ISN'T IT TIME SINGLE VERSION (BBC Radio 2) LISTEN NOW

[runnersdialzero]

I agree with David's message at the end of the article.

"David Beard is the editor and publisher of Endless Summer Quarterly the world’s leading Beach Boys fanzine. He has published ESQ for 14 years and has been involved with the publication since August 1993. He has served as a consultant and image archivist for various projects, including 2006’s “The..."?

[Alan Smith]

I agree with David's message at the end of the article.

"David Beard is the editor and publisher of Endless Summer Quarterly the world’s leading Beach Boys fanzine. He has published ESQ for 14 years and has been involved with the publication since August 1993. He has served as a consultant and image archivist for various projects, including 2006’s “The..."?

Yep, 2006's "The..." is teh best thing I ever read

[John Manning]

Y'have to click on his photo:

David Beard is the editor and publisher of Endless Summer Quarterly the world’s leading Beach Boys fanzine. He has published ESQ for 14 years and has been involved with the publication since August 1993. He has served as a consultant and image archivist for various projects, including 2006’s “The Beach Boys – Songs From Here & Back,” 2002’s documentary “Jan & Dean: The Other Beach Boys” on A&E’s Biography channel and 1998’s VH1 special “Jan & Dean: Behind The Music.” His liner notes experience includes 2008’s “Dennis Wilson: Pacific Ocean Blue – Legacy Edition,” and 2008’s “Jan & Dean – The Complete Liberty Singles” collection.

On an iPhone there's even a "read the rest"-type button, curiously lacking on a desktop browser.

[runnersdialzero]

^_^

[Rocker]

I don't agree with David on that. Imo he tries too hard too read a Beach Boys Reunion related theme into the lyrics which is a more fitting thought for the album version. The single version is just a love song that goes imo from trying to convince someone to re-live the old love (first verse) to actually do it (reliving a new love that is). As a love song it works imo. It doesn't if you want to think they sing about the reunion.  


I just wonder if they release comes too late in the year to be a big hit. Not unlike "It's ok" back in the days. It's a song with something of a summer feel and I guess a June/July release would've been not wrong. But anyway we'll have to wait and see

[tansen]

I think it's refreshing to see that he finally comes with some critique - as opposed to the ever supporting "all Beach Boys do is gold".
However, personally I don't really care about the lyrics, and I think his focus there is wrong. I don't think that's the main thing that is making the new version bad. The mix itself - due to things mentioned earlier in the thread - is IMO inferior to the original mix, though.

[ESQ Editor]

http://www.examiner.com/review/new-beach-boys-single-loses-its-swagger

[filledeplage]

http://www.examiner.com/review/new-beach-boys-single-loses-its-swagger

"Swagger" does sort of define the CD version or the earlier live version done at the earlier reunion shows.  I suppose I likened it at first to the difference as between Ronda (Today) and the single (SDSN) version.  But, it is more than that.  In a sense, BB music, at least lots of the early stuff, including Pet Sounds, for me embodied a sort of "art of courtly love" concept, first made famous by Chrétien de Troyes, in the global concept of the knights of the Round Table (Lancelot) and society-imposed courtship/dating/relationship rules.

The lyric changes, from "going steady" to "be lovers" unveils, or seems to unveil the "dance" that, early baby boomers ( and some late ones) understand.  Even Getcha Back alludes to a society imposed concept of "going too far" which doesn't exist anymore.  And Wouldn't It Be Nice.  I would liken it to a "Steve Harvey" seminar on men and women.  

The earlier version had an earthy, gravelly and visceral feel to it, and the listener knows where "going steady" leads, but is still playing his cards close to the vest.  I do like Brian's vocals on the latter version, but generally prefer the first version.  I love the "swagger" of the first version.  But, conversely, prefer Rhonda to Ronda.

Since music is so different in delivery, is it "plausible" to add the original version as a "bonus track" as a two-fer concept and somehow blast the rating and/or download numbers?  

