Brian Wilson, co-founder and studio wizard of the Beach Boys, produced his music while suffering auditory hallucinations due to schizophrenia. Some of the cleanest, most pristine-sounding music in history was produced by a man who couldn't properly distinguish the noises in his head from reality
I'm sure the whole Charles Manson run-in also helped push him over the edge. I'm not sure which Beach Boy was his(Mansons) main friend in the band, but just knowing you were around all that back then and could have in some way potentially been involved, or even a victim, etc, would have probably messed me up for a while.
having knowledge of music theory makes this song so much more impressive. brian wilson broke many conventions and people still argue over the basic fact of what key the song is in.
@@rikurodriguesneto6043 yeah, that walking bass line was also apparently a huge influence on Paul McCartney's playing in subsequent Beatles tracks. It's key to the harmony, and for me is quite reminiscent of the part a cello would typically play in more contemporary classical pieces.
1:18 Wouldn't It Be Nice 3:16 You Still Believe In Me 5:39 That's Not Me 7:44 Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder 9:30 I'm Waiting For The Day 11:42 Let's Go Away For Awhile 12:27 Sloop John B 14:10 God Only Knows 15:53 I Know There's An Answer 17:50 Here Today 20:09 I Just Wasn't Made For These Times 22:14 Pet Sounds 22:54 Caroline, No
The instrument at 21:25 is called a Theremin and it was first popularized by the Beach Boys. It's also featured heavily on the song Good Vibrations (definitely react to the Smile Sessions).
I don't mean to be that guy, but I'm going to be that guy. It's actually an electro-theramin, which was developed by and then played by Paul Tanner on this song. Eventually a more modern version was created, called the Tannerin.
Films have been using theramins since the 1920's. It would be more accurate to say Brian pioneered its use in pop music, or that he popularized the electro-theramin @GuitarMonster86
Crazy fact… Brian Wilson is also fully deaf in one ear, so that’s why he mixed all of their stuff in Mono. You should listen to The SMiLE Sessions! It’s the studio recordings of the failed follow up album to Pet Sounds… it’s waaaaay more ambitious than Pet Sounds and way more psychedelic.
Brian himself claims that his preference for mono is the same as Phil Spector's: total control by the producer of the sound output focal point. But I agree with you, that his deafness must have been a factor: I think he has never been able to fully appreciate the impact of stereo.
The Beach Boys late 60s-early 70s run was absolutely insane and highly underrated imo outside of this album. Everyone of them had a completely different sound. The planned follow up to this album called Smile was going to be so much more grand, experimental and conceptual, but due to a variety of factors most of all including Brian’s worsening mental health, it was never completed. Still though the sessions were released in 2011 and even those for me make my favorite beach boys release of alltime. I HIGHLY recommend checking them out!
Yeah, Smile Sessions is a great one to check out next! I spent a whole year falling deeper and deeper down the Beach Boys rabbit hole. So many of their albums are barely talked about, so with each album I listened to it felt like discovering a hidden gem. Other albums to check out: Surf's Up (probably their peak sad album), Today! (A little more "oldschool" sounding), and Friends (the playfulness of the harmonies on this one delights me.)
@@keith-c bro so did I, it was one of the most fun rabbit holes I’ve ever went down on. Surfs Up is probably my third favorite after this album and smile. Gotta recommend Sunflower too that album is crazy aswell!
Yes. Their "throwaway" album, 20/20, their swan song (swan album) to Capitol, has some songs that would be considered standouts on a lesser band's discography. It also marked the beginning of Dennis Wilson as a serious songwriter and contributor. I have all of their albums. 1966-1973, their Middle Period, are my favorites. I consider "Sunflower" the most cohesive musical statement after "Pet Sounds", but "Surf's Up" is extraordinary, and I happen to like "California Saga" (from "Holland") very much.
One of the Wrecking Crew once commented about how these goofy teenagers could saunter into the studio, joking and shoving each other, walk up to the mikes, and just nail it in one take. The Wilsons and the Loves (cousins) grew up making music together on weekends. Similarly, the Wilson sisters (of Heart) grew up with family music being a common event.
Thanks for being willing to give "Pet Sounds" a fair audition. This is my favorite album ever. (For the record, no pun intended, I include some fairly modern albums in my Top Ten, such as Florence + The Machine "Lungs", and School of Seven Bells "Alpinisms".) Many people think "P.S." sounds pleasant, but not revolutionary. What they do not understand is that "Pet Sounds" changed popular music so pervasively that much of what followed eventually made it sound rather conventional. It was truly revolutionary in composition, lyricism, instrumentation, and production. I have dubbed this the "The Haydn Effect": Joseph Haydn, for all practical purposes, invented the Symphony (as well as the String Quartet). Many now consider his symphonies too ordinary compared to, say, Ludwig van Beethoven. What they fail to appreciate is that Haydn was the truer pioneer; there would be no symphonies by Beethoven, et al, without Haydn's 104 symphonies. (Similarly, Johann Sebastian Bach functionally invented Common Practice - modern major-minor music - with his use of the leading tone, via his 371 Chorales for the Lutheran Church.)
