Critics have for years raved about the genius of Brian Wilson and how in a different kind of way the music of the Beach Boys rivaled that of the Beatles during the same period. I had always heard that Pet Sounds was a symphony of artistic triumph that was a classic for the ages. I used to listen to the Beach Boys when I was a teen and thought it was interesting, catchy and kind of fun to listen to. Hell, I even tried to peroxide my hair to get the California look but ended up a dirty orange that ran off way more chicks than it attracted as they were apparently afraid of what they might catch.

I always wondered what I was missing with this Brian Wilson / Pet Sounds phenomenon. Since it had been ages since I had listened to it I bought the re-mastered CD to try it again. What a waste of money and time! I still don’t get it. Of course there were the cutesy songs I remembered – Wouldn’t It Be Nice (if this CD were better), Sloop John B and God Only Knows (and He/She ain’t tellin’). Then there is the title track – Pet Sounds. What it sounds like is that Brian went into the studio with some glue, spray paint and lacquer but instead of making a model decided to inhale with the tape machine running. Maybe I’m blasphemous but I just don’t get it. For the same time period give me the Beatles (or even NAZZ for that matter).  AW