The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

Brian Wilson, Beach Boys frontman, received his first tape recorder from his father at the age of sixteen. He and Carl Wilson, his younger brother, would experiment with recording techniques, harmonies, and songwriting. This was the very first incarnation of the Beach Boys. It would not be long before they conscripted their cousin, Mike Love, and schoolmate Al Jardine, and recorded the single “Surfin’”. “Surfin’” was the beginning of something amazing for the music industry.

It wasn’t long before Gary Usher, a singer and guitarist who heard the Beach Boys’ rehearsing in his neighborhood, asked to speak to Brian and ended up joining the band. Usher and Wilson became fast friends, and began collaborating on classics like “409”. Soon enough, however, Brian’s emotionally and physically abusive father, Murray, who had taken over managerial duties, became envious of Usher, and eventually succeeded in removing him from the band. Murray’s abusive and hardline attitude scarred Brian for life, and had Murray remained in a managerial position, there is no telling what direction the band would have taken.

Soon, Brian Wilson took charge of production duties for the band’s third album, Surfer Girl, and it wasn’t long before Brian was considered by the industry to be an incredibly talented songwriter, producer, and artist. In 1965, The Beatles released Rubber Soul, which heavily influenced Brian. Wilson wanted to out-do what Rubber Soul had done, and, together with new songwriting partner, Tony Asher, they set to work on recording their eleventh studio album – Pet Sounds – a record that would later be recognized as one of the most influential releases of the time.

Influenced by Phil Spector’s “wall of sound” style production, the dreamy, ethereal production of Pet Sounds and the song-cycle construction proved to be very impactful on the industry; though its effects were perhaps not felt immediately. Pet Sounds takes the listener on a journey through the thoughts, emotions, frustrations, and joys of growing up and entering adulthood. The album, while perhaps not surpassing the initial popularity of Rubber Soul, was incredibly influential to both the industry and, specifically, The Beatles themselves.

Having grown up passively listening to The Beach Boys, Pet Sounds has always been my favourite album. The tracks are solid, emotional, often poetically beautiful, and always – most importantly – genuine. Listening to it again, knowing what I know now, I am even more impressed at its ingenuity and originality. Pet Sounds has helped inspire me to take more chances with my work, and to always push the boundaries and limits set by the industry. Truly, a classic album by a classic band.