Customer Reviews

Pet Sounds

5 star:		(246)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(31)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

First of all, I would like to preface that I am a big fan of this record, and to this day am absolutely blown away by Brian Wilson's innovative production and profound songwriting. The music is wonderful, no band ever did harmonies better than the Beach Boys. The gulf between their early "fun in the sun" recordings and this masterpiece is a wide, deep chasm.
I will not dwell on the technical merits of this album, although there are many, and will only pinpoint a few songs. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" is a powerful, instantly addictive album opener, "Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)" is a dreamy piece with exceptionally moving and beautiful lyrics. And "God Only Knows" is, well...enough said - the subtle instrumental layers behind the chorus tantalize the listener until the harmonies kick in at the end in a marvelous climax.

What is disturbing to me is this strange glorification of "Pet Sounds" as the BEST album of all time. It all apparently stems from this major competition between the Beatles and the Beach Boys in the mid-60s. Still, I find it absurd and close to infuriating when the Amazon reviewer dares to characterize "Sgt. Pepper" as "missing the mark." Since when do bands make records to please music pundits' dogmatic characterizations? Should we judge every album based on how close it comes to the "perfection" of "Pet Sounds"? Of course not.

The main reason why I think "Pet Sounds" can never be the greatest album of all time is that both Brian Wilson and the staunch defenders of the album continue to reference the Beatles. Always, even six or seven times in the liner notes, it's all about how they are better than or inspired by the Beatles, even a lengthy quote by Paul McCartney extolling the virtues of "Pet Sounds." The reason is simply a deep insecurity about the title of "greatest album of all time." Greatest albums stand on their own, and do not justify their greatness by constantly comparing it to albums of a rival band. It is strange and a bit silly.

And since I know I will get many votes by offended Beach Boys fans and reactionary anti-Beatles, might I take this chance to offer my choice for the best album of all time, the one that escaped the loop of competition between Wilson and McCartney. The story goes like this: "Rubber Soul" inspires Wilson to do "Pet Sounds," which in turn inspires McCartney to suggest "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band." In the meantime, outside of all this madness, the Beatles made THE recording of history, "Revolver," which in terms of musicianship, variety, experimentation, lyrics, and especially production beats any album from any generation and any popular music style.

As I mentioned at the beginning of this review, I love "Pet Sounds," but I simply find the intense determination by its loyal devotees to have it crowned a subjective and irrelevant title to be slightly paranoid and certainly very much overdone.

After reaping huge success , both commercial and critical, with "The Beach Boys Today", leader and producer Brian Wilson set out to make an album even better than that. What he came up with has been called the greatest album of all time.

1966's "Pet Sounds" was the least successful Beach Boys album up to that time, barely hitting the top 10 (it peaked at 10) and not going gold. So it's no small irony that it remains their best and popular album of all time. Under Wilson's guidance, the group became more experimental, moving out of their signature "surf rock" realm and writing songs that dealed with real - life issues such as maturity ("Wouldn't It Be Nice"), love ("Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)", "You Still Believe In Me"), rejection ("Here Today", "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times", "Caroline No"), even death (the ethereal "God Only Knows", with Carl Wilson's angel - like vocal and Brian's stunning production). The only song that seems even remotely like their earlier work is "Sloop John B". But while this one has to do with the ocean they loved so much, it is more of a distress call than an ode to summer fun. The two instrumentals, "Let's Go Away For Awhile" and the title track are great. The former is carried on by the gentle, slightly mysterious vibraphones and great strings, while the latter is a sidewinding instrumental workout. "I Know There's An Answer" is a crackerjack keyboard workout with a fierce chorus and scorching lyrics. The bonus track, another version of the song entitled "Hang On To Your Ego" is just the same song with just the title line changed.

"Pet Sounds" now comes with a beautiful booklet filled with pictures and track information. Brian Wilson provides a wonderful inroduction, and the essay is beautifully written. verall, this is what I conisder the greatest album of all time. For me, to be a great album, the album has to really speak to you, and "Pet Sounds" speaks to me because, as I mentioned earlier, it talks about the issues in our lives. If you want an album, look no further than "Pet Sounds".

