Amazon (and iTunes!!!) samples are up

[Catbirdman]

Honestly, I don't care if someone tattoos it on their dick. Have fun!

What a brilliant idea! Just back from the tatooist - shall I upload photos?

[Wirestone]

Incidentally, I am thrilled by the sound of the last four tunes. Shelter and Isn't it Time sound cool, too.

I would say that "best since Holland" is an easy call (using Andrew's formula of counting "Love You" as a BW solo record). It also, sadly, says something about the generally abysmal quality of BB records after that point, too.

[Aegir]

it's extremely arbitrary to count Love You as a solo record. Carl did a lot of work on it and two songs were cowritten with other members of the band. and they all sing on it.

[b00ts]

"someone sat down with nothing to say and decided to write about what they wrote about because it's easy"

A Brian trademark. Busy Doin' Nothing, I'd Love Just Once To See You, I Went To Sleep, etc., etc.

True; but it doesn't seem to have worked this time, LOL  

ROTFLMAO!

How about we don't turn this thread into another one with pages and pages of people bitching at each other? Why is it so easy to fly off the handle over nothing (Dr Beach Boy saying that he will wait for the full tunes before he judges them)? It is inconsiderate to make everyone else wade through pages of childish BS, and it drags the board down as a whole. I always thought of this as a place with intelligent discourse, that rarely fell into the "internet trap" of people whining back and forth about personal issues.

Paradoxically, with the release of the Smile Sessions, the reunion tour, and the improbable new album, the board is turning into a cesspool of name-calling and defensiveness. I used to think that the mods here had an easy job, but now it must have become tough for them, with everyone squabbling back and forth. I mean, who cares about this pettiness? It is a waste of everybody's time.

When did this board become a place where everyone is waiting for someone else to say something offensive? Life is too short.

Stop bitching, and move along, nothing to see here. 

I love you, Ron. As per your request, I will indeed quit bitching forthwith. Once again, I appreciate your insights, rapier wit, and thoughtful, lucid posts. As I just learned by bitching, if you mess with the bull (Ron), you get the horns (Ron's devastatingly sharp, sober and lucid wit).

As for the new Beach Boys album, I am hoping the snippets on Amazon are not from the final mix. In some cases, the vocal production is a bit over the top with the robotic sound. This doesn't seem to be a consistent aesthetic among all the tracks. It sounds out of place on "From Here to Back Again," as it is an elegiac, subtle song, from what I can tell.

It sounds like "Spring Vacation" was given a very 'au courant' production job with pitch correction used as an effect, perhaps to fit in with the hit songs being played on the radio nowadays. "Isn't It Time" has an interesting sound to it. Very few Brian Wilson songs get this involved percussively, with other instruments picking up the rhythmic slack. I think the production comparison with MIU and "Pitter Patter" in particular has some merit when applied to several songs on the album.

As we heard on "Do it Again 2012," "That's Why God Made The Radio" and the recent live performances, Mike's voice has changed over the last few years. He has a bit of an edge to his voice that he never had before, and I enjoy it.

It sounds like the album is equal parts 'art' and 'commerce.' As implied in several reviews, the first half of the album seems to have a more tropical, beachy sound, and the second half tends more towards the artistic side of The Beach Boys.

I think the music-loving public came around to Pet Sounds and SMiLe in the 1990s, and began to truly appreciate what Brian was capable of. Then in more recent years, post-BWPS and the improved Mike and Bruce concerts, Mike's work has been reassessed as well. If a Beach Boys song had been released pre-2005 with lyrics like the those featured in "Spring Vacation," people on this messageboard would have complained about it much more than they have, and people who didn't know Pet Sounds/SMiLe would use it as a reason to further discount the group as an anachronism.

Today, everybody knows about the group's artistically groundbreaking work, and The Beach Boys can comfortably wed the "cheerfully anachronistic" side of their group (paraphrasing Mike) with the more artistic aspirations found in the opening track and several others.

