While
the Beatles
still largely stuck to love songs on
Rubber Soul
, the lyrics represented a quantum leap in terms of thoughtfulness, maturity, and complex ambiguities. Musically, too, it was a substantial leap forward, with intricate
folk-rock
arrangements that reflected the increasing influence of
Dylan
and
the Byrds
. The group and
George Martin
were also beginning to expand the conventional instrumental parameters of the
rock
group, using a sitar on
"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown),"
Greek-like guitar lines on
"Michelle"
"Girl,"
fuzz bass on
"Think for Yourself,"
and a piano made to sound like a harpsichord on the instrumental break of
"In My Life."
John
Paul
were beginning to carve separate songwriting identities at this point, the album is full of great tunes, from
"Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"
to
"I'm Looking Through You,"
"You Won't See Me,"
"Drive My Car,"
"Nowhere Man"
(the last of which was the first
Beatle
song to move beyond romantic themes entirely).
George Harrison
was also developing into a fine songwriter with his two contributions,
"Think for Yourself"
and the
Byrds-ish
"If I Needed Someone."
~ Richie Unterberger