With it being July and we are all suffering through the hot, hot, summer I couldn’t think of a better artist to pick than the Beach Boys. They are the epitome of summertime music, and are the no.1 selling American band of all time.
The “original” Beach Boys formed in the late 50’s, when Brian Wilson and his brothers Carl and Dennis ending up having to share a room together. Brian and his love of music soon rubbed off on his brothers and they started performing songs with one another. They soon added their cousin Mike Love, and a good friend Al Jardine. I say “original” because over the years there have been many instances when a member would drop out, or like Brian Wilson, decided to take some time off to write music. I grew up listening to the Beach Boys, and I can even recall one Christmas where a toothless Justin was super excited to get his Beach Boys cassette tape. They have a very unique sound, and their harmonies are legendary. While only one of the Beach Boys could actually surf, they knew what was hip at the time and created songs geared toward the trends of the 60’s.
Of course the Beach Boys would not be who they are without Brian Wilson, and all of his musical talents. I geared my album picks toward showing off his musical progression, thus leaving the option of a second Beach Boys week a definite possibility. Someone can do a Brian Wilson week part 2 if they like.
The first album, Surfer Girl is the first album that Brian Wilson was given full production credit for. It also has some of the most cherished summertime tracks like Surfer Girl, Catch a Wave, and Little Deuce Coup. The next album The Beach Boys Now, is the most acclaimed album by the Beach Boys only after Pet Sounds. It is also during this album that Brian Wilson suffers his first anxiety attack, which ends his touring career for some time. You will also notice on this album that the first few tracks are much more upbeat than the second half. It is said that the more melancholy tracks are a sign of the direction that Brian Wilson will take ultimately. Pet Sounds has been widely ranked as one of the most influential records ever released in pop music. It is ranked #2 on Rolling Stone’s top 500 albums of all times only behind the Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts club Band. This is Brian Wilson’s greatest creation and shows that the time he took off touring in order to focus on the music really paid off. I will let you discover the greatness of the album on your own.
I hope everyone enjoys this week
Recommended Listening:
Surfer Girl (1963)
Today! (1965)
Pet Sounds (1966)
Here is a rare live video of The Beach Boys, really showcasing what a great live band they were.
The Beach Boys are probably running neck and neck with The Velvet Underground for the title of the most influential American band of all time. Their style of harmonizing has been copied countless times by musicians all over the rock n' roll spectrum, and both Brian Wilson's songrwriting and production style have been a huge inspiration on young musicians for the last 50 years. In many respects, punk may not have happened if not for the band, as The Ramones took their sound heavily from The Beach Boys, and then The Ramones sound was adopted for much of the poppier side of punk music in the future. I've also always thought of Animal Collective as sort of a "Beach Boys on acid", with the harmonizing and summery feel that is inherent to their music. Needless to say, a Beach Boys week was necessary to Music Togetherness, and I'm glad that Beth chose it for this week. It was fitting that this was one of the hottest periods of the year....the early songs in the week allowed for great daydreaming about spending some time cooling off at the beach.
ReplyDelete'Surfer Girl' starts off with one of my favorite songs by the band, the title track of the album. I've always been a fan of the Brian Wilson sung tracks as opposed to many of the early hits that were sung by Mike Love....Brian's voice was just so smooth and the harmonies just worked so much better with his voice in the front. This song is a perfect example of that, as the harmonies throughout the song are simply gorgeous, and the song transmits a beautiful melancholy....the whole song is like being right inside of the mind of a thoughtful, love-stricken surfer. "The Rocking Surfer" is the first of two instrumental tracks on the album, and shows off the bands talent as instrumentalists, as well as conveying the feel of a beach party perfectly. "Little Deuce Coupe" features Mike Love on vocals, and is probably the most well known song on the album. It's not one of my absolute favorite of the bands big hits, but even a 2nd tier Beach Boys hit is still a classic. The following song, however, is most definitely a first rate classic. "In My Room" was the first real introspective song penned by Brian Wilson, and is one of the most beautiful songs that I've ever heard....it's also one of my favorite songs of all-time. The lyrics give a little insight into Brian's mind, showing the first signs of a possibly troubled mind that would manifest itself into a full-blown nervous breakdown that would leave him house-ridden for virtually all of the 70s and 80s. "Your Summer Dream" is in the same vein as "In My Room", but instead of conveying a sense of isolation, the song is all about a dream of being out in the world and experiencing all of the beauty that there is to see....and the song itself is a part of that beauty. In all, there are some unbelievably fantastic songs on this album, but a couple of bum tracks (namely "South Bay Surfer" and "Our Car Club") hold it back from being as great as the later albums under review this week.
