I can't begin to calculate the amount of time my head has spent between earphones listening to The Beach Boys' "Pet Sounds" and even if I could, I'd not want one second of it back. That a record mixed to mono continues to provide sonic surprises after four decades is reason enough for its status as a masterpiece of modern music. But, as much as I find comfort in its aural sweep, it's lyrical content brings the heavenly sounds down to earth and into the home; where the heart is. Every song suggests being in the right place but just a moment or two too soon or too late - even "Sloop John B.", the track that Capitol insisted be added to up the commercial viability of a project that itself was too soon. "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times" might have been a more precise title for the album, but instead, sits just left of the middle of side two.
If Brian had only sung the opening couplet, "I keep looking for a place to fit in, where I can speak my mind - And I've been trying hard to find the people that I won't leave behind...", and left the rest of the piece as instrumental the point would have been made as the alternately walking, stomping, marching, and creeping percussion fills in the rest of the scenario. Its outside perspective confirmed that it had no place with the masses, as did Capitol's burying the album by quickly releasing a "Hits" package on hot on its heals.
Besides, who wants to jump into the woodie when the driver is no longer focusing on fun, fun, fun.
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