Brian Reimagines Gershwin

[Wrightfan]

Has anyone been able to download the digital album on Brian's site?

I pre-ordered it there and I can't yet.

[Domino]

While listening to some of the more ballady type songs on BWRG, the tone of Brian's voice reminded me of his singing on "Oh Lord"; that spiritual, gut wrenching cry.  Anyone else hear this? 

Yes, I can hear his 76-82 voice on this album but of course his voice now is smoother. You can hear it espacially on It Ain't Necessarily So, I love it!

[Shady]

It's out on itunes now.

I sampled "I'm Into Something Good", sounds great

I seriously doubt it - not on the album.

haha, sorry. Meant "Let's Call the whole thing off"

[Shady]

God rolling Stone are strange.

After reading the review you would think it got 5 stars yet they only gave it 3 and a half.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/17385/191780

[gsmile]

Yes, I can hear his 76-82 voice on this album but of course his voice now is smoother. You can hear it espacially on It Ain't Necessarily So, I love it!

Yeah, definitely smoother.  The quieter parts of this album really remind me of the ballads off "Adult Child".  The arrangements and vocal arrangements are very similar to my ears.  Especially in "Love Is Here to Stay" when he sings "Together we're going a long, long WAAAAAAAAAAAY"; the melancholy tone of voice combined with the orchestral arrangement reminds me very much of "Deep Purple".  It's too bad Brian shot down my idea for playing some Adult Child tunes alongside the Gershwin ones when he tours.  The phone call video on FB suggests he at least "heard" my suggestion.  Maybe I triggered a memory of bad times by mentioning those songs...it's all good Brian, good tunes survive the bad times. 

Now that I've lived with the album for about a week (yes, I *ahem* "previewed it, with the intent to purchase) and I've been veering away from the more bombastic numbers and really diggin' on the more modest arrangements.  In particular, the back to back placement of "Love Is Here to Stay" and "I've Got a Crush On You" really appeals to me.  Brian and his band don't reach for the stars here, and the relaxed vibe really helps my enjoyment of the tunes.  Major thumbs up to Probyn for the tasty slide guitar in the later tune; Brian's music has never been known for guitar solos (apart from Carl's early surf inspired solos), but "easy does it" seems to work for him in this department.  Just compare Probyn's slide work to Clapton's hellfire "happy blues" shredding on "City Blues".  Easy to see which one was more effective.

[Bud Shaver]

Has anyone been able to download the digital album on Brian's site?

I pre-ordered it there and I can't yet.

I just got an email with the download options...I'm downloading the FLAC files as I type.

[Ron]

I bought it today on the way to work.  Great album.  I'm not that familiar with much of Gerhswin's stuff, so I don't have other versions to compare it to or anything.

The opening part is well done, especially when it kind of kicks into high gear towards the last few seconds.  "The Like in I Love You" i'd already heard on his website and it's a beautiful song.  Summertime to me was just kind of standard, I have heard plenty of versions of that songs and didnt' hear much new here although the arrangement and everything was really well done, it sets a mood.  "I loves you Porgy" didn't do much for me either, although it's a very well written song.  Kind of a Brian thing to do, sing it in the original sex.  The instrumental again didn't do too much for me, but I can see the purpose of it.  "It Ain't necessairly So" is great.  I've never heard that song before, but this is a great recording of a great song.  I loved it.  This is kind of where the album took off for me.  "'sWonderful" I've never heard either, but again another great song, well sung, well arranged.  It's interesting how he was able to get a different style and vibe on every single song on the album!  He really must have been into this.  "They Can't Take That Away From Me" I had heard a snippet somewhere in a video or something, but again this is a very well done song.  Fun, catchy.  I thought it would be a little silly but it actually was great.  Very well done.  "Love is Here To Stay", once again, great song I've never heard before.  He really took these and did them well.  "I've got a Crush on You", another highlight, the songs keep getting better.  Really great song I've never heard once in my life.  I'm really into doo wop though so any doo wop type song I love.  "I got Rhythm" sounds like it could have been on "Summer Days!" or something.  REALLY well done, my favorite song on the album so far.  

Haven't heard the rest yet!

[Wirestone]

AGD wrote:

The original mix, as indicated by the credits, was by Brian, Darian & Paul.

Oddly enough, my copy says it was by Brian, Darian and Nicky. Which is weird, because knowing about the album, the first group makes more sense.

[Andrew G. Doe]

AGD wrote:

The original mix, as indicated by the credits, was by Brian, Darian & Paul.

Oddly enough, my copy says it was by Brian, Darian and Nicky. Which is weird, because knowing about the album, the first group makes more sense.

Hence my use of the word 'indicated' and not 'stated'.

[b00ts]

God rolling Stone are strange.

After reading the review you would think it got 5 stars yet they only gave it 3 and a half.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/17385/191780

My guess in Rolling Stone's case is that Disney/Pearl didn't feel like putting up the cash for the five star review.

[TdHabib]

Going to Borders to pick my copy up---can't wait!!

[Wirestone]

A really smart review.

Not sure if I agree with all of it, but read the whole thing. It captures something important about this record.

http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/brian-wilson-brian-wilson-reimagines-gershwin/2210

[drbeachboy]

I saw he gave it 4 stars, but after reading the review I wasn't sure whether he really liked it or not. It was "really smart", almost too smart. I found it long-winded, but will reread it again later.

