Brian Wilson was on another level from his Pop contemporaries

[DWB1960]

Originally Posted by macca

You'd think he said something bad about Led Zeppelin or something.

That's the second Zep reference in this thread directed at me - funny since the thread has nothing to do with Zep.

Oh well.

Agreed that The Beatles were much more consistent over the course of the 60s than the BBs.

[macca]

Originally Posted by Donnie B.

That's the second Zep reference in this thread directed at me - funny since the thread has nothing to do with Zep.

Oh well.

Agreed that The Beatles were much more consistent over the course of the 60s than the BBs.

just joking with you all friendly like (at least, I was). Never thought i'd see you get so worked up about something other than LZ and the Patriots.

and the Red Sox just tied the game up; apparently tough love does work sometimes

[DWB1960]

Originally Posted by macca

just joking with you all friendly like (at least, I was). Never thought i'd see you get so worked up about something other than LZ and the Patriots.

I don't get worked up any more at this place. Just a friendly discussion.

Just thought the use of the word MASSIVELY was a bit hyperbolic.

[jtm622]

"Pet Sounds" may get the most critical acclaim, but IMHO, "The Beach Boys Today!" is Brian Wilson's masterpiece...

[suckamc]

Originally Posted by Donnie B.

MASSIVELY overrated? OK. Bob Dylan, Roger Waters, Pete Townsend, Paul McCartney, Elton John, George Martin, Elvis Costello, and Tom Petty all disagree with you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pet_Sounds#Reception

Wow, that link is awesome.

[mattmccloskey]

Originally Posted by macca

it's the guy's opinion, which he is entitled to as much as you and Pete and Bob and Paul and everyone. You'd think he said something bad about Led Zeppelin or something.

And everyone is so foucssed on Pet Sounds and the unreleased Smile. If we accept for argument's sake that Pet Sounds is a masterpiece that beats out everything else from the 60's, do all the B Wilson backers think that the BB's 60's catalog as a whole matches up to the Beatles catalog or that of a lot of other artists? I'd be interested to hear the opinions on that because I love Pet Sounds (though not as much as some of you) but the rest of the Beach Boys is pretty hit or miss for me, and a lot of it is not that genius-like, IMO.

(and despite my name here, the Beatles are not my favorite band, it's The Who (probably)).

and the damn Red Sox are already losing 5-0

Brian and the Boys established brilliance before Pet Sounds and Smile.

"Today" is an absolute Jem, as is "Summer Days, Summer Nights". "All Summer Long" also has brilliant stuff on it. Early tracks like "In My Room", "Surfer Girl", and "Warmth of The Sun" show a very young Brian in full command of Harmony in a way that was much more sophisticated than any pop/rock at the time, and greater than most since as well.

My suggestion to anybody, in all seriousness, that wants to appreciate Brian's genius, is to sit down and transcribe the music- and most importantly the vocal parts. Try picking out all the parts of "I Get Around" for example, or for a serious harmonic work-out try "A Young Man Is Gone".

The sophistication of the vocal arrangement on the earliest stuff (Catch a Wave, Surfer Girl, And Your Dreams Come True, Wendy, etc...) is absolutely stunning. And this stuff was recorded with a couple mics, no autotune, and the earliest stuff on 3 track machines (yes 3 track!).

Post Smile, the "Friends" album, and "Sunflower" are both fabulous.

[suckamc]

He's a harmonic genius. He's EXTREMELY hip when it comes to chord progressions and how to make voices move through them. If he were writing from strings alone, he'd convert some of the naysayers REALLY quickly.

[A-Bone]

Originally Posted by suckamc

He's a harmonic genius. He's EXTREMELY hip when it comes to chord progressions and how to make voices move through them. If he were writing from strings alone, he'd convert some of the naysayers REALLY quickly.

I think this is right. The more attention one pays to Wilson's work, the more likely one is to realize just how remarkable it is.

[mattmccloskey]

Originally Posted by A-Bone

I think this is right. The more attention one pays to Wilson's work, the more likely one is to realize just how remarkable it is.

Exactly.

[SteveO]

Originally Posted by suckamc

He's a harmonic genius. He's EXTREMELY hip when it comes to chord progressions and how to make voices move through them. If he were writing from strings alone, he'd convert some of the naysayers REALLY quickly.

Oh, hell yeah!



This album (Good Vibrations) was my first exposure to the Beach Boys, my dad had it on vinyl when I was a kid in the seventies. The way all of the different melodies and harmonies weave around each other, both the vocals and the instruments, has always just grabbed me.

[suckamc]

Written in the 90's:



The chorus just has an awesome chord progression and voice movement within the chords.

[mattmccloskey]

the new album is pure bliss to my ears.