Best album of all-time. Really enjoyed your thoughts and reactions. I think The Beach Boys' best "group" album is 1970s SUNFLOWER. PET SOUNDS was more of a Brian Wilson solo album with the group's vocals in it. Brian was the most innovative writer/arranger/producer of his time, and even today, lots of people haven't come close to catching up with him. So glad you discovered this amazing genius. Go see the movie LOVE AND MERCY, which is about Brian, especially during the PET SOUNDS period. Absolutely brilliant movie and well worth your time.
Great reaction! Beach Boys: the song Good Vibrations, from the same sessions. 1966 albums: Revolver (The Beatles) - 14 songs, probably started 14 subgenres. Blonde on Blonde (Bob Dylan) - Dylan broadens his sphere of influence with more rock n roll and more poetry than ever before.
For more Beach Boys I'd recommend: -Summer Days and Summer Nights (for their more classic surf rock sound) -Surf's Up (more baroque pop) -Smiley Smile (more psychedelic) Or alternatively to the last two: -The Smile Sessions (their unfinished magnum opus from '67 finally released. It contains songs from both Smiley Smile and Surf's Up, but in a better context)
yeah i love the atmosphere in that one. one of my favorite songs on the album. kinda dark.. empty . kinda liminal i guess 😅 this big empty space around you.. all alone
Surprised you haven’t checked out MGMT, very underrated discography. Start with oracular spectacular and by the time you finish little dark age, their newest album should be out. If not mgmt please check out the black parade by my chemical romance.
Man it KILLS me they didn’t include “Good Vibrations!” If you’ve never heard it, I HIGHLY encourage you to react to it! It was originally recorded during the Pet Sounds sessions and has a semi “Here Today” feel to it with a theremin thrown in. The time signatures constantly change and this was by far their most progressive pop song they ever recorded
More is ready for you. Good Vibrations was planned for Pet Sounds but wasn't finished in time for release. It came out as a single later in 1966 and became Worldwide #1 hit record. Good job..
If you loved this album you definitely should check out their albums Surf’s Up and Sunflower! Recorded very close to each other and I guess you consider them sister albums. Fantastic production on both but I think I prefer Surf’s Up
This is the GOAT album of all time absolutely no question. So unique and interesting yet relatable and catchy, changed the way music was recorded forever and the entire album has a beautiful childlike naive innocence running through it from start to finish, the best album ever made.
Always been a Beatles fan and never thought any album could beat Sgt Pepper or Abbey Road, never gave much credit to the Beach Boys. It's now 2 years since I've listened carefully to Pet Sounds for the first time and to this day there wasn't a single day without listening to Brian Wilson's music. It really speaks to me.
I’m glad people are still reacting to The Beach Boys loved ur reaction😂, I love them baddd, especially being from California an my grandparents raising me on them and the Beatles and shit, s/o 2 them! but yea u should give their record SURFS UP a listen, the stand out tracks on that album are Don’t go near the water Disney Girls Feel Flows Til i Die and the title track Surfs Up Brian Wilson went thru some shit, but bless that man, he and all them go crazy, definitely leaders n innovators for progressive rock
In a mutually positive way. Paul McCartney has said so many times, and Sir George Martin confirmed that as a presenter at the "All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson" at Radio City Music Hall in 2001. Martin introduced the live cover of "Good Vibrations", fronted - almost inevitably - by the great women of rock, Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart (who famously later covered "Stairway to Heaven").
22:09 that’s a theremin! It’s an instrument with two metal rods that you play by moving your hands in front of them. I believe The Beach Boys were the first to use it in popular music
If you want another beach boys album which is similar to pet sounds, i recommend "Today!" the predecessor to pet sounds. Another great album is "Sunflower".
It's probably already been answered but the instrument you hear in "I just Wasn't Made For These Times" is a theremin. They also used it famously on "Good Vibrations". Glad you liked the album.
im SO happy you are showing appreciation for this album!!! it's one of my favorites ever. I also recommend listening to their album "Surf's Up,"- it's so underappreciated
Sloop John B is a cover of a Bahamian folk song from over 100 years ago. The Kingston Trio had a version on their no.1 debut album in the late 50's, Brian Wilson took the whole thing apart and put it together again in such a fantastic way.
This is an excellent album. A couple of great 60's albums that you need to check out some day are "Astral Weeks" by Van Morrison & "Forever Changes" By Love. Classic decade defining albums.
Check out SMiLE (not Smiley Smile) next. It's the first disc on the Smile Sessions compilation. It was Brian's true vision for his follow-up to Pet Sounds. He uses the same musicians from the Pet Sounds sessions.
