The Smiley Smile Message Board

For the most part, the Beach Boys have always had an image problem. From the very beginning, the surfers saw them as posers. Then the hippies never really embraced them. However, I wanted to list what I perceive as the high points of their image.

From 62 - late 66, I would say that do to the fact they had a great string of hits that kept getting better up through Good Vibrations, that there was quite a bit of respect for them. Perhaps ending around the release of Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields? But who knows if a proper release of SMiLE, and an early change from striped shirts, might have helped them into the late 60s. But I think that with Good Vibrations on top, and all the promo about the up coming SMiLE album, they still had a level of hippness and respect.

Obviously, it disappeared in the late 60s, but around 71-76 they just might have gained a hipper image then even 1966. Unfortunately that being lost with the release of 15 Big Ones.

Perhaps, Dennis Wilson was still seen as hip with POB, for those who paid attention. But really, after 1976, the hipness of the Beach Boys is mostly in the eyes of hard core fans who know the great music from 65 - 73.

Now, I know that the Beach Boys have EVER been considered hip. These are moments in time though, that they seemed respected. I'm not even talking about hits. Songs like Babarann, Do It Again, Rock N Roll Music and Kokamo are nice catchy songs that were big hits, but they don't help the image. I'm not even saying it matters. As Fred Vail (?) in a doc said (paraphasing) I'm not even sure that the BB were suppose to be hip. They just grab you weather you like it or not.

Anyways, thoughts for discussion.

Personally, I think The Beach Boys have been considered hip, among those who actually are (e.g. musicians, serious music listeners), for at least two decades.

The way I see it, The Beach Boys have two images going at the moment. People who are really into music know how great they are, and to them they are hipper than hip. Hipper than Jesus. Hipper than The Beatles. Hipper than The Stones. Up there with Dylan.

But, for the more casual listeners, they are these slightly goofy old dudes in garish shirts and trucker hats, who do the oldies circuit. This is what the majority thinks of them, and of course they are partially right. But only partially.

So, they are hip, but not as widely as for example Dylan, who everyone knows as this respected, mythic rock 'n' roll poet.

All I know, is that they're the most hip old dudes around right now.

70 is the new 50!

I find commercial "hipness" largely a function of public relations and image (not photo) management, not unlike the political context. 

Many of my BB fan contemporaries, are independent thinkers, who ignore the opinions of the press, and just deal independently with the music, and exclude all else.  They could care less what music reviewers, DJ's, record company operatives think.  Most of them are strong minded, and successful in their own right.  Fighting off the naysayers who had their music dead and buried in the late 60's and early 70's seemed to add to their/our formation, in a sense.  The last laugh is always the best!   :lol

Now, cooler and "hipper" than ever with the healing of this reunion tour and work.   

Hipness comes from within...a state of mind.   ;)

I like the fact that they arent hip and never really were. It's endearing.

The Beach Boys are a very hipster band believe it or not..

The pitchfork - animal collective - Panda Bear scene look at them as gods, well more so Brian Wilson

I feel like The Beach Boys are a hipster band at the moment, but I know a lot of hipsters and they don't know/care about them - must haven't of heard the Pet Sounds genius hoopla. I see a lot of hipster love on the internet, though.

PS - never really got any of the people comparing Brian and Panda Bear/Animal Collective. I don't hear his influence in that music at all, despite what I read...

Yeah, Panda Bear just sounds like some guy whining over music that sounds like farts.

The perception of being hip is overrated. A lot of times the "hip" label applied to a musician becomes an excuse to either act like an ass, disregard the fans to the point of treating them like sheep, or play up to an image instead of being yourself.

The most hip musicians are actually far more normal and far less perfect than the labels would suggest.

What I love about the Beach Boys is that they do what they do, and generation after generation finds what they like about this band and latches on. Some like the showmanship, some like the Brian crowd versus the Mike crowd, all of the old debates that become more irrelevant with each passing year. But ultimately the music saves the day, and hip or un-hip, the music is what keeps the fire lit.

I will say, without a doubt, I agree that  the musician community has long championed the Beach Boys' music to anyone who would give them a listen with an open mind and open ears. There were always those people who would invite you to listen to something as casually dismissed as "Catch A Wave", play the intro chords, and point out just how complex and unusual something like that few bars of intro music really was hidden inside what some would consider a banal ode to surfing. Then those who got hip to that would pass it on to others coming up, and it was the folk process at work, where music that was sometimes lost in the shadows of Pet Sounds became a "holy sh*t!" revelation...and musicians are fiercely loyal to the Beach Boys, I have to say.