The original version impresses me as so cooly "unplugged."  It is an unprententious look in the rear view mirror, with a twinkle-in-the-eye, ever youthful and poses the Robert Frost "road not taken" question, with the attitude that it is "never too late" to cautiously take that "second chance."  

[halblaineisgood]

are we all still referencing that BBC youtube version?  is there better quality, yet?

[musicismylife101]

The only thing that really bugs me are the effects on Al's vocal and the "lovers" bit.

The effects bother me the most. The lyrics like I said before bother me too but I was able to somewhat tolerate it after a few more listens. The autotune, reverb, and other effects are what really bugs me. Hearing the live versions on Youtube, they sound just fine without all those tricks. The effects are just unnecessary. It is used in such excessive that they sound like robots at time, especially at the "lovers" bit. That part makes them sound so robotic that it makes me cringe. If they want to prove to the world that they still have it, ditch the autotune and sing.

[Alan Smith]

I think it's refreshing to see that he finally comes with some critique - as opposed to the ever supporting "all Beach Boys do is gold".
However, personally I don't really care about the lyrics, and I think his focus there is wrong. I don't think that's the main thing that is making the new version bad. The mix itself - due to things mentioned earlier in the thread - is IMO inferior to the original mix, though.

I appreciate David's objectivity with this article, and his ability to maintain a high level of diplomacy in relaying this critique. 

I'm a newish ESQ subscriber so I'm unfamiliar with the mags past and evolution, but I get the sense David's great rapport with the band has allowed some subtle insights and crucial detail to get published  - stuff that we may not have been privy too had a hard-hammer approach been adopted and the band clammed up.
 
Not to mention the negative impact such an approach would have to the longevity of a highly niche mag like ESQ.

IMO, David also sets a great example of how to be an knowledgeable but appreciative fan, and I wish I'd been mature enough to note a freedom of choice approach in my fatuous response to the topic.*


*I am not suggesting your or anyone else's response or opinion is fatuous or immature and I respect what you've expressed

[send me a picture and i'll tell you]

this is from Fri 31 Aug 2012 - Melbourne park, Australia
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQQI4LnpqoY&t=9m9s Isn't It Time
pretty solid performance imho

Interesting that Mike sings Jeff's melody down the octave for the bridge, rather than singing the melody from the new version.

[Aegir]

The lyric changes, from "going steady" to "be lovers" unveils, or seems to unveil the "dance" that, early baby boomers ( and some late ones) understand.  Even Getcha Back alludes to a society imposed concept of "going too far" which doesn't exist anymore.  

yep, totally, kids these days have no limits when it comes to having sex in a car. no one born after 1980 has a problem with having sex in a car with Mike Love.

[runnersdialzero]

Welp, time for a new sig.

[Aegir]

now we're like signature quote buddies!

[runnersdialzero]

now we're like signature quote buddies!

^_^_^

[filledeplage]

The lyric changes, from "going steady" to "be lovers" unveils, or seems to unveil the "dance" that, early baby boomers ( and some late ones) understand.  Even Getcha Back alludes to a society imposed concept of "going too far" which doesn't exist anymore.  

yep, totally, kids these days have no limits when it comes to having sex in a car. no one born after 1980 has a problem with having sex in a car with Mike Love.

"...with Mike Love" singing "Hey Little Tomboy" on the pushbutton AM radio! (written by Brian Wilson!) 

[Ron]

Just heard this.  I think it's much, much better than the album version.  Brian's vocal on the original just completely ruined the song for me, and the sparseness of the track, while I'm sure intentional, just didn't do it for me. 


Just so you realize where I'm coming from, though, I'm from the mindset that tons of overdubs, tons of effects, sweeting up the pitches, adding extra melodies to all the leads and harmonies.... all of that is a good thing in my opinion. 

I would have given the album version a "B", I'd give this an A. 