ReplyDelete'Surfer Girl' Album Rating: 78%
The Beach Boys make me think of going up to Raging Rivers for the day with the family. Their name says it all and it is very difficult to feel down while listening to them. I had no idea they put all their hits out in the 60’s prior to this week. The only image I have of them is a live performance where they are all in their 50’s, wearing Hawaiian shirts, and singing to a bunch of 20 year olds in bikinis. Therefore my impression of them was a modern day ‘boy’ band that were better suited for performing on a cruise boat. Learning the decade these tracks came out has instantly changed my perspective.
ReplyDeleteThe first thing I notice about them on Surfer Girl is that you can distinctly hear each of their voices. This is quite unusual for me to pick out with a quintet. With N’Sync it is all JT and JC, Backstreet is A.J. and Brian. I guess for me, this album is just like a Christmas album. It has one common theme throughout, the tracks are only 2.5 minutes long, and is not relevant for most of the year. So if I am hosting a pool party, these guys are essential. Otherwise, it is out of place for me. Keeping that in mind and reviewing it in its peak season, ‘Surfer Girl’ is a little slower than I was expecting from these guys. The title track is an interesting choice to kick it off with. It sets the mood for guys to hit on women poolside, but does not really kick off the luau. Without throwing the word ‘Surfer’ in every other line, you wouldn’t get the summer feel until ‘South Bay Surfers.’ ‘Little Deuce Scoop’ has the first top notch vocal out of Mike Love. This is quickly overshadowed by Wilson’s vocals with ‘In My Room’ and ‘Hawaii.’ Like the Beatles, these tracks have a quality about them that seem so simple and easy for the group. There is a basic formula that just works. It is relatable for young men, and easy for young women to get swoon to. I will say that the last half of the album was forgettable and omitted that winning formula that they possess.
‘Today!’ starts off like I expected all Beach Boy albums with a bang in ‘Do You Wanna Dance?” I believe this one featured a different lead singer than we are used to hearing. This and ‘Good to My Baby’ both sound like they could be played at a homecoming dance in the early 70’s. ‘When I Grow Up’ is a highlight of the album and really features the parody at the end where everyone is chiming in. This is the basic formula to all Backstreet Boys and N’Sync songs and I have a feeling the Beach Boys were a great inspiration to that. ‘Help Me, Ronday’ has an impact in my life probably once a week. Everytime I see my neighbor Ronda, I have a strong urge that I ultimately fight off to ask for her help with something. This could range from picking up a stick, keeping her dogs from pissing on our Willow tree, or shadowboxing with me in the burial ground. ‘Please Let Me Wonder’ was probably my least favorite Beach Boys song to date. It lacks everything they are about and just comes out flat and boring. ‘Kiss Me, Baby’ was the first song I liked that I hadn’t heard prior to this week. Again, all 5 vocalists stand out and have contributions prior to the parody. I liked this album at least 3 times more than ‘Surfer Girl.’ It had more depth and had better production and consistency.
ReplyDelete‘Pet Sounds’ kicks off with one of the most recognizable Beach Boy tracks for me in ‘Wouldn’t it Be Nice.’ This song reminds me of several movies and commercials and is just a feel good song. Just like ‘Stevie Wonder’ week, this should be plastered in a McDonald’s commercial selling Happy Meals. ‘You Still Believe in Me’ was a step in a completely different direction with a very slow pace and an occasional bike horn (???) making an appearance. This must have been the track that inspired Blue Oyster Cult to try incorporating the cow bell. ‘I’m Waiting for the Day’ reminded me of one of the trippier Beatles songs later in their careers, in particular the intro. ‘Sloop John B’ was extremely catchy and humorous. The line ‘This is the worst trip I’ve ever been on’, just cracks me up. I would like to dedicate ‘God Only Knows’ to my wife as it says it all for how much I appreciate everything she does for me to keep me sane and help me live life to the fullest. Just like ‘Surfer Girl’, the second half is not nearly as strong as the first and ends rather dull.