Put it this way: If you have a musician talking down about the Beach Boys in 2012, giving the benefit of the doubt they may not have been exposed to the music, they may have bought too much into perceptions of hip versus unhip, or they just don't have a clue and aren't worth the time. It's relatively easy to pick them out, and it's a reason why I drifted away from certain musical styles and genres whose people might suggest a certain style is more valid than The Beach Boys. Let them think that, it's their loss!

I agree with what you all are saying. I have a friend who is a big Elvis fan. Talking about him being so cool and ahead of his time. Personally i think Roy Orbison is cooler and he didn't get that. Roy was himself and wrote his own songs. Elvis was a showman with a James Dean image.

First off, what Animal Collective are you listening to? There's no whining, and certainly no farting, nor anything that resembles either of those. Animal Collective's music is filled with childlike melodies and harmony driven chants, if you will. Panda Bear's solo work is filled with much of the same. Listen to All I Wanna Do and then Guys Eyes. Between the two groups, I hear so many similarities.  I like to think that Animal Collective are the Beach Boys had they grown up in the late 20th century.  Their music is very trippy, very psychedelic, and quite similar to the Boys post 66 material, in my opinion.

Holy crap do you need a refresher course on Elvis Presley.  Quite the shameful statement there. 

Which part are you referring to? Song writing? I thought it was known that Col Parker got Elvis wrtiting credits for the $, that he didnt actually write any. I'm not an Elvis expert by any means, enlighten us.

Umm....THIS part:


Statements like that are just embarrassing by any so called "music fan."  For as much as we all want to get on this thread and say that the people who respect the Beach Boys are "true" music fans who know their sh*t, the exact same thing can be said for those who give Presley the props he rightfully deserves. 

Roy Orbison, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, Big Joe Turner may have all written their own stuff and/or come before Presley but NONE of them exploded onto the scene to provide us that huge "big bang" in rock and roll music and popular culture the way Elvis Presley did.  Not one.  It has nothing to do with what songs Elvis wrote or didn't write, his impact was immense and he is still the template everyone today is still following to be a rock and roll star.  Elvis' genius was combining several music genres into one delicious melting pot all while simultaneously infusing pop music with sexuality, lust and most importantly: danger.  The effects of all that he accomplished outweighs how many writing credits he had or how flashy his jumpsuits later became. 

Exactly! I would say that his musical talent and creativity was sort of like Al Jardine or Bob Dylan. More interpreter of songs then writer. But he was one of the best at making them his own and perfrmance. He was popular because of his looks, the way he sang, the way he performed. And he was as 'cool' as James Dean back then. And he was the first of that ilk. Am I wrong? A lot of people dig that. Personally, though, I find Roy Orbison cooler. Just an opinion. Or a preferance.

James Dean was a little cry baby in a black leather jacket.

Hip can go screw.

Elvis, while being a GREAT performer, at the end of the day, was a pawn of Col. Parker. Chuck Berry, Little Richard, and Fats Domino were/are the true kings of R&R.

the big prob with AC/Panda Bear is that they strive too hard to be hip and experimental. I just heard the first single from Centipede Hz and that was not really impressive. mostly noise imo, and i really enjoyed Merriweather and Person Pitch, Tomboy was less interesting. I guess they have their ups and downs as I am familiar with Feels and Strawberry Jam as well.

Animal Collective's most BBs-sounding song: "College" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuYMsDwl2xw

Sounds like a bad cover of the Four Freshmen... Ergo, it also sounds like the BBs.

I can hear the farts, though.

Where's Jerry Lee Lewis in your list? Elvis would agree with your Fats Domino claim since he himself believed that Fats was the true "king."

Those dudes were just as important, no doubt, but none of them brought on the huge tidal wave that Elvis brought on.  That's just a fact.  I have no idea why you're looping Col. Parker into the discussion.  Col Parker wasn't the one singing those songs, laying down extraordinary vocals or performing on stage.  The Colonel wasn't singing country, blues, rock and roll and gospel.  Elvis was the one.  To belittle Elvis as just a "performer" is a pretty sloppy mistake.  Very few singers in music were able to glide effortlessly between genres and transform their voice as easily as Elvis did.  It baffles the mind that the same dude who sang  "Jailhouse Rock" and "A Mess of Blues" also sang "Are You Lonesome Tonight" , "It's Now Or Never" and "Amazing Grace."   In terms of voices, Elvis is most definitely up there with the greats, which include our very own Carl Wilson.