[Ron]

I think autotune can really add a lot to a performance when used in an appropriate context. For example, Kanye West's Heartless is a really cold, sad song and I find the clinical texture of the autotune perfectly latches on to the song's despondent nature and drives the whole production up a tier. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXp2aSyrSwQ For similar reasons, I have little problem with the autotune/filter/whatever on Al's vocal on From There to Back Again, it's complimentary to the song. Isn't it Time, on the other hand, is supposed to be a jovial, uplifting and strong display of the boys' confidence in being a little quirky and fun. All the autotune does here is ruin that atmosphere of the song and make the self-conciousness and doubt about the competency of the vocalists in the group plainly apparent. It's just uncool to the furthest degree imo.

Everybody's entitled to an opinion, and I respect yours.  I just disagree.  Further, since the only writing of yours I'm aware of is this paragraph above, I'd say the Beach Boys, at 70, are far cooler than you are.  IMHO, of course. 

[Quzi]

I think autotune can really add a lot to a performance when used in an appropriate context. For example, Kanye West's Heartless is a really cold, sad song and I find the clinical texture of the autotune perfectly latches on to the song's despondent nature and drives the whole production up a tier. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXp2aSyrSwQ For similar reasons, I have little problem with the autotune/filter/whatever on Al's vocal on From There to Back Again, it's complimentary to the song. Isn't it Time, on the other hand, is supposed to be a jovial, uplifting and strong display of the boys' confidence in being a little quirky and fun. All the autotune does here is ruin that atmosphere of the song and make the self-conciousness and doubt about the competency of the vocalists in the group plainly apparent. It's just uncool to the furthest degree imo.

Everybody's entitled to an opinion, and I respect yours.  I just disagree.  Further, since the only writing of yours I'm aware of is this paragraph above, I'd say the Beach Boys, at 70, are far cooler than you are.  IMHO, of course.  

Given that you have been vocal in saying Spring Vacation is the key to renewing the Beach Boys' commercial steam, I can't say I can put too much faith in your coolness radar . But seriously, it's time to step out of the reality distortion field Ron! I frequent quite a few music forums on the internet beyond our bubble here and talk of the inferiority of this version compared to the album cut has been echoed nearly everywhere. Seems like I'm "with it" 

[Ron]

Ohhhh, you live in negative bullshit land.  You should have clued me in on that to begin with.


Personally, I live in "I like happy things" land.  When I hear songs on the radio, I don't cry about it and remember how my dad beat me once and my puppy that ran away when I was 8.  O.K., maybe I do.  But still, I generally listen to the radio to ENJOY IT. 

This constant "Well... at 3:14 in the song, one guy farts in the background.  The fart sounds synthesized, I want more real farting" that all you nerds do everytime something AWESOME happens is below you.  You're better than that.











So in closing, I'd like to say: Cheer the f*** up. 

[FatherOfTheMan Sr101]

Omg Brian Wilson's twitter/facebook Linked to the video of the currently unreleased song

[runnersdialzero]

OOTPOOV

[Shady]

Jeff couldn't keep it in his pants

[Jim V.]

Ohhhh, you live in negative bullsh*t land.  You should have clued me in on that to begin with.


Personally, I live in "I like happy things" land.  When I hear songs on the radio, I don't cry about it and remember how my dad beat me once and my puppy that ran away when I was 8.  O.K., maybe I do.  But still, I generally listen to the radio to ENJOY IT. 

This constant "Well... at 3:14 in the song, one guy farts in the background.  The fart sounds synthesized, I want more real farting" that all you nerds do everytime something AWESOME happens is below you.  You're better than that.











So in closing, I'd like to say: Cheer the f*** up. 

Your smugness makes me wanna puke. I'd cheer the f*** up if you disappeared from the board. We don't have to like every single thing the band does.

By the way, I like the new version of "Isn't It Time". I don't know if I prefer it to the album version but whatever.