I fall into a different type of category in terms of Beach Boys listener, I’m a second generation semi-fan. My mom enjoys the band, casually, but my dad hates The Beach Boys with a passion. In some respect, I did too for the longest period of time while my tastes were maturing, horizons broadening, roots growing, and so on and so forth.

It is an interesting note that Brian Wilson’s commentary, in the supplemental DVD included in the upcoming release of the 40th Anniversary edition of Pet Sounds, likens the album to Sgt. Pepper’s, and more importantly Rubber Soul. When hearing Rubber Soul, he immediately went to his piano and began writing, attempting to recreate The Beatles’ forward thinking musical visualization and in doing so, he created Pet Sounds. For me those comments pertain to the closeness that I felt the band’s relationship for so many years, which ultimately lead me to staying as far away as possible from both The Beach Boys and The Beatles.

As previously touched on, my generation is the generation that knows the band through our parents and the media alone. One of my first memories of the band was the watered down touring company formerly known as The Beach Boys which played “Kokomo” with Uncle Jesse on Full House. It wasn’t until reading endless accounts of how amazing the band once was, how world shattering Pet Sounds was and how, in reality, “Kokomo” wasn’t a perfect image of the band’s music that I took the time to listen to The Beach Boys. It was only after hearing all these wonderful sentiments that I even bothered listening to Pet Sounds, after all, it was old and couldn’t possibly be timeless. But again, The Beatles were there.

I fell in love, watching A Hard Days Night and feeling the energy and simplicity that the band captured with its music. And Pet Sounds immediately seemed a distant memory.

But now, a few years later, I am given the opportunity to revisit the band, a band that I may have never truly met. I come into this experience knowing but a few things about the band, “Kokomo” sucks, Pet Sounds was inspired by Rubber Soul, Brian Wilson’s follow-up SMiLE was released to critical acclaim some 37 years late and my father hates the band. What do you know about the band? Are you willing to experience Pet Sounds for possibly the 30th time, or maybe honestly for the first?

The Unofficial Pet Sounds Blog

Pet Sounds Podcast Series “Album Overview”
Pet Sounds Podcast Series “Album Overview”

Additional Beach Boys Audio Here