Customer Reviews

Pet Sounds [Vinyl]

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I have never heard this whole album before, just various songs from it on different compilation CD's and what not. I picked up this new 40th Anniversary edition tonight. I just now finished listening to it, and words cannot describe the beauty of this album. The harmony's and instrumentals are simply off the charts and out of this world. Not just one song or several songs, but this whole album; it is simply a masterpiece. And the stereo versions of the tracks are simply mind blowing. Mr. Paul McCartney of the Beatles was right on the money, God Only Knows was the best song ever written and that Pet Sounds IS the album of all time. Go pick up this copy if you have not already.

Please see producer Mark Linett's review under the deluxe "fuzzy" version of this new CD/DVD. The mono version of the album has been remastered from a superior source to that used in 2000, and a more complete version of "Hang On To Your Ego" has been used.

I collect Beach Boys & this is just another example of the best album The Beach Boys ever put to wax. After they released the CD the first time it contained the mono/stereo versions (which I prefer the mono) with a bonus track. Then a box set devoted to the album. Now they release it like the single CD but, with a DVD to further cement this album as one of the best ever released. I highly recommend this one if your looking to check out what the fuss is all about. Search "Judemac Forever" on msn.

This review is for the Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary CD + DVD.

- Audio CD: This is a NEWLY remastered mono version followed by the same superb remixed stereo program that was first introduced on the 1997 "The Pet Sounds Sessions" box set, and then released on the 1999 one-disc audio CD. Differences with the 40th Anniversary edition are that unlike the 1997 and 1999 versions, (a) the mono remaster comes from superior original master tapes (see Mark Linett's review) and (b) the entire CD was subsequently remastered in 24-bit format in 2000 using the HDCD process. Although all audio CDs are 16-bit, HDCDs have 20 bits of data encoded in the standard 16-bit audio signal.

- DVD: This is where the 40th Anniversary edition really shines. There are two components to the DVD: the videos, and the audio.

- DVD Videos: There is "The Making of Pet Sounds" which is a new edit of the fun & informative 1997 promo video. This is followed by "Pet Stories," which includes some 4 decades worth of interviews from ALL of the Beach Boys as well as Tony Asher, Bruce Johnston, a handful of the session musicians and other music industry insiders who were there at the time. Next is "Rhythm of Life," a 1990's BBC-produced short video segment where Beatles' producer Sir George Martin goes to Brian Wilson's home and the two end up in the studio going through the master tape for "God Only Knows." The video segment ends with the original 1966 promotional films for "Good Vibrations," "Sloop John B," and "Pet Sounds." These original films are worth a watch. The "Good Vibrations" promo film is the only one in color, and is brings to mind the "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" 1966 recording sessions from the legendary "Smile" album when Brian brought out the red fire hats. The other two are more campy, black & white videos featuring Halloween masks, Mike drinking percolated coffee out of his boots, and The Beach Boy's playing an a pool.

- DVD Audio: This is the best part of the 40th Anniversary package. For the first time, listeners can hear Pet Sounds in either (a) High-resolution 96 kHz, 24-bit PCM stereo, or (b) Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound. The Hi-Res stereo sounds even better than the audio CD, especially when using good-quality headphones, but again there is not a monumental difference between the three different stereo versions. The Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound version, however, really elevates Pet Sounds to the next level. In the technical notes, Mark Linett says of the 5.1 mix:

"In placing the sounds in the mix, we have taken a very "wide" approach to the music, and attempted to surround the listener with sound. Note that the center speaker is barely used since the phantom center created by the left and right speakers is a much more accurate way to reproduce the desired imaging and reverb in the front channels."

This is immediately noticeable, and as Linett says, the end result is true to the original sound while surrounding the listener with a wide-spectrum aural experience. Just as the stereo Pet Sounds was a revelation to those of us who grew up listening to the mono all those years, the 5.1 mix brings out instrumentation and vocals that were even downed-out in the stereo mixes. The percussion is crisper and I can hear things I never noticed before, and yet when turning back to the stereo or even the mono version, sure enough those sounds are there too, just buried a little deeper. Because of the broad sound spectrum and sparse use of the center, turning the volume up a few notches is best when playing the 5.1 Surround mix.

- Pet Sounds booklet (liner notes): This release has newer, expanded liner notes, including more sections, added detail and even updating some of the information from the previous version. It's really nice to see the thorough notes on the remastering and remixing processes - this information is lacking and in some cases not even included with so many remastered albums today (Led Zeppelin's "Mothership," for example).

- Conclusion: Of course Brian Wilson did the original mix of Pet Sounds in mono, and that will always be the true reference, the benchmark, the final authority for how Pet Sounds was meant to be heard. Because the mono Pet Sounds on this CD is far superior, I have mothballed my 1999 CD and now strictly play the 40th Anniversary CD. The previous remastered mono version was flat and compressed, but those problems have been remedied here, and the results are stunning. The quality of this mono version is finally comparable to the quality of the stereo remix.

