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The Beach Boys

I'm a huge fan of classic rock, and music in general, listening to almost all genres from classical to jazz to rock to contemporary pop (very selectively). Don't care much for country and reggae. I've been reading in the latest issue of Stereophile about Acoustic Sounds reissuing The Beach Boys catalog, and the article compelled me to express my opinion on this forum. I'm simply completely, utterly, and overwhelmingly at a loss to understand the acclaim for this band. The fact that "Pet Sounds" is considered one of the greatest albums of all time leaves me speechless. I always considered their music a bit of a joke, good for background when you're in a beach bar in Southern California, in the same vein reggae or mariachi music are tolerable in Jamaica or Mexico, respectively, when one's on vacation. I then heard about them being compared to The Beatles and have been confused ever since. Perhaps a comparison to The Beatles early songs as they were evolving as musicians and songwriters would make sense, but comparing the genius of The Beatles to the "genius" of Brian Wilson is just preposterous, in my opinion.

I would like to hear from those who like or love The Beach Boys what it is about their music that they think warrants the acclaim and their presence in the upper echelon of music. I realize my post may generate quite a bit of controversy and angry responses, but I don't mean to offend or put down anyone's musical tastes. I'm posting as a music lover who is truly perplexed. 

    
actusreus
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
4,908 posts
 

A significant percentage of history’s greatest composers, musicians, writers, and painters had severe mental and/or emotional problems, as well as drink and drug problems. Some of them created in spite of it, some because of it. That’s not my opinion, that’s history’s. Smile is in no way worth the suffering Brian has endured (not to mention his family, friends, and The Beach Boys themselves) because of the LSD and other drugs he took to excess. But he had already had a nervous breakdown before his drug use started, on an airplane flight in late 1964. That was one reason he came off the road, and stayed home writing and recording while the others toured.

But there is nothing we can do to turn back time, to change the circumstances of Brian Wilsons decisions. Should we deprive ourselves of great art because of the price it cost it’s creator? You do what you want---I’m going to continue to listen to Smile and Brian Wilson’s other masterpieces, and to tell others who are interested all about it.

In case you want to investigate, The Beach Boys also created some great music in the 1970’s, starting with the Sunflower album. Brian wrote some of his best songs in the 70’s---"This Whole World", "Til I Die", "Marcella", and "Sail On, Sailor" being just a few. Yeah, The Beach Boys (as led by Mike Love) are a nostalgia act now, but they weren’t then. Dylan saw them and said "Hey, these guys are really good". The Grateful Dead toured with them.

tostadosunidos's avatar
tostadosunidos
1,096 posts
 
You're right, Sail on Sailor is a great track.  I liked Surf's Up, Friends, Darlin' and a few other later tracks.  But it's hard to forgive them for Kokomo and Do It Again (especially the former).
jafant's avatar
jafant
10,525 posts
 
The Beach Boys were great competition for the wave of the British Invasion. Most notably, The Beatles. Happy Listening!
martykl
3,563 posts
 
IMO, the greatest (and certainly one of the most celebrated) novel(s) of the last century (Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow") was written by an author who (by his own admission) used LSD extensively during its creation.  Beyond that, the book is specifically revered for Pynchon's prose: It is both stunning in its ingenuity and also widely celebrated largely for its acid inspired, fever dream imagery.  

LSD took a terrible toll on a lot of people, but (like a lot of other drugs) it's also been a part of the creative process for many artists.  Look, It's fine to reject drug use as dangerous.  It is dangerous.  I also understand the desire to avoid glamorizing drug use.  However, I'm just not going to throw the baby out with the bath water.  Great art produced while under the influence of drugs is still great art.  However, unpleasant or disturbing the implications of that truth may be.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
While Brian Wilson was unquestionably the most creative force in the Beach Boys, he was not the sole talent.  It's a disservice to the other band mates to marginalize their contributions to the unique Beach Boys sound.  Simply compare Wilson's solo works to his work within the Beach Boys to see the difference.  It's as if the band placed much needed boundaries on Brian's creativity.  The internal band dynamics most have been interesting.
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