If it were up to the Colonel, Elvis would have done an Andy Williams type Christmas special during that faithful week in December 1968.  But Elvis knew that wasn't his thing to just go out there wearing a red turtleneck, sipping eggnog all while singing "Jingle Bells."  Instead, he and director Steve Binder did things they way he wanted to do them....thus bringing us the legendary 68 Comeback Special. 

It should be pointed out that Elvis was also an oft-times uncredited producer and arranger on many of his recordings.

The Beach Boys are considered hip by many young folks who care about hipness.

But only if they can dismiss everything pre-Pet Sounds to the tyranny of that square Mike Love and everything post-Pet Sounds to Brian's brain being fried by drugs, man.

Eh I guess.  What you're saying is like saying "I mean, yeah, I guess Thomas Edison was good.  But I really like Edwin H. Land."

So who gets to be the Tesla of rock?

Gene Vincent?

Tesla?

Sun Ra

Hey, now, no need to be so generous--Panda Bear is nowhere near as good as you make it sound like, here.  I mean, I'm all for giving the guy the benefit of the doubt, but sometimes you just gotta call it what it is.

I'm gonna have to go with Sun Ra just because he's Sun Ra. Rock? Shrug. Space is the place!

(http://www.furious.com/perfect/graphics/sunra2.jpg)

A Sun Ra biopic would be out of this world....

I've read snarkers snark that Panda Bear sounds like two different Beach Boys records playing at the same time. And then I read someone say that Panda Bear sounds like a skipping Beach Boys record played at the same time as the Lion King soundtrack. If you combine the two (two different Beach Boys albums playing, one skipping, plus the Lion King soundtrack) you get as close to the science truth as can be achieved.

As far as animal-named hipster bands that I've been able to ignore for years and that have the Beach Boys mentioned in most of their reviews, I prefer Grizzly Bear.

Yes. Grizzly Bear are very good! I love Colorado and Two Weeks. Very BB influences group and yet very much their own outfit.

This is atrocious. Sorry Aegir, u kno i luv u. What's up with the inflection in the prominent middle voice? "UHHH UHHH UHHH *UHHHH* UHHHH." I hear vocals like this all the time anymore, and every time, I wonder if the person is just trying to sound like the most pretentious asshole ever. I cannot stand anything by this guy solo or by Animal Collective and I don't get the common comparison to the Beach Boys at all. This stuff feels so anti-everything the Beach Boys were about at any given point in their career and anti-anything that makes music worthwhile, to me, sans the very rare fleeting moments where things approach (but don't become, generally due to sheer annoyance and being overly repetitive) sonically interesting, which should serve your compositions and not merely be the sole item of substance in all your God damn songs.

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</maybei'dgetitifididdrugs>

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</annoyance>

yeh that stuff is junk. one of the only hip-ish retro-pop-beachboys-whatever groups that seems to strike me now and then is Ariel Pink:

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

and of course, I'm biased but I think my friend Kelley is the best songwriter out there right now:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1Cgqxq2zrs

Wow, this Kelley guy! You're right, this is great stuff! So much music to choose from, which album would be a good starting point? Cos let me tell you, this stuff is really, really good, at least the couple of songs I've listened, following the YouTube links. Talented guy, that beardo.

Extra points for the drum and piano sounds on that song you linked. That kick drum booms beautifully and naturally, no trigging to be heard (or then technology has really evolved).

With all the AC and Grizzly Bear shout outs, I've gotta step in and give a mention to Camera Obscura...very 60s-esque, yet still modern sounding. Definitely some strong BBs, Spector, Motown, and even C&W (along with the C-86/twee/jangle/indie) influences.

Return to Send Her:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo6VaY8HC7w

If Looks Could Kill:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N40pkMg7Z8k

French Navy:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3CkfvYMCWM&feature=fvwrel

My Maudlin Career:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpxyIymzzA4

Eighties Fan (even cops the Be My Baby drumbeat):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulnzKT1yrm4

Animal Collective sounds more like someone has eaten nothing but Skittles for 32 years, then spunked onto the playable side of a CD copy of The Smile Sessions disc 4, which is played simultaneously with the best of Dario G - except with worse vocals.

