So I played TWGMTR for my parents and well..

[The Shift]

I played it for my girl last night and she reckoned it's sh*t. My three year old Sierra's not that bothered either. Jack, born in January, gave a lovely smile while it was playing but then let rip a hunderous fart, so it was probably just wind.

Took me a while - and several dozen listens - to pick out individual voices but this is dominated by several factors:

1. Brian's voice is easily the most dominant.
2. Seems to me that a lot of "work" has been done on some of the other voices.
3. There's so much echo & reverb on the choral and individual voices that any real distinctiveness is buried. Every now and then one of the guys' voices is pushed up a little so that each gets a showcase but that's it.
4. There's a few unidentifiable voices in there (Foskett? Scotty? Others?) which I could live without.
5. I'm no audio engineer and don't have the necessary ear, but I suspect auto tune had been applied with a decorator's brush to much of the block harmony vocals.

But Y'know, so what! It's reunion schmaltz, it's syrupy and sweet and it says "we're back!". Love that line "He waved his hand gave us rock and roll..."

Listening in bed this morning with the headphones on so as not to waken The Dissenter, I detected a vocal part I hadn't heard before. Deep, not really in tune, rumbly and not in time either but repetitive; no discernible auto tune either. Had to listen real hard... to work out The Dissenter was snoring.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Where are the original Beach Boys on the vocal blend of the song, besides being able to hear Brian and Bruce?  I don't hear Al or Mike on it at all.  I can see old school Beach Boy fans being a little put off by it for that alone.  

if you truly don't hear Alan, then you should book an audiologists appointment without delay.

[The Shift]

Where are the original Beach Boys on the vocal blend of the song, besides being able to hear Brian and Bruce?  I don't hear Al or Mike on it at all.  I can see old school Beach Boy fans being a little put off by it for that alone. 

if you truly don't hear Alan, then you should book an audiologists appointment without delay.

Y'know it has to pick out some of the voices, not because of the lack of individuality but because they're somewhat drowned in an ocean of faux echo and effect.

I hope Bruce might tell us a bit more about the mixing process over on the Yellow board but I suspect he might not.

Suspect Postcard From California might be the last honest unadulterated blast of Beach Boy vocals we're ever going to get. And I don't think all those are exactly raw.

[Alan Smith]

i guess i took it to heart for some reason :/..at first i didnt like it that much but it's growing and growing on me ..
i'm excited yet nervous for the album :] ..:O

Good to see you're pulling yourself together, Dude, keep your chin up - as an American teenager you are legally required to rebel against anything your Dad says or does.  He's doing his job in the ongoing struggle between parents and offspring; you need to do yours.

James Dean and Fonzie are spinning in their graves....

[Too Much Sugar]

Jack, born in January, gave a lovely smile while it was playing but then let rip a hunderous fart, so it was probably just wind.

"Let the wind blow..." 

[Aegir]

i guess i took it to heart for some reason :/..at first i didnt like it that much but it's growing and growing on me ..
i'm excited yet nervous for the album :] ..:O

Good to see you're pulling yourself together, Dude, keep your chin up - as an American teenager you are legally required to rebel against anything your Dad says or does.  He's doing his job in the ongoing struggle between parents and offspring; you need to do yours.

James Dean and Fonzie are spinning in their graves....

Fonzie's still alive!

[Newguy562]

i guess i took it to heart for some reason :/..at first i didnt like it that much but it's growing and growing on me ..
i'm excited yet nervous for the album :] ..:O

Good to see you're pulling yourself together, Dude, keep your chin up - as an American teenager you are legally required to rebel against anything your Dad says or does.  He's doing his job in the ongoing struggle between parents and offspring; you need to do yours.

James Dean and Fonzie are spinning in their graves....

yes you are right and trust me i am!
haaaaaaaa :O

[stack-o-tracks]

Burn your house down to teach your parents a lesson. 

