Various Artists - Do it Again: A Tribute To Pet Sounds

Hang on to your egos, boys

It’s either reverence, or a self-congratulatory ‘look what we can do’ that forces most of these 13 artists to recreate Brian Wilson’s original productions almost to a T. OK, so there’s no exquisite harmonies, meticulous arrangements or attention to detail, but for the most part, everyone follows the script. Even when stripping it down to solo acoustic and vocal, Micah P Hinson doesn’t stray far from the melodies. I know There’s An Answer fares little better. It’s so stubbornly close to the original that it could be The Wondermints. On the plus side, Architecture In Helsinki’s Pet Sounds brings in horn flourishes that promise mardi gras just around the corner. With just two vocals and guitar, The Oldham Brothers find their own harmonies to turn in a beautifully understated Wouldn’t It Be Nice. Daniel Johnston does likewise with God Only Knows, sounding like he’s playing a self-dismantling carnival organ, with a vulnerability that not even Brian Wilson could have found. Vic Chesnutt’s You Still Believe In Me stinks, however. The polar opposite of being too reverential, singing the song through a vocoder is just annoying, not inspired. Fans of the original will run screaming, but students who know their left-of-centre artists will find something to embrace.

Houston Party | HPR 135

Reviewed by Jason Draper
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