Disc 71 is...Rubber Soul
Artist: The BeatlesYear of Release: 1965
How I Came To Know It: I have heard a lot of Beatles songs since a young age. I think this album once featured at a high school party I went to (at the time I was more interested in the weird Syd Barrett solo stuff I hear that night). In any case, it has been Sheila who brought me the Beatles in my adult life.
How It Stacks Up: We have 7 Beatles albums, and a few I really dig. This one is just OK for me. I'd put Rubber Soul about 5th.
Rating: 3 stars.
OK, I'm going to just get this out there right up front. I don't worship the Beatles. I don't think they are the most influential rock band ever. Yeah, I know - those who know more than me feel otherwise, but this is my blog. I'm not a music historian; I simply like what I like.
The Beatles aren't the be-all/end-all of music history, but they certainly fill an important part of music history. In particular, the arrangements for this album are well in advance of most of what was going on in 1965.
So I respect what the Beatles did for music. But there is a big difference between recognizing their importance in music history and really liking the music.
I do enjoy this album starts with a love song ("Drive My Car") and ends with what could only be considered a stalking song ("Run For Your Life"). I think arranging the order of tracks is an underappreciated part of record making.
"In My Life" is one of the better love songs of the modern era, although this is tempered by an unfortunate accident in the nineties where Sheila inadvertently picked this song twice for one mixed tape. A good song, but for a while there it was literally too much in my life. That I still like it is testament to its quality.
Notwithstanding unexpected repitition, the music on this album is consistently good. My friend Casey is always singing this album's praises, and certainly there is much to praise.
At the same time, while novel, the arrangements haven't all aged well to my ear. I find myself comparing this to early "Who" stuff, and feeling that The Who sound a little fresher over forty years later.
There is an emotional detachment to the Beatles as well - one of my beefs with the modern self-labeled "indie" movement. It might be the constant harmonies that takes away from what are often insightful lyrics and interesting topics ("Nowhere Man" comes to mind as a song that is very thoughtful but loses something in the harmonies).
Am I nitpicking? Sure - but the Beatles have enough praise to last a lifetime. This is just one man's emotional response to their music. I think it is technically brilliant, but it is lacking a bit of soul - or maybe it is just that the soul is made of rubber? That would make sense...
Best tracks: Norwegian Wood, Nowhere Man, In My Life, Run For Your Life
1 comment:
**** 4 stars from me
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