1001 Albums Summary

Good classic rock album. I like Springsteen's voice and performances. The album begins and ends well, but there are also a few tracks of filler in between. The album has many memorable rock songs, but does not really break new ground or experiment. Overall, I'd say it's a solid album but a touch overrated.

I have listened to this album a total of 3 times now in my life, so I think that is giving it a fair chance. I have never understood why it is so highly rated. Some tracks are just plain annoying and repetitive, e.g. ‘Someone Great’. Many tracks were average at the time but have aged badly, like ‘North American scum’. The album is not particularly innovative and seems to take a lot of inspiration from Talking Heads. I liked 'Sound of Silver' the most even though it has the fewest listens of any track. Overall, not a great listen for me.

Before there were the grandiose studio works of Sgt Pepper’s or Abbey Road, there was simply a great rock ‘n roll band. While the Beatles’ later, more ambitious work has honestly never totally clicked with me, I really enjoyed Rubber Soul. There are hints of psychedelia and Eastern influences starting to appear in this record, e.g. the sitar in Norwegian Wood. However, the musical roots of the record are still clearly in African American R&B. There is no overarching concept - this is a collection of high quality songs performed well. But by its consistency and comparatively straightforward delivery, it earns classic status. 5 stars.