ReplyDeleteI’ve heard ‘Pet Sounds’ is by far the best Beach Boys album, however, I liked ‘Today’ the most. Unfortunately, I only found one or two tracks that I liked outside of the ones I had heard prior to the week. I was hoping to find a few more diamonds in the rough, but either way, this was a fun week.
Beth is absolutely right about my Christmas present of The Beach Boys Greatest Hits on cassette, and I was geeked about it. My parents also bought me a little GE boombox to play it on; there’s nothing like sitting around on a chilly December morning playing with new toys and listening to songs about surfing, sun and fast cars! Now that I think about it, it was the first music that I ever owned. These songs are full of nostalgia and explain why I like a lot of the music I listen to now.
ReplyDeleteThe silky harmonies on the title track grab you instantly; I honestly don’t understand how anybody could hear this song on the radio and turn the station. There’s nothing complex about “Surfer Girl”, it’s a song about a young guy who likes a girl. But it is the way it is delivered, much like pop-tunes that are played today on Top 40 stations everywhere, it’s not too long and gets stuck in your head. To me, the human voice is the most beautiful instrument of all; when The Beach Boys collaborated they created one of the most powerful instruments I’ve ever heard. “In My Room” showcases not only this glorious sound, but a serious bit of songwriting from Brian Wilson. David is right on-point with the foreshadowing in this song and the sad circumstances that led to Brian’s breakdown. “The Surfer Moon” is another standout for me with the string accompaniment that is reminiscent of the Big Band era. The surf guitars on “The Rocking Surfer” flow seamlessly and prove that an instrumental track can be an integral part of an album. My love of Jack Johnson’s early output is a direct effect of this music. Jack’s surfing background is never explored in his lyrics, but his laidback surfing lifestyle is reflected in his music. “Your Summer Dream” is a very welcomed new find in the Beach Boys catalog for me, I can see a reclusive Brian penning these tracks by himself on the beach while watching others frolic in the California sun.
The subject matter is the biggest standout on Today! The Boys are focusing more on the ladies and less about surfing, which I think they covered in its entirety on Surfer Girl. This album took a couple of tracks before it really got started, for me. “Don’t Hurt My Little Sister” finds a protective Mike Love singing to his sisters bum of a beau, which is a nice change of pace from the usual lyrics about fawning after women. “When I Grow Up to Be a Man” is a perfect track, the slightly off-key chorus embodies the voices of adolescent boys pondering a life down the road and the choices they’ve made; this is an all time favorite of mine. I can’t imagine how crazy little girls were at this time with The Beach Boys AND The Beatles controlling the airwaves. “I’m So Young” is another amazing find this week; Brian’s layered vocals and lyrics about not marrying too young is a true anthem and timeless. “Kiss Me, Baby” is one of their more complex compositions, taking elements out and bringing them back in, almost mimicking a rolling tide. Today! served as a big stepping stone on the journey to Pet Sounds.
ReplyDeletePet Sounds is widely recognized as one the greatest albums ever conceived; I find new ways to love it every time I listen to it, so I have to be in agreement. Like Today!, it starts off a little slow, but the payoff here is much larger and more satisfying. This album is the culmination of Brian’s extensive time in the studio and the freedom to explore his musical capabilities to their fullest. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” is like a cannon of confetti being shot off; it’s so polished and triumphant that I can’t think of a better opening track to another album ever. “You Still Believe In Me” is an interesting sequencing choice; it’s a slow introspective track that halts the momentum built up by the huge opener. “That’s Not Me” continues this deeper coming-of-age storyline that Brian is building upon. The organ, mandolin, and flute on “I’m Waiting For the Day” reminds me very much of their aforementioned contemporaries The Beatles; it’s well documented that they were both influences on each other. Another big swell comes in the form of “Sloop John B” and its lighthearted nautical theme followed by the very powerful “God Only Knows” that chokes me up every time I hear it. Brian’s role of the misunderstood genius comes into clear view on “I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times”; the outsider viewpoint really nailed the relationship that the band and he had reached after his breakdown. “Caroline, No” is my favorite track on the album, it’s just Brian and it’s achingly beautiful. What a superb pick for the dog days of summer, thank you!
