Rubber Soul marked a new period of development for The Beatles, illustrated by the sitar leads on "Norwegian Wood," the harpsichord effect on "In My Life," and Lennon's character portrait of "Nowhere Man." It exhibits not only a love for R&B, but also for the burgeoning folk-rock scene and exploding counter-culture. By 1965, the band was spending longer hours at the studio as both a refuge from the increasingly excitable outside world and as a place where their imaginations could flourish. As a result, Rubber Soul is a culmination of great depth, focus, and sophistication to create a startlingly original album.
