Tedb- Pet Sounds is unlistenable
It's interesting how tastes can be so different, blah blah
Obviously a big part of it is how we are exposed, what our expectations are, and yes how many times we "have to" listen to the songs that shape our feelings about songs/artists.
On Pet sounds, "Wouldn't It Be Nice" and "Sloop John B" were both in the top 10 - of course this was in 1966! How much music from that year do you
get?
I came to appreciate
Pet Sounds long after it was released - I think it was after 2000 that I first bought it. When I was a wee lad I "didn't get" the Beach Boys with that "California sound", as much as the Beatles in the early 70s. I didn't even know about Pet Sounds. When I read about it, how it was so highly praised by the British music scene in the 60's and how Brian Wilson basically composed the whole thing in the studio while the rest of the Beach Boys were on the road, I became intrigued. Then there was the fact that all the sounds were "pre-studio" sounds (not synthesized) - hence "pet sounds". You almost cannot imagine how no one had achieved anything like this, having heard all that has come since. I was really curious and open, and I love to see how music influences other future music. Given all this I was very open to Pet Sounds and have gotten many hours of listening pleasure. It doesn't mean everyone will feel the same way, but maybe you will understand what other do get about it.
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Neil Young I also get, but I can see how his Canadian singer songwriter, country rock style may not appeal to everyone. And there is a lot of his stuff I don't listen to - for example
Broken Arrow is pretty unlistenable for me. Dana Carvey did a great parody of him. He is highly praised as a singer/songwriter, but you may not like the artists who praise him thusly
As far as being a "great guitar player", maybe not but I think he is a very good guitar player on many of his acoustic songs ("Needle and the Damage Done", "Look Out For My Love", etc). I am guessing it is his acid-rock type electric guitar trances that aggravate many. I look at him as an acoustic artist and have several of his mostly acoustic stuff.
I do not feel good about most music played by musicians wearing spandex, but that is a generalization. Also gold chains, and tight jeans and cowboy boots. Some I get, some I don't.
