The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds

The album that challenged the Beatles to record Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Brian Wilson's epic masterpiece. Long picked at the top or near the top of best records ever made. And my personal favorite album, if I had to pick one. Why? Why not Revolver or Rubber Soul or something by even Pink Floyd?

True, there's tons of bands I love more than the Beach Boys, but Brian Wilson truly put his heart and soul into this album, and shows. To me it's the most emotional record by any band, let alone the Beach Boys.

The record opens with "Wouldn't It Be Nice," a song about teenage love, wishing they could make a real commitment. The opening guitars followed by that single drum beat just let you know you're in for something special from the get-go. It has the perfect balance of soft and wishful, followed by ecstatic joy of young love.

Next is "You Still Believe In Me" with its use of a bicycle bell and toy horns. The lyrics reach to the heart as Brian sings about how he isn't happy with how he's acting, but his love still stays beside him. The best part is the outro as the Beach Boys display their talented harmonies.

"That's Not Me" follows, this time with Mike Love on lead. The song doesn't really stand out until the key changes as Mike sings "I once had a dream, so I packed up and went to the city, I soon found out that my lonely life wasn't so pretty." He repeats it, and you get the pain behind lost dreams.

Another great love song is next, "Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)." This song is really haunting and sad, yet sweet and romantic. But just as you're about to fall asleep, the drums are back with "I'm Waiting For The Day." It starts out kind of slow after the drums but soon it picks up with full drums, backing vocals, and Brian Wilson proclaiming his love for a broken-hearted girl, while emphasizing his patience for when she's ready. Just when you think it's over with a soft string interlude, the drums are back with Brian singing he won't sit back and let the girl go.

Next is a short instrumental, "Let's Go Away For Awhile." It's nice, but really the vocals and lyrics make this album, so I'm just waiting for one of my favorite songs to follow.

That song is the "Sloop John B." I really like the bass and guitar lines on this song. Sure, it's a traditional, and we all know the words, but the Beach Boys give it their own flavor. It's one of those songs that can cheer me up every time I hear it, like Jimmy Buffet's "Margaritaville." The harmonies are at their best in this song too, especially at the a capella section. And if you're listening on the vinyl, so ends side one.

Side two opens with the best love song ever written, at least for a current love. "Yesterday" by the Beatles is my favorite break up song. "God Only Knows" evokes religion in a time when it was seldom done. It also features a rarity with Carl Wilson on lead vocals. He gives it the proper achingly in love sound. The lyrics make the song of course, but the instrumentation is also amazing. The song ends with Carl, Brian, and Bruce Johnston passing the chorus around, which is a nice effect.

"I Know There's An Answer" originally had a more negative outlook to it under the name "Hang On To Your Ego." I like the original version, but I guess the second version fits better with the idealistic feel of the record.

I especially like the organs that open up "Here Today." This song is more cautionary than the other love songs on the album, as the band warns of the dangers of fleeting love. Especially since "I'm the guy she left when you found her." The song has a long instrumental interlude in the middle that reminds me of a carnival. Perhaps the message is love is like a carnival, only in town for a short time.

Next is another Brian Wilson masterpiece, "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times." Here, the Boys make full use of the orchestra. Brian really pours his heart and soul into this one (in fact he says so in the lyrics.) The call and response section is really touching. I'm sure there's times all of us have agreed with Brian, and wish we lived in simpler times. Unfortunately, those times never existed. Or maybe he longs for days to come, but I don't think they'll arrive either.

The album wraps up with "Pet Sounds," another instrumental with a nice bass line and unique instrumentation, and "Caroline No." The harmonies on this song are amazing. It makes a perfect end to the record, and the harpsichord is a nice touch. It's really a heart breaking song, and I can see why Brian has named it his favorite.

I really think it's the whole idealism of youth that wins me over with this record. I have long been a cynic, but there's a side of me that longs for a softer me. I wish I could open myself as much as Brian Wilson did with this album.

For further reading:
The Beach Boys' homepage
All Music Guide's Beach Boys entry
Wikipedia's Beach Boys entry

"Weird Al" Yankovic - Straight Outta Lynwood

To give you a good idea what sort of person I am, I'm kicking off this blog with, of all people, "Weird Al" Yankovic. I've been a fan of "Weird Al" since the early 80's, when I first heard "Eat It." Here it is, over 20 years later, and I'm still listening. I can't remember the last "Weird Al" album I didn't run out and get a copy soon after release. Some may think the 46-year-old Al has lost his touch, but I disagree. Sure Poodle Hat had its weak spots, but "Why Does This Always Happen to Me," Al's duet with Ben Folds, was as good as any original Al song from the '80s or '90s.

"Weird Al" kicks off Straight Outta Lynwood appropriately with a parody of Chamillionaire's "Ridin." This is a genre I'm not too familiar with, but from what I've heard of the original song, musically Al nails it as usual. The lyrics follow Al's long running theme of making fun of his own geekiness. However, it's the next track, "Pancreas," that wins me over to the album. In my opinion Al is at his best when writing his original songs, even though they're usually in the style of a certain group or genre instead of a song itself. "Pancreas" shows Al's musical talents as he takes on Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. The song really reflects on the songs that appeared on Smile, Brian Wilson's long awaited masterpiece.

"Canadian Idiot" falls flat to me. I didn't really like the song he parodies by Green Day, and the jokes don't really stand out. "I'll Sue Ya" has some funny lines, and does a good job of capturing Rage Against the Machine's sound, even though the band has been broken up for some time.

No "Weird Al" album would be complete without his take on today's current hits in a polka medley. This track made me feel old because I only recognized about two-thirds of the songs he used. But considering the quality of the original songs, I don't think I'm missing much. The next few songs on the album don't really grab me. I guess I don't really get where Al is going with any of them. "Close But No Cigar" kind of reminds me of Cake, but not quite.

My favorite song on the album is "Trapped in the Drive-Thru," a parody of R. Kelly's epic "Trapped in the Closet." I am not a R. Kelly fan, but I strongly urge you to go out and hear "Trapped in the Closet" (all 12 parts) if you haven't already. The original version is much funnier than Al's, just because it goes on and on, introducing more absurd characters as the story meanders all over the place. Al does a great job of capturing R Kelly's dramatic cliffhangers and dialogue. Unlike R. Kelly's version, I can at least relate to Al and his wife's dilemma of what to eat for dinner.

Finally the album closes out with "Don't Download This Song," which is mildly funny, and reminds me of those '80s charity songs like "We Are The World." The real humor in the song lies in the fact is Al made this song available free to download before Straight Outta Lynwood was released.

Overall, like all "Weird Al" Yankovic albums, Straight Outta Lynwood has its highlights and forgettable filler. But to me, the funny songs make it worth it.

For further reading:
"Weird Al"'s homepage
All Music Guide's "Weird Al" entry
Wikipedia's "Weird Al" entry