When I think back at those times, I realize how creative Brian Wilson was and still is!!! It will always amaze me!

This is Brian Wilsons best work. I have had this album on vynil, cassette and finally CD. It is as fresh sounding and relevant today as it was almost 40 years ago.

Although people like Mike Love are trying to take credit for some of his work, this is definitely an all out effort by Brian to surpass the other great albums of the time (Beatles Rubber Soul etc.). He put all his creative energy into this album and when it was finished, he seemed to just run out of steam and was never able to duplicate this body of work. Smile is a great album, but it pales in comparison to this.

It is a matter of personal taste on which album is the best of all time, but in my view this is it.

Initially, I was fond of this album but tended to skip around and listen to particular songs. After I listened to it about 100 times, I became very fond of it and generally listened to the entire album throughout. In the liner notes to the first cd version of this album, Brian Wilson makes a comment about praying with his brother Carl just before Carl sang the vocal for 'God Only Knows'. The significance of this comment was lost on me until I listened to this album about 500 more times. By that point I had the mono+stereo version and would generally listen to it twice at one sitting. Eventually, I reached the point where I am at present: this album has a quality that simply is not repeated anywhere else in popular music--the best way I can find to describe it would be a pure, spiritual innocence. Whether that makes it the greatest album or better than the Beatles' middle period is irrelevant. Buy it and listen over and over and over....

I say that but I hate how fanboy-ish Pet Sounds lovers are. I'll try to avoid excessive use of superlatives when describing this album, however.
Where to start? I love the almost "wall of sound" on this album. Anywhere and everywhere there is an instrument being played or a sweet harmony being sung. I read the liner notes for this and was impressed at how ahead-of-the-times the recording of this record was. I'm not going to discuss the influence of this record, though, just how flawless nearly ever song here is.
Everybody knows "Wouldn't it Be Nice". I love the harmonies on this song, and the accordion during the verses. There's the piano-melody on "You Still Believe in Me" and the great beat on "That's Not Me". I know Brian Wilson collaborated with someone (whose name escapes me at the moment) on the lyrics, so I'll just say the lyrics are great. They're very simple and express simple things but the way Brian sings-it's just amazing. That's why a song like "That's Not Me" works, it's a very simple "I'm leaving my past behind for a girl" song but it's just sung greatly. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on my Shoulder)" is one of the sweetest songs I have ever heard. It has no percussion-it's like a dream, a hazy dream, you can picture it in the background during some lazy afternoon get-together with your girlfriend/boyfriend whatever. And what about that bass? It's great. I love "I'm Waiting for the Day", again a very simple song that's just brought to life with the singing. I love listening to this album on headphones (the stereo version is amazing, I must say, it seems superfluous at first but it's worth it). I like but don't love both instrumentals.
And I hate people who say "Sloop John B" is the best song here. It was not recorded for Pet Sounds and it's probably the worst song on the album. It's great pop but it's simplistic in musical structure and the lyrics are from an old traditional song about sailing. Who doesn't know the lyrics to "God Only Knows"? It's more about expressing love rather than capturing the feeling of it (like "Don't Talk" does). The lyrics to "I Know There's an Answer" are probably my favorite on the whole album. And the chorus is amazing.
"Here Today" is great; again, great lyrics. Every teenager who has this album has probably memorized the lyrics to "I Just Wasn't Made for these Times". My favorite line on this record is "they say I got brains but they ain't doing me no good". In the liner notes Brian says his voice on "Caroline No" is his favorite vocal performance ever. It's awfully good and I love the song.
There's been so much written about Pet Sounds. It's a musical tour-de-force (argh, I hate that word but still). I love the drums on "Here Today" and the harmonies are great all around. This is just pop perfected. I don't find the songs soulless at all, I find them the complete opposite. It's lighthearted but serious at times, happy and in love at times but alienated and remorseful at others. I don't care if the lyrics aren't as "important" as the Beatles or if technically the album really isn't "rock and roll" at all. This isn't Brian Wilson moping, it's him making the album he wanted to make for himself. Probably not "best. album. ever." but it's close.

great price and quality it came right on time and i have thoroughly enjoyed it i would recommend this supplier to my friends

Well, Pet Sounds may not be the best album of all time, but the best isn't the Beatles' Revolver either. There just aren't enough good songs on Revolver to stand up to Wouldn't It Be Nice, Don't Talk, God Only Knows, Caroline No, and the great harmonies of Sloop John B. At the other end of the spectrum, Pet Sounds has nothing near as bad as Yellow Submarine. So, the argument just doesn't add up. Oh, and, neither does it work for Sgt. Pepper (gag) or Rubber Soul (yawn).

