PET SOUNDS

The Beach Boys album, Pet Sounds is a masterpiece on so many levels. This has always been my favorite Beach Boys album but after really analyzing the album this month, I listen to it with new ears. Prior to Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys were very pop oriented with songs like “409” and “Surfin’ U.S.A”, their direction was more towards fun in the sun. When Brian Wilson started working on Pet Sounds, he visioned something different. He was heavily influenced by what The Beatles did with Rubber Soul and wanted to experiment a bit more and take it a step further when it came to incorporating obscure techniques of recording. Although Brian was pretty much the ringleader when it came to the ideas, lyrics and music while in the studio, Tony Asher co-wrote a majority of the songs. Brian realized this after having his mind blown by Rubber Soul and stated that he needed a new songwriting partner to help him achieve his mushrooming ambitions. The classic and one of my favorite songs, “God Only Knows” was composed and produced by Brian but the lyrics were written by Asher and the lead vocals were actually sung by Carl Wilson. The complex musical arrangements and instrumentation is what made this album revolutionary and set it apart from previous popular recordings. The impression I get while listening to this album is that these guys really knew their stuff and are musical geniuses. I admit, I have never really been a huge fan of early music from The Beach Boys but I can listen to this album on repeat. To be able to stimulate the listener with songs like “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” which Wilson states is the happiest song he ever wrote, to the melancholy “Caroline, no” It is definitely a worthwhile listen.

  Howard, D. (2004) . The California Sunshine Sound. Sonic Alchemy. Visionary Music Producers and Their Maverick Recordings.