Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary Stereo Digital

The Beach Boys | Format: MP3 Download

Product Details

• Original Release Date: August 29, 2006
• Release Date: August 29, 2006
• Label: Capitol
• Copyright: (C) 2006 Capitol Records, Inc.
• Total Length: 37:58
• Genres:
• ASIN: B000T06172
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,655 Paid in MP3 Albums (See Top 100 Paid in MP3 Albums)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great albums ever, May 1, 2009

By 

T. Fisher - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary Stereo Digital (MP3 Download)

This really is one of the great albums ever, and the remastered sound is very good. The only big difference between this MP3 version and the two-disc set of the same recordings is that the set gives you a DVD with a "making-of" documentary and both the original mono mixes and new stereo mixes, plus a bonus track. This MP3 set has only the remastered stereo mixes.

"Pet Sounds" was a groundbreaking record, and had a huge impact on other musicians. It is definitely the high-water mark for the Beach Boys. This is not anything like their early Jan & Dean-inspired surf music. It invented a whole new vocabulary of sounds and forms for pop music.

More than ever before, the Beach Boys' leader, Brian Wilson, decided he was going to go in a new direction and write a cohesive album, over the protests of many others in the band. He was definitely right. The Beach Boys never reached this level of creativity again, but "Pet Sounds" was enough to put them in the pantheon of the greats, even if this quality of artistic achievement was not sustained over time.

Wilson says he was inspired to make the record by the Beatles' "Rubber Soul" album. The Beatles in turn credited "Pet Sounds" as the inspiration for "Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". Paul McCartney still says he is crazy about the album, John Lennon even acknowledged it, and George Martin said Sgt Pepper's would never have been made without "Pet Sounds". Eric Clapton says it's one of the greatest pop albums of all time and Elton John talks about how it changed the way he and everyone else approached recording. I say this just to underline that it's hard to underestimate the impact this record had on the development of popular music as we know it.

There are plenty of "greatest hits" here. The album starts out with the classic "Wouldn't It Be Nice", one of the most optimistic and upbeat romantic pop hits ever -- and which also includes incredible layers of sound that deserve a good listening to with headphones. "God Only Knows" was the B-side to that single, but became a major hit on its own. "Caroline, No", "Sloop John B", "Let's Go Away for a While" and "Here Today" were also singles and are probably known at some level by most listeners.

But don't just get it for the hits. A lot of the other songs are slower and more complex, but are really marvels of both pop composition and sound engineering, especially when you think about the 1960s technology they were working with. There are layers upon layers of crystal-clear sounds to enjoy and get lost in.

This album is every bit as impressive a recording as something like Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" -- it just seems "lighter" because, well, it is. It's an optimistic, feel-good record even when its gets sad and melancholy, which it does pretty often. I still can't figure out quite how Brian Wilson pulled that off.

If you don't know Pet Sounds, this deal can't be beat, especially at the $1.99 "Deal of the Day" price on May 1, 2009. Once the price goes up again, also consider one of the CDs or CD sets available out there. You won't regret it!

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Album - Missing Mono Version and Extra Track, May 1, 2009

By 

Kevin (Flagstaff, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary Stereo Digital (MP3 Download)

I am rating the MP3 download version, not the audio CD version or the album itself. Everyone knows this is one of the greatest albums ever made. The MP3 download version does NOT include the original mono versions of the songs that are included on the CD version. It also doesn't include the bonus track "Hang On To Your Ego" that is in the CD version of "Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary" and most re-released Pet Sounds albums. All that being said, it is hard to beat the special download price.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Version For The Price, April 22, 2010

By 

Alexander (Va, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary Stereo Digital (MP3 Download)

The quality of this re-master is excellent. Apparently, for this set, 'Wouldn't It Be Nice' has a new re-master (from the 1996 re-master). I can't tell a difference between the 1996 re-master and the 2000 re-master but this is because I haven't really compared them. No this version does not come with 'hang on to your ego' but notice the reduced price of this version compared to the mono+stereo CD version...you get what you pay for - and keep in mind you are getting Rolling Stone's #2 album-of-all-time pick for only $7.99. About 15 seconds after the train chugs away after the ending of 'Caroline, No' the listener will be surprised with a stunning a cappella from 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'

If you are considering getting this version I'd say just go ahead and get the mono+stereo version: Pet Sounds - only two dollars more and you get the mono tracks plus 'Hang On To Your Ego'.

However, if you just want to enjoy a phenomenal album at a reduced price, go ahead and get this.

5/5