Pet Sounds vs Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band!!!

I have gotten into arguments with rabid Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fans on the genius of Pet Sounds and how it inspired the Beatles to make Sgt Pepper. I am not debating that fact. I am not debating the greatness of Pet Sounds. It is a landmark album, and it was such a radical departure for the Surfin’ hit machine that was the Beach Boys, that it was shocking, and brilliant at the same time. It is a great album. It is NOT, however, better than Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Not even close.


It is not better than Revolver. It is not better than Rubber Soul. Wilson vs Lennon/McCartney?...Lennon/McCartney win in convincing fashion.

Here is the main issue as to why the Beatles always win vs Brian Wilson. The Beatles understand that they are making a ROCK album, with ROCK music. Pet Sounds at times could very well be a Bing Crosby Christmas album. Where are the guitars? Oh, they’re not there, or they are buried under layers of plinky-plinky piano, or churchy-churchy organ, or orchestra, or 506 vocal tracks. There is nothing wrong with that, it’s just not rock and roll.

Many people dislike when you go to a concert and the band leaves the stage so the drummer can do a drum solo for 20 minutes. Basically it’s him wanking and saying, “Look…I’m good at drums” Wonderful.
It only works in the context of a song. A good example being “Karn Evil Number 9 Fist impression part 2” Carl Palmer hits the drum break for a few seconds to show you the skill, then the vocals come back to remind you that this is a song… the the beat changes…perfect! What the hell does this have to do with Pet Sounds? Well, I’ll tell you. Pet Sounds is Brian Wilson’s 20 minute drum solo, only his drums are a studio. There are times where he is more interested in showing you how innovative he can be using the studio, than creating some good songs with his band for you.

This is not to say that the Beatles are not guilty of this as well. On Sgt Pepper, (yeah, I ain't writing it out 30 tmes!) there is the Pet Sounds section of the album starting at “She’s Leaving Home” and finishing at “When I’m 64”. All well and good, but they don’t do that the whole album, which is key.
This is the perfect time for me to compare impartially because I am in a huge Beach Boys phase right now and have always been a huge Beatles fan, so I sat down and listened hard!

Let us begin with Pet Sounds.

1. Wouldn’t it be Nice- Classic pop tune. Probably the best or second best song on the album. A perfect transition from the Surfin’ tunes to the new sound. He still retains the familiarity of their past hits while showing you that things are about to change.
2. You Still Believe in Me- I’ll not debate his lyrics here or the rest of the lp. We all know Brian Wilson can write a song. Good song, but the plinky-plinky starts to take over here.
3. That’s Not Me-ah, I hear some Bass here…good. The trademark wall of vocal sound works especially well here because it does not dominate the song. There is a reason they are called “background” vocals.
4. Don’t Talk (Put your head on my shoulder)-You see, here is where we start to have issues. Hey Brian…guitar…I know you have one….look behind you…you hired studio musicians right? I’m sure one of them has one. Try it. They are good.
5. I’m Waiting for the Day- This is a really good tune. LOVE the outro. Some Rock going on here as well!
6. Let’s Go Away For A While- No. Elevator music. No. I’m glad he still uses drums though!
7. Sloop John B-This was recorded before the sessions really started for this album. I’ve always liked this one. I wanna get on a ship and fish…
8. God Only Knows- Easily in the running for best song on the album. So good that it doesn’t matter what the instrumentation is! A true classic!
9. I Know There’s Answer- closer to some rock, but Goddamn, the lack of guitar really bugs the shit out of me here!!!!!!!!!!
10. Here Today- This one seems like filler to me. Bing Crosby. Weak
11. I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times- Great tune, but then again it would register better if he broke up the album with some upbeat songs!!!!
12. Pet Sounds-Instrumental. Short. Guitar. Win.
13. Caroline No- Another classic. Listen. I am by no means saying that this is a bad album. It is fucking fantastic, but Jeez….Easy Listening. Dan Fogelberg…damn!

Let us move on to Sgt Pepper….

1. Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band- Right away…no waiting…Rock and fucking Roll!!!!!!!! They start out by driving you right in with a great beat, then show you that yes, they will use unconventional instruments with the horns..but then rock your balls off....Where are my balls?...oh yeah, McCartney just rocked them off!!!
2. With a Little Help From My Friends-simple, yes, light, but melodic Bass, great vocals, guitar throughout. They never let you forget that it is a rock song!
3. Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds-Psychedelic…pithy..then the chorus…see? Rock. Psychedelic Bass lines!
4. Getting Better-Jumpy Jumpy, but still has some balls. Shit, you forgive McCartney for singing about beating his woman!!!!
5. Fixing a hole- This starts with the Glockenspiel-y, sixties thing, but the guitar keeps coming in to remind you to stop fucking around!!!!!!
6. She’s Leaving Home- Harp…I could go for one. This is cool because it’s not the whole album of this.
7. Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite- this is George Martin’s 20 minute solo here…it’s ok, he’s earned it.
8. Within You and Without You-George getting all Indian with Indian musicians. We put up with it because we can smoke a bowl and he doesn’t do it that often.
9. When I’m 64- I love it. It is a Danny Kaye type song, but I still love it!
10. Lovely Rita-Alternates between poppy, silly, and rock. God bless the Beatles!
11. Good Morning, Good Morning-Underrated Jam!!!! Love the solo!!!! It bites me!!!
12. Sgt Pepper(reprise) One of the biggest jams of their catalogue! Almost with this was 5 minutes long…almost
13. A Day In The Life- Please. There is no debate. One of the greatest songs ever. Ringo takes it to the house secretly here!

There you go. In my world Sgt Pepper beats Pet Sounds to a bloody pulp! Let me restate that I am NOT saying that the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson are inferior artists! I LOVE the Beach Boys, and I will give you OKen’s Ultimate list on them in the future!!! I am just addressing the debate on these two albums! You just have to remember that Pet Sounds is more of an Easy Listening album, not a rock album. Not to be confused with a Light rock album, like Tapestry by Carol King…but that’s another blog!!!!