Best Ever Albums

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

hairymarx1 — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:40:01 GMT

Author: hairymarx1

Posted: 01/15/2012 02:40

As far as I am concerned, there is no controversy in asserting that Brian Wilson (and Lennon-McCartney) were in their own way amongst the greatest songwriters of their era. There is also no denying that Brian Wilson was perhaps the first popular musician to excel in both composition and arrangement which was more akin to that of a classical composer. Many of his compositions and arrangements are undoubtably complex and the music on the album does represent a maturity of its kind. But paradoxically, as with much of the Beatles output, therein hides its flaws.

The album is essentially an ethereal atmospheric soundscape that nevertheless is essentially an extension of the vocal tradition that began with the Everley Brothers and ended with the folk-rock of the Byrds. Pet Sounds represents a significant part of this trajectory. However, in my view, this is illustrative of a kind of regressiveness in terms of the advancement of rock music.

The album is heavily formatted and as such it is harmless and unchallenging in the way that both the Beatles and, to a certain extent, the music of a band like the Byrds was harmless and unchallenging. Both the melodies and the pure tone of the singing on the album are ethereal. But for me this isn't enough. The guitar playing is the antithesis of virtuosity, and in Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys' frontman is the epitomy of mediocrity. In my view, the rich tapestry of eccentric sounds on the album is not enough to merit its much vaunted masterpiece status.

The construction of the songs seem as though they were made with a painstaking attention to detail in which Wilson emphasizes a fantasy element. I like the sound of trombone, harmonica, harpsichord, bells and violins on the album and unquestionably, the melodic and romantic components are engaging, particularly the French horn, harpsichord, bells, flutes and clarinet on 'God Only Knows' and the instrumental sonata 'Let's Go Away For A While'.

But that ought not detract from the fact that Pet Sounds is uneven and one of the most overrated albums of all time. It's not that its a bad album, far from it. But equally, its classic status has been greatly exaggerated. I certainly wouldn't consider putting this in my list of 100 best albums of all-time.

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Mr. Shankly — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 21:30:14 GMT

Author: Mr. Shankly

Posted: 01/15/2012 02:30

RFNAPLES wrote:

Damnit! I agree with Naples. 🧱

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

RFNAPLES — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:07:36 GMT

Author: RFNAPLES

Posted: 01/14/2012 17:07

No

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Error Finn — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:05:49 GMT

Author: Error Finn

Posted: 01/14/2012 17:05

pearljammer13 wrote:

I definitely think it's overrated. For me it's just very aged, so I don't really enjoy listening to it. Maybe if I was older and listened to it back when it came out or shortly after I'd feel different...but yes I personally think it's very overrated.

Good music is like wine. Vintage 1966 is / was a really good popular music. Then there was a lot that affected all later. Have to return back and make assessments of what was then another. Pet Sounds is a great step forward. Age of the music is not disheartened character, quite the contrary. Many rock riff was invented a long time ago. OK, Pet Sounds NOT overrated.

Thanks Everyone

RoundTheBend — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 23:21:50 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 12/06/2011 04:21

I think this was a good discussion. I liked to see the different opinions. Obviously there is that fine line between subjective aesthetics and aesthetics that can touch everyone because they are truly routed in Nature (Kant). I listen to an album like Sgt. Pepper's and then this one and I have a hard time appreciating the album as a whole. I love individual parts. I am very much a holistic album kinda guy and I just feel disjointed when I listen to this album. Not all albums can do that though and maybe that is unfair for me to say that all great albums should be holistic/complete pieces of music. Then there's the argument I read here that it is the best holistic album. Any of you that feel that way care to spend a bit of time explaining (like a total geek, I know, but I like this kinda stuff) the way it "fits" together? How does it flow? Maybe I am just blind. Because it is on the top of so many lists, I really want to appreciate it for what it is, and sometimes ignorance stands in the way of that.

Thanks Everyone.

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Necharsian — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 20:07:53 GMT

Author: Necharsian

Posted: 12/06/2011 01:07

Xavygravy wrote:

Necharsian wrote:

Pet Sounds is just nice. Nothing more, nothing less.

Then you have no heart. [-X

So?

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Xavygravy — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 18:16:40 GMT

Author: Xavygravy

Posted: 12/05/2011 23:16

Eggman/Walrus/Taxman wrote:

Xavygravy wrote:

You're wrong.

