Amazon.co.uk Review
What makes Pet Sounds Live much more than just a souvenir of Brian Wilson's 2002 shows at London's Royal Festival Hall is how the former Beach Boy seems to have lived and breathed every last word (Tony Asher's words, lest we forget) and sentiment of his very own masterpiece's candid, soul-baring vulnerability. It's not hard, for example, to interpret the magnificent "You Still Believe In Me" (freshened-up with a gorgeous and exclusively a cappella outro, it must be said that backing band the Wondermints supply awesomely faithful instrumentation and harmony throughout) as a direct tribute to those devotees who've stuck with Wilson through many wasted years of self-doubt.

For all his latter-day flaws (yes, the voice is now a crumpled shadow of its former falsetto glory) Pet Sounds Live is conceivably--and remarkably--even more of a Brian Wilson personal artistic statement than the original classic album. For example, while "I'm Waiting for the Day" has far less of the high school marching band vibe about it, the noticeable difference is the absence of the original's big booming brick-by-brick production. Perhaps, then, Brian Wilson has finally got Phil "Wall of Sound" Spector--his great inspiration and delusional nemesis--off his chest and out of his paranoid dreams. One nitpicking criticism, though: While there are lovely strings on "Let's Go Away for a While" (as, indeed, there are on the original), just where are the cellos and violins which, by right, ought to be lending that familiar glowing melancholia to the 'listen, listen" segment of "Don't Talk" or elevating the second verse of "God Only Knows" to a state of tingling, spiritual transcendence? Proof that, even with genius, there's always room for improvement. --Kevin Maidment

CD Description
As the title suggests, this album is a live re-creation of the Beach Boys' 1966 album, 'Pet Sounds'. The album was mainly written by Brian Wilson and Tony Asher. The recordings featured here were made during Wilson's four night residency at the Royal Festival Hall, London, in January 2002.

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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

Average Customer Review

4.3 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterpiece Revisted, 5 Jun 2002

By	M. Coldwell "Mike Coldwell" (London) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was lucky enough to witness this performance at London's Royal Festival Hall earlier this year, so I was keen to hear if the old memory served; was it really that good? The answer, as this lovely live recording testifies, is a resounding yes! The reviews re-wrote the record books for superlatives. The show was quite simply the best show by a pop performer I have ever, or likely ever will see (and I'm not even the world's greatest Beach Boys fan). Brian Wilson's triumphant performance comeback is something of a minor miracle and, for lovers of great pop music from ANY decade, Pet Sounds is something of holy grail. What you have here is the end of the rainbow for music fans the world over, the man many regard as the greatest pop music composer of the 20th Century performing the album that regularly tops the list of greatest albums of all time. The greatest thing about the shows for me, apart from the wonderful backing band, was the warmth and humanity of Wilson's personality that shone through both during and between songs. Quite right then that you get all of Brian's between song banter and plenty of well mixed audience response. You get a real sense of the kick he's getting from the experience. Highly recommended for all those people who seem to think OK Computer is better than the White Album.

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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WILSON BREAKS NEW BOUNDARIES WITH LIVE PET SOUNDS, 3 Jun 2002

By	"richarde662" - See all my reviews

It is a fact that in 1966 Brian Wilson broke the rules in writing, arranging and producing Pet Sounds.

36 years later he appears to have done it again, by deciding to take the album on the road and release a live CD culled from four nights at the Royal Festival Hall.

What stands it apart from other live albums is the fact he has chosen to do the whole thing from opening of wouldn't it be nice to the closing Caroline No.

He is backed by a superb band who reproduce the complex instrumentation and harmonies note for note.

In 1966 the Beatles reacted with Sgt Pepper. How many artists are now going to follow Wilson's lead and start performing their masterpieces in a concert setting?

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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Wouldn't It Be Nice...., 6 Jul 2002

By	Dave Gartland (Bouteilles St Sebastien, Dordogne France) - See all my reviews

.....to have a complete document of the RFH concerts? There is a great temptation for long-time fans to give 5 stars to any Brian Wilson offering as ten years ago any new release seemed about as likely as a year going past with Mike Love not taking one or other of his fellow Beach Boys to court!! True, the music and performances themselves are excellent, and whilst Wilson's voice may not be as pure as it once was, it's fragility lends a new dimension to these classic songs. The problem with this album is not what it does contain (even if 5 of the tracks do already appear in virtually identical form on Live at the Roxy)but what it omits - the lengthy sleeve notes heap praise on music performed from, for example, Smile and Sunflower....so where is it?? Sadly, the album leaves one with a sense of frustration at what could have been, and clocking-in at just 42 minutes leaves a somewhat "empty" feeling. Unfortunately, the cynic in me does wonder if (as happened with the Roxy album), ...Presents Pet Sounds will be re-released in a few months time with "bonus" tracks, necessitating its purchase all over again!! Well, Wouldn't THAT Be Nice!

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Sorry but...nah
Oh dear. I'm sure the concerts were an amazing experience but this CD sounds like a beech boys covers band. Brian Wilson struggles with the high notes and some of the timing. Read more

Published 21 months ago by i wrote this

5.0 out of 5 stars Would it be churlish to ask for more...
...like good vibrations? Well probably, but i can't help but feel that brian is missing out by not performing two songs that would truly put the seal on his singular genius now... Read more

Published on 30 Jan 2003 by Gareth

5.0 out of 5 stars The best just got better
I was lucky enough to be at the Festival Hall in London in January and its great to now have an official release. Read more

Published on 16 Jun 2002 by Wayne Spencer

5.0 out of 5 stars Like hearing Pet Sounds for the first time all over again.
I can't possibly add to what's already been said except to sing the praises of Brian's band - especially The Wondermints who should be far bigger than they actually are. Read more

Published on 13 Jun 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars a permanant record of the greatest gig ever
For those lucky enough to be there, words will not be enough. Music luminaries and the enlightened attended Brian Wilson's shows at the Royal Festival Hall in London, this year... Read more

Published on 9 Jun 2002 by Renaissance Man

5.0 out of 5 stars Memories of THE rock genius
Well what can you say?... The greatest album ever made performed live in London at the historic Festival Hall. Read more

Published on 8 Jun 2002 by swoodister

4.0 out of 5 stars A treat and a privilege: Brian and his masterwork
Anyone who has seen and heard Brian Wilson perform the entire Pet Sounds album live recently will know what a treat this album is. Read more

Published on 6 Jun 2002 by brendan@appleonline.net

4.0 out of 5 stars BRIAN'S TRIUMPH!
Not so long ago talk of a Brian Wilson live album would've been greeted with disbelief. A live version of 1966's "Pet Sounds" would have been laughed at, but the aural evidence is... Read more

Published on 6 Jun 2002 by PJ ASHWELL

› See all 11 customer reviews...

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	86% buy the item featured on this page: Pet Sounds Live 4.3 out of 5 stars (11)
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