Tag: Brian Wilson

Good Only Knows by The Beach Boys

Anthony8 Comments

I’d like to say that Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys is my number three or number four album ever and one that I would have on an island with me for sure. Many including the Beatles considered to be one of the most beautiful influential albums of the 60s that actually changed music and I agree.

There are two type of people in the world ones that know that Brian Wilson is a genius and the rest. The song God Only Knows is proof of that. 

He decided to let his brother Carl sing the leads on it and he did a great job. And the backing of the wrecking crew is nothing less than genius.

Such beautiful sad chords that grow up and up and up and never let you down. Great lyrics by Tony Asher, makes you wonder what Brian was trying to touch on.  Also to create those interesting sounds on the piano. He actually put pennies on the piano strings meticulously until he got that interesting staccato sound playing the piano. His experimentation in the studio can be found throughout the pet sounds album and there are many great songs on that album.

And of course you have the beautiful voices of the fellow Beach boys always on point creating these complex chords. 

Is it a love song to someone or a love song to music you decide. There’s a good reason why it’s tattooed on my left shoulder. 

Check it out most of you should probably know a but if not check it out it’s really special and thank you for reading and listening…

-aaa

I Just Wasn’t Made For These Times 

Anthony4 Comments

This for me is definitely one of Brian Wilson’s Magnum, opus’s of a song. 

He wrote the brilliant stunning, goosebump music to this song along with the brilliant lyrics by the brilliant Tony Asher. 

It’s hard to pick a favorite on pet sounds because the whole album is absolutely brilliant and it’s one of the albums. I’d have with me if I was ever stranded on a desert Island. 

It’s probably my number three album of all time and this song to me, expresses the troubled, genius of Brian Wilson and how he had a hard time finding those that he could relate to and could relate to him. 

     “ I keep lookin’ for a place to fit in

        Where I can speak my mind

        And I’ve been tryin’ hard to find the   

        people That I won’t leave behind

        They say I got brains But they ain’t 

        doin’ me no good I wish they could”

Note, the interesting use of the theremin towards the end of the song that he’d later use on the masterpiece Good Vibrations as well. 

The Wrecking Crew is present here in full force, I love this staccato eighth notes, running up and down the bass guitar by the amazing bassist Carol Kaye. And the countermelody on the keyboards and stuff is absolutely very, very different and it makes you stop and take notice and then the lyrics are amazingly poignant and heartbreaking.

The great master percussionist and my hero Hal Blaine likely playing the wood blocks in the background, which I also love by the way.

And Brian Wilson singing the lead solo alone, echoing in the cold with only the warm harmonies of himself and his colleagues in the Beach boys, providing the background melodies. 

Please enjoy…

-aaa