My pick as their best album...

Rubber Soul was easily The Beatles most mature and complete album statement. This is largely due to the fact that this was their first album that was thought of as being its own self-contained world rather than being merely a collection of various unrelated songs. Experimenting to a then unprecedented degree and occasionally using uncommon instruments, such as the exotic sitar on “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown),” the influence of Bob Dylan has also helped The Beatles dig deeper lyrically than the innocent “boy likes girl” concerns that had characterized many of their earlier songs. As usual, almost everything they try works. McCartney's “Drive My Car” starts things off with a satisfying rocker but overall Rubber Soul shows a mellower, more reflective side to The Beatles. McCartney’s excellent “You Won’t See Me” is a prime example of the band’s chemistry and harmonies, a facet of the band’s arsenal that's reprised for Lennon’s lonely but lovely “Nowhere Man,” as this album is another superb showcase for the band's terrific harmonies. “Think For Yourself” is merely a good Harrison song notable for its innovative fuzz bass, but “If I Needed Someone” was a giant leap up in class that announced Harrison's emergence as a songwriter of major potential. Elsewhere, “The Word” is simple but effective flower power, "What Goes On" an obligatory Ringo (country) song that's extremely pleasant for a filler track, and “I’m Looking Through You” delivers confessional lyrics along with some stinging guitar from Harrison, whose guitar playing throughout the sessions rarely satisfied Paul, as the first cracks in the band's armor were beginning to show. Anyway, George also props up the insubstantial but enjoyable “Run For Your Life,” another primitive rocker that harks back to their earlier days, while "Wait" is quite singable if often overlooked. Best of all was McCartney’s lovely “Michelle,” an instant standard that's essential if only for Paul's wonderful bass playing, and Lennon’s contemplative “In My Life,” which he himself regarded as his first major work, while the sitar-enhanced “Girl” was a breathy ballad that also presented acoustic folk of the highest possible standard. Even taking into account the few lesser tracks, all of which are still eminently listenable, it’s not an understatement to suggest that with this thoughtfully planned artistic statement (along with Bob Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited ) rock n’ roll as a genre grew by leaps and bounds.