 Allen Evans of the "NME" wrote that the band were "still finding different ways to make us enjoy listening to them" and described the LP as "a fine piece of recording artistry and adventure in group sound".While outlining to American readers the differences in the UK-format release, "KRLA Beat" said "Rubber Soul" was an "unbelievably sensational" work on which the Beatles were "once again ... setting trends in this world of pop".