I’m new to The Beach Boys and am having trouble with Pet Sounds. Is their something wrong with me? Why is it recognized as one of the best all time? I understand the album itself is important in of itself in relationship to the band but why does it fare so great versus almost every other album ever made?
Pet Sounds is a nearly total leap away from most earlier Beach Boys work. There are hints of Brian Wilson's genesis as a song writer/ arranger on the album The Beach Boys Today and those changes were fully realized in Pet Sounds. Having grown up on the more simple surf, car related and ballad songs previous to Pet Sounds, I found that new sound to be challenging back when it first came out. I finally went back to it year later in my 30's and listened to that record as a whole other kind of music. It's much more complex and really does often require more attention to detail. Beautiful as a song like "Surfer Girl" is or as fun as "Fun, Fun, Fun" is, they're also much easier to listen to more passively.
“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man [or woman] who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.”
Re: Pet Sounds. Its interesting to even try to describe. Its peak mad-scientist Brian Wilson in the studio. Some incredibly complex stuff taking place on simple sounding songs.
A song like God Only Knows sounds like a regular ballad until you study how mindblowing the key changes are. I read an article once where music professors compared it more to Mozart than 20th century pop music just based on how these songs were constructed
There’s top 10 albums that i just cant get into. Nothing wrong with that. Its even harder for me with old albums because “ahead of its time” usually sounds like stuff ive heard since then. I still havent heard anything like Pet Sounds tho. Id give it another listen man
Hahaha. Ive already changed my mind again, Brian. Im sure you saw them back in the day??
Only once, 1965.
Here's part of what I wrote about that show (I only have the uncorrected proof on my computer, so probably some errors here):
December 29, 1965: The Beach Boys, Jackie Lee
and Mitch Ryder & the Detroit
Wheels, Circle Star Theatre, San Carlos,
CA
When
the Beach Boys finally came out to play, the three of us siblings were super
excited. We were cheering loudly with
the rest of the crowd, but at this point my full attention was on The Beach
Boys as they took the stage and picked up their instruments. I’d previously seen the band on television, but
this night, seeing the band with their guitars and drums and wearing pegged
pants and striped shirts, it hit me full force that at long last I was seeing
my heroes in person. The excitement was about to begin…
…only
something was very wrong. There were
five musicians taking the stage, but no Brian Wilson. Singer Mike Love stepped up to the microphone,
greeted the crowd and told us, “We’re sorry to tell you that Brian Wilson won’t
be performing with us tonight, but filling in for him this evening we have the
fine singer and bass player, Mr. Bruce Johnston. Let’s have a big hand for Bruce Johnston!” Right.
How do you “fill in” for Brian Wilson?
That’s impossible! Love stated
this announcement as though we were in for a special treat that night, but no
one in no way could have said those words in such a way that would convince me
that we were getting something extra special with this show. No way.
For me, the let down was huge. I
loved the band, but for me, Brian Wilson was
the band. The sinking feeling I had over
Wilson’s
absence that night slammed my enthusiasm into the floor.
Once
again, Linda, if not came to the rescue, at least did her best to boost my
spirits. She said, “Hey, it’s ok, they
will be great anyway!” Her enthusiasm
helped buoy my enjoyment of the show at least part of the time, but at those
moments in each song where Wilsons’ falsetto voice is featured on the records,
on songs like “Don’t Worry Baby”, “Surfer Girls”, and “When I Grow Up (To Be a
Man)”, when those moments came and that voice was absent, my heart fell like a
stone. It was a good show with some
excellent moments, but without Brian Wilson’s presence, it was not a great show and it was the only chance I
would ever have to see my first favorite rock and roll idol.
Yes, and while it didn't help me to like listening to their music any more than I already do (not at all, with a couple songs that are exceptions), it really, really gave me a new found appreciation for Brian Wilson as an artist, and for Pet Sounds as art. I think the movie could have been better made, but Paul Dano was fantastic as usual. He's one of my favorite actors. Cusack was good too. I can't fucking believe what the piece of shit psychiatrist quack did to poor Brian Wilson. Omg.
Post edited by PJ_Soul on
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata
Hahaha. Ive already changed my mind again, Brian. Im sure you saw them back in the day??
Only once, 1965.