Right from the start of the album, 'Today!' shows off the advances that Brian Wilson had made in production work with this album. On "Do You Wanna Dance?" which was written by Bobby Freeman and famously covered by The Ramones, the song starts off like a typical Beach Boys song. When the chorus hits, however, a Phil Spector-like wall of sound hits you, with some booming, echoing drums that must have sounded enormous at the time. I like the Ramones version of the song better, but every version of the song is great for making you feel good. "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)" is dominated by the harpsichord, and features some excellent harmonizing throughout the length of the song. "Help Me Rhonda" of course is one of the most well known of the band's songs, and was famously one of the songs that Brian Wilson recorded several versions of because he just couldn't convince himself that he'd recorded the perfect version of the song. The one we get on this album contains some false-endings where the volume fades in and out several times towards the end....this song was also the first Beach Boys song to feature a lead vocal by Al Jardine....I'd say that he did a pretty good job. Beginning with "Please Let Me Wonder" the album kicks off on a run of greatness that ultimately set the stage for the album that was to follow this one. "Kiss Me Baby" was Wilson's best production work up to this point, and the song wouldn't have sounded out of place at all on 'Pet Sounds'. Every little piece of the song just sounds huge, and in combination with "She Knows Me Too Well", forms part of what is definitely one of my favorite one-two punches in the Beach Boys catalog. Like many of the early songs by the band, "She Knows Me Too Well" was clearly influenced by the girl-group scene of the time, as led by the likes of The Shangri-Las and The Ronettes. In all, this song was the next step in the maturation process for the band, and Brian Wilson in particular. For most bands, this would easily be a career pinnacle, but for the Beach Boys, they were just getting started.
ReplyDelete'Today!' Album Rating: 89%
There's just something to me about the opening seconds of 'Pet Sounds' that perfectly encapsulates everything great about the album itself. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" starts off with a fun little mandolin line that just sounds so carefree, and then 7 seconds in the drum hits and everything is off and running. This is probably my favorite opening to any album of all time, and to me, that drum hit is Brian Wilson's way of saying to wake up, because you're about to hear his masterpiece. The rest of the song is just as perfect, with it's daydreaming about the future, and will forever go on to be considered one of the most beautiful, perfectly realized pop songs in the history of music. I know others this week have commented on the sequencing of "You Still Believe In Me", but to me it sounds like one of the waves that was talked about so much in the earlier Beach Boys albums. There's an ebb and flow to this album....rising and falling like an ocean wave, and I think that it's perfect. "Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)" is the second best love song on the album, but at the same time it's one of the greatest love songs ever written. If there was ever a lyrical interpretation of what it's like to spend time with someone that you love, this is it. The orchestration behind the song gives me chills every time I hear it....words just can't describe the beauty of the whole thing. "I'm Waiting for the Day" is the next rise of the wave, and I love how the song picks up the pace in the last 30 seconds and races towards the end. "Let's Go Away For a While" sounds like Stereolab or Tortoise mixed with The Beatles, and is one of the lovelier instrumental tracks that you'll ever hear. "Sloop John B" is the most fun track of the album, and will never fail to make me think of the Vietnam War when I hear it....this song is the 60s. "God Only Knows" is widely considered by critics to be the greatest and most beautiful song ever written....and in no way could I ever argue with that sentiment. The only way to describe this song is to listen to it yourself, and notice the way that it makes you feel....it's doing the same thing to me, and everyone else who's ever heard it. Carl Wilson sings in such a tone that you can honestly feel his uncertainty in what might actually happen to him without the person for whom the song's about in his life. It's my favorite song of the 1960s, and for all of the great music that came out during the decade, that's saying a LOT. It's almost not fair for the rest of the songs on the album to have to follow that one, but every single one of them is great in their own way. My favorite song on the latter half of the album is the finale. "Caroline No" is the washing out of the wave to sea....it's the pining for the girl that made him feel the way he felt throughout the rest of the album, as she's changed and isn't that girl anymore. It's also just a fantastic way to end one of the top 3 or 4
ReplyDeletealbums ever to be dropped from Heaven.