Having a Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound DVD audio mix is a rare but welcome option for classic albums such as Pet Sounds. The only other DVD 5.1 mix that comes to mind it The Beatles' "Love," but that seems somewhat less significant because it is not one of their original albums. With this release the bar has been raised for future remasters and anniversary editions - hopefully technology such as Dolby 5.1 and even 7.1 Surround Sound (not to mention Blu-Ray) will continue to be employed for projects such as these.

Brian is a musical genius and it is thanks to him and Mark Linett that all of the versions of Pet Sounds sound as good as they do. We are lucky to have so many options for experiencing the original Pet Sounds (and don't forget Brian's live Pet Sounds DVDs - they rock!). This 40th Anniversary edition is now out of print, so I recommend buying a copy if you can while they are still available. You won't be disappointed.

Of course every music lover wants a CD of The Beach Boys' classic "Pet Sounds" in their collection. Even if it didn't remind me of my high school Homecoming Dance, sophomore year (when I was dating, for the first and only time, an ACTUAL surfer dude), I would still adore the layered musical genius of "Wouldn't it be nice" and "God Only Knows What I'd Be Without You" (which I agree, along with Sir Paul, is maybe the best rock song ever written.) I can't watch the last scenes of "Love Actually" without crying, every time.

So, if you do not have an unscratched copy of "Pet Sounds," this is a wonderful compendium. The accompanying documentary DVD, which shows home movies and photos of the Wilson brothers and their cousins, as they were when this album was being conceived, recorded and released, is fascinating. I watched it through once with my husband, and then we screened it again with our teenaged daughters. It's important to us that our daughters realize that the music they love today has a rich history, and that the music their dad and I love still translates very well to their musical tastes.

For the money, this is a wonderful combination of a first-rate rock album (sorry, I still think in terms of vinyl) and a satisfying and informative visual history of The Beach Boys and their music.

Highly recommended.

Pet Sounds appears on many top 50,100,500 lists, for very good reason. It was a masterpiece when released (OK, I didn't exist when it was released, so I'm basing this on the knowledge of albums coming out around the same time period). It is still a masterpiece today, however not many people know just how much of their music today was either influenced directly by Pet Sounds, or influenced by a band that was influenced by Pet Sounds. In the Rolling Stone top 500 album list, only one album ranks higher, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. In interviews with Paul McCartney, he has stated that this album influenced himself, and through proxy if nothing else, The Beatles themselves. Sgt Pepper was seen as The Beatles response to Pet Sounds and some argue it tops Pet Sounds, others it equals and to others still, doesn't live up to Pet Sounds. If you are a fan of The Beatles or any other band that shares their influence, you owe it to yourself to hear this album at least once in your life to understand just what this album has done for the world of music.

Multi layering vocals, instruments and sound effects (bicycle bells? Really? And you'll be surprised that is actually WORKS) all come together in an amazing sonic experience that just has to be heard to be believed.

I understand that The Beach Boys may not be for everyone. You may not be able to appreciate the music, but listen and appreciate how influential the album was. And no, just because it was influential it doesn't mean YOU have to enjoy it. I'm just saying that if you want to understand music you need to listen to this album.

So how does this particular set get to be called "complete?" It contains every version of the album recorded. It contains a CD that has the original mono recording, the recording the group focused on when it was originally created along with a fairly newly minted stereo mix. For those that claim that stereo of this album is sacrilege, you must realize that Brian directly oversaw this project and what it brings to the table is what Brian himself approved. The only disappointment with the stereo mix, for me, is the missing sounds and some vocal accompaniment. This is all explained in the booklet with the set, however. Essentially these vocals and sounds don't exist outside of the final mono mix and as there is no easy way to lift the vocals/sounds from the final mono mix, they had to make due with what they had. The missing pieces are minimal and will, of course, always lend credence to the 'superiority' of the mono mix, however I feel each mix has its place and gladly listen to either.

Then you have the 5.1 mix. This mix is also missing the same sounds/vocal accompaniment of the mono mix for the same reason. The producer has also created another Brian approved mix, so there are essentially 3 valid mixes for this album, all Brian approved. This mix carefully blends the front sound stage with the rear to give the album a surround feel; you almost feel like you are in the middle of the band. I personally prefer the mono and stereo mix, but 5.1 mix shouldn't be dismissed as it does have it merit. Who wouldn't want to be sonically surrounded by this amazing album? It's not a mix I find myself wanting to listen to all the time, but it is a great companion to a great album.

Included on the DVD portion of the album is the 5.1 mix, which is nice, however the real shining star is the high quality 96kHz/24-bit PCM stereo mix. This brings even more depth and breadth to this album. There is also a bonus track, a 96kHz/24-bit PCM mono mix of Hang on to Your Ego. For the video portion, they take a look at the making of Pet Sounds with interviews with many involved in its creation. You also get personal reflections on the album by many involved in its creation, along with a BBC show excerpt, promo clips and a God Only Knows photo slide show to accompanied by that track.

