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Rating:
THE REVIEW
The Beatles certainly belong to the history of 1960s culture, but their musical merits are at least questionable.
The Beatles were four mediocre musicians who still sang three-minute melodic songs (the same ones that had been made for decades) in an era when rock music was trying to push beyond that format (a format originally due to the technical limitations of 78 rpm records). The Beatles were the quintessence of the "mainstream", assimilating into the format of the melodic song the innovations that were gradually being proposed by rock music. "Rubber Soul" (December 1965) completed the transition from singles to albums and from the Mersey sound to folk-rock.
The influence of the 'Byrds' is very strong. (If I Needed Someone is an explicit homage, even using a riff by Jim McGuinn). The rock and roll of Drive My Car and Run For Your Life, the exotic flair of Norwegian Wood (a David Crosby-like litany accompanied by the sitar, already used by the Yardbirds, and perhaps imitating what the Kinks had done a few months earlier with See My Friends), the pale psychedelia of Nowhere Man and Rain (with backward vocals but inspired by Eight Miles High, which had entered the charts a few months earlier) brush up a relatively wide harmonic repertoire for their standards.
As much as the Beatles sought success in the rock and roll world, it was clear they were better in the old world of melodic song. The tender Girl and especially Michelle (one of their classic atmospheric "slow" songs, for rhythm guitar alone, chorus, and melodic bass, in the style of 1950s vocal groups) were truly excellent in their genre, although at the time they were considered "minor" due to the fact they did not boast rhythm and volume.
In conclusion, "Rubber Soul" is certainly one of the best Beatles albums, but true music must be sought in other bands.
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Summary by Bot
This review critically examines The Beatles' Rubber Soul album, labeling the band mediocre musicians despite their historical fame. It highlights their adherence to traditional three-minute melodic songs during a time of rock innovation. The album's folk-rock style and Byrds' influence are noted, though the reviewer argues the true musical breakthroughs lie elsewhere. Songs like 'Michelle' are praised for their classic melodic quality but considered minor compared to the evolving rock scene.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
The Beatles
The Beatles were a British band formed in Liverpool in 1960 by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and, from 1962, Ringo Starr. They revolutionized popular music through songwriting, studio innovation and cultural impact, releasing landmark albums from Rubber Soul and Revolver to Sgt. Pepper’s, the White Album and Abbey Road before disbanding in 1970.173 Reviews
Other reviews
By GiacomoLeopardi
Rubber Soul amazes for the eagerness with which it drives the listener, pinning them to their stereo, leaving them breathless from the very first listen.
Lennon’s lyrics: superb in 'In My Life' (absolute poetry), somnambulist in 'Nowhere Man,' prophetic in 'The Word,' cannabiolic in 'Girl.'
By Miki Page
"Rubber Soul" is a fundamental album in the history of rock, one that marks a turning point not only in the Beatles' career, but also and especially for the music that would follow.
We were starting to hear sounds that we couldn’t hear before — McCartney later admitted.
By currahee72
"Rubber Soul was the first album to introduce the new Beatles, the grown-up Beatles, to the world with imagination in power."
"A unique example of pop-beat music elevated to its highest artistic expression."
By pier_paolo_farina
"The Beatles begin to fully justify their already overblown fame...providing actual numbers of high inspiration, ingenuity, and originality within popular music."
"Norwegian Wood falls among the deadliest fifty-fifty combinations of Lennon’s genius (the verse) and McCartney’s (the chorus)."
By Rax
"Rubber Soul is not a masterpiece... it is generally inferior to the much-maligned 'Let It Be.'"
"Norwegian Wood... is one of the Beatles' greatest melodic masterpieces."
