My Brian Wilson Review Gettin in Over My Head

[Lonely Summer]

Up to this point in his solo career, Brian was batting 1.000 in my book. Loved the 1988 solo album - yeah, it sounds dated now, but in 88, it seemed like the best BB's related album since Sunflower. I didn't have high expectations for IJWMFTT - just remakes of older songs, so I was pleasantly surprised how much I liked these low key, understated arrangements of BW classics. OCA took a few listens to get into, and then it became another favorite. Same for Imagination. So, based on that, I expected that I would love GIOMH. I played it at home, played it in the car, and although there were some nice moments, it just never got to me the way a BW solo album always had in the past. Couldn't put my finger on what it was that was missing, but it left me cold.

[Jonathan Blum]

Out of those first three albums -- BW88, Imagination, and GIOMH -- I prefer everything *surrounding* Brian on this one.

The arrangements seem more sympathetic to the songs, as opposed to the attempts to shoehorn them into '80s pop or '90s AC on the previous two albums.  Musically I think it's a strong album for the Brian Wilson band -- using the other band voices, as on Desert Drive, would have given it a hell of a boost.

The previous two albums may well have spackled over the cracks in Brian's performance more thoroughly -- but the result feels like a slick and soulless polish.  Here they're letting him all hang out.  And yeah, a bunch of the vocals make me wince -- but they're not as chilling for me as the every-rough-edge-filed-away-but-he-still-sounds-damaged overproduction we got before.  This felt threadbare but more honest... and because I could believe in this Brian, I was impressed when the next few albums from the band kept a similar style but showed such a steady improvement in his singing; it felt like genuine recovery, in a way which going straight from Imagination to Smile wouldn't have.

Me, I'd love to hear a recording of "Your Imagination" or "Melt Away" as performed by the band live, in arrangements more like GIOMH or his later albums...

Cheers,
Jon Blum

[Orange Crate Art]

It's a good album, I don't consider as sucky as some of you do. However, I don't like Rainbow Eyes much at all. And I don't like the lyrics to The Waltz. But I like Soul Searching (my fave from the album), Saturday Morning In The City (fun spirited and catchy), How Could We Still Be Dancing (I think it's a fun tune) and City Blues. There's definitely some mediocre moments (A Friend Like You could've been better I guess). But I don't hate this album. I also don't hate the album cover, which I understand most fans don't like. Whatever.

[Mike's Beard]

I swear on The Waltz Brian is reading the words off the page for the first time as he sings them.

[Nicko1234]

I swear on The Waltz Brian is reading the words off the page for the first time as he sings them.

That`s the way it sounds to me too.

When I mentioned some of the lyrics being inappropriate for Brian to sing, the words to The Waltz certainly fit in with that. He sounds like he hasn`t got a clue what he is saying.

[Matt H]

To me, the vocals on Rainbow Eyes and Make a Wish are horrible.  You've Touched Me and Fairytale also has some bad vocals in it to.  I don't think the whole thing is terrible though.  Songs that I like on the album are:

Gettin' In Over My Head
Desert Drive
City Blues
Saturday Morning In The City

I can find things in the following that I like:
How Can We Still Be Dancing
Soul Searchin' - Carl
You've Touched Me - after the intro
Don't Let Her Know
A Friend Like You

Songs I always skip, and I don't skip anything on any other of his solo releases:
The Waltz
Rainbow Eyes
Make A Wish
Fairytale

[Magic Transistor Radio]

"How Can We Still Be Dancin" is pretty bad.  I love Elton and love Brian but I just can't get into it.  I don't even understand the sentiment.  Brian doesn't dance.   When you write a song with lyrics that you don't even mean, what the hell is that?  No wonder it didn't turn out right.  "Brian, write a song!" "Yes Mam".   This is what happens.

So I guess all the surf songs Brian wrote aren't good either eh?  I think you put to much emphasis on lyrics
Or are you being sarcastic I can't tell

The lyrics would have made some sense if it had been a Beach Boys song. They would still be crap though. 