A glowing and impossibly warm sort of magic fills your soul as you listen to Pet Sounds, and amazing beauty seems to envelope you, embrace you. Pet Sounds is the sound of a man baring his soul, a beautiful sound that is fragile and innocent as well as hard and dissilusioned.
Brian Wilson grew up on Pet Sounds, and finally came into the genius for which he is now known. Gone are the endless references to surfing, cars, and superficial love. The lyrics here are deep and powerful, emotional on levels I never knew existed. The oppening song "Wouldn't it be Nice" is an incredibly passionate song of love, in which Wilson yearns for an affair he cannot have, because alas, he is to young. The song gets you caught up in the emotion and serves as a perfect template for the rest of the album.
Every song is also an instantly memorable classic. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder)" is tuneful and sweet, and has a magestic, lilting, chorus that always brings a smile to my face. "That's Not Me" tells the story of an innocent young man swept up by his hopes and dreams, and his eventual coming of age. "I Know There's An Answer" has an epic chorus line. "Caroline No" is a sweet and tragic story of the end of adolescent innocence and the harshness of the adult world.
But what truly makes Pet Sounds brilliant is the music. Every single song is a veritible symphony, with multitudes of instruments and notes that rise to castles in the sky. The music sets the tone perfectly. It is low and lamentful on the sadder songs, apologetic and hopeful on songs of regret, and uplifting and epic on songs of happiness. The music of Pet Sounds can sweep you up in overwelming emotions and take you on a journy through every passionate feeling there is. It's definatley a ride worth taking.

Few albums appear to provoke such strong feelings like Pet Sounds. Its placement atop Rolling Stone's "100 Greatest Albums" list has received considerable praise; and resentment. To emphasize the point, look at this page, which is not so much a collection of "reviews" of the album as it is a message board for Pet Sounds/Beach Boys fans and critics. What a shame.

What is lost in the controversy and debate surrounding the "greatness" of the album, is the album itself. Pet Sounds is a beautiful, unique, and compelling work. That it was an innovative, influential album, praised by critics, fans, and musicians - like Paul McCartney - alike, is irrefutable. Is it THE second greatest album of all time? Who cares? Make up your own mind. Lists like that are only one group of people's opinions and are so subjective, to place much stock in them, much less get worked up over them, is foolish.

And, particularly you Beatles fans here, don't feel so threatened by the album or its "ranking." If Sir Paul isn't sweating the Beach Boys - why should you? I personally find the Beatles early music dull and simple, and the later stuff, contrived and pompous. But I do recognize their place in the annals of rockology. I'm certainly not going to make ridiculous, unfounded statements like, "George Martin actually composed their music," or "Sgt. Pepper is the most overrated album of all time."

If you are going to criticize the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson, at least get your facts straight. For the record, John had Paul, Paul had John, and they both had George Martin. Brian Wilson had Brian Wilson. He wrote and produced Beach Boys albums, like Pet Sounds, entirely by himself. The only thing he collaborated on was LYRICS - not the music - so direct your critiques of the album's lyrics at Tony Asher and don't suggest someone was helping Brian compose or produce the music. Also, don't criticize Brian for using professional studio musicians on his albums; unless you're actually stupid enough to think that's the Fab Four playing the orchestra parts on all those Beatles albums. Its statements like these that only reveal your own ignorance.

No, the Beach Boys didn't smash their guitars, like the Who - or light them on fire, like Hendrix. Brian Wilson wasn't trying to be a poet/preacher like Dylon or Lennon, or a revolutionary like Morrisson. The Beach Boys did their own thing; and some people get it and some people don't. Its as simple as that.