[Liamo]

In fairness, the song is more of a 'grower' so it's not so strange they were underwhelmed at first listen. So was I but I quite like it now. Its good your parents like Pet Sounds though. I think the Beach Boys have such a distinctive sound if you can't 'convert' someone after playing 4 or 5 songs, then there's little chance of changing the person's mind. Although I do remember when I first got into them, I was on a bit of a mission to convince everyone I knew how good they were. Have calmed down a bit now thank God.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

My wife's not too impressed with the new song either.

I think I see what it is.

We're nerds.

[MBE]

It's not nearly as bad as 95 percent of their studio work between Dennis and Carl's death. It's not a classic either. It's kind of like MIU where it's nice harmonically, the melody is decent, but the production is WAY too slick. Joe Thomas has no soul in his technique. Still I'll take an MIU type sound over Steve Levine and Terry Melcher's Beach Boys work anyday. At least it feels like the group is trying.

 As far as the album I feel that anyone who expects anything like their 1961-72 sessions is going to be let down big time. Can anyone sing as well at seventy as they did in their twenties and thirties?  Still if you can take it for what it is, an attempt to end things on a less embarrassing note than Summer In Paradice or Stars and Stripes, I am sure there will be some nice moments.

[hypehat]

My wife's not too impressed with the new song either.

I think I see what it is.

We're nerds.

.....say it ain't so?!

[absinthe_boy]

i played it for my girlfriend.  she liked it, but said "it wasn't what i expected, i expected something like caroline no, did brian write it?"  i told her nope, not really.  she added it's still better than anything on the radio

That last part is probably true.....TWGMTR *is* better than 99% of the guff on the radio at the moment. It's nice, I don't think it is great but it is nice and I really hope it gets some significant airplay.

[MBE]

i played it for my girlfriend.  she liked it, but said "it wasn't what i expected, i expected something like caroline no, did brian write it?"  i told her nope, not really.  she added it's still better than anything on the radio

That last part is probably true.....TWGMTR *is* better than 99% of the guff on the radio at the moment. It's nice, I don't think it is great but it is nice and I really hope it gets some significant airplay.

I can agree with that.
By the way what is Absinthe? Is is some sort of drink?

[hypehat]

Aye, and nasty stuff too. 

[absinthe_boy]

Absinthe was banned in much of Europe and the USA for most of the 20th century. It is a very strong spirit made with a wormwood extract, beloved of artist types in turn of the century France...think of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and that crowd. It has been alleged to cause hallucinations and even dementia with excessive consumption. Absinthe tends to have a strong aniseed taste - think Ouzo and multiply by 2 or 3. Typically the alcohol content is 60-75% by volume (roughly 120-150 proof).

I drink about a bottle a year and am well known for bringing absinthe to parties...hence my moniker. I am also something of a bohemian at heart, if not in my lifestyle.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Absinthe was banned in much of Europe and the USA for most of the 20th century. It is a very strong spirit made with a wormwood extract, beloved of artist types in turn of the century France...think of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec and that crowd. It has been alleged to cause hallucinations and even dementia with excessive consumption. Absinthe tends to have a strong aniseed taste - think Ouzo and multiply by 2 or 3. Typically the alcohol content is 60-75% by volume (roughly 120-150 proof).

I drink about a bottle a year and am well known for bringing absinthe to parties...hence my moniker. I am also something of a bohemian at heart, if not in my lifestyle.

I can drink two bottles and run a mile, go on, let him get his absinthe out!

(Sorry, Withnail moment)

[Wall of (Pet) Sound(s)]

the production is WAY too slick. Joe Thomas has no soul in his technique.

Agreed. I like the song itself, but the production actually kills it for me. It feels empty. The song has similarities to the songs on Today! (for example), but that album had so much energy -- not just in the vocals, but the music itself. Crisp, warm, alive. TWGMTR sounds like a cheap karaoke mix to me. I know that times and technologies have changed, but TLOS had a much better feel to it.

[endofposts]

Where are the original Beach Boys on the vocal blend of the song, besides being able to hear Brian and Bruce?  I don't hear Al or Mike on it at all.  I can see old school Beach Boy fans being a little put off by it for that alone. 

if you truly don't hear Alan, then you should book an audiologists appointment without delay.

Y'know it has to pick out some of the voices, not because of the lack of individuality but because they're somewhat drowned in an ocean of faux echo and effect.

