RUBBER SOUL

Rubber Soul marks several important changes in the greatest band of past, present, and future, The Beatles. First, the band decided to stop touring because they believed that their booked scheldule was resulting in lower quality albums; in essence, they feared albums being stopgaps between touring. Thus, the band focused all their attention on music, always a good sign. Next, I'm sure The Beatles had taken drugs before now, bu this is where they began to center songs around their experiences on drugs, particulalry acid. It isn't nearly as prevalent on this album as it is on every subsequent Beatles album, but it was the impotus of experimentation in the band's sound and musical direction.

The other change is that Lennon and McCartney's oligarchy on the band's lyrics was broken by George Harrison, who would go on to write some of the band's best lyrics. His contributions are "Think For Yourself" and "If I Needed Someone" two of the strongest tracks on the album. Ringo also gets a moment in the sun, but his mediocre vocals on "What Goes On" hint at why he doesn't sing too often. This album is a classic of rock music. Songs like the infectious "Drive My Car" and the catchy "Taxman" bridge the gap between the hok-heavy pop of yesteryear with the equally hook-laden masterpeices that would arrive shortly. The sitar on "Norweigan Wood" shows the band's newfound sense of experimentation. "In My Life" is the first lyrical triumph of the band, though it would soon be forgotten among the avalanche of lyrical genius on Revolver, Sgt. Pepper's abbey Road, and the White Album.

Geroge Martin's production proves why he was and is the greatest producer of all time. He is every bit as important to the band's experimentation as psychedlic drugs, though I'm certainly not comparing the two;). While this is a landmark album of rock as a whole, it isn't a prog masterpiece. However, it is the earliest form of non-jazz experimentation, and it would prove vital in the maturity of The Beatles whose work from here on would be the basis of psychedelic rock which would give birth to prog. As a prog album it barely gets four stars, though Revolver would improve things and Sgt. Pepper's would see teh band's peak.

Grade: B-