Did Brian even write the lyrics? And why would it make a difference if it was the Beach Boys? To me HCWSBD is a catchy rocker in the vein of Let Us Go On this Way. Not as good, but a similar feeling. In that song they sing about sitting in class. None of them were still in highschool anymore. The "dancing, dancing" reminds me of "God please let us go on this way"  Also, I bet he dances a lot more than he's surfed!

[Sheriff John Stone]

To me, the vocals on Rainbow Eyes and Make a Wish are horrible. 

I would add "A Friend Like You" to that list, which is unfortunate because I thought the song had potential...

[Nicko1234]

Did Brian even write the lyrics? And why would it make a difference if it was the Beach Boys? To me HCWSBD is a catchy rocker in the vein of Let Us Go On this Way. Not as good, but a similar feeling. In that song they sing about sitting in class. None of them were still in highschool anymore. The "dancing, dancing" reminds me of "God please let us go on this way"  Also, I bet he dances a lot more than he's surfed!

I`ve no idea if Brian wrote all or some of them.

The reason I said it would have made more sense as a Beach Boys tune is quite simple. Several of the group`s songs have been retro things talking about surfin`, cruisin` or dancin` back in the day.

The lyrics, `How can we still be dancin` after all these years?` are typical of the retro crap (Still cruisin` after all of these years!!!) that the group have been coming out with for decades.

The lyrics about `How can we still be friendly...` and `How can we still be laughing...` would doubtless have been seen as references to the group`s turmoils etc.

It wouldn`t have stopped the lyrics from being crap though anyway as I said.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Did Brian even write the lyrics? And why would it make a difference if it was the Beach Boys? To me HCWSBD is a catchy rocker in the vein of Let Us Go On this Way. Not as good, but a similar feeling. In that song they sing about sitting in class. None of them were still in highschool anymore. The "dancing, dancing" reminds me of "God please let us go on this way"  Also, I bet he dances a lot more than he's surfed!

I`ve no idea if Brian wrote all or some of them.

The reason I said it would have made more sense as a Beach Boys tune is quite simple. Several of the group`s songs have been retro things talking about surfin`, cruisin` or dancin` back in the day.

The lyrics, `How can we still be dancin` after all these years?` are typical of the retro crap (Still cruisin` after all of these years!!!) that the group have been coming out with for decades.

The lyrics about `How can we still be friendly...` and `How can we still be laughing...` would doubtless have been seen as references to the group`s turmoils etc.

It wouldn`t have stopped the lyrics from being crap though anyway as I said.

The lyrics on Love You are crappy too. I still love the album.

[joshferrell]

for me all the Sweet Insanity and Andy Paley remakes on the cd were a let down compared to the original versions, especially when they got rid of that "wall of sound" thing going with The AP recordings, I hope one day he does one more wall of sound cd in both stereo and mono just for kicks..BTW Mono seems like it has been making a comeback lately .. also the production on the cd is too loud and "Grating" to my ears, especially with headphones, it hurts my ears..does everything HAVE to be so loud nowadays?? jeez...

[filledeplage]

Did Brian even write the lyrics? And why would it make a difference if it was the Beach Boys? To me HCWSBD is a catchy rocker in the vein of Let Us Go On this Way. Not as good, but a similar feeling. In that song they sing about sitting in class. None of them were still in highschool anymore. The "dancing, dancing" reminds me of "God please let us go on this way"  Also, I bet he dances a lot more than he's surfed!

I`ve no idea if Brian wrote all or some of them.

The reason I said it would have made more sense as a Beach Boys tune is quite simple. Several of the group`s songs have been retro things talking about surfin`, cruisin` or dancin` back in the day.

The lyrics, `How can we still be dancin` after all these years?` are typical of the retro crap (Still cruisin` after all of these years!!!) that the group have been coming out with for decades.

The lyrics about `How can we still be friendly...` and `How can we still be laughing...` would doubtless have been seen as references to the group`s turmoils etc.

It wouldn`t have stopped the lyrics from being crap though anyway as I said.