I think this album will be unique in the band's catalogue for that reason. Some of their early work, like "California Girls," comfortably marries commercial aspirations with uniquely beautiful songwriting. Since then, compromise between art and commerce always meant putting out middle-of-the-road albums like MIU and Beach Boys '85. It seems like "That's Why God Made the Radio" is a bit schizophrenic in this sense, with songs like "Beaches In Mind" sitting alongside "From Here to Back Again."  and I look forward to hearing the whole record.

Of course, I will wait until I have the full album before I judge it...

[Wirestone]

it's extremely arbitrary to count Love You as a solo record. Carl did a lot of work on it and two songs were cowritten with other members of the band. and they all sing on it.

Don't look at me. Take it up with Doe.

Love You is just such a problematic record to talk about in a context like this, really. It's so singular -- and divides opinion so much -- that saying "best since Love You" doesn't carry the same kind of weight.

Best -- and only -- album in awhile. How about that.  

[southbay]

it's extremely arbitrary to count Love You as a solo record. Carl did a lot of work on it and two songs were cowritten with other members of the band. and they all sing on it.

Don't look at me. Take it up with Doe.

Love You is just such a problematic record to talk about in a context like this, really. It's so singular -- and divides opinion so much -- that saying "best since Love You" doesn't carry the same kind of weight.

Best -- and only -- album in awhile. How about that. 

I have been a fan for 27 years and I still don't know what to make of Love You.  I mean I love it. And I kind of hate it.

[Fro]

it's extremely arbitrary to count Love You as a solo record. Carl did a lot of work on it and two songs were cowritten with other members of the band. and they all sing on it.

Don't look at me. Take it up with Doe.

Love You is just such a problematic record to talk about in a context like this, really. It's so singular -- and divides opinion so much -- that saying "best since Love You" doesn't carry the same kind of weight.

Best -- and only -- album in awhile. How about that.  

Even if Love You is a better album melodically than TWGMTR (and that's far from clear at this point), you have to fairly judge its awful production, bad vocals, and embarrassing songs.  You can't just say "wow, this would be great with Pet Sounds production and different lyrics"

I like the Love You album a lot but it's pretty flawed.

[I. Spaceman]

Honestly, I don't care if someone tattoos it on their dick. Have fun!

What a brilliant idea! Just back from the tatooist - shall I upload photos?

It BETTER have a Record Room copyright on there!

[Zach95]

it's extremely arbitrary to count Love You as a solo record. Carl did a lot of work on it and two songs were cowritten with other members of the band. and they all sing on it.

Don't look at me. Take it up with Doe.

Love You is just such a problematic record to talk about in a context like this, really. It's so singular -- and divides opinion so much -- that saying "best since Love You" doesn't carry the same kind of weight.

Best -- and only -- album in awhile. How about that. 

I have been a fan for 27 years and I still don't know what to make of Love You.  I mean I love it. And I kind of hate it.

Perfect statement. Says it all.

[I. Spaceman]

I highly doubt The Private Life of Bill and Sue and Shelter were newly composed - the backing tracks (and even Bri's vocal on the former) sound the most like Imagination/Joe Thomas 1998 sessions to me out of all of the samples.

We'll have to see what the credits say, but I strongly suspect that the entire album is newly recorded.  

Only thing is, Bruce said in the interview with our RR friend that some of the album was on Joe Thomas's hard drive. Whether he meant songs or recordings, we don't know yet.

[Catbirdman]

I think my favorite so far is "Isn't It Time." That's a ukelele, right? Nice touch, and not done overly in an islaand kind of way either. That, combined with the "dooby-dooby dum" vocal, followed by Al's stong entrance, sets this arrangement apart.

Even the songs that aren't killing me seem to have great hooks. You can always count on Brian for a great melody.

[hypehat]

I highly doubt The Private Life of Bill and Sue and Shelter were newly composed - the backing tracks (and even Bri's vocal on the former) sound the most like Imagination/Joe Thomas 1998 sessions to me out of all of the samples.

