Grapthar's Song of the Day: The Beach Boys - 'I Know There's An Answer'

theme of modern bands for the next few days, but I was listening to Pet Sounds in the car today, and couldn't resist, so we'll continue with that theme tomorrow, haha. The Beach Boys are, of course, one of the most influential and important bands of the '60s, who, along with bands like the Beatles and the Stones, helped propel rock music from a teen fad to a legitimate art form. They were formed in 1961 in Hawthorne, CA (in Los Angeles) by brothers Brian, Dennis and Carl Wilson, a family friend Al Jardine, and a cousin of the Wilson's, Mike Love. Their early music was heavily themed around surfing, cars, and girls, and definitely appealed to a teenage audience, though by the mid '60s, the band was growing up, and becoming more involved with the cultural shifts in America at the time, which was reflected in their music becoming much more mature, complex, and groundbreaking. Brian Wilson was the main force behind their most famous and interesting releases, but by the early '70s, he was suffering from serious mental health issues, and had to step away from the group, who continued without him, though they never really broke new ground in the same way again.

most famous release, from 1966. This album influenced countless young artists at the time, including the lads from Liverpool, who credit it with inspiring their later masterpieces. Brian had really delved into studio production, and was breaking all kinds of new ground with his methods and songwriting, creating things that had never before been heard, particularly on a rock and roll album. The band's signature vocal harmonies are very much on display throughout the album, but gone are the surf elements, and the cheesy teenage love lyrics, showing how much Wilson had grown in a short time period. The instrumentation on the album is incredible, as Wilson utilized a wide array of sounds throughout the sessions, combining all kinds of instruments to give the album a massive, and super unique, sound.