BWRG Review At Beachboys.com

[The Heartical Don]

Since the site has a handsome new design, I thought: well, make it a topic then. Here's the review:

REVIEW:  Those of you who frequent this site know that I'm also a big fan of Frank Sinatra, and here, for the first time, Brian Wilson and Sinatra cross paths; Sinatra was a big Gershwin interpreter during his career, and on Brian's first-ever disc of covers from the George Gershwin catalog, I would have to say this album is Brian Wilson's Nice 'n' Easy.  It feels uncannily smooth and cool, like a perfect summer evening - and for all my wondering whether the blending of Wilson's California style of sunshine pop and Gershwin's Tin Pan Alley east coast sensibilities would prove an uneasy marriage melted away.  It's been well documented that Brian has been a long time fan of Gershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" and how he wanted one day to do a vocal-only version of the concert staple, and here, bucket-list-like, Brian bows into the album with the fulfillment of that wish.  Brian's love of these melodies, and hit suitability to them is a happy shock - although it shouldn't be - Gershwin-style songs fill Brian's oeuvre, although you'd have to be familiar with their respective canons to realize it: the soaring melodicism and melancholy of "Summertime" is echoed in the wistfulness of "Caroline, No"; the cheeky socio-double-entendres present in "I Got Plenty O' Nuttin'" is taken to its modern-day extreme in Brian's "Busy Doin' Nothin'"; and the resilient note found in "They Can't Take That Away From Me" can be found in "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times."  But this album succeeds in more than sympathetic compatablility - Brian sounds completely immersed in these songs - he's never sounded this invested in his singing - not even in his earliest recordings - he interprets these songs in what sounds like deeply personal ways, alternately sly, wistful, and smiling - from the silky Bacharach-flavored bossa-nova found on "S' Wonderful" to the call-and-response party of "They Can't Take That Away From Me" to the Beach Boys bass-line groove found on "I Got Rhythm" - this album is absolutely wall-to-wall fantastic. As for the two Wilson/Gershin "collaborations" - "The Like In I Love You" and "Nothing But Love" - although they're not on par with the classic songs that surround them, they're wonderfully realized, and it's impossible to tell where Gershwin's contributions end and Brian's begin.  For those who've witnessed the blossoming of Brian's soul since the completion of SMiLE, open your ears again - Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin is one of his all-time best.

[phirnis]

5 stars? Interesting... though I have to say I tend to disagree with this guy's opinions quite often.

Still haven't heard BWRG in its entirety. Why does Europe have to wait?

[The Heartical Don]

5 stars? Interesting... though I have to say I tend to disagree with this guy's opinions quite often.

Still haven't heard BWRG in its entirety. Why does Europe have to wait?

Beats me. I'll have to wait until Sept 6. Not good. Not good at all.

[Andrew G. Doe]

5 stars? Interesting... though I have to say I tend to disagree with this guy's opinions quite often.

Still haven't heard BWRG in its entirety. Why does Europe have to wait?

Beats me. I'll have to wait until Sept 6. Not good. Not good at all.

Brian decided to release it over here on my birthday. He loves me.

[phirnis]

5 stars? Interesting... though I have to say I tend to disagree with this guy's opinions quite often.

Still haven't heard BWRG in its entirety. Why does Europe have to wait?

Beats me. I'll have to wait until Sept 6. Not good. Not good at all.

In Germany it's going to be September 3rd - and this time I'm determined to wait...

[Ron]

I'm not positive, but I think it's easier for them to launch albums if they split it up like that... they can press different shipments at different times, so it takes less equipment.  They can have certain people dedicated to handling the 'launch' week, then use the same people to handle the launch week in other countries later, etc.  It's probably just easier to manage if they spread it out over a few weeks.  Now why one country has to wait longer than others and who picks which countries are first I have no clue.  Doesn't it say Brazil gets the album the same week as the good ol' usa?  That's kind of random. 

[oldsurferdude]

5 stars? Interesting... though I have to say I tend to disagree with this guy's opinions quite often.

Still haven't heard BWRG in its entirety. Why does Europe have to wait?

You should find yourself in agreement the the reviewer after a complete listening.

[gsmile]

While I don't agree with the 5 star rating (to me BWRG is a SOLID four stars, which is more surprising than a five star rating for ANY of my favorite bands new OR old these days), I will say that this reviewer has some remarkably astute comparisons of Brian's past work and Gershwin's canon.  Regardless of the fawning in the end sentence (is this your review Don? I don't mean to offend) I think that this is the best written review I've seen of BWRG yet, and the one that relates to the die hard fan the best.  It provides a detailed context of Gershwin's influence in Brian's music, instead of simply taking the easy way and merely "stating" there's an influence there.  Good job, whoever was the author!

[Pretty Funky]

5 stars? Interesting... though I have to say I tend to disagree with this guy's opinions quite often.

Still haven't heard BWRG in its entirety. Why does Europe have to wait?

Beats me. I'll have to wait until Sept 6. Not good. Not good at all.

Brian decided to release it over here on my birthday. He loves me.

Same day as my wifes AGD!

Maybe Brian is going to come over to the UK for the release. That way it gets some profile in both the US and UK.

[The Heartical Don]

While I don't agree with the 5 star rating (to me BWRG is a SOLID four stars, which is more surprising than a five star rating for ANY of my favorite bands new OR old these days), I will say that this reviewer has some remarkably astute comparisons of Brian's past work and Gershwin's canon.  Regardless of the fawning in the end sentence (is this your review Don? I don't mean to offend) I think that this is the best written review I've seen of BWRG yet, and the one that relates to the die hard fan the best.  It provides a detailed context of Gershwin's influence in Brian's music, instead of simply taking the easy way and merely "stating" there's an influence there.  Good job, whoever was the author!

Ha, no I did not write it. It's the owner of the site. I forgot his name. Years ago you could mail him any type of BBs news you found, and he put it on there with your name and a thankyou note. That was very nice. But I guess nowadays, with worldwide broadband, that's not necessary anymore.

[The Heartical Don]

I'm not positive, but I think it's easier for them to launch albums if they split it up like that... they can press different shipments at different times, so it takes less equipment.  They can have certain people dedicated to handling the 'launch' week, then use the same people to handle the launch week in other countries later, etc.  It's probably just easier to manage if they spread it out over a few weeks.  Now why one country has to wait longer than others and who picks which countries are first I have no clue.  Doesn't it say Brazil gets the album the same week as the good ol' usa?  That's kind of random. 

Did you receive your M.Sc. in Advanced Logistics yesterday?

[Ron]

No I did not, it's just my opinion.  Let me point out that it's just as valid or as useless as yours. 

By the way, I guess I might as well get this out of the way here, you're kind of an ass.  I made a comment on why I thought maybe they have different release dates and you make some kind of snyde comment in reaction.  Thats' the kind of thing assholes do. 

I hope you get help with that.  By the way, have a great day!  I will.

[The Heartical Don]

No I did not, it's just my opinion.  Let me point out that it's just as valid or as useless as yours. 

By the way, I guess I might as well get this out of the way here, you're kind of an ass.  I made a comment on why I thought maybe they have different release dates and you make some kind of snyde comment in reaction.  Thats' the kind of thing buttholes do. 

I hope you get help with that.  By the way, have a great day!  I will.

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