands of all time, and although it still mainly consists of love songs and would be outdone by the next album, this boasts fantastic music and song-writing, which takes The Beatles to a new musical league and to heightened emotional levels. Despite an already fantastic career, with Rubber Soul the best stuff is only just beginning. This album packs a true wallop and provides a complex and deeply rewarding listen.


Final rating: 9/10