Pet Sounds: 50 Years of Self Discovery
There are very few pieces of art that have moved me beyond words. As a fourteen-year-old kid, I was lucky to stumble upon one such piece: Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys. On its 50 year anniversary, I can humbly say it is my favorite record of all time.
The remarkable thing about Pet Sounds is that even though it is officially credited as part of the Beach Boys catalog, it’s largely the work of their principal songwriter and composer, Brian Wilson. Don’t stop reading just yet, I know what you’re thinking:
“Oh, great, an album full of songs like ‘Surfin’ USA’”.
Not at all. The record is a journey of Wilson’s mind: full of lush arrangements, and contrastingly dark and disparaging lyrics. You get to follow Wilson as he relinquishes himself to the control of psychedelic drugs, and yet, still manages to write some of the most melodic and complex compositions in the history of popular music.
The album opens with “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” Opening with a harp, and progressing into those classic Beach Boy harmonies that Americans have come to know and love.
One of my essential tracks on the album is “Don’t Talk (Lay Your Head on My Shoulder).” Strings weave in and out of Wilson’s tortured vocals swimming in a sea of brilliance.
“Sloop John B” is an old folk song that the Beach Boys make entirely their own. The bass line drives the song and it finishes with one of the most sublime moments on the entire album: the final chorus.
“God Only Knows” is quite simply the most gorgeous love song ever written, and musicians today are still trying to figure out the complex chords that make it up. It’s also worth noting that Paul McCartney of the Beatles calls it his favorite song of all time (off his favorite album no less).
To say I’ve found words for all 13 tracks would be folly. Take heed from my highlights above, but search for your own words with a full listen on this landmark day.
Simply put, no album has influenced me more as a musician, songwriter, or listener than Pet Sounds. Paul McCartney and John Lennon were often heard saying that “without Pet Sounds, there is no Sgt. Pepper.” That’s a pretty telling statement, considering most consider Pepper to be the greatest album of all time.
Do yourself the pleasure of listening to this the first time, in the dark, with headphones. I promise, you won’t ever be the same, and you’ll hear something different each time you listen.
