Pet Sounds

The Beach Boys began their career when they formed in 1961 in California. The group featured Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine. The album Pet Sounds was first debuted in 1966. The album Pet Sounds is different from the classic Beach Boys we all know and love. The album came after The Beatles released Rubber Soul in 1965. When the album was released, singer Brian Wilson noticed that the song's lyrics were original and for that, they decided to make Pet Sounds. The sounds on Pet Sounds do not reflect on events that are happening around them but on relationships. The music on the album display a lot of musical instruments instead of singing. This particular album showed Wilson's true talent in his compositions and especially in the song "Caroline, No" with his solo. 

"Wouldn't It Be Nice" 
The first song, "Wouldn't it be Nice" is your typical young romance song. It sums up the perfect world and relationship between a man and a women with the simple statement, "Wouldn't it be nice if..." The sound includes group back up singers and chiming in at the end with "ba ba ba ba ba" Reference to the Album name? There's a inclination that the couple in this song are young because they want to "live in a world where we belong."

Wouldn't it be nice if we were older  

Then we wouldn't have to wait so long 

And wouldn't it be nice to live together 

In the kind of world where we belong.

"You Still Believe In Me" 
This song is actually a complete 360 from the last song. The song opens up with a Sitar and then the lyrics begin. The man in the relationship is owning up to his mistakes. However he tells the women that she is being patient. Though they break up, she still goes back to him. Other instruments used are a tambourine and a bell.

Every time we break up 

You bring back your love to me 

And after all I've done to you 

How can it be

"That's Not Me"
I like this song because it is about at first changing yourself for someone, and then realizing "that's not me." The first line of the song is actually him telling himself that he had to "prove" that he could be alone. The change is a result of leaving someone and living by yourself. Having a big dream and thinking that everything is going to be good and then coming to the realization that living by yourself is not all that it's cracked up to be.

I had to prove that I could make it alone  

But that's not me 

I wanted to show how independent I'd grown now 

But that's not me

"Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulders"
This song is definitely more slower than the other songs on the album. The calmness of Brian Wilson's voice makes the song very peaceful. The lyrics of the song makes me believe that they are preparing for  sex. I understand that Wilson's true talent comes out in this album, and could be hinted at this song. However, I am not a fan of this one.

Come close, close your eyes and be still 

Don't talk, take my hand and let me hear your heart beat 

Being here with you feels so right 

We could live forever tonight 

Lets not think about tomorrow 

And don't talk put your head on my shoulder

"I'm Waiting For the Day"
The fifth track on the album has a mix of slow and fast beats. The beginning opens with really jumpy music and then it goes slow. And then when "again" is sung, the music begins to be loud again. Even though the lyrics seem to sad, I feel that the music makes the song upbeat. The ending of the song is actually my favorite because it shows that the person is OK without the women.

You didn't think that I could sit around and let him work  

You didn't think that I could sit around and let watch him take you  

You didn't think that I could sit around and let him go  

You didn't think that I could sit back and let you go

"Let's Go Away For Awhile"
The beginning is very peaceful and then it gets to be very hectic. I feel myself to be on the edge of my seat waiting for lyrics to start, when in fact there are no lyrics. This song reminds me of dreams where a new event occurs about every 30 seconds. I'm not a fan of this song, however I admire The Beach Boys for stepping out of their norm and writing an instrumental piece. 

"Sloop John B"
This was actually the second song I knew on the album along with "Wouldn't It Be Nice." I love how the song starts off. I really never paid attention to the lyrics, just the upbeat rhythm. I like how the song tells a story and I'm curious who or what John B was. John B. was a folksong in 1917 The Beach Boys' version of the song was influenced by the Kingston's Trio version. The John B., however was a ship that sank in The Bahamas in 1900.
Though the lyrics and beat are altered, the two songs sound very much alike:
Kingston Trio:

The Beach Boys: 

"God Only Knows"
This is another song that I heard of prior to listening to the album. I like the slow introduction of the song. I also like the smoothness and softness of of Wilson's voice. This song again has more instrumental music and the background "ba ba ba ba ba" comes back in this song. "God only knows what I'd be without you" is repeated a lot at the end. This is a sign of imagining what his life would be like if the person was not in his life.

If you should ever leave me 

Well life would still go on believe me 

The world could show nothing to me 

So what good would living do me

"I Know There's An Answer"
The song begins with a very funky beat with a tambourine. Once the lyrics begin, the tambourine continues to accent the beats. There is melody with background accompaniment, "oooh."With about a less than a minute of the song, there is a closing "DuBeDo" and then the tambourine plays. 

"Here Today"
The tambourine is an other main instrument used in this song as well as an organ. I like the meaning of the song. Basically it's saying, don't get your hopes up on love. It's here today and gone tomorrow. The one line that I really like in the song is when a man is in love with a women who was just with the man from the song.

Well you know I hate to be a downer 

But I'm the guy she left before you found her 

Well I'm not saying you won't have a good love with her 

But I keep on remembering things like they were

"I Just Wasn't Made for These Times"
When I first heard of the song, I began to think of "That's Not Me."As the song progressed, I found it very difficult to follow along with the lyrics seeing that there was a little of different voices singing different lyrics. There are a lot of "oohs" in this song as well. This song was wasn't my favorite.

Each time things start to happen again 

I think I got something good goin' for myself 

But what goes wrong

"Pet Sounds"
Finally the song I have been waiting for. The song that is the title of the album that is so well know. The cooky beginning is the first piece of the bizarre song. Again, like this song, I kept anticipating lyrics to start. To be honest, I don't know see anything really super about this song. I do like the instrumental piece, and for some people they might like to interrupt different means and images. However for me, I like lyrics to help with the meaning of the song. 

"Caroline, No"
To rap up the album, Wilson showcases his true talent with his solo. I really like this song with the bongos and the slow, softness of the song. The train at the ending is really abrupt and changes the meaning of the song. I think that it is a really good song to rap up the album with and sums up the true talent.

Could I ever find in you again 

Things that made me love you so much then 

Could we ever bring 'em back once they have gone 

Oh, Caroline no

To be honest, I do not care for this album. I would much rather buy "Good Vibrations." I feel that while there are some classics and well know songs on "Pet Sounds," some of the songs are just not up to The Beach Boys' norm. I feel that the reason to break out of the norm is to compete with other top artists at the time. While I will always be a Beach Boys fan, I recommend not buying this record. If you like songs that make your mind work and interrupt the meaning of the songs, this may be the album for you. But if you like upbeat songs that are catchy, save your money.