For The Waltz, I'd say they sound like a Southern Gent, over 65, (Parks) with the "cotillion" reference and the rest one of that 65+ age, as those terms were in the common word-base of that early baby boomer gen.  Those are not lyrics of Gen-X. 

[Smilin Ed H]

1. How Could We Still Be Dancin? (B.Wilson/J.Thomas)  - starts well, the poor. EJ's vocal is awful.
2. Soul Searchin (B.Wilson/A.Paley)     - okay but prefer the Paley/BW version
3. You've Touched Me (B.Wilson/S.Kalinich) - awful
4. Gettin In Over My Head (B.Wilson/A.Paley)     - see track two
5. City Blues (B.Wilson/S.Bennett)   - don't mind this
6. Desert Drive (B.Wilson/A.Paley)    - does nothing for me
7. A Friend Like You (B.Wilson/S.Kalinich)  - awful
8. Make a Wish (B.Wilson)    - awful
9. Rainbow Eyes (B.Wilson)      - awful version                                               
10. Saturday Morning in the City (B.Wilson/A.Paley)   - cute and silly
11.  Fairy Tale (B.Wilson/D.Foster)       - awful                                     
12. Don't Let Her Know She's an Angel (B.Wilson)    -Ruins a great song
13. The Waltz (B.Wilson/V.Parks) - sucks

There are about four good songs on here which are ruined by the arrangement and the production. There are another couple that are okay.

[drbeachboy]

@ Smilein Ed H

Brian thought EJ's vocal was fabulous.

For years, I have never been able to put my finger on exactly why I dislike this album. I'm guessing it is a little bit of everybody's complaints thus far.

[joe_blow]

It may be bad but how could anything be as bad as looking Back With Love/ Just the sheer cheesiness of it is mind boggling.

What if a video for a Friend Like You had been made styled after this classic?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJdW5INse9Y

[Andrew G. Doe]

A small history lesson:

1. How Could We Still Be Dancin? (B.Wilson/J.Thomas)  - originally recorded post-Imagination.
2. Soul Searchin (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - almost entirely the original track.
3. You've Touched Me (B.Wilson/S.Kalinich) - new
4. Gettin In Over My Head (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - basic track recorded 1998
5. City Blues (B.Wilson/S.Bennett)  - hails from circa 1982, although this is a re-recording
6. Desert Drive (B.Wilson/A.Paley)  - recorded fall 2002
7. A Friend Like You (B.Wilson/S.Kalinich)  - new
8. Make a Wish (B.Wilson) - re-recording of Sweet Insanity track
9. Rainbow Eyes (B.Wilson) - as above                                             
10. Saturday Morning in the City (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - pretty much the original recording.
11.  Fairy Tale (B.Wilson/D.Foster) - re-recording of Sweet Insanity track                                 
12. Don't Let Her Know She's an Angel (B.Wilson) - song dates from circa 1979 or so.
13. The Waltz (B.Wilson/V.Parks) - new... and yes, it's awful on every level.

[Smilin Ed H]

Can you tell us some more about the 1979 date for Don't Let Her Know?/ I like the song and had thought it originated with Sweet Insanity (though I dislike that version too!).

And about Elton's vocals... They are awful. He sounds like a pub singer (cue Vic Reeves). I think his voice went a long time ago. I guess BW must have liked them or he wouldn't have used them, but then again, who knows when it comes to this album.

[Nicko1234]

A small history lesson:

1. How Could We Still Be Dancin? (B.Wilson/J.Thomas)  - originally recorded post-Imagination.
2. Soul Searchin (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - almost entirely the original track.
3. You've Touched Me (B.Wilson/S.Kalinich) - new
4. Gettin In Over My Head (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - basic track recorded 1998
5. City Blues (B.Wilson/S.Bennett)  - hails from circa 1982, although this is a re-recording
6. Desert Drive (B.Wilson/A.Paley)  - recorded fall 2002
7. A Friend Like You (B.Wilson/S.Kalinich)  - new
8. Make a Wish (B.Wilson) - re-recording of Sweet Insanity track
9. Rainbow Eyes (B.Wilson) - as above                                             
10. Saturday Morning in the City (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - pretty much the original recording.
11.  Fairy Tale (B.Wilson/D.Foster) - re-recording of Sweet Insanity track                                 
12. Don't Let Her Know She's an Angel (B.Wilson) - song dates from circa 1979 or so.
13. The Waltz (B.Wilson/V.Parks) - new... and yes, it's awful on every level.

