The Sad Punk
Blue Crack Addict
I just usually don't like music that is or at least sounds overly sunny. There are, of course, exceptions. But I find a lot of pop music comes across as far too contrived and insincere. The more pop-y a song, the more I think "you're having me on to make a quick buck". There is a great Steven Wilson quote that, to paraphrase, basically says "I prefer melancholic music because it is a shared experience and thus quite uplifting; music that is artificially happy is in fact depressing". Funny you say that Pet Sounds is more an adult record, since I am having trouble getting past the idea of songs like Sloop John B being kids' songs. Though once I get past that, it's a surprisingly enjoyable track. I preferred it to God Only Knows, which I know is massively loved but that doesn't do a terrible lot for me.
Yeah, I absolutely understand that quote, and it applies to a lot, an absolute massive amount of music, for sure. But I don't think anything on Pet Sounds comes under that. I think it's melancholic, but not blatantly.
Sloop John B wasn't a favourite of mine at first, but I've grown to respect it knowing the history of the song (it's essentially a cover). I Just Wasn't Made For These Times is probably the real stand out track for me, moreso than God Only Knows (which I also absolutely adore, even if only for the honesty of the first lyric).
But my favourite Beach Boys songs actually come later. And though I certainly like it, Good Vibrations isn't actually one of my very favourites, not even close, so don't worry about predictability here.