We'll have to see what the credits say, but I strongly suspect that the entire album is newly recorded.  

Only thing is, Bruce said in the interview with our RR friend that some of the album was on Joe Thomas's hard drive. Whether he meant songs or recordings, we don't know yet.

What the hell is that supposed to mean, anyway?

"Somewhere amongst the huge, and possibly illegal, amount of pornography on his hard-drive, Joe Thomas also has the multi-tracks to Spring Vacation!"

 

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Amazing that something in the quality of MIU is considered really good in the context of 2012.

[Catbirdman]

Honestly, I don't care if someone tattoos it on their dick. Have fun!

What a brilliant idea! Just back from the tatooist - shall I upload photos?

It BETTER have a Record Room copyright on there!

Oh absolutely, but the "all rights reserved" etc. ran over a bit into the perineum, hope you don't mind.

[Wirestone]

I highly doubt The Private Life of Bill and Sue and Shelter were newly composed - the backing tracks (and even Bri's vocal on the former) sound the most like Imagination/Joe Thomas 1998 sessions to me out of all of the samples.

We'll have to see what the credits say, but I strongly suspect that the entire album is newly recorded.  

Only thing is, Bruce said in the interview with our RR friend that some of the album was on Joe Thomas's hard drive. Whether he meant songs or recordings, we don't know yet.

While suggestive, I have a hard time figuring out if that means anything. ALL of Brian's albums from the last 14 years are stored on hard drives. It is how all music is saved and stored now, unless you're doing something self-consciously retro and recording to tape. I mean. Bob Dylan's last couple of albums are stored on hard drives too. So yeah, that's where Joe would have the album, because it has to be saved someplace.

Now, we might assume the suggestion is that Joe had bits of the album -- tracks or demos -- saved on his hard drive from back in '98. That's possible! But it's also not what Bruce said.

[drbeachboy]

The album and track listing is up on iTunes, but no previews. All the tracks are ghosted out. It is Pre-order only. I was hoping I would get to listen to longer, 30 second previews. 

[tpesky]

I think the first song, Isn't It Time, and the last 3 will be my favorite.  The choruses on many songs have a lot of Brian and Al which is a great thing! No overly nasal Mike vocals . I like the tone he uses on Daybreak. I'm very surprised everyone is being kind to the lyrics on Spring Vacation. I guess the mood is just so happy people are loving everything. Vibration and vacation is almost as bad as vibrations and assassinations.  But you knew the BB couldn't do an album without one song like that and that's fine.

[Runaways]

I think the first song, Isn't It Time, and the last 3 will be my favorite.  The choruses on many songs have a lot of Brian and Al which is a great thing! No overly nasal Mike vocals . I like the tone he uses on Daybreak. I'm very surprised everyone is being kind to the lyrics on Spring Vacation. I guess the mood is just so happy people are loving everything. Vibration and vacation is almost as bad as vibrations and assassinations.  But you knew the BB couldn't do an album without one song like that and that's fine.

A clip of vacation came out a few weeks ago and the lyrics caught hell then

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Showed my mom the clips, she says she loves the "sound" which may be the production, and I agree for the most part, so kill us haha

[Shady]

I think my favorite so far is "Isn't It Time." That's a ukelele, right? Nice touch, and not done overly in an islaand kind of way either. That, combined with the "dooby-dooby dum" vocal, followed by Al's stong entrance, sets this arrangement apart.

Even the songs that aren't killing me seem to have great hooks. You can always count on Brian for a great melody.

That's a ukelele indeed, genius touch

[I. Spaceman]

Now, we might assume the suggestion is that Joe had bits of the album -- tracks or demos -- saved on his hard drive from back in '98. That's possible! But it's also not what Bruce said.

I think it is quite clear that is the inference, combined with Brian's statement that most of the album was at least written in 1998. I mean, there is no real reason to think otherwise at this point, it doesn't reflect badly on the contents.

