Pet Sounds (The Beach Boys, 1966)

It's so cheeky to have to write something about one of the most respected albums of all time, but the Randomness thus dictates, so here we go.

I don't think anyone would have anticipated the Beach Boys were capable of such an album back in 1962 when every song was about cars, girls, and surfing (all in California, of course) and even the most banal lyrics could be covered up with world-class vocal harmonies. However, like most bands of their time, they were not immune to the winds of change, and acutely aware of what was happening in Britain. Unlike most bands of their time, the British, particularly the Beatles, were listening back, creating a sonic war of sorts that erupted in 1965 and fizzled by late 1967.

Pet Sounds was Brian Wilson's attempt to outdo the Beatles after hearing Rubber Soul. Interestingly, this album is nearly the polar opposite in approach from the Beatles' own next album, Revolver. However it was clear that Pet Sounds had been absorbed by the Beatles juggernaut upon the release of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, which sent Wilson into a tizzy and ultimate sunk Smile, the album intended to be the followup to Pet Sounds (Smiley Smile is but a faint reflection of Wilson's original vision for Smile, but that's a whole other tome to explore).

This is not a party album, which is ironic for a band that released an album called Party! just the previous year. It's lush and quiet and the perfect soundtrack for your "alone" time, much as the music and lyrics reflect the inner personal world of Brian Wilson. So in some ways it's a bit of a shock that the album is so introspective, considering over 70 musicians are credited and the big rollicking hit of the day ("Good Vibrations") is nowhere to be found.

In spite of a coworker routinely telling me this was the greatest album ever, I held off on getting this album for far too long. A few years ago he passed away in a car accident, so I make a point of playing this album start to finish on the anniversary of that fateful day.