Pet Sounds is a masterpiece.

If anything, it's underrated.

You're right, it is a masterpiece. It's not overrated, but it is DEFINITELY not underrated either.

Well, underrated because it should be in the Top 10 here, and Top 10 for RYM as well (it's only #30 something).

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Facetious — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 09:33:25 GMT

Author: Facetious

Posted: 12/05/2011 14:33

Xavygravy wrote:

You're wrong.

Pet Sounds is a masterpiece.

If anything, it's underrated.

You're right, it is a masterpiece. It's not overrated, but it is DEFINITELY not underrated either.

Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

boboland1203 — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 07:55:03 GMT

Author: boboland1203

Posted: 12/05/2011 12:55

I always thought Pet Sounds was way over rated... 🤔 Maybe I sound actually listen to it someday 🤣

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Xavygravy — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 06:13:00 GMT

Author: Xavygravy

Posted: 12/05/2011 11:13

Necharsian wrote:

Pet Sounds is just nice. Nothing more, nothing less.

Then you have no heart. 🫵

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Xavygravy — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 06:09:09 GMT

Author: Xavygravy

Posted: 12/05/2011 11:09

You're wrong.

Pet Sounds is a masterpiece.

If anything, it's underrated.

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Facetious — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 03:15:07 GMT

Author: Facetious

Posted: 12/05/2011 08:15

Jackwc wrote:

I dunno about A Hard Day's Night being all that complex, I think I'd need some convincing.

No, no, no, I didn't mean that it was really complex exactly, like Pet Sounds was, but it isn't just simplistic stuff either.

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Jackwc — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 02:37:43 GMT

Author: Jackwc

Posted: 12/05/2011 07:37

I dunno about A Hard Day's Night being all that complex, I think I'd need some convincing.

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Facetious — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 02:26:02 GMT

Author: Facetious

Posted: 12/05/2011 07:26

Pet Sounds is not over-rated, though it isn't the greatest of all time either. The reason I like it? Well, there are some. The best one I can come up with is that it just sounds amazing to me, especially "Here Today". Whenever I listen to it, it's like I'm in a another world, and this feeling is in me which I just can't describe. I think that's why it's called "experimental" by some, because there is nothing that sounds like it. It may look like it is pretty simple, but it isn't, it is complex, just like "A Hard Day's Night" looks REALLY simple, but is actually better and more complex than most people think. "Here Today" is like "Tomorrow Never Knows", "Like a Rolling Stone", "Maggie May" (the Rod Stewart song) and "Everything in its Right Place", it surprises me every time.

I'm sorry if that wasn't descriptive, exactly, but that's just the beauty of the album, I think. It is outstanding, and really out of this world.

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Romanelli — Mon, 5 Dec 2011 01:40:02 GMT

Author: Romanelli

Posted: 12/05/2011 06:40

This.

Link

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Necharsian — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 18:08:18 GMT

Author: Necharsian

Posted: 12/04/2011 23:08

Pet Sounds is just nice. Nothing more, nothing less.

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Hayden — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 17:36:41 GMT

Author: Hayden

Posted: 12/04/2011 22:36

cartoken wrote:

Jackwc wrote:

Rolling Stone named it the "second best album of all time". I'd call that well-rated.

And according to critics it's the greatest album of all time !
i actually only rated it 65/100, but when i see that it's:

* 1# greatest album of all time by the critics
* 13# on BEA
* 33# in RYM

i can only say that i respect the obvious greatness of this album even if i don't enjoy that much. except the classic[b] Wouldn't It Be Nice[/b] and the very good God Only Knows

Revolver has better statistics overall.

#2 greatest album of all time by britics
#3 On Bea
#1 on RYM

🤣

And I still give it a 80/100.

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

cartoken — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 17:34:12 GMT

Author: cartoken

Posted: 12/04/2011 22:34

Jackwc wrote:

Rolling Stone named it the "second best album of all time". I'd call that well-rated.

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

alelsupreme — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 17:11:02 GMT

Author: alelsupreme

Posted: 12/04/2011 22:11

I meant on this site.

Re: Pet Sounds- is it over rated?

Jackwc — Sun, 4 Dec 2011 16:52:41 GMT

Author: Jackwc

Posted: 12/04/2011 21:52

Rolling Stone named it the "second best album of all time". I'd call that well-rated.