Here's part of what I wrote about that show (I only have the uncorrected proof on my computer, so probably some errors here):
December 29, 1965: The Beach Boys, Jackie Lee
and Mitch Ryder & the Detroit
Wheels, Circle Star Theatre, San Carlos,
CA
When
the Beach Boys finally came out to play, the three of us siblings were super
excited. We were cheering loudly with
the rest of the crowd, but at this point my full attention was on The Beach
Boys as they took the stage and picked up their instruments. I’d previously seen the band on television, but
this night, seeing the band with their guitars and drums and wearing pegged
pants and striped shirts, it hit me full force that at long last I was seeing
my heroes in person. The excitement was about to begin…
…only
something was very wrong. There were
five musicians taking the stage, but no Brian Wilson. Singer Mike Love stepped up to the microphone,
greeted the crowd and told us, “We’re sorry to tell you that Brian Wilson won’t
be performing with us tonight, but filling in for him this evening we have the
fine singer and bass player, Mr. Bruce Johnston. Let’s have a big hand for Bruce Johnston!” Right.
How do you “fill in” for Brian Wilson?
That’s impossible! Love stated
this announcement as though we were in for a special treat that night, but no
one in no way could have said those words in such a way that would convince me
that we were getting something extra special with this show. No way.
For me, the let down was huge. I
loved the band, but for me, Brian Wilson was
the band. The sinking feeling I had over
Wilson’s
absence that night slammed my enthusiasm into the floor.
Once
again, Linda, if not came to the rescue, at least did her best to boost my
spirits. She said, “Hey, it’s ok, they
will be great anyway!” Her enthusiasm
helped buoy my enjoyment of the show at least part of the time, but at those
moments in each song where Wilsons’ falsetto voice is featured on the records,
on songs like “Don’t Worry Baby”, “Surfer Girls”, and “When I Grow Up (To Be a
Man)”, when those moments came and that voice was absent, my heart fell like a
stone. It was a good show with some
excellent moments, but without Brian Wilson’s presence, it was not a great show and it was the only chance I
would ever have to see my first favorite rock and roll idol.
I need to buy your book. Good stuff
Wonderful! If you do, I'll include a million dollar bill, free of charge! And signed!
Based off of all of these comments, it's just becoming clearer to me that Good Vibrations is by far the correct answer. It links everything that The Beach Boys were together.
"Red Rover, Red Rover, Mike McCready – Take Over!!" - E.V.
Ten Club "Ambassador" (recap-writer) - DEEP.pearljam.com Contributor & Patron - liveon4legs.com 2018: Chicago 2 (Wrigley Field) 8/20 | 20(20)22: St Louis 9/18 | 2023: Chicago 2 (United Center) 9/7, Indianapolis (Deer Creek) 9/10 | 2024: Vegas 5/16-&-18, Indy? Wrigley 2?
EV: 2018: CURE Benefit Show (Chicago - Navy Pier) 10/15
Glad to see all the love for God Only Knows. What some have described as the greatest pop/love song.
Love and Mercy was awesome and is a good part of explaining rock history. Also see just about any doc about The Wrecking Crew and Glen Campbell and you'll get it.
Comments
A song like God Only Knows sounds like a regular ballad until you study how mindblowing the key changes are. I read an article once where music professors compared it more to Mozart than 20th century pop music just based on how these songs were constructed
There’s top 10 albums that i just cant get into. Nothing wrong with that. Its even harder for me with old albums because “ahead of its time” usually sounds like stuff ive heard since then. I still havent heard anything like Pet Sounds tho. Id give it another listen man
Ten Club "Ambassador" (recap-writer) - DEEP.pearljam.com
Contributor & Patron - liveon4legs.com
2018: Chicago 2 (Wrigley Field) 8/20 | 20(20)22: St Louis 9/18 | 2023: Chicago 2 (United Center) 9/7, Indianapolis (Deer Creek) 9/10 | 2024: Vegas 5/16-&-18, Indy? Wrigley 2?
EV:
2018: CURE Benefit Show (Chicago - Navy Pier) 10/15
RIP: Andy, Kurt, Chris
Pearl Jam bootlegs:
http://wegotshit.blogspot.com
What some have described as the greatest pop/love song.
Love and Mercy was awesome and is a good part of explaining rock history. Also see just about any doc about The Wrecking Crew and Glen Campbell and you'll get it.