The albums after ‘Pet Sounds’ that Brian Wilson was more proud of
Most musicians who have had the luxury of commercial success will also know the perils of their legacy being condensed down to one singular project. Just ask Brian Wilson.
To his credit, if you’re someone like Brian Wilson, there’s going to be a few of those. And also, if you’re someone like Brian Wilson, the pinnacle is no doubt Pet Sounds.
Rather than discussing all the reasons why Pet Sounds is one of, if not the greatest record ever written, it’s more interesting to look at it through the eyes of others and how it shaped some of the biggest names in all of history. Because The Beach Boys didn’t just deliver a good record, they ended up changing the entire course of music history in the process.
Part of this mindset started with Wilson approaching the studio like an architect of his own world. Before, he’d been inspired by Phil Spector’s “Wall of Sound’ approach to create that rounded, orchestral feel you experience whenever you stick the album on. But he also revolutionised a new expansive means of making music that ended up infiltrating the minds of countless others, the Beatles included.
They tried to mimic a lot of Wilson’s innovations on Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. A big one was concept and narrative, as was turning music into some sort of storytelling universe where the mythology of the band itself became somewhat fictionalised. There were also, of course, the orchestral elements they took on board, but the main premise was sparked by those first instances where Pet Sounds seeped in like a musical prophecy.
All of this adds to some of the many reasons why it’s impossible to stop talking about Pet Sounds the moment you get going. It’s simply too monumental to put into words. And yet we love to try, especially when other musicians start harping on about why its songs are some of the greatest songs ever written. ‘God Only Knows’ has an entire legacy of its own. It’s one countless have called attention to, including Paul McCartney, who once said it shows off “the genius of Brian Wilson”.
So what does Wilson himself think? Obviously, you’d be proud of such an achievement, but it’s also a double-edged sword. Because while Pet Sounds continues to shape modern music, it also distracts from all the other acts of genius Wilson did throughout his life and career. When looking at those he’s proud of beyond Pet Sounds, Wilson told The Hollywood Interview: “Smile, Friends, Wild Honey. We made some really cool albums. They never got as big as Pet Sounds did.”
He went on: “It was frustrating, because I thought those records, and a lot of my solo stuff, contains some of my best work, but it’s like so many people just wanted me to write about cars and girls, and after a certain point, you’re just now there anymore, you know? I mean, I wasn’t there anymore since Pet Sounds, and that was 1966!”
It’s natural for any artist to appreciate their moments of growth more than their breakthrough or most popular records. Just as it’s understandable why Wilson felt a certain way about Pet Sounds, when it simultaneously held him back and made him a legend. But it also provided a gateway for all those wanting to explore just how much of a genius he was. Because with Pet Sounds, many can learn how to progress past whatever it might be that is so disruptive that it still has people studying it to find the secret ingredient.
