THE BEACH BOYS
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Albums reviewed:
1966 – Pet Sounds (10)

I know "West coast suburb" is a very obvious descriptor for this album, just know that I almost wrote "California Suburb", so hey, shut up I guess. I'm throwing myself into a review of this album; I must be crazy, especially since I feel I'm less than super knowledgeable about rock music in general. Many people around me seem to think I know a lot about rock, but surfing around review websites on the Internet certainly deflates your ego on that matter. Anyways, enough whining, maybe not knowing too much is better... Bla bla, influential album, bla bla, Brian Wilson is a master of production, bla bla, bla bla Beatles versus Beach Boys, bla bla... Now for the real stuff;

"Suburb" uh? Hmmm, many of the earlier songs of The Beach Boys take you to the beach instead, surfing around, dancing with girls, driving cars, sunbathing, having fun, etc. Somehow, 'Pet Sounds' takes me to the usual "normal Californian suburb life" as it is idealized in my head. That's why I feel the descriptor I use is appropriate, albeit stereotypical. You know how it is, walking at sunset on a pale wide-spaced concrete street with southern trees on each side, thinking about a girl, having the Pacific breeze. How it must be in November in California. Even the green of the LP's sleeve, with the guys clothed for a not-so-warm day, give me this impression. California, but not city and/or vacation life, just, rural or suburban... In the 60s maybe yes, or maybe not. And the lyrics contribute to this very much, how it is to be growing up, being true to your feelings, in such a sweet setting, it makes me melt. Of course, I live at the other side of the continent where I freeze my balls all the time (except today, on this hot and humid 95F day, what the hell), so all of this music makes me feel very... I don't know, it's similar to nostalgia, but it can't be since I've never been to California (not yet... soon, in August... Oh yes I will...). I've been having a huge crave for sunshine/California pop in the past months, okay, maybe there IS a reason for this, but throughout my life I've always had a sweet spot for songs like Sloop John B, California Dreaming (on such a winter daaaaaay), Happy Together by the Turtles, I've heard them all, but never connected the dots. Now that I did, I realize how much I love this type of dreamy pop. Where was I? Oh yes, the lyrics. My number one value in life is honesty. Honesty is to all the nice things in life what maths are to science. Maths are embedded in most aspects of science, and to have all the nice things in life, you have to pour honesty throughout everything you do. Be true damnit! And that's what is spurting out of this album in tons. Some of those are confessions, love songs, fears, but they all sound so real, so true. Sometimes people say that they like music because it talks to them, it makes them feel like they are not alone, well hey, Brian Wilson surely hands you this in the purest form. How can you be more straightforward than "Sometimes I feel very sad, I guess I just wasn't made for these times", or, if you've ever been far from a love, "you know the more we talk about it, it makes it worse to live without it, but let's talk about it, wouldn't it be nice!". The whole set of lyrics to God Only Knows, with the harmonies of the song, tear me to shreds (it's about not knowing what would happen to you if the girl left you). There's also the traditional sailor story telling ditty of Sloop John B, that is an intensively enjoyable song. The soothing vocal harmonies on this album are breathtaking, but sometimes their absence at specific points, like in parts of Sloop, really bite you; "this is the worse trip, I've ever been on!" he says... There are instrumental pieces too, Let's Go Away For a While and Pet Sounds. They are perfect at keeping this great mood that I've been talking about, and that I will still talk to you about. It must have been considered pretty crazy to do this at the time, but it proves to me that Brian Wilson was aiming for the feeling I get when I listen to 'Pet Sounds'. Success! Those instrumental ditties are extremely "sitting around on a Sunday afternoon" type. Maybe I'm building some of that imagery all by myself, but damnit, isn't that good enough? I mean, that an album can so easily make you conjure up all of this wonderful scenery? Thank you album!

Ah, those pop songs, they are so well crafted, I haven't heard any pop crafted like this before. I never even had this feeling from listening to a Beatles album. In fact I think I like 'Pet Sounds' better than any of my Beatles albums. So there Brian Wilson, you won, for some of us at least... why did you go nuts after? WHY!!! I just wanted to say that all the songs were almost equally highlights, but to keep some credibility, I had to pinpoint some as a bit less memorable (That's Not Me and I Know There's an Answer). Duh, they're still SO great, I just don't remember them as well as the others somehow... Everything is so lush and fills you, without being a flood of sounds. And again, it has that cloudy or evening sunset or maybe even sunrise feel of California suburb. It takes you there, and that's what I like with my albums, when they take me there.

Truly, I've been listening to this album for a little more than a month... People supposedly spend years appreciating this album. What? I put it on, I fell in love, I was shocked. Over and over again, I listen to it. It lives up to the hype. The hell with people who give it a 10 out of respect. I don't care about how influential it apparently was; it's really that good on an individual basis, without considering anything else in the world. 10 years down the road, when I look at my path through my discovery of music, 'Pet Sounds' will stand out as one of the major pieces that helped me get out of progdom! Prog is still cozy though... *goes to listen to 'Close to the Edge'*.

Simon Lac, June 29th 2005