I hope Bruce might tell us a bit more about the mixing process over on the Yellow board but I suspect he might not.

Suspect Postcard From California might be the last honest unadulterated blast of Beach Boy vocals we're ever going to get. And I don't think all those are exactly raw.

Yes, exactly.  Al is sort of on there, I finally picked him out on headphones because my laptop speakers aren't the best, but it's not too strong.  His vocals on this don't sound as good as he's capable of sounding.  Al's voice has changed the least out of all the guys in real life.  It's processed like heck on this recording.  Although now the song is reminding me of "The Theme to Midnight Cowboy" (the "That's why God made" parts).

[Paulos]

Newguy, the only important thing is if you like TWGMTR and if your parents and girlfriend don't like it that's there loss, don't put too much importance in what other people think (including me). Also, please change your user name to something more appropriate as you are not really new anymore!

[Heysaboda]

they were extremely unimpressed especially since my dad was a huge fan of pet sounds/smile (i guess he expected to hear that type of sound coming from their new record).I told them it's not 1966/67 it's 2012..he told me that they should do what the rolling stones should do and hang it up ...this saddens me :/..now i'm worried what the new album is going to sound like..

With deepest respect, NG, your parents can just stuff it!

Best regards tho'.

 

[Mr. Cohen]

My girlfriend was expecting something more like "Ding Dang". She wanted to know where the real Brian Wilson stuff is. So we got a burger and did our own version.

[I. Spaceman]

It's not nearly as bad as 95 percent of their studio work between Dennis and Carl's death. It's not a classic either. It's kind of like MIU where it's nice harmonically, the melody is decent, but the production is WAY too slick. Joe Thomas has no soul in his technique. Still I'll take an MIU type sound over Steve Levine and Terry Melcher's Beach Boys work anyday. At least it feels like the group is trying.

 As far as the album I feel that anyone who expects anything like their 1961-72 sessions is going to be let down big time. Can anyone sing as well at seventy as they did in their twenties and thirties?  Still if you can take it for what it is, an attempt to end things on a less embarrassing note than Summer In Paradice or Stars and Stripes, I am sure there will be some nice moments.

The best post I have read on this subject so far.

[MBE]

It's not nearly as bad as 95 percent of their studio work between Dennis and Carl's death. It's not a classic either. It's kind of like MIU where it's nice harmonically, the melody is decent, but the production is WAY too slick. Joe Thomas has no soul in his technique. Still I'll take an MIU type sound over Steve Levine and Terry Melcher's Beach Boys work anyday. At least it feels like the group is trying.

 As far as the album I feel that anyone who expects anything like their 1961-72 sessions is going to be let down big time. Can anyone sing as well at seventy as they did in their twenties and thirties?  Still if you can take it for what it is, an attempt to end things on a less embarrassing note than Summer In Paradice or Stars and Stripes, I am sure there will be some nice moments.

The best post I have read on this subject so far.

Thank you!
 I suppose all I can add is that I'm not knocking it too much by comparing it MIU. To me that is the easiest post 1973 Beach Boys LP to play. Not Art with a capitol A but only the  "Belles Of Paris" makes me cringe.

Maybe Joe Thomas gets along with them all, maybe their taste is rather generic, but man I would have liked to see the old "Produced By the Beach Boys" credit. I'm just going to enjoy it for what is and hope nothing is exceedingly in bad taste. If I want classic Beach Boys it only means grabbing it off the shelf. Again the important thing is that they do seem to be ending their story with class, instead of letting it disolve pathetically with all of them at odds.

[Wirestone]

Man I would have liked to see the old "Produced By the Beach Boys" credit. I'm just going to enjoy it for what is and hope nothing is exceedingly in bad taste. If I want classic Beach Boys it only means grabbing it off the shelf. Again the important thing is that they do seem to be ending their story with class, instead of letting it disolve pathetically with all of them at odds.

We haven't seen any final production credits yet.

Joe Thomas is not confirmed as a producer or co-producer.

The only official word we've had on the subject is from Capitol Records, saying that Brian produced the album.