Thoughts on the BWPS live DVD?

[Julia]

Anyone noticed the beautiful female playing violin? She outshines Taylor without even trying. Brunettes ftw.

I prefer Brunettes too, but that blonde in the green top doing vocals was stunning (is that Taylor?). I wish the camera had focused more on her (and everyone else really) than a million shots of Brian smiling and throwing his arms up. I know he's the star and I'm not trying to pick on him, just felt it was a little too much of one thing. I agree that audience shots would've been pointless but I think more of the stage as a whole or split screens if more than one person is doing something cool would've been nice. I also agree Brian's smiling felt a little forced and excessive--the other musicians don't feel the need to smile every second they're on stage. It may be the name of the album, but I'm sure all the concentration of performing, not to mention the sad moments of the music, means a flat expression is warranted at least sometimes.

Overall though it's a very great performance, well-shot, I can feel the love and passion both on and off stage. I wish I was conscious of SMiLE to know to go to one of these concerts--I was only just getting into the Beach Boys in 2003, seeing the commercials for Sounds of Summer on TV and begging my mom to get a copy. (She bought Greatest Hits Vol 1: 20 Good Vibrations but in hindsight that was for the best, especially when we got Vol 2 the next year.) I agree it's a far superior listening experience to BWPS the studio CD. For one thing, the whole "vibe" and acoustics of the live show makes the music come alive the way the sterile digital midi production of the CD just doesn't. Also, the audience applause after CE and SU (clearly the crowd favorites and for good reason) provides a nice "breather" between "movements" that helps blunt the jarring transitions (especially SU to IIGS). I still think a two-movement concert would've been better but this helps me understand why so many people were so protective of the BWPS-template for so long. (I do think that attitude has gradually died down over the years in favor of the 2-side vinyl structure, whatever the specifics of that entail, which I personally feel is only natural and for the best--the original 60s project and its ambitions shouldn't be forgotten.)

If I were to rate this DVD as if we were in the albums/books/movies section of the forum, I'd give it a 5.

[BJL]

I prefer Brunettes too, but that blonde in the green top doing vocals was stunning (is that Taylor?). I wish the camera had focused more on her (and everyone else really) than a million shots of Brian smiling and throwing his arms up.

Yep, love Brian but watching the band is so much fun in this performance. And that's Taylor, always thought it was such a masterstroke to include her in the band. It subtly but unmistakably said "we're not trying to be the beach boys," and helped give the vocal blend its own distinctive feel.

Always loved the DVD more than the album. I watched it so many times back in the mid-2000s.