Rubber Soul is consistently ranked as one of the best albums the Beatles recorded. This masterpiece includes "Drive My Car", "Norwegian Wood", "Nowhere Man", and "Michelle".

Okay- a good album. . .but the Bugs have better albums for my taste. . .I'll take Abbey Road over this one.  Still- A solid entry into this list that cannot be ignored.

The best all-around Beatles album. The US version was a bit short.

overrated

I thought that Rubber Soul really was one of those classic rock albums that you'd hear in movies that sprang up during the mid-1960s, when the Beatles really were taking flight across North America from their Liverpudian roots.  Rubber Soul was really crisply done, without a whole lot of guitar riffs taking place, just the right amount really.  If you really want to get a taste of what The Beatles are about, you should get the album (best to own), put it into your CD player, and get comfortable with your headphones.  You might surprise yourself, at times, during the recording, that you'll be on your feet and dancing.  It's a really rocking, party set at times.  "Drive My Car" has a really catchy beat.  I know that my opinion is very heavily biased toward the Beatles, but in my view "Rubber Soul" is very, very catchy, and offers the reader a lot to enjoy.

My favorite Beatles album of all time. Drive My Car, Nowhere Man, What Goes On, Girl, I'm Looking Through You and In My Life are all some of my favorite Beatles songs.

The Beatles' answer to Bob Dylan. Not as quite as much lyrical depth but much more pleasing to the ear.

Listen to a Stones album of similar vintage. The Beatles make the Stones look positively medieval

Their first album that feels like a unified statement with a distinct tone and sound. Prior to this one they would swing by the studio, laydown a few takes of the latest songs from their live show and then dash off on another tour or to make another movie. They started taking a little more care in the studio and expand their sound.

Sure these are silly pop songs, but these are the greatest silly pop songs ever recorded. This album changed the course of modern music. Plus, George Martin's production is flawless. Has anyone ever recorded such a perfect sounding album before or since?

another classic wonderful beatles album along with all the rest. around when they started tapping into new sounds.

Second only to Revolver in the Beatles catalogue

The classics on this album says it all. Put it in it's proper place in time and do not sit it next to St. Peppers as nothing sounds good next to it.

I think this album is one of the most overrated Beatles albums. Not to discredit In My Life (in my top 5 song list), Nowhere Man and Norweigian Wood which are all excellent, and there are a few others that I like, but overall, it is far from their best. The albums can be compared to the life of a person...the first albums were when they were cute kids, Rubber Soul is that sort of awkward, as someone else said, transitional stage in their lives, glasses, braces and all that. But by the time Revolver hits, they begin to outgrow that, start becoming mature adults. And for you kids who are comparing the music to that of today, fine. Since the Beatles are arguably the most influencial band of all time, it would make sense that you would think some tunes sound like N*SYNC. Because in some way, absolutely, they have been influenced by the Beatles. As far as comparing talent, though, keep in mind that the boy bands of today do not play instuments (unless you count their little try-to-be-bad-a$$ side projects) and do not write their own songs. Which I know is said over and over but apparently people are still overlooking this as a minor detail.

If this isn't the epitome of simplistic brilliance in music, I stumped about what is. I'd recommend this before Revolver. The Non-US version has Nowhere Man. Enough said. Unfortunately I lent this CD to someone, and never got it back.

Briljant, perfect, awesome........

Beatles rule!

Several of the best songs the Beatles ever recorded (and therefore the best songs in pop music history): Norwegian Wood, In My Life, Girl, Michelle, I'm Looking Through You. The rest of the album--somewhat forgettable (even the Beatles admitted this!)

I'm Looking Through You and If I Needed Someone are awesome songs that are both upbeat and well-done. The rest of the album, however, is filled with either unremarkable or terrible songs.

This is a great album that was ahead of its time. It marked a transition point for both the artists and the music. It changed the direction of rock by showing that albums could be an aural palette of diverse songs. IMO, the release of Rubber Soul marked the watershed moment when rock'n'roll became rock.

This Beatles album seems really dated to me. Rubber Soul was their take on folk music, which was popular in the early to mid sixties. Nobody listens to folk music anymore. Rubber Soul lacks the energy of their early tracks and the brilliance of Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the White Album.

