Pet Sounds

Most everyone, when they hear the name of the group “The Beach Boys”, have visions of a sandy beach in California, surfer girls and boys, tricked-out coupes, summer sun, and good times.  As well they should; who can listen to songs like Surfin’ Safari, Little Deuce Coupe, and Surfin’ USA without feeling the warmth of the sun? 

Brother of both Carl and Dennis Wilson of The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson was determined to express himself musically in as profound a way as possible.  With the help, talent, and encouragement of his brothers, he managed to do just that.  As producer, songwriter, and performer for The Beach Boys, his role and influence in the band was unmistakable. 

During the four years after the band’s inception, their creativity could not be stifled.  In fact, it seemed as though they could do no wrong.  Creatively, musically, harmoniously, and melodically, they executed their craft flawlessly.  To this day, they are still considered to be one of the most influential groups in rock history, and rightfully so.

Dissatisfaction with their past accomplishments, their strong desire to experience a more relaxed lifestyle, and a pressing vision of an album that told a complete story, as opposed to an album of "singles" expanded Brian Wilson's vision.

This album, Pet Sounds, not only stemmed from the experiences of an adolescent's journey through the rites of passage to becoming an adult... it chronicled those experiences in a new and exciting way.

Session musicians used in the production of other popular songs of the time, came to work on this new concept album.  They brought with them a plethora of new instruments, enabling this album to become a symphonic masterpiece of sound.  Layering all these elements into the already mushrooming spectacle of harmonization and creativity brought Pet Sounds into a new level of production, never before seen or heard.

Until listening to Pet Sounds, I was under the impression that the fun-in-the-sun experience was all The Beach Boys had to offer.  Frankly I wasn’t interested.  Now, I’m not only a fan but I am also a student of the album, its producer, and the many new possibilities that lie before me, as a result.