Search - The Beach Boys :: Pet Sounds 40th Anniversary CD+DVD

A fresh perspective

Cory Geurts | Portland, OR United States | 10/24/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Classic 'Pet Sounds' CD packaged with Absorbing Documentary

D. Summerfield | Missoula, Montana | 03/05/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."