[Wirestone]

The entirety of Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin reeks of a newfound arrogance that lifts this Beach Boys aficionado's spirits. If there's one thing Wilson has lacked all along, it's the bull-headedness to trail his uniquely complex muse down the most mettle-testing of passages.

[Mike's Beard]

Bloody Hell, was Van Dyke Parks the guest reviewer or something???

[Shady]

God rolling Stone are strange.

After reading the review you would think it got 5 stars yet they only gave it 3 and a half.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/reviews/album/17385/191780

My guess in Rolling Stone's case is that Disney/Pearl didn't feel like putting up the cash for the five star review.

Oh! How true.

[jeffcdo]

I find the Slant review to be florid and awkward, I wish Van Dyke Parks would review the album!  His turns of phrase are entertaining, most of these are just painful.

[Awesoman]

Just bought it and listened to it the whole way through.  It's not bad, a little too schmaltzy for my tastes but hopefully it will grow on me.

[Shady]

Where did you guys buy your copies?

Anyone have trouble finding one?

[nobody is a chode]

My favorites are Love Is Here To Stay, Someone To Watch Over Me, Got Plenty O Nuttin, Rhapsody Intro (Luther you're mentally ill, seek help immediately), and Boogedy Boogedy Boogedy Boogedy Bop!!!

Dislike strongly : Jeff's (or whoever's) vocal on I Got Farmer's Daughter, sounds terrible to my brain. God that guy should be fired and blacklisted in the music world.

I love Brian's voice in many places - chorus to S'Wonderful ("you've made my life!!! so glamorous"), sweet voice in I've Got A Crush On U (sounds like Today! Brian to me...)

It may be a standard but that chord change in Crush just kills me. You know the part I mean. I think Brian digs stuff like that - apparently simple but quite effective when heard. "We could shaaare..."

I especially love his voice in Someone To Watch Over Me. I feel like I could play that to someone without explaining who Brian is and why we should listen to this old guy with a shot voice. Dig? He sounds good. "Girls think of... as haaaaaandsome..."

I'd like to add, perhaps obviously, that despite enjoying Brian's voice (and especially Wall of Brian on Rhapsody!) I find the singers in his band to be incredibly bland. One huge aspect of the Beach Boys that I love is, of course, their singing - whether individually or as a group. They stand out in a unique way. Listen to those vocals on Friends - all so beautiful. Brian's band, to me, have nothing distinctive about them at all. Instrumentally AND vocally. When I hear Good Vibrations I think, Damn that Carol Kaye has great tone. When I hear Wild Honey I think, goshdarn can Bruce play one far out organ solo!!! But on Brian's records, I rarely hear anything that stands out in such a way. PaulVonMertens said a mouthful when he said something like "my job was just to give Brian room to do his thing." These people are afraid of showing any individuality. They've become "Brian Wilson's band" - puppets without anyone really bothering to pull their strings. Can you imagine these guys doing Smiley's Wonderful? The little freak out Party! on acid bit? They would be sooooo self-conscious and ruin it.

That's why, I say, have Brian book a holiday in Hawaii with his band, take a VINYL copy of SMILEY SMILE, WILD HONEY and FRIENDS, and feed them tons of acid for breakfast. Then just sit around the pool listening to Little Pad all day long. They'll be cool people when they return, ready to play on a Brian Wilson record.

[carl r]

Ha! The Slanted review is the work of a suffering obsessive. Probably he finds the Brian albums harder to review than any.

I have to say from what I have heard, it might be a difficult album to review in some ways.

However, it's very true about identifying a new phase in Brian's career since 2004.

I was thinking of the 'sounds of Brian' in phases... though it is so risky with so many experts floating around... and whilst some of the sounds change the song structures might not...

62-64  garage, doo-wop
64-67  fully orchestrated pop/psych
67-69  chill-out, bossa nova, ukelele, smiley synth
70-72  rock, synth
72-76  piano
76-78  boogie, moog, first orchestrated 'classicist' period
78-82  piano, boogie
82-92  nasty 80s synths
92-96  piano, orchestrated pop
96-99  synthetic strings, AOR guitar
99-04  orchestrated pop
04-present    semi-orchestrated, second classicist period

[Too Much Sugar]

For those who downloaded the FLAC version from BW's site, this morning, did you experience problems on a couple of the songs?  On my copy, the final 20 seconds or so of "I Loves You, Porgy" is cut off, while there's a little skip at 17 seconds on "They Can't Take That Away From Me."  Curious if others are experiencing the same problems. 

[nobody is a chode]

People actually download Brian's music instead of buying it vinyl or, second best, CD?

If Brian had a laptop with internet access in 1950whenever would he devote as much attention to learning the Four Freshman? Or would he just put them in his 100gig music folder next to the porn?

Food for thought.

[Too Much Sugar]

People actually download Brian's music instead of buying it vinyl or, second best, CD?

Yes.  Because the CD and vinyl that I also purchased are on their way. 

[Shady]

Write a 5 star review if you want.

Let's be fans and get the good word out 


http://www.amazon.com/Brian-Wilson-Reimagines-Gershwin/dp/B002RWKSII