If you are a fan of Pet Sounds, do yourself a favor and purchase the 40th Anniversary CD+DVD set. You get a completely complete collection of each version of the album (mono, stereo and 5.1) and some great video exploration of the album.

If you aren't a fan of the album, I still recommend you hear the album at least once, for which I recommend the mono album or the mono/stereo album if you can find it. This album won't change your mind if you aren't a Beach Boys fan, but it will give you some insight on a highly influential album.

Highly recommended.

OF NOTE: there is a Mobile Fidelity Sound Labs high quality SACD version of this album coming down the line. My only issue with this album is that it ONLY contains the stereo mix; no mono version will be included. Considering the trouble they had in trying to rebuild the album in stereo to the point of excluding certain sounds and vocal accompaniment, I can't see why MFSL would choose to offer just the stereo mix on SACD. Considering this DVD contains the same sonic quality (96kHz/24-bit PCM) I'm not sure how much of an improvement the SACD will offer. If the MFSL included a 96kHz/24-bit PCM mono version of the album as well, I'd recommend it in an instant. Guess I'll hold off my judgment of the MFSL SACD until it is released.

The merits of this album need not be discussed here. Pet Sounds has been widely regarded as a pop classic for over forty years and its popularity shows no sign of letting up. What does need addressing, however, is the sound Capitol has achieved in rendering this recording in Mono on CD.

The remastering game that has been going on for the past decade has yielded mixed results. Record companies promising superior sound have come up short more than half the time when it comes to reissuing classics. Lucky for us, that's hardly the case with this reissue of the Beach Boys' finest hour.

Pet Sounds in Mono is what every fan hopes for when plunking down hard earned cash for an album he already owns. The sound is incredibly warm with every instrument coming through distinctly. The harmonies coalesce in a way you simply don't hear on a stereo mix. And the immediacy is impressive.

Wow it can't get any better than this!!! Pet Sounds by the one and only Beach Boys is one of the finest albums ever waxed,hands down!!! Brian Wilson is a pure genius,no doubt about that!!! This albums got it all,great musicianship,stellar vocals,the whole bit!!! And this great CD/DVD combo proves that!!! Here's what this great classic reissue has:BOTH Mono and Stereo Mixes on disc one,the Audio CD!!! And a 56 minutes of video content(The Making Of Pet Sounds,Videos and more!!!),and to sweeten the pot(no pun intended),BOTH 5.1 Dolby and PCM Stereo mixes on Disc 2,the DVD!!! Definately the finest reissue of this landmark classic to date!!! A treat from start to finish!!! This 40th anniversary CD/DVD combo set rules!!! Also includes a great booklet with LOTS of info and pics too!!!Get it before it goes out of print!!! It does'nt get any better than this!!! Two thumbs up!!! Way Up!!! Five shining stars!!! A+++

There is some controversy about which is the best MONO version of this album. This one (40 Anniversary) is clearly the best. It's an unfussed-with old digital copy of a then-twenty-year-old original master (digitized in the late eighties). So it has all the charms and warts of a 16bit 44.1 Hz (CD standard) clean copy of a 2-decade old magnetic tape. Other versions are either noise-reduced (the 1990 issue), based on a later digital copy of a by-then-25-year old tape (DCC, Audio Fidelity), or based on a by-then-30-year-old digital copy (1997 reissue). The two gold CDs out there (DCC and Audio Fidelity) get a lot of press from some people who identify as "audiophiles" (who tend to sink a lot of money into things like 24 carat gold CDs and gold cables and thus have to justify the all the extra money they have spent on what they perceive as quality) but I'm afraid that this version is simply better than even the much-lauded DCC edition. Magnetic tape does not age like wine. That's an inevitable law of audio. The songs on this first-digitization-based MONO version (40th anniversary) have noticeably livelier transients, perkier dynamics (mostly as a result of the aforementioned transients), a more life-like and focused bottom (again, transients) and a little more life in the highest frequencies. The mids are a little harsh, but show me an (unmessed-with) Pets Sounds where that's not the case. It's an inherently harsh-sounding album (at points). Some stuff from the 60s was just made that way. We don't go back to the 80s to remove peoples' mullets, do we? The gold CDs (both of them) are murkier and duller, as is the 1997 reissue. The gold CDs might sound "smoother" in some ways -- which could be mistaken for "better quality" -- especially with an album which was mixed with an inherently somewhat harsh sound. Part of that "smoothness" (or more accurately "blurriness") is surely due to the greater age of the tape. Or maybe the signal chain used on the way to the AD converter was murkier and gobbled up some transients. Anyway. The gold CDs are like day old bakery on fancy china. The 1997 version is like day old bakery at a reasonable price and served with a smile. The 1990 version is like day old bakery microwaved to seem fake-fresh. This 40th anniv edition is like a piece of bakery you bought this AM and didn't get a chance to eat until 5pm. Not perfectly fresh, but the closest you can get until time-travel is perfected.

Even if you heard this album way back when... you should check this out. I played this on a good system and WOW. The harmony these guys (Brian) did is still amazing. This CD/DVD combo is well worth the do-ray-me.