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The Beach Boys

I'm a huge fan of classic rock, and music in general, listening to almost all genres from classical to jazz to rock to contemporary pop (very selectively). Don't care much for country and reggae. I've been reading in the latest issue of Stereophile about Acoustic Sounds reissuing The Beach Boys catalog, and the article compelled me to express my opinion on this forum. I'm simply completely, utterly, and overwhelmingly at a loss to understand the acclaim for this band. The fact that "Pet Sounds" is considered one of the greatest albums of all time leaves me speechless. I always considered their music a bit of a joke, good for background when you're in a beach bar in Southern California, in the same vein reggae or mariachi music are tolerable in Jamaica or Mexico, respectively, when one's on vacation. I then heard about them being compared to The Beatles and have been confused ever since. Perhaps a comparison to The Beatles early songs as they were evolving as musicians and songwriters would make sense, but comparing the genius of The Beatles to the "genius" of Brian Wilson is just preposterous, in my opinion.

I would like to hear from those who like or love The Beach Boys what it is about their music that they think warrants the acclaim and their presence in the upper echelon of music. I realize my post may generate quite a bit of controversy and angry responses, but I don't mean to offend or put down anyone's musical tastes. I'm posting as a music lover who is truly perplexed. 

    
actusreus
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
9,947 posts
 
Amen fjn04! Brian Wilson has probably been the most important music maker in my life. The Beach Boys were the first group I saw live, in 1964, and Brian was still playing bass and singing with the Group at that time. I even made a pilgrimage to Brian’s beautiful Spanish-style mansion on Belagio Drive in Bel-Air in ’75, to see about having him produce myself and my musical partner, a songwriter heavily influenced by Brian. We were not yet aware of how damaged Brian was, that info not yet being public. I can’t imagine my musical life without Brian. Anyone accusing me or anyone like me of being culpable or complicate in Brian’s tragic demise by lauding his greatest achievement, the stunning Smile, can kiss my a--.
joejoe
69 posts
 
To each their own. I find it irrelevant, thay you think them irrelevant. Here's a thought, if you don't like, then don't listen. Opinions are like assholes everyones got one. ( Here's hoping the thought police won't find it necessary to delete this.)
dayglow
1,957 posts
 
Actusreus does make a valid point. To make a claim that the Beach Boys were great musicians-vocalists or lyricists would be a very biased viewpoint. I will agree the whole is greater then the sum of the parts. Since the BB were not from my generation(gen-x) I have no emotional-nostalgic ties. Pet Sounds might be there best studio recording(have not heard every BB recording) which I'm familiar with every track on PS. I certainly would not say it's a perfect(great) album but it does deserve a spot in your music collection. IMO the definitive BB recording is The Beach Boys-Live in Concert(1973). With the addition of Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin gives the BB a higher level of musicianship sounding more like a classic rock band then a jukebox.
tzh21y
1,654 posts
 
Brian Wilson was a genius and he worked with some of the best studio musicians at the time. The way he used certain instruments one song that comes to kind is good vibrations is really the work of a true musical genius in total control and knowing exactly what he wanted.  That song was way ahead of its time.
slaw's avatar
slaw
22,042 posts
 
I've never been a huge Beach Boys fan. I've always read of how influential "Pet Sounds" was. In my system, I never heard the end result. That is until recently, when aquired a DCC Mono copy. This is one special sounding record! One in which I can now appreciate the music, more over, the technical production and the moving experience I'm now hearing in my system.

Steve Hoffman got this one right!
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