The Beatles - Rubber Soul
Critic Score
Based on 5 reviews
1965 Ratings: #5 / 39
User Score
1965 Ratings: #6
Liked by 421 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
AllMusic

While the Beatles still largely stuck to love songs on Rubber Soul, the lyrics represented a quantum leap in terms of thoughtfulness, maturity, and complex ambiguities.

100
Pitchfork
The Beatles' first undisputed masterpiece is their quietest and most folky record, reflecting the influences of contemporaries like Dylan and the Byrds.
100
Rolling Stone

On Rubber Soul, the Beatles grew up with an album of bittersweet romance, singing adult love ballads that feel worldly but not jaded.

100
The Telegraph
Rubber Soul sees Lennon raise his game in the making of a record with open and spacious production.
Doublez
97

The History of the Albums – n°287 [For this last episode of the year 1965, here is a complete rework of the review on Rubber Soul, Love]

Exhausted by the hellish pace of touring and their entire workload, Rubber Soul marks the time when the Beatles will leave their costumes (metaphorically), looking for a way out, to focus solely on the artistic. We are not talking about just any door, which opens and closes at will, the four boys were more precisely looking for a door to seal for ... read more

NR

It's a crime to hate on this.

I will stand as a witness when you're on trial for your heinous acts, trust me.

Geem
85

While not as psychedelic or experimental as some of their later works, Rubber Soul is one of their most advanced records lyrically, especially on tracks such as Nowhere Man or In My Life. The instrumentals are beautifully composed, and mixed to near-perfection, so you can absorb all those yummy guitar and tambourine textures. The vibes on here are so strong you can almost smell it - ah yes, the suffocating fumes of weed and Norwegian Wood, lovely. (In My Life is one of the best songs ever) 🌲

TheAerose
75

While in my opinion I disagree with the idea that this is The Beatles' first great album, I cannot deny the staggering extent the band grew in quality and experimentation with this release. My favorite part of this album is the command the band has on melody throughout the tracklist. Norwegian Wood, You Won't See Me, Nowhere Man, and I'm Looking Through You all feature some incredibly catchy and sweet vocal lines that make me return to them again and again. The more folky and acoustic ... read more

69

β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… - Drive My Car
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… - Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
β˜…β˜…β˜… - You Won't See Me
β˜…β˜…β˜…½ - Nowhere Man
β˜…β˜…β˜… - Think for Yourself
β˜…β˜…β˜…½ - The Word
β˜…β˜…β˜…½ - Michelle
β˜…β˜…β˜… - What Goes On
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… - Girl
β˜…β˜…β˜…½ - I'm Looking Through You
β˜…β˜…β˜…β˜… - In My Life
β˜…β˜…β˜…½ - Wait
β˜…β˜…β˜… - If I Needed Someone
β˜…β˜… - Run for Your Life

69.285/100
2023/03/26

57

Drive My Car - 60
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown) - 40
You Won't See Me - 50
Nowhere Man - 55
Think For Yourself - 50
The Word - 50
Michelle - 75
What Goes On - 50
Girl - 70
I'm Looking Through You - 50
In My Life - 95
Wait - 55
If I Needed Someone - 50
Run For Your Life - 50

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Added on: September 1, 2012