Customer Reviews

Brian Wilson Presents Pet Sounds Live

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First, let's make one thing clear: the Royal Festival Hall shows at which this album was recorded were staggering. They were quite the most emotional musical experiences those present would have experienced. Grown men - myself among them - were crying. To hear those songs - not just the Pet Sounds material, but the Smile songs - performed by the man who wrote them, back from more than 20 years of staring over the abyss, was an astonishing experience. And Wilson's band were magnificent, rising to the occasion perfectly. Wilson himself, though fragile, was plainly on good form, and in an audience of the devout his own errors were viewed indulgently.
But this isn't a gig for the converted, it's a CD on general sale. And facts must be faced: those BW/Beach Boys fans who clog up Wilson's messageboard claiming he's in the best voice of his career are way, way, wide of the mark. His voice is tattered and frayed, straining and yearning. Given the intimacy of the concert hall, and the nature of the material, that can be a positive: it accentuates the melancholy at the heart of the material. On record, however, it sounds like a bloke who's really struggling to hit the notes and to enunciate the lyrics (and let's not forget, these songs weren't written to be performed straight through by Wilson. There were other singing Beach Boys). The backing is magnificent, and Wilson loyalists will probably love it, but this is not an album for people who just fancy hearing Pet Sounds. I've played it to them. And they laugh. "You're kidding," they say."This is meant to be classic?"
The problem is the fiercely protective unanimity that BW hardliners take: Brian is a genius (granted, though I'd perhaps apply the past tense), and everything he is involved with is, therefore, inestimably wonderful ...Brian Wilson is a deeply damaged man who, for a few years, was touched by the hand of God. That's more than almost all of us will ever manage. Isn't it enough? It's great that he's able to play this material again, but let's not pretend that God still hovers over him at the piano.

If you love Pet Sounds, why wouldn't you love this?

I'm sure it was nowhere near as easy as it sounds to translate a layered, heavily orchestrated album into a workable live-band arrangement. The fact that Wilson has assembled a band capable of pulling this off, and making it sound so fresh and energetic, should not be taken for granted.

Moreover--this is beautiful, timeless music. Your great-grandchildren will be listening to this music 100 years from now, just as today we listen to Beethoven or Mozart. We're lucky to have the composer around to lend his personal stamp to what will be the first of thousands of concert interpretations.

Finally, a word for one element of the live show--the Wondermints. I know nothing about their music, but on this album, as well as on the wonderful double-CD, "Brian Wilson Live at the Roxy," they sing great. They don't have the egos of the Beach Boys--they're happy just to sing the incredible vocal arrangements he wrote. Heresy it may be, but sometimes I prefer their singing to the Beach Boys. Certainly as a live representation of the vocal sound, the Beach Boys never sounded better than these guys. They show respect for the music, and when the music is this good, and this important, that reverance is much-appreciated.

Now, of course Brian's voice has faded somewhat. That incredible falsetto is now somewhat gravelly, and his intonation wavers. But he is the soul of this music, and what he may lose in technique through age, he more than makes up for in character.

So, just get this, and then you'll have two versions of Pet Sounds. That's bad?

This disc, culled from recordings over four days, is exactly what it says it is, "Pet Sounds" performed live by Brian and his band. No more, no less. Really kind of a shame that the rest of the show was not included, but rather we only got the performance of "Pet Sounds". However, ignoring that, let me talk about the performance itself.

There's not much to say about Brian's band that hasn't already been said-- they're top notch, they sing magically, they've got full command of their instruments, and they approach the material with a reverence and sensitivity that supports Brian well. For his part, Brian's voice is strong-- not quite what you want it to be, but the guy *IS* 60. Some songs have to change key for his voice, but he does a great job overall. The backing vocals are perfect-- these guys had been on the road for several years now and there wasn't much they couldn't sing together.

The arrangements are pretty close to the original-- there's a couple deviations (other than the key changes), a slight backing vocal in "Don't Talk" being the one I can think of off the top of my head, but it sticks pretty close. The album itself is genius, there's not much to say about the music that I can't say already.

One more thing to be said-- live, this was incredible. The audience was in awe, really. Emotions ran rampant, the album that spoke to all of us was in front of us. I don't think any document can accurately capture that. Having said that, I'm glad to have it.

Really, its a fun, engaging performance, but seek the studio album if you don't have it. If you do have it, this is a great record, but I'd recommend getting "Live at the Roxy" in conjunction with it so you can hear what else Brian and his band have to offer.

For those of us who love the Beach Boys wonderful Pet Sounds album this is a refreshing update. And for those lucky enough to be at the Royal Festival Hall, London in January 2002 where it was recorded, its a superb reminder of a glorious and emotional event. I know, I was there. This amazing band, under the watchful eye (and ear) of Brian Wilson, is able to re-create the complex arrangements of those incredible songs - far more than just songs really - almost effortlessly and bring them to life, update them, if you like, without changing anything from the originals. The songs themselves do not sound like they are 36 years old. They are timeless. Brian's voice is not what it was but it doesn't matter. The band provide note perfect harmonies that can bring one to tears. The concerts were recorded by Mark Linett who has been involved with a lot of the Beach Boys back catalogue. Even more importantly, it is produced by Brian himself. If you have read the reviews, didn't get to one of the concerts and wonder what all the fuss is about, you owe it to yourself to go out and buy this album. This is Pet Sounds for a new generation.
Just to qualify Joe Pizzo's earlier comments, there is no orchestra on this recording - just Brian Wilson's fabulous 10 piece band.

