God Only Knows

God Only Knows by The Beach Boys

Editor's Note: Who is the greatest American band? This week I present the arguments for who I think should be in the running.



Pros: A unique sound who truly were different and have had a lasting impact on music. The Beach Boys were California in their sound and songs, surf rock!, and of course this makes them the most unique of American bands--fact is the East Coast is more European than American at times (see City, New York), but California (like the Midwest and South) is purely and uniquly American. The Beach Boys did a very good job an capturing that 1960s, California vibe... According to Billboard Magazine, when you add up the singles and album sales, The Beach Boys are the No. 1 selling American band of all time... "Good Vibrations" is one of those songs that when you sit down and listen to it, it's a bind blowing experience in it's complexity and greatness... They wrote a ton of really good songs over the years, in other words, their greatest hits album is pretty awesome.

Cons: Can a band named the Beach Boys really be the greatest ever?... Kokomo... After Pet Sounds, the band never really ever came close to the creative success they had on that album. There would be a few albums of note after 1966, but for a band that has been around for so long, the band's great creativity period was extremely short... Kokomo... Like Wilco, the Beach Boys seem more like a one man creative driving force more than anything else, and that man is Brian Wilson.... Kokomo.

Best Album: Pet Sounds -- Personally, I think this album is overrated. A very good album? Without a doubt. But one of the ten greatest? I don't think so. But there is no denying the impact of the album on music. Wilson did things in the studio that we all take for granted now. The sounds and effects that he created were, at the time, revolutionary. Listening to Pet Sounds today, it sounds like a standard rock album... and here is where, imo, the album doesn't live up to the hype: the songs aren't always there. Are there some great songs? Hell yes: God Only Knows and Wouldn't it Be Nice probably would crack the top 20 and 50 of greatest songs respectively, and the Sloop John B cover is one of the best covers out there. But there are times when the album lingers and the songs just don't cut it for the GREATEST EVER status. Okay, I sound like a hard ass, and that's not really fair since this really is a great album. Go buy it if you don't own it.

Best Song: God Only Knows -- Really just a near perfect song. Beautiful, honest, and dramatic... a great song. "God only knows what I'd be without you".