I hate Beatles music. When they sing, they sound like wimps.

brillant

the best Beatles album with the least amount of filler.

When I transfered by records and tapes over to CD this, along with Kiss : Double Platinum, was one of the first I got. A gem.

The Beatles are way too overrated! Thier music is good, but not the best ever made. Some of thier songs are even annoying in the way that they repeat over and over and over and over and over...

Well, I somewhat agree with ExpressJeans about the "amature-ish lyrics and guitar playing". But in the time of "Rubber Soul", it was the first album really to follow a real storyline, flowing song into song, no matter how simple, in the mainstream of '65. And thoughtful masterpieces like "In My Life" are anything but amateur, all though I will admit that "What Goes On" isn't top-rate material (sorry Ringo). This was the Beatles introduction to sophistication, no matter how it may sound. The Beatles shan't be belittled next to 'N Sync and all of them. Listen to the genius of The White Album, Abbey Road, Magical Mystery Tour, and even Rubber Soul:). You may not be able to hear it. But I sure can. And I still think the album (and band, of course) is great...

Okay everybody, let's turn down the "Beatles-Are-God-o-Meter" JUST a touch, shall we? Good music--but hardly "best ever."

GREAT!!!

songcraft of the highest order - a truly classic collection

Not their best, good selection of their hits in 1965, though. If you liked what you heard on Help, you'd like this. Nice use of sitar by the great George Harrison.

Well past their best

You're catching The Beatles dooring their poppypop-to-pyschadelia transition with this album. It's still a great album with strong singles from "In My Life" and "You Won't See Me".

SexyCramer, ExpressJeans and Vicky5(along with a few other names) are the same person. Does anyone notice this? I doubt that she/he's ever even heard a Beatle album, he/she/it is too busy listening to the BeeGees. Check out their other posts. Don't let the comments get to you - this person is obviously frustrated by the Beatles overshadowing their favorite group. Great album by the way.

It took me awhile to really appreciate Rubber Soul. It has some of the greatest songwriting ever on it, though. All the Beatles material released between 1964 and 1969 is pure gold masterpiece work. Nowhere Man is and always has been one of my favorite Beatles songs and is so well-written. Possibly the best song ever composed is toward the end, In My Life. People should really begin to see the brilliance within the album. Why do you think that VH1 put it as #6 on its albums list? I sure think it deserves that spot. It is enormous.

Very good work.It's a must have for any fan.

Comparing the Beatles Rubber Soul to NSYNC and 98 degrees is ignorant. The Beatles had so much more soul than that. George Harrison's If I Needed Someone is a masterpiece! It's my new favorite song! And other songs like the Word, Girl, etc. are absolutley wonderful. How can you give this less than 5 stars? If you do, you have problems. I mean saying the lyrics and guitar playing are amuature? Have you ever heard George play the guitar? Apparantley not. What is this world coming to when ignorant people say that a Beatles Album is poor? ( Some people have the worst taste in music) I LOVE GEORGE HARRISON! P.S. Did anyone know that in the background of GIRL the Beatles are singing " tit-tit-tit-tit" ? That humored me.

It's amazing how Beatle fans react when someone says that they don't like this group. What do you think, that this group is immune to criticism? Whether you like it or not, a lot of people hate the Beatles! This album is not a masterpiece, George Harrison is not a good songwriter, and their music is very bland.

It makes sense that a 13 year old would think that the Beatles had deep lyrics. When you grow up and experience life, then let's talk about music.

I don't know what some of you people are talking about. In My Life is one of the most exquisitely crafted pop songs ever--lyrically and musically. It justifies this album's inclusion on this list almost single-handedly. But with songs like Norwegian Wood, I'm Looking Through You, Nowhere Man, You Won't See Me, and reallly, on and on, how can it NOT be on a list of the greatest pop albums? Doubly interesting because it marks the Beatles first shift into deeper musical waters. Where do you people come from?

After reading Medgar Evers review of this record, I tend to agree more with Lou28JG. I've heard this album several times and with every play it gets worse and worse. To hear the almost amateur-ish lyrics and guitar playing makes me realize how over-rated this group is. Ditties like "If I Needed Someone", "What Goes On", and "The Word" rank along side of songs from 'N Sync or 98 Degress.

Another poor excuse for an entry in classic albums.