For the month of January, I’m selecting some of the most memorable and influential songs of the 60’s. While they all hail from the same decade, these are some of my favorite songs of any era. They remind me that the 60’s were so much more than just Woodstock and psychedelic rock. It was a flourishing period for blues, folk, progressive and straight-ahead rock. #31DaysOf60sSongs
Few albums have the stature of Pet Sounds. That’s a true statement not just for the 60’s, but throughout time. It has set a very high bar for bands looking to do things differently and unexpectedly. That said, Pet Sounds truthfully just isn’t a favorite album of mine. But the greatest compliment I can give it is that I love many of the albums that it inspired. Much of the experimentalism that continues to happen in music simply wouldn’t be possible without the exceptionally talented Brian Wilson. One song that proves my point is “Hang On To Your Ego”, probably my favorite track from Pet Sounds.
The track sounds like it belongs under the big top. Timpanis, keyboards, banjos and even a bass harmonica give the song its circus-like feel. Throughout the track, I’m reminded of many great artists that came after The Beach Boys. The tempo change and interlude at the 1:40 mark reminds me of the instrumental cacophany of Wilco. The wide spectrum of instrumentation reminds me of Sufjan Stevens’ own versatility. And the unconventional song structure reminds me of Animal Collective and others. By pushing limits on “Hang On To Your Ego”, The Beach Boys have inspired so many other artists to do the same with their own songs.
“I know so many people who think they can do it alone. They isolate their heads and stay in their safety zones.”