I don't think anyone really got why I started that thread and so you're all saying 'Yeah he sings 409 real good', but this album makes me doubt that Mike Love can actually convey relatable human emotion in his singing - Maybe his voice was just f*cked, maybe he thought in order to make a 'country' album sell he needed to stamp it with his own nasal sound. But y'know you can say, 'man, they could sing the phonebook and sound great!'. Mike Love sounds like he's singing the phonebook. And now I need to listen something that can carry a tune with emotional clarity and resonance, like the 171 bus.
Well, hypehat, yeah, your perspective is unique and thought provoking. You're right; I didn't get it and went the Mike is great in the BB genre, with little regard to his solo gear.
Now, when I compare BB stuff (or even Lookin' back) to Country Love, it shows me Mike's singing is as good as who's in charge (and their headspace) - under Brian's/Carl's/Bruce's/Curt B's guidance we got the gold (or appproximate), but when Mike owned quality control (SIP, with Terry M), or was the subject of a producer who (maybe) didn't push him, we got the dross.
So, I maintain Mike is a good singer - relative to who's in charge. Here's to doggie heaven.
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