Rubber Soul Review: The Beatles Grow Up
9.5/10 — The Beatles - Rubber Soul (1965)
Pros
- 'In My Life' and 'Norwegian Wood'
- Mature songwriting
- Beautiful harmonies
Cons
- A few weaker songs
Rubber Soul was recorded in a few weeks to meet a Christmas deadline, and it marked a shift towards more mature, folk-influenced songs. It was the first Beatles album without any covers.
What works
‘Norwegian Wood’ introduced the sitar to pop, ‘In My Life’ is a gorgeous reflection, and ‘Michelle’ and ‘Nowhere Man’ show the new depth. The harmonies are lovely, and the album hangs together beautifully.
Where it falters
A couple of the lesser songs, like ‘Wait’, are less memorable, and it’s modest compared with Revolver.
Verdict
A graceful, warm record that shows the band maturing.
