The Beatles vs The Beach Boys

Moss · 11-12-2014, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mordwyr

No contest. The Beatles. Didn't Brian Wilson, upon hearing Sgt. Pepper's, hang his head in defeat at knowing he'd never best that and then go and have a nervous breakdown? I might be wrong about the details there...

No, but he should have.

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 11-13-2014, 10:25 PM

Brian Wilson had his first nervous breakdown in (I think) 1964, 3 years before Pepper came out.

It was Strawberry Fields Forever that Wilson heard in early '67 while driving in his car with a friend that got him discouraged because, 1) the Beatles had sort-of beat him to it ("it" being the type of sound he was trying to create), and 2) he had self-doubts about being able to match the quality of it.

Even after that they still worked on Smile, but by then the project was already starting to unravel. Still, they concentrated on Heroes and Villains, which they did release as a single that summer.

Pet_Sounds · 11-13-2014, 10:35 PM

^
Brian actually denied that "Strawberry Fields Forever" incident in a Q&A with fans recently. But his memory must be pretty baked after all the acid, so it wouldn't surprise me if there's some truth to it. After all, the friend (name slips my mind now) gave a pretty detailed description of the event.

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 11-14-2014, 12:25 AM

It might even have been Van D[i]ke Parks. I forget offhand, maybe I should look it up.

Zhanteimi · 11-14-2014, 10:33 PM

Wait. Pepper came out in 1967...

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 11-15-2014, 07:23 PM

Yes, it did. And Smile was actually cancelled a month or two before Pepper came out.

Kedvesem · 11-20-2014, 05:48 AM

Beatles. Though the Beach Boys have some lovely, lovely sounds.

Necromancer · 11-20-2014, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kedvesem

Beatles. Though the Beach Boys have some lovely, lovely sounds.

One of the main reasons for most that prefer the Beach Boys I've noticed during the course of this thread is for the uplifting vibe their music resonates. I mean, what could be better than being on a beach in Southern California during spring break.

And with most that choose the Beatles. it's more because of the innovative and originality side.

Both bands were innovators in the studio recording of great albums..

There really is no comparison of these two bands in styles at all in the end.
Just as most media ratings and surveys, are nothing else but hogwash.

locafore · 11-29-2014, 10:39 AM

I am much into The Beatles. Their songs never expired!

jazzpig · 12-14-2014, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactus waltz

That's a bit of an unfair argument, as it says more about the stability of Brian Wilson's psyche than it does of his capability as a musician. We know that he was depressed and had a troubled childhood, but that he was a great talent nonetheless.

For me personally, the Beach Boys have slightly more high emotional peaks than the Beatles. "Pet Sounds" is my favorite album of all time, after all. I also think that if Brian Wilson hadn't collapsed and had been able to release "Smile" as was intended (discounting the 2004 version), it would've been a classic on par with Sergeant Pepper and it'll always be a bit of a thorn in my side that things went the way they did. Songs like "Heroes ans villains", "Good vibrations" and especially "Surf's up" are simply brilliant, multi-layered and splendid.

But yeah. It's difficult. Maybe I have to give it to the Beatles in the end, for all of their accomplishments and rock history "firsts". That was an awful lot of pioneering in a few years. They were also hugely talented and all-rounded and had a number of great songs and albums. Comparing the two, I think my "objective" vote goes to the Beatles, but the Beach Boys are closer to my heart.

I think this post sums it up best for me.
Personally, I can't and don't try to compare the two bands, very different bands, different music. Even when I heard the earlier BB stuff as a kid, it sounded very unique and I don't mean the surf sound.
What I do know is what I respond to emotionally, and as much as I love the Beatles, I respond to the Beach Boys on a higher emotional level.

Here is a quote from Anthony DeCurtis (Rolling Stone) re: early BBs that sums it up:
"When you first heard it, you just didn't realize how much work and how complex that sound is. It's very easy to be complex and to show off or to have people think 'Wow, that's complex'. What's difficult is to be complex and have every single thing you do have an emotional impact and have the hearer not even be aware of it, just hear it as a pop song, hear it the first time and get it. That's hard and that's what Brian Wilson can do."
Pet Sounds and Smile is on another level.

11-13-2014, 10:25 PM	#922 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,172	Brian Wilson had his first nervous breakdown in (I think) 1964, 3 years before Pepper came out. It was Strawberry Fields Forever that Wilson heard in early '67 while driving in his car with a friend that got him discouraged because, 1) the Beatles had sort-of beat him to it ("it" being the type of sound he was trying to create), and 2) he had self-doubts about being able to match the quality of it. Even after that they still worked on Smile, but by then the project was already starting to unravel. Still, they concentrated on Heroes and Villains, which they did release as a single that summer. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

11-13-2014, 10:35 PM	#923 (permalink)
Pet_Sounds Remember the underscore Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: The other side Posts: 2,488	^ Brian actually denied that "Strawberry Fields Forever" incident in a Q&A with fans recently. But his memory must be pretty baked after all the acid, so it wouldn't surprise me if there's some truth to it. After all, the friend (name slips my mind now) gave a pretty detailed description of the event. __________________ Everybody's dying just to get the disease

11-14-2014, 12:25 AM	#924 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,172	It might even have been Van D[i]ke Parks. I forget offhand, maybe I should look it up. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

11-15-2014, 07:23 PM	#926 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,172	Yes, it did. And Smile was actually cancelled a month or two before Pepper came out. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

11-14-2014, 10:33 PM	#925 (permalink)
Zhanteimi Mord Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Tokyo Posts: 4,873	Wait. Pepper came out in 1967...

11-20-2014, 05:48 AM	#927 (permalink)
Kedvesem I like what I like Join Date: Oct 2014 Posts: 303	Beatles. Though the Beach Boys have some lovely, lovely sounds.

11-29-2014, 10:39 AM	#929 (permalink)
locafore Groupie Join Date: Sep 2014 Posts: 2	I am much into The Beatles. Their songs never expired!