Rubber Soul - The Beatles (1965)

Ideated from: The Fives, releases from years ending in 5. Haven’t done this in a while.

In my limited experience, kids don’t appreciate the Beatles. I can’t blame them. I think it’s still true that the Fab Four were foundational to western rock music, but the modern musical conversation doesn’t value western rock music as the apogee of all musical culture like it did even a couple of decades ago. That’s not an old man pining for better times; I’m happy we’re getting to a wider appreciation of the variety of musics in the world. But I still wish I could communicate to my kids how special it was when I discovered the Beatles.

For me it was when the albums began to be reissued on CD in the 80s. I followed along, hearing the band’s progression from pop tricksters to widescreen auteurs, like people who got to experience it when it was happening only with a commentary track to help me digest it.

Rubber Soul got reissued at the same time as Revolver, which I’ve always thought was fitting. They’re very different records, but Revolver’s drugged-up, squalling, sprawling experiment was set up by the the evolving pop gems–formally recognizable but subtlely adventurous and slightly demented–on Rubber Soul.

Like everyone else, I spill too many words about a band that are no longer the apex achievement of popular music. I’m just saying: it’s great.

Tracks I Liked

Drive My Car - One of my absolute favorite Beatles tunes

Think For Yourself - At some point George realized he was never going to out-clever his bandmate / competitors. So he began talking about what he knew: spirituality

The Word - Another in the long line of Lennon / McCartney easy-to-swallow bangers. There was a twist coming, and they’d seldom get back to this afterwards

In My Life - a gorgeous and nostalgic masterpiece