This is Pet Sounds as Only Brian Wilson Could do it. Sure his voice is not as strong as it was 40 years ago, but his back up group the wondermints have more than made up for that. His passion, harmony and presence are as good as it has ever been. Some may even think the songs sound sharper now than when the Beach Boys did them all those years ago. Some may also say (I would be one) that he seems to have gotten over the stage fright that plagued him 40 years ago. If you are a beach boys fan, someone who was influenced by Pet Sounds in 1966 or just someone who wants to know how real falsetto harmonies are meant to sound then this is definitely for you.

Pet Sounds being a true work of art, it would be very hard to equal the original in a live performance. And Brian's voice not being what it used to be, he can't quite hit the notes like he and the other guys did back in the mid-Sixties. But as a record of an amazing moment in the history of popular music, when Brian Wilson returned to the public stage after many years in the wilderness, accompanied by a band of sonic virtuosos, performing his heart out, bringing joy to all those who had the privilege to attend these concerts, this is a CD for the ages.

I had the privilege of attending the intimate kick-off of Brian's Pet Sounds Symphony tour back in Y2K, which was held on the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border, then again at the PNC Arts centre later that summer in Holmdale, NJ. For a lifelong BB/BW fan, what a treat. The musical arrangements of the original studio tracks are excellent, and Brian's voice -- singing sometimes perfectly, sometimes adequately -- brings the lyrics new meaning as we hear a world-weary 60 y.o. sing with poignancy and longing, compared to the angst-ridden but angelic falsetto of a post-adolescent heartbreaker.BUY THIS CD. Three of this man's four most recent albums have been live, and for a notoriously stagefrightened and reclusive performer, that in itself is awesome.However, this album missed 5 stars for three reasons: first, I'd've like to have seen Brian by himself, feeding a goat or something at the San Diego (or London) Zoo, reprising the original cover; second, although the impressive & razor-sharp band did wonderfully, this album lacks the power (especially horns & cellos) of a full symphony orchestra backing them; third, this would've been the perfect time to put down on disc the impressive Van Dyke Parks-arranged overture used on the Y2K tour. But let's not nit-pick. We (and our children and grandchildren) should be grateful for this testament to the eternal, heavenly quality of great music.

Well, beautiful classic rock and roll and pop music ages well because it is the timeless, age - generation- spanning qualities which prove to be there years after the initial "hit"makes it's impact. The rippling effects of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On", Stevie Wonder's "Innervisions", The Beatle's "Rubber Soul" and The Beach Boy's "Pet Sounds" represent the zenith of this music's genre'. Paul McCartney's recent tour, once again affirmed the ageless wonder of music and it's ability to transform spirit, soul, body and mind into shared art. Add Brian Wilson's recent Live Pet Sounds to the list of his treasureful contribution to the musical diamond mines. Adding to the original's gorgeous arrangements, lyrics, harmonies and instrumentation is the "LIVE" element that transforms the great poetry and music into a real life experience and put's life into the art. Think of Mona Lisa walking by you and smiling that SMILE! Living, breathing art. This does not replace the studio recordings, but enhances their greatness, because those are now seen to be incredible songs, consistant with pop/rock - not simply studio wizardry and innovateness - which they also were - along with perfect prose, poetry and music. This CD is a celebration of soul and spirit, we know Brian's body and mind were tested, but this latest recent triumph light the candles on the endless birthday celebrating the art, music and weighty lightness of the great Brian Wilson!/

I normally find live albums dissapointing as when you get them back to the non atmosphere environment of your room it reveals that your fave band are not as good as you thought!

This recording however not only sounds as good as it did when I attended the concert at which it was recorded,but also captures the electric atmosphere that was present.

Sure Brians voice isn't what it was,but time hasn't tainted the emotion that Brian puts into his vocal delivery.
Backing Brian are a fantastic band consisting of The Wondermints,Jeff Foskett and other great musicians.

If you like Pet Sounds you'll enjoy this companion live recording

To me the idea of doing "Pet Sounds" live sounded fairly ridiculous. After all, the original album is a very unique recording that cannot be fully duplicated outside of a 1966 studio. Nonetheless, this 2002 concert recording turns out to be a joy. First of all, let me say that anyone who has read Brian Wilson's autobiography knows that it is a miracle that this man can even leave the house, let alone turn in a joyous performance onstage in front of a large audience. His recent concert tours, along with his most recent studio album "Imagination," show that he has made a most remarkable recovery. It is clear from listening to this CD that Brian is enjoying himself, that he loves the audience, and that they love him... all in all, a very good vibe. His band is excellent, breathing new energy into tunes that may have seemed a bit sluggish on the original album, such as the instrumental "Pet Sounds" and upbeat numbers like "I'm Waiting for the Day," "Here Today," and "I Know There's an Answer." Of course Brian's voice isn't what it once was (he is in his sixties, after all) but it still retains that curious innocence that makes it so appealing. His backup singers do a good job of recreating the Beach Boys harmonies, if sometimes lacking the sonic richness that the studio can yield. Indeed, the overall creamy sonic richness of the original is probably the thing most sorely lacking from moments of this set. The heartbeat bass doesn't throb the same way in "Don't Talk Put Your Head on My Shoulder," and the climax of "God Only Knows" doesn't lift me off the ground in the same way. But then, this is to be expected from the impossible task of turning the album into a live show. This recording is not meant to supplant the original, but to revel in it and have fun, and this it does quite well.