Pet Sounds

Just to fan the PET SOUNDS vs. SGT PEPPERS flames a little, the stereo remixing reveals that Brian Wilson's offering is superior to the Beatles. The little details and encompassing sounds of the remixing suggest PET SOUNDS features the better production and creative insight. But what remains, stereo remixing or not, is that PET SOUNDS is personal emotion distilled into a 35 minute album. SGT PEPPERS, as whimsical and confident and incredible as it is, is too self-aware and pretentious (although it can be argued that pretension is derived from genius). It tries so hard to be the best there ever was that some of that genuine musician-listener connection is compromised. I speculate that SGT PEPPERS receives its "best album of all time" distinction because it is a Beatles release. It seems contradictory to award that distinction to a somewhat ordinary West Coast band that the Beach Boys were. After all, the Beach Boys had PET SOUNDS, but they didn't have REVOLVER, RUBBER SOUL and ABBEY ROAD in their canon.

Possibly a more challenging question is: PET SOUNDS or KIND OF BLUE?


Brian W.'s personal message/magnum opus starring Beach Boys   May 16, 2000
S. Lyons (Pleasantville, USA)
18 out of 23 found this review helpful

Much has been written and said about this album, from the high school kid at the record store to Sir Paul McCartney. Pet Sounds has been deconstructed, dissected, psychoanalysed, plagiarised, and now digitised. I hope this package of the album, in both the original mono in a newly remixed stereo together, becomes the definitive, only release. Historically, Brian Wilson's creative/commercial apex was reached with this release. While the Beach Boys toured, the

founder/composer/producer had retired from the road to hone his craft. Since that move the Beach Boys had released Summer Days, Today, and the fun, lightweight Party album. The studio albums foreshadowed the coming of a new, more introspective/symphonic approach, and Pet Sounds was it. THIS ALBUM MUST BE LISTENED TO AS A WHOLE PIECE, NOT A COLLECTION OF SINGLES AND FILLER. Brian Wilson chose a co-lyricist (Tony Asher) who also seems to have doubled as his therapist. Pet Sounds' lyrics are heartachingly beautiful -- about being alone in a crowd, about lost love, about growing up. The orchestrations and arrangements are miles beyond the standard bass/drums/guitars/piano combos found throughout rock & roll music (only the Beatles were expanding musically as well). The key changes, modulations, and time signatures were almost all new for 60s pop, yet the Beach Boys' label failed to adequately promote the record. Pet Sounds IS, as BB frontman Mike Love once said, "Brian's ego music" -- it is a personal statement, a solo album featuring the incredible vocal prowess of the Beach Boys. For the best GROUP statement from the band, see Sunflower. Pet Sounds is art, and sometimes art is about pain. Just think if "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "That's Not Me" had been done similar to "Caroline No", and the hit "Sloop John B." had only been released as a single. Then we would be listening to a full concept album of teen angst -- a teenage symphony to God. Yet what WAS released was a little more commercial than that. Here it is; Brian Wilson's STATEMENT. And true, it is about the greatest through-composed statement ever done in pop music.


One of the All-Time Pop Classics   August 16, 2000
paperbackriter (USA)
17 out of 19 found this review helpful

One of the most emotional, heartfelt offerings of the rock-n-roll era, 1966's Pet Sounds is Brian Wilson's open love-letter to the world.

Mature, yet disarmingly innocent, Brian's orchrestrated arrangements and timeless melodies lure the listener over and over. The true knockout punch, however, is Pet Sounds' ability to strike a universal chord through its lyrical themes of love, isolation and self-doubt. Brian lays his heart on the line and in the process brings us along for the ride.

The youthful optimism of "Wouldn't it be Nice" and "You Still Believe in Me" -- the set's opening tracks --soon yields to the confusion of young-adulthood in the sparse "That's Not Me". This haunting, stripped-down track features what is arguably Mike Love's finest and most understated lead vocal.

The gorgeous "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on my Shoulder)" is anchored by session ace Carole Kaye's gentle bassline which pushes Brian's vocal to the brink of heartache. Seconds after Brian pleas for us to "Listen, listen, listen..." a classical string quartet rises to the forefront, driving the track to an emotional climax. At the this precise moment the shear weight of the arrangement relays Brian's pain more effectively than words ever could.(To fully appreciate this moment, listen to the remastered Stereo mix through a pair of headphones.)

Equally stunning in terms of production and emotion are the twin classics "God Only Knows" and "Caroline No". "Caroline", the album's closing track, is a paean to a simpler, happier time -- a elusive time never to be recaptured. "God Only Knows", The Beach Boys' greatest love song, ponders life without love and the innate human ability to rebound in times of darkness. Carl Wilson delivers what is perhaps the most beautiful lead vocal ever recorded -- two and a half minutes of angelic bliss.

Of course, the anthemic "I Just Wasn't Made for These Times", neatly symbolizes both the commercial failure of "Pet Sounds" upon its initial release and the well-documented troubles of Brian Wilson himself. Brian gave his all during the creation of this masterpiece and in the process nearly lost everything so dear to him.

If "Pet Sounds" isn't the greatest album ever made, it's darn close. Perhaps the Beatles, who achieved pop-perfection on "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver", did equal, or perhaps even surpassed Brian's masterpiece. But, that's not the point --the point is, quite simply, that because of records like "Pet Sounds" and "Rubber Soul" this troubled world is a better place.


Why should you buy this album?   March 2, 2000
15 out of 16 found this review helpful

Well in case the hourdes of 5 star reviews weren't enough for you...the best thing I can tell you is that the album is beautiful. Every song is as good as the next. This album overshadows everything the Beatles ever did without exception. This is a lot to claim but it just takes one listen to "That's Not Me" or "I just wasn't made for these times" and you feel like you're relating to Brian Wilson on a level that you just can't find anywhere else in music. You really feel as though you understand him and he understands you as he sings. Pet Sounds is something to be experienced. Expectation might cloud your first experience with the album but don't give up on it just let it go a few times and I promise you that you'll be hooked like I am. I'm a young Beach Boys fan (19) and this album made me appreciate a band that I never knew had anything interesting to offer me...little did I knew that Pet Sounds isn't the only thing they have to offer. The Good Vibrations Box Set should be the next thing you check out...for it has the infamous Smile tracks which I'm certain will blow you away like they did me...I hope that reading this inspires you to buy this album...its just too good to go without ever hearing.