Joe_Stax
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Joe's Book Club 3: Pet Sounds 33 1/3A DISCLAIMER: I’m not a fan of the Beach Boys. Jim E’s been trying to get me hooked for years, touting the genius of Brian Wilson, and pointing out Pet Sounds and the Smile sessions (via bootlegs) as the evidence. I’ve never really bitten, but do enjoy the odd song, like God Only Knows or Do It Again. To me, the Beach Boys have always been an “oldies” act. But I’ve picked up a copy of Pet Sounds recently in an attempt to dig into the band a bit more, and came across a neat little book about the album.
The book is part of the “33 1/3” series, each of which looks at a particular album’s story. Most of the volumes focus on records from the 1960’s, but a few venture into the following decades. Each book reflects its author’s interests: some are strictly about the details of what went into making the record, while others are about how the record influenced the writer. Some combine the best of both of these approaches.
This dual approach is exemplified in Pet Sounds by Jim Fusilli (2005, Continuum Books, paper, 121 pp, $9.95).
Beginning the story with his youth in Hoboken, NJ, and a brief history of the band, Fusilli sets the stage for the place of Pet Sounds in his life.
From there, he looks at each of the tracks on Pet Sounds, discussing their genesis and production. Often, he is able to tie in to songs from earlier records as antecedents. For those of us who thought there was a sudden jump from songs like California Girls to Pet Sounds, this is invaluable in showing the growth of Brian Wilson, from the simple sun’n’fun style into the more complex tracks on the albums that preceded Pet Sounds—Beach Boys Today! and Summer Days (and Summer Nights!!).
Ultimately, Fusilli’s point is that, regardless of how well the “formula” for Beach Boys hits worked, this album was a statement Brian had to make about growing up, and the anxieties and uncertainties that come with it. It was something Brian had to do, and in doing so, made a record that speaks to everyone going through this, and reassures the listener that the world can still be a wonderful place.
Well written, entertaining and informative, I enjoyed this book, and will be enjoying Pet Sounds and the Beach Boys with a fresh perspective.
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