It has been sixty years since the legendary band from across the pond, The Beatles, released their sixth studio album “Rubber Soul” on Dec. 3, 1965. This album was seen as a turning point in the band’s lyricism and artistic vision, and still to this day holds up as an all-time classic.

The creation process of this album started a trend for the band that continued until their eventual disbandment: a willingness to experiment with music as an art form. There are hints of their original hit single writing in this album, but for the most part, it diverges from one-off stories or themes on each track to an overall connectivity between each piece of music. 

The Beatles were greatly influenced by quite a few major artists, such as Bob Dylan and The Byrds, on this album as well in terms of instrumentals and tone. However, it is not one single genre or vibe that dominates the album. Rather, it is a mix of folk, pop and soul that all blend together into something that was a far cry from the band’s previous records to this point.

As someone who grew up listening to their compilation album “1” since I was in diapers, I had gotten used to the chart-exploding hits like “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “Ticket to Ride,” but enjoyed their experimental music much more, especially tracks from their later albums “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “Magical Mystery Tour.” 

This album was my first time listening to one of their records in full instead of just individual tracks, and it felt as though there were a plethora of the kind of experimental tracks that I had grown to love from my casual listening in my childhood. 

This album made me regret that my parents hadn’t played more of their discography for me as a kid. Each track felt unique in tone, texture and flow, but melded together through their lyrics.

A lot of the songs on this record cover similar topics to ones found on previous Beatles’ albums, mainly about relationships with others, but it feels like there is more depth to the lyrics and meanings on each track. 

One of the hardest hitters for me in this regard is “In My Life.” The song goes into depth about remembering the past and all of the emotions felt for places and people, while feeling nostalgic about it and accepting that fact, but coming to an understanding that nothing in the past compares to what is in the present. 

It all comes together to form a story of the struggles with love, whether it’s finding it or understanding it. While the lyrics on this track are great, what makes this album so great to me are the melodies that fall behind the words.

There are so many unique sounds put together from different genres, even including the first use of the sitar that became a bigger part of their later albums, that blend together and flow perfectly to create incredibly catchy and memorable tunes. The songs are definitely short, but still find ways to remain fresh. 

It is no wonder that this album still stands the test of time, even after 60 long years. It continues to stand out with its blend of upcoming genres from the 1960s, but also keeps itself relatable with lyrics that pertain to topics such as love that continue to be major parts of life today. 

If you still haven’t dipped your toes into the discography of one of the most iconic bands to ever perform, “Rubber Soul” is a great starting place to discover what made The Beatles truly special.

Categories: Arts & Entertainment