If you have any thoughts on the album please let me know
Previous albums discussed are
Electric Music For The Mind And Body by Country Joe And The Fish (August)
Sounds Of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel (September)
Revolver by The Beatles (October)
In The Court Of The Crimson King by King Crimson (November)
Buffalo Springfield Again by Buffalo Springfield (December)
Disraeli Gears by Cream (February)
in Search Of The Lost Chord by The Moody Blues (April)
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida by Iron Butterfly (May)
Blues Breakers by John Mayall & Eric Clapton (June)
Before I start reviewing this album I have a confession to make. I have never got this album or, in generally, what all of the fuss about The Beach Boys is.
I'm hoping that an more in depth look at this album might help me to understand what I currently don't get
First track coming up soon but please post your own thoughts before that if you feel able.
Before I start reviewing this album I have a confession to make. I have never got this album or, in generally, what all of the fuss about The Beach Boys is.
That's probably because it's false advertising. You see an album in the shop, it's called "Pet Sounds," there are even petting-zoo goats shown on the album cover with the band, but then you play it and there are hardly any animal sounds on the record at all — except on the title track, but you're halfway through Side 2 before you finally hear that. And of course there are zero songs about pets! 🤐
So yeah, you'd probably be better off with Pets Sounds, the new 15-track compilation from the Cranbrook, UK twee-pop community, on which nearly all of the tracks are about actual pets. (I would say "all," but there's a song on it called "Dark Age" by a guy named Caleb Nichols that I can't understand the lyrics on.) And the album cover features photos of the actual pets being referred to in the songs! It's brilliant!
As for the Beach Boys LP, what I would do is approach it more like kids would have approached it in 1966, which is to say "singles first, then the whole thing" — though it doesn't have to be the actual singles they released back in 1966. I'd start by listening to "Caroline No," then "God Only Knows," then "Don't Talk," but not all at the same time — rather, listen to each one individually, maybe three or four times over a couple of days or even a week, to let it "sink in." Be sure to avoid "Sloop John B," "I Wasn't Made For These Times," and "I Know There's an Answer," since those are only worth hearing in the album context. Also, don't be fooled like I was and think "Here Today" is a cover of the track from the Chameleons' Script of the Bridge album — Script of the Bridge came out 17 years later, so everyone says it's impossible. I happen to think the "Here Today" from Pet Sounds is underrated, but it isn't as good as the Chameleons' track in any case, so you should probably listen to Script of the Bridge first no matter what you do.
Finally, remember that in 1966, everyone was high on pot and amphetamines — so they were all super-freaked-out all the time, but too "mellow" to do anything about it. Thankfully you can approximate that effect in the modern era just by watching the news. The effect of doing that on your brain cells is likely to be even worse, but at least the up-front cost is lower.
In my early days on the site, I once got "ripped a new one" when i wrote a piece being less that fulsome in my praise of Gram Parsons so I'm approach the Beach Boys carefully as I appreciate that for some, any criticism of the band might be construed as heresy. I'm not being totally serious here but I do want to be respectful of their legacy
The Beach Boys are so revered and loved by many that I'm enter this thread with great trepidation. I'm going to be honest in my assessment of what is often cited as one of, if not the, greatest album of all time but I also want to understand why it's so beloved so please bear with me.
Wouldn't It Be Nice
The portrait of a young couple longing for adult independence and for me, as a casual Beach Boys listener, one of their most recognisable Beach Boys tracks, not just on Pet Sounds but in general.
TBH a great opening track and, feels to me like it sets the template for what is to come on the rest of the album. Great vocals and obviously, great harmonies
It’s an interesting track with its contrast of joyous-sounding music, a rather “up” song if you will, and melancholic lyrics. I’ll be honest, it’s a great track with outstanding production. I can definitely see what Brian Wilson was going for. Whether I still feel that way by the end of the album, we will see. It’s certainly a very positive start
If I’m honest, as a casual listener, I had dismissed this track out of hand for so many years. I still don’t think that it’s a great track, but it has far more going on here than I had originally given it credit for.
Let’s take the great harmonies / vocals as a given on every track on Pet Sounds so there’s that going for it and they are great, no, fabulous harmonies here.
There is very much a theme running through the lyrics of the songs on the album, that of love, romance and the trials, tribulations and self-doubt that come from that.
A track with I have come to appreciate more having given it a few listens. Nice stuff
What becomes abundantly clear by this time in the album is the musical and lyrical themes have been firmly set. Lyrically, once again it’s about a young man’s discovery about himself.
It’s a pleasant enough track with nice orchestration. Nothing to make it a standout track. Is it memorable, not really but good enough to hold its place on the album and fits into the overall narrative of the album
As a side note, I understand that this is the only track with most instrumental parts performed by the band members themselves.
Great harmonies to start this track, a great use of strings throughout and tremendous orchestration. Mesmerising track
With this being a much slower / lusher tempo than some other tracks on this album I think that this is one of the best compositions on the album.
My biggest problem with this track is that it finishes far too soon. It feels like there is far more to come from the track and that it is just getting going and then it fades out which I find very frustrating. I want more please Brian!
Having said that, what we get is a beautiful thing
I’d forgotten that this instrumental track was on the album as it feels a little "hidden away" but It fits into the album well and I’ve seen it described as a masterpiece, and I really don’t get that.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s a decent track but masterpiece? Not in my book
For me, as a casual Beach Boys listener, this is one of the most recognisable and best tracks on the album but is it a cover version? I guess, technically it is but really, like other great artists, they took this song and made it their own.
The harmonies and construction of the track are top draw. I love the way that the song builds.
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MadhattanJack