'Pet Sounds' Album Rating: 100%
OK, I sincerely apologize for this late, late post. I was so tired from this weekend I crashed as soon as I got home today and just now finished with the day's chores.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, although I of course listened to the Beach Boys on my own throughout the week, and of course I was already familiar with the band before this week, we still got some pretty good listening in on the drive up to Cincy. Here goes:
I worked at Raging Rivers Waterpark in Grafton the summer before my senior year. If I hadn't already been privy to the Beach Boys' sound before then, I surely was up on their collection by the end. For that reason, and because my mom listened to 103.3 as I was growing up instead of Y98, this week has been a much welcomed blast from the past. I was a little surprised I didn't know as much of the first album as I thought I would from the title, "Surfer Girl." I was, of course, familiar with the title track and "Catch a Wave." Those were surely on the waterpark's playlist way back when. I wouldn't be surprised if they're still using it. I mean, this stuff is timeless summer music, as Beth mentioned in her intro post. Not to offend any of you, because that's certainly not my point, but this stuff has so much in common with the mindless pop radio I listen to today. The difference is, the simplicity we're hearing here is by and far better in quality than the crap I listen to today, but it's still simple. This album is about three things - surfing, girls, cars. I can just see my dad in his early high school years hanging out with his friends to this soundtrack. Except I don't think they were too beach-y. But they did like their cars. "Little Deuce Coupe" is one of my favorite tracks on this album, as well as "In My Room." These guys spare nothing on the haunting harmonies. It's the band's strongest suit - being able to turn a song about surfing into something mood altering (always on the happy side with these guys for me). The only downside to this album is that I didn't discover anything I particularly loved outside of the tracks I'd already heard. Not a major fault, by any means.
ReplyDelete"Today!" is much of the same. It starts off strongly with the classic "Do You Wanna Dance?" Why yes, I do. I can tell they're growing a little with this album. The songs, while still pretty simplistic, are about things with deeper meanings, like the song "When I Grow Up." Well, it's more mature than "Little Deuce Coupe" anyway ;) For me, the real gem on this album is "Help Me Ronda." Rhonda is my cousin's name - I wonder if she was named after this song, even though it's spelled differently. Her mom might have been a little young when this first came out, but you never know. Again, the song sounds a little more grown up than the songs on its predecessor. This time they slow it down a little with "I'm So Young." Going by the title of the song it's funny that I've mentioned them having grown a little. The pace and the melody kind of remind me of the song "Earth Angel," which you'll all know from "Back to the Future." "In the Back of My Mind" kind of loses that beach sound that made them popular. I almost wouldn't know that's the Beach Boys if I hadn't been privy to the information. All in all, I liked this album a little less than the first one. It had fewer familiar, nostalgic tunes on it and lacked the happiness that permeated every song on the first album. Still a good effort though.
ReplyDelete"Pet Sounds" is far and away the band's best album. I think everyone knows that going in. Possibly my favorite Beach Boys song of all time is "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" It's so happy, the melody is great, the harmonies are outstanding, and it's about new love and the excitement that comes with it. What's not to like? It's still got a hint of that beachy sound without being cheesy. No flaws in this one for me. Moving on, I love the intro on "You Still Believe in Me." I can hear some influence the band has probably had on acts like Vampire Weekend. Here, the topics are much more mature. See "I'm Waiting for the Day." And that brings us to "Sloop John B." If "Wouldn't It Be Nice" could lose its spot to any other Beach Boys song it would be this one. Not only is "Forrest Gump" my favorite movie of all time, it's soundtrack is the best I've ever heard, and this is one of it's highlights. It's sound is haunting, but also so big. From the harmonies to the... what sounds like a tuba, to what sounds like the triangle in the background... this song's sound is so rich and full. And the yearning in the lyrics, don't get me started. "God Only Knows" is beautiful, but the lyrics are absurd. Take the first verse for example. Basically, "This love probably isn't going to last forever, but when I stop loving you I'll just go ahead and pretend so we can live a lie." I mean, I get the point. It's a love song that's not flighty or unrealistic, but that first verse is just disturbing to be. It does get better in the second. Yes, of course he'll not literally die if she ever leaves him, but he won't want to live because she completes him. Lyrics or no, the music and harmonies are genius here. The rest of the album is incredibly solid - but what makes this album for me is the sheer quality the popular songs off this album have over their predecessors. And the fact that I'm obsessed with them for life.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing before I go - this week was very fitting because of the heat. Let's hope Bjork brings us some cooler weather ;)