[runnersdialzero]

Consider how quickly this album came together. If it seems like just a few months since we heard the news that the guys had re-recorded "Do It Again" recently, you're right - it was just a few months ago.

There's also the fact that the album has been floating around between the higher ups for what, a good month now? And the album comes out in just a few weeks.

Take into consideration Brian saying most of the songs date from 1998, Mike's 70s track, etc. and I'm thinking the idea that this album utilizes partially (not completely) older recordings and old ideas isn't far-fetched in the least. It's not a slight on the material or the band's abilities or anything, just seems that it's indeed true.

[Wirestone]

Consider how quickly this album came together. If it seems like just a few months since we heard the news that the guys had re-recorded "Do It Again" recently, you're right - it was just a few months ago.

There's also the fact that the album has been floating around between the higher ups for what, a good month now? And the album comes out in just a few weeks.

Take into consideration Brian saying most of the songs date from 1998, Mike's 70s track, etc. and I'm thinking the idea that this album utilizes partially (not completely) older recordings and old ideas isn't far-fetched in the least. It's not a slight on the material or the band's abilities or anything, just seems that it's indeed true.

I don't think it is, though. Brian was recording throughout last year with Joe and Jeff. It just wasn't called a Beach Boys album at the time. It was called a Brian Wilson solo project. Easiest thing in the world to use those tracks -- and those well may have been the tracks on the hard drive that Bruce talked about.

Frankly, I suspect that all of this was hatched in late 2010 / early 2011. A deal was struck to bring Brian back into the group for the 50th anniversary (AGD has mentioned that Brian was indeed lying through his teeth throughout last year). The deal had two or three aspects. 1.) The Smile boxed set had to be released, to secure Brian's legacy. 2.) There needed to be a new album with Brian at the helm. And 3.), in return for those first two things, Brian would commit to an extensive summer tour.

At that point, they had to figure out how to make the album happen. It's doubtful that the group would have accepted Brian working on his own, and they needed someone to figure out logistics in terms of the inevitable DVD, documentary, etc. Well, guess what? Joe Thomas has made his name doing high-def concert videos. And Brian could use some songs for the album, and didn't he and Joe have some worked out? Joe then solved two or three problems simultaneously.

I would expect that this is all tentative, though. Everyone is hoping it will work, but they all know that any piece could fall apart at any moment.

So while the Capitol archives department got to work on Smile, Brian starts hanging out with Joe and fiddling with the new record. They polish off the old songs, then probably wrote a few new ones. Jeff records with them, and word begins to get out. Jean Seivers calls it a BW solo project. In May, the group (and Joe) get together to re-record Do It Again to see if they can all handle being in the studio together. It generally goes well.

I would expect that further work is done during the fall as Brian promotes the Smile box. Finally, in November or December, the group assembles to start recording vocals. Some instrumental tracks are recorded to, because what else is a rock band going to do in a studio? Mike picks out a few tracks to write lyrics to, and slots in one of his own songs. They keep recording and polishing through February.

That doesn't seem like too much of a compressed schedule to me, and I'd bet it's close to what actually happened. (Not to say that 98 elements couldn't have been used, but the only reason they would need to do that is if they liked them better. Remember: Brian's band recorded BWPS in three days.)

[Jim V.]

iTunes sample are up. So yeah...

"Isn't it Time" sounds like a new classic up-tempo Beach Boys song.

"Strange World" sounds kinda disappointing. I was hoping for more. Very TLOS. But I don't care for that album.

"From There to Back Again" sounds very pretty. I'm really excited. Al sounds great. Brian sounds good.

"Pacific Coast Highway", Brian sounds really nice on.

"Summer's Gone" sounds absolutely beautiful. Brian sounds awesome. "Caroline No" worthy? Maybe. Very tasteful.

[Zach95]

I really want to stress the point that the vocals on the iTunes, and presumably CD sound entirely different than on those Amazon clips.  I am exaggerating in no way.  Those robo-voices I heard on the Amazon samples sound nothing like the iTunes vocals.