The BeatlesRubber Soul
1965
Rating: 10/10
Rubber Soul is hands down the biggest step forward for The Beatles musically. Not only is this album very influential, but it also was a big progression for their song writing abilities. It was the main influence on Brian Wilson's Pet Sounds and many other albums still to come. This is the first album where you can start to see the difference in McCartney and Lennon's songs. Rubber Soul also starts a chain of not only critically acclaimed albums for The Beatles, but continues their chart topping dominance. You can give me a million dollars, tuck me in at night, and scrape ice off my car whenever it snows, but if you tell me you don't like this album then we can't be friends. I will be reviewing the UK version of the album to hold to the artistic integrity of the album.
The album starts with a guitar line intro into “Drive My Car”. A Lennon/McCartney song in which both of them share lead vocals. You can hear the Otis Redding influence in this bass heavy song. Already with the opening track you can see their song writing abilities getting better with this look at reverse sexism. A good song to start the album with.
Then comes one of the most influential songs from this album showing that pop music can have more than bass, guitar, and drums. The beautiful Eastern sounding “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)” is an acoustic ballad from Lennon letting everyone know once again, that he listens to Bob Dylan every now and then. This is the first song from The Beatles to feature an Indian instrument (Sitar) courtesy of George Harrison.
From there we find while John is failing to bang some hot girl Paul seems to be having some girl problems of his own with “You Won't See Me”. The “Ooh La La Las” in this upbeat song will have you singing along with Paul and his problems before you can tell him that with the money he has he can find a million other girls.
Next comes “Nowhere Man” from Lennon. This is the first song from The Beatles that does not have any reference to love in any form. This is one of the best songs on the album. McCartney and Harrison bring the child-like “La La Las” to back up John.
Fuzz bass brings us into “Think For Yourself”. Dave Davies of The Kinks might have beaten The Beatles to the punch a year earlier with the guitar on “Your Really Got Me”, but this was still a really new sound for the bass at the time. This is the first Harrison number on the album.
Now we are at yet another first for The Beatles with “The Word”. It is the first song by The Beatles that sings about love in abstract terms, instead of just boy girl love. This song has McCartney, Lennon, and Harrison all singing a three part harmony through most of it. You also get to hear The Beatles' producer George Martin's first instrumental contribution to the album with a harmonium solo. Making this the second song on Rubber Soul with a Eastern instrument in it.
The album slows down now with McCartney's love ballad to a girl who doesn't speak English with “Michelle”. The first song from The Beatles to have more than one language with both English and French being used. This song is so amazing especially with Lennon and Harrison on background vocals. It makes love so simple.
To pick up the pace Ringo gets his chance at singing with the country sounding “What Goes On”. Although one of the weaker songs on the album, it gives the album more variety. This is also Ringo's first song writing credit on any song from The Beatles. Harrison single handily saves this song with his guitar playing.
Now we reach another gem with “Girl” courtesy of John Lennon. This acoustic ballad once again shows that you can have all the money in the world and girls will still give you problems. This song shows the fun loving nature of The Beatles with McCartney and Harrison singing “tit tit tit” in the background when George Martin had told them to sing “dit dit dit”. Harrison sounds great here with his 12-string. The deep inhales in the song could be a reference to drugs and their addictive nature even though they harm you, much like this girl.
Now we have McCartney's “I'm Looking Through You”. After Harrison's intro we hear McCartney's double tracked voice thanks to George Martin. Once again reminding us about his girl problems McCartney brings us another amazing song.
Lennon's “In My Life” comes next to slow down the album. This song a great track already is made even better with George Martin's contribution of double tracking Lennon's voice and playing a Baroque-like piano solo. The tempo of the song was too fast for Martin so the piano was recorded at half-tempo so when it was sped up it gave it a much different sound.
“Wait” comes next with Lennon and McCartney sharing lead vocals. An alright song that is easily looked over because it is not as stand out as many of the other classics on this album. Because I don't want to break tradition, I will also look over it.
Next we have “If I Needed Someone” the second Harrison track on the album. This song does a good job showing his influence from The Byrd's at the time. The lead vocals are once again double tracked with McCartney and Lennon harmonizing with Harrison. Harrison on a 12-string again and Martin on harmonium makes this another solid song.
The album ends with a glimpse of jealousy as Lennon sings about killing any woman who cheats on him with “Run For Your Life”. A weak song to end the album with, but after so many good songs can you really complain?
Rubber Soul is one of the greatest albums from The Beatles. Coming before their psychedelic years and major experimentation, it is an excellent starting point for someone who has never listened to them before. This album laid down the ground work for Revolver and their releases after that by utilizing the studio as an instrument, showing their Eastern music influence, and forever redefining popular music. It is a must-have for any fan of The Beatles.
-Niko Gruber, December 14, 2007