You’re really goated for this one!!! 🙏 I understand your feelings in the beginning on older albums. I promise if I recommend something from the past it’s just cause I think it sounds dope and timeless lol Like Pet Sounds! Truly one of the greatest pop albums of all time. Brian Wilson is the main Beach Boy, known for writing all of their music. On this album he collaborated with Tony Asher on the lyrics. He was inspired when he heard The Beatles’ Rubber Soul and made Pet Sounds. The Beatles then heard Pet Sounds and were inspired to make Sgt. Pepper’s lol this one was a game changer for sure. Singing and songwriting is just so on point, and the production still sounds great today. The instrument you were wondering about in I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times is a Theremin. You should look up videos of people playing these if you haven't seen one before. They’re really weird but interesting instruments lol but yeah, Wouldn't It Be Nice, God Only Knows and Here Today are my top 3. I definitely recommend Smile if you listen to more Beach Boys. It’s a legendary album by them that was shelved for 40 years due to various reasons at the time of production. It’s a lot more experimental musically than Pet Sounds, but tons of great vocal parts like on here. It’s definitely worth checking out. Also please listen to Funhouse by The Stooges! One of the greatest rock albums and I’m dying to hear your thoughts on it. Thank you again for this one dude! 🙂
I won't lie, I have a soft spot for The Beach Boys. I was born in the 80's but I've loved them since I was a child. God Only Knows is such an amazing song. There are songs by them that I hate, as well. But their good songs are great.
I used to listen to this album at night a lot, before going to sleep.. it has this really dark, empty feeling to it.. really transports me to another time. Whether it's the sixties, I don't know.. but I feel like I'm somewhere else.
Album definitely grows on you over time, but even on first listen it’s incredible. I always thought it was about how life catches you by and your loss of innocence with that first true love
Well one band that is still around that was definitely influenced by the Beach Boys that I know you have listened to is Animal Collective. Basically Panda Bears entire vocal styling is influenced from Brian Wilson. This is one of the best albums ever period. Recommendations Lil Ugly Mane - Volcanic Bird Enemy and the Voiced Concern Arca - Kick I-IIIII Oneohtrix Point Never - R Plus Seven
this album rules, you still believe in me makes me cry every time i hear it its actually crazy. And i just wasnt made for these times is so poignant to me especially after learning more abt brian wilson i feel like he just felt so out of place during that time period and scene (all speculation on my part ofc) If you ever are interested in checking out something different, you should check out some of the music coming out of argentina in the 70s and 80s, they were cooking. Anything involving the legend spinetta is pretty amazing (invisible - el jardin de los presentes is a personal fave)
The instrumentals at the end of Don't Talk and I'm Waiting For The Day still butter my biscuit even though I've listened to this album countless times.
Definitely check out Sunflower and Surfs Up by them. Sunflower has what’s basically a dream pop song in All I Wanna Do. Also, speaking of Beach Boys, you gotta check out Sung Tongs by Animal Collective!
Now they call "All I Wanna Do" a proto-chillwave song (40 years before the genre existed). I remember it was my favorite on "Sunflower" from the first I heard it (and I love the entire album) - but no one I played it for liked it back then. I was very much alone as a Beach Boys fan when I was younger.
If you listen to this album again, I suggest you try the original mono mix(not the 50th anniversary version but the original mix)!! It’s not just a weird audiophile thing, because mono is the only version Brian Wilson mixed himself(bc stereo was a novelty back then, and also bc brian’s deaf in one ear), and also some vocal tracks are either different or straight up missing in the stereo mix!
True. I am an audiophile, and I have virtually every release of Pet Sounds, but the reason I prefer the stereo remix is that Brian Wilson, far ahead of technology of his day, was mixing down 3,4, and 8 tracks to his final mono mix. To my ear, he did so much mixing down that it muddies the final product, not because of any mistake by him, but because what he was doing was revolutionary, and too sophisticated for such primitive equipment. There are many nuances missing from the mono that come out in the stereo mix, which has less processing. When I want to hear the exact vocal mix of each song, I do listen to the mono.
I just realized how much The Beach Boys remind me of Caribou at times. If you haven't listened to Caribou, you should definitely check them out. I'd recommend the albums Andorra, and Swim. Both albums are quite different, but fantastic.
After Pet Sounds i commented on your video to listen to Violator by Depeche Mode and that should be next cause I'll definitely enjoy seeing you experience to it 😉
Love listening to this album... All I'm missing is the sun outside. (It's dark, cold and pissing down in England) 👍 As always.. Everything Everything - Get to heaven
So I might not have believed this, but you can hear audio of Paul McCartney confirming it, he and John Lennon visited the studio while Beach Boys were recording this album, and asked to hear what they’d been doing. He said that they left realizing that they had to step up their game, and Sgt Pepper was the result. Apparently “God Only Knows” is still Paul’s all-time favorite song.