Surely You`ve Touched Me and The Waltz aren`t entirely new...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ODIRDJZbWQ

[KittyKat]

Brian had some depressing interviews when he was trying to promote that album. Maybe he was depressed around that time and that made the album bad, or the bad album made him depressed, or something.

[Andrew G. Doe]

A small history lesson:

1. How Could We Still Be Dancin? (B.Wilson/J.Thomas)  - originally recorded post-Imagination.
2. Soul Searchin (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - almost entirely the original track.
3. You've Touched Me (B.Wilson/S.Kalinich) - new
4. Gettin In Over My Head (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - basic track recorded 1998
5. City Blues (B.Wilson/S.Bennett)  - hails from circa 1982, although this is a re-recording
6. Desert Drive (B.Wilson/A.Paley)  - recorded fall 2002
7. A Friend Like You (B.Wilson/S.Kalinich)  - new
8. Make a Wish (B.Wilson) - re-recording of Sweet Insanity track
9. Rainbow Eyes (B.Wilson) - as above                                             
10. Saturday Morning in the City (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - pretty much the original recording.
11.  Fairy Tale (B.Wilson/D.Foster) - re-recording of Sweet Insanity track                                 
12. Don't Let Her Know She's an Angel (B.Wilson) - song dates from circa 1979 or so.
13. The Waltz (B.Wilson/V.Parks) - new... and yes, it's awful on every level.

Surely You`ve Touched Me and The Waltz aren`t entirely new...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ODIRDJZbWQ

Correct - that'll teach me to do this stuff top of my head late at night. 

[job]

GIOMH is absolutely awful.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

A small history lesson:

1. How Could We Still Be Dancin? (B.Wilson/J.Thomas)  - originally recorded post-Imagination.
2. Soul Searchin (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - almost entirely the original track.
3. You've Touched Me (B.Wilson/S.Kalinich) - new
4. Gettin In Over My Head (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - basic track recorded 1998
5. City Blues (B.Wilson/S.Bennett)  - hails from circa 1982, although this is a re-recording
6. Desert Drive (B.Wilson/A.Paley)  - recorded fall 2002
7. A Friend Like You (B.Wilson/S.Kalinich)  - new
8. Make a Wish (B.Wilson) - re-recording of Sweet Insanity track
9. Rainbow Eyes (B.Wilson) - as above                                             
10. Saturday Morning in the City (B.Wilson/A.Paley) - pretty much the original recording.
11.  Fairy Tale (B.Wilson/D.Foster) - re-recording of Sweet Insanity track                                 
12. Don't Let Her Know She's an Angel (B.Wilson) - song dates from circa 1979 or so.
13. The Waltz (B.Wilson/V.Parks) - new... and yes, it's awful on every level.

Surely You`ve Touched Me and The Waltz aren`t entirely new...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ODIRDJZbWQ

Correct - that'll teach me to do this stuff top of my head late at night. 

I have been on this board for over 5 years and this is the first time I've seen AGD make a mistake! Makes me happy

[Heysaboda]

Maybe the album could have been salvaged if they'd recorded it with just synth, bass and drums, a la Love You?

The whole thing just sounds "off".

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Maybe the album could have been salvaged if they'd recorded it with just synth, bass and drums, a la Love You?

The whole thing just sounds "off".

Maybe the album could have been salvaged if they'd recorded it with just synth, bass and drums, a la Love You?

The whole thing just sounds "off".

Brian is a little 'off', that's what I love about him.

[KittyKat]

Brian's vocals are pitchy on it. He should have used Autotune!