| Product: |
Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys |
| Date: |
18/06/08 (108 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Beautifully written, produced, and recorded, and still influences music to this day.
Disadvantages: None
During my early teenage years, my taste in music, (much like my moods), changed incredibly frequently, so much so that I began to feel like nothing was really getting through and relating to me personally, from a point of view that I could understand. Then I saw a show on television regarding the 'social and cultural revolution' of the 1960's, and the album rated as the best on a list of the greatest of that decade was Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys. I had heard some of the songs in passing, such as 'Wouldn't It Be Nice', and 'God Only Knows', but had never been able to visualise The Beach Boys as anything more than a group created to generate audiences of screaming teenage girls. However, after seeing some of my supposed musical icons rating the album as their inspiration, I began to realise that there must be more to this band then meets the eye. It was then that I jumped over the hurdle that I believe many people of my generation have never even attempted, and bought an album by The Beach Boys. From the moment I sat down and listened to the music, I felt like I had found what I had been looking for, direction. Since then I have explored so many different types of music that I would have previously ignored, and come to find that there are so many things out there waiting to be found and appreciated. Now as a young man, I can look back and attribute this change in attitude not only towards music, but the way I thought and acted, to my reaction to this album. Therefore I can truly say that Pet Sounds changed my outlook on life.
However, there is the question that my admiration and affection towards this album are due to my discovering it at a time when I was open and waiting for a major influence to hit me, and in reviewing it I am letting my memories of this time cloud my judgment today. The fact that I can listen to it now, and still feel like I did the first time I put in my CD player can be either evidence of this, or evidence that it is in fact a tremendous piece of music. I will let you decide that, and allow you to read this review with that context in mind, should you so wish.
Pet Sounds was the brainchild of Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson, who at the time of writing and production was exploring new ideas in song writing, recording, and producing. Having left the touring band citing the pressures of travel as being too great, he set about perfecting his creative musical output, and in 1966 recorded an album with The Beach Boys which many consider the peak of his, and the other members of the group's career. The impact of the record was massive. Already very well known, the Beach Boys popularity soared, as did their influence. Many, including Paul McCartney have stated that Pet Sounds prompted them to record better and more creative material themselves. Encouraged by the success of the album, Brian Wilson attempted to produce even more creative and challenging music, a process which was undoubtedly a contributing factor to his well-documented decline.
The music itself features a large amount of childlike wistfulness and hope, both lyrically and musically. This provides a clear contrast with the very adult themes surrounding groups in the sixties at this time, such as experimentation with drugs and spirituality. However, this is not in any way a happy go lucky piece of psychedelic pop. The words sung are expressed in such complex and beautiful harmonies, and the music is arranged so precisely and suitably that the professionalism and efforts of Brian, and everybody featured on the tracks must be applauded.
'Wouldn't it be nice' is a wonderful opener, and immediately displays the high level of musical harmony, and innocent lyrics present throughout the rest of the album.
'You still believe in me' is a slower number, contrasting brilliantly with the opening song, featuring Brian singing lead in a subtle and touching manner, and ending with gentle harmony.
'That's not me' is the first song to feature Mike Love on full lead vocal, and he displays his considerable talent for timing, accompanied by quiet harmony, picked twelve-string guitar, and a stop-go percussion (for want of a better phrase).
'Don't talk (put your head on my shoulder)' is another slower song featuring Brian on lead vocal. The gentle quality of his singing voice makes the lyrics sound heartbreakingly honest, and the accompanying string backing (viola, cello etc) adds to the sadness of the song.
'I'm waiting for the day' has Brian on lead, with very prominent harmony featuring in most of the song, which has a very loud-quiet-loud format with slower and quieter passages suddenly exploding into very refreshing louder, fuller, and more joyful sections.
'Let's go away for awhile' is a transitional and gentle instrumental, and fits in perfectly with the rest of the album.
'Sloop John B' is a far more folk orientated song, with both Brian Wilson and Mike Love contributing vocals. Whilst the genre of the song is different from the rest of the album, the complex and accurate harmonies make the song fit in far better than many give it credit for.
'God Only Knows' has Brian's younger brother Carl on lead vocal. Apparently Brian attempted it first, but thought that Carls voice fitted the song better, as it had a 'sweeter' quality to it. Whatever the reason, it sounds incredible, and the song puts across feelings of love and affection that I believe have been unmatched in any attempted love song since.
'I know there's an answer' is another song with Mike Love on lead, and adds a slightly more frustrated feeling to proceedings lyrically, but at the same time provides a joyful musical backing which results in a fantastic song to sing along to at the top of your voice!
'Here today' has Love on lead again, this time with a song appearing to advise the listener not to fall in love too quickly, as it can be a very temporary feeling. The harmonies in the chorus sections are simply stunning.
'I just wasn't made for these times' sounds like a very personal song by Brian, reflecting his thoughts and feelings about various people at the time he was creating Pet Sounds. This is the only song ever made in which the line "Sometimes I feel very sad", could be put across so believably, and once again the harmonies add to the depth and quality of the song.
'Pet sounds' is another instrumental, and slightly quirkier than the last, as it features a reverb guitar as the lead instrument. Interestingly, it was apparently intended by Brian to be a James Bond theme.
Finally 'Caroline No' for me represents everything that is great about Brian Wilson. With a subtly arranged backing accompanying beautifully sad lyrics describing loss, longing, and disappointment, It is hard to understand just how good this song is until you have listened to it a few times, and properly let it sink in. For me it is the best track on the album.
After listening to Pet Sounds, I moved on to other Beach Boys records, and found so many more great songs and albums, particularly Sunflower. However, I would recommend newcomers to The Beach Boys to listen to this first, as it allows you to fully appreciate the context of the later albums. Had Brian Wilson managed to hold himself together and move onwards from this to record Smile completely in 1967, 'God Only Knows' how high The Beach Boys career peak would have been. As it is, this is the highest that they managed to get, and is still in my eyes, the greatest album ever made.
Summary: Potentially life changing, or just really well made music.
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