Best vocal arrangementes ever, The Beach Boys were the best with this, and melodies makers... One of my favorite albums af all time is "Surf's Up", just an amazing and incredible album, but I think every album since "Summer Days (and Summer Nights)" to "Holland" are brilliant, and so so so underrated... Brian Wilson is a legend
I love your videos so much bro. Anyway thought I would recommend some albums that I listened to recently and enjoyed. White Pepper-ween The Great Annihilator-swans Good News For People That Love Bad News- Modest Mouse Thank you 🙏🏻
Great video. I've been enjoying your content since you covered Joy Division. The Beach Boys are one of the best bands. I've appreciated this album for a while, only liking a couple songs until I heard this on a shroom trip. To sum it up, it was a legitimate spiritual reawakening lol. Since then, this is my all time favorite album. Got a couple BB's recommendations: - Smile Sessions - Smiley Smile - Sunflower - Surfs Up - Holland - Love You - Dennis Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blues (this is one of my favs)
Beach Boys albums are loaded with gems. Capitol Records just didn't promote them because they weren't filled with surfin and car hits. And they refused to promote anything that Brian didn't have his stamp on.
just continuing to impress me with your work ethic, love your videos a few recommendations: Process - Sampha (experimental r&b, great production) Nurture - Porter Robinson (light summer electric with fun production) Koi No Yokan - Deftones (very heavy, sexier and heavier radiohead imo) Hypochondriac - Brakence (very experimental emo rap, glitch pop) Reading Writing And Arithmetic - The Sundays (the smiths ish, with beautiful female vocals)
There are some voices I never tire of hearing; Harriet Wheeler (The Sundays) is one. Others are: Ann Wilson (Heart), Karen Carpenter, Florence Welch (+ The Machine), Alejandra Deheza (School of Seven Bells), Kristy Thirsk (Rose Chronicles & Delerium); Mary Fahl (October Project), Hannah Reid (London Grammar), Emily Haines (Metric).
Sloop John B was the name of the ship in the tale. This is a folk song widely covered at the time. NOT an original BB song. Folk rock was a thing in 66 and this is the BB take on the style. Glad you liked the record almost everyone does.
you’ve gotta check out the Smile Sessions, also by the beach boys. if you want deeper lyrics that album is crazy. way more experimental in its sound and its a surrealist odyssey of the hellish creation of America
I subscribed after I saw the Joy Division reviews, but I like that you're doing Sio much variety with classics like this and newer stuff like Lana Del Rey. How about "Achtung Baby" and "Zooropa" from U2 in honor of their Sphere anniversary shows? (They work as a pairing, but "War," "Unforgettable Fire" or "Joshua Tree" are also good). Some other favorites: Astral Weeks (Van Morrison), Alligator (National) and/or nice pairing of Crocodiles (Echo and the Bunnymen), The Suburbs or Black Mirror (Arcade Fire), Pretty Hate Machine (Nine Inch Nails), Dirty (Sonic Youth), 69 Love Songs (Magnetic Fields), I Am a Bird Now (Antony and the Johnsons), Wrecking Ball (Emmylou Harris), Car Wheels on a Gravel Road (Lucinda Williams). Also maybe something from Nina Simone (Wild is the Wind?), Stevie Wonder (Innervisions, Talking Book, or anything 70s era), Leonard Cohen (many eras, The Future is fun), The Killers (Hot Fuss is good start) and cult favorite the Go-Betweens (like 16 Lovers Lane).
Always love seeing reactions to this album, it's probably my favorite album of all time and it absolutely stands the test of time. The album has been described as being about the joy of falling in love, experiencing heartbreak, and letting love fade into memory. The band had also just picked up their sixth member, Bruce Johnston, the year prior to the release of this album. The Smile Sessions is something else of theirs to look into also, but the story behind it and its non-release is far too much to explain in a RU-vid comment. Smile was basically going to be the Beach Boys' Sgt. Pepper's months before Sgt. Pepper's even released. Its concept would have been focused around the topics of Americana, the elements, and the cycle of life.
Bruce Johnston, a journeyman, was working for Capitol Records as a field executive. When Glen Campbell, who briefly filled Brian Wilson's slot on tour and sometimes recorded with the Wrecking Crew, left the band, Bruce took over. He and Brian are the chief voices on the canon coda of "God Only Knows". Johnston did harmony arrangements for Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, and it was he, not Barry Manilow, who wrote "I Write the Songs". He added a lot to the group.
@@DanielByers-qf9qi Wow, I knew most of that, but I did not know that he worked at Capitol before and did harmony arrangements for Dark Side of the Moon, that's so damn cool! Honestly, knowing all this, Bruce is such a massively underrated member, what a guy!