I lawled and lawled, quickly realized the tone of the post seemed familiar, looked at the name, and lawled more. +1 erectionzzzz~~~

Oh man, Ariel Pink! Genius. Before Today was my favorite album of [whatever-year-that-was;clearly-I'm-getting-old], and there's a new one coming out soon, right? TBH I never heard much of a Beach Boys vibe in his music, but rather, intriguingly, a Mike Love First Love vibe - particularly in the track "Can't Feel My Eyes." Live, he and the Graffiti were amazing.

Just on the strength of association (and the fact that I generally agree with DonnyL's aesthetics), I will definitely check out that Kelley person when I'm not at work and have a chance to listen.

In the 60s, I think the coolest band was the Velvet Underground. Not saying the best. Some recent bands/musicians I like are the Fleet Foxes, Beach House, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, MWard and Admiral Radley. :)

You should check out Good Old War if you haven't. Beautiful three part harmonies.

'Below the Branches' is the best starting point, though his last record 'To Dreamers' is my favorite. you really can't go wrong with Kelley though -- his talent is scary.

yeh he recorded most of his stuff on a Tascam 388.

i like some of their stuff too !

yeh, that Mike Love 'First Love' vibe ... I think maybe that's called 'Yacht Rock' now?!? I just heard that term the other day.  this new 'Mature Themes' album sounds very interesting so far --  check that link if you haven't.

I'm disappointed in you guys hating on Animal Collective. They're honestly very good (one of the few modern bands that I really like) and I think Avey Tare is one of the greatest songwriters on earth right now (Gustav Ejstes in Dungen being number 1).
You should try to listen to them without thinking they're pretentious hipsters trying to sound cool, because they're not. They're just trying to write honest music, and you can definitely hear that, especially with Avey's songs. Some of his best songs have that Brian mid-60s feel where it seems like the melody just popped out from his heart and you're like "why hasn't anyone written this perfect melody before?".
I don't know, it's hard to explain, but I think it's kinda easy to tell which songwriters truthfully write melodies from their heart and soul and don't TRY to sound like something cool, or something they like. I think it's a hard thing to do and only some very gifted songwriters are able to.
Animal Collective have a way of confusing people to think that they're pretentious douchebags, but if you truly get into their music you find that it's the absolute opposite.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvIryVxmyy0 - This is one of my favorites. Listen twice or more to find the song underneath the mess. The melodies are incredible.

I just listened to the link of Kelley Stoltz that was posted above somewhere, and damn if I didn't absolutely LOVE it from the first listen. So many artists try to achieve that sound influenced by the Beach Boys and Beatles, and so few pull it off, and this guy just nailed it. From the garage sounding, 60s-tuned snare to those vocal harmonies, and some Beatles guitar and grit - stunning. Must buy everything he has released!

Glad to spread the word! Please buy as much of his stuff as you guys can, and send an email to Sub Pop telling them how much you think he's a genius and can't wait for another album ...

I liked it a lot too! Cool song!

This. Animal Collective ain't pretentious, folks. Noah Lenox is just an awkward guy, as is pretty much the group. They've never tried to be "hip", at the beginning of their career they did all this weird chant stuff. Before anybody cared or noticed. Of course, theyve grown to be much more melodic, but the point being they're not trying to be a band they're not. Avery Tare is a brilliant songwriting, and to simply dismiss their music as junk is lazy. They're a talented group of experimental musicians with slight pop sensibilities that resemble the Beach Boys.

I wonder if much of why we love the Beach Boys...is deeply rooted in the band being so square and un-hip in the first place.
This explains my love for The Beach Boys Love You.

alright, i don't wanna derail the thread, but since you guys seem to like Kelley's stuff so much, check out another great local band here, Sonny and the Sunsets (I can't get enough of this song, and you can see some cool footage of the San Francisco Mission district):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbctzd9kW1A

I post this only as a defense and not as a means to be negative or tell people I think their opinion is wrong:

I call it junk because I greatly dislike everything about it and can't really even appreciate most of it (not all of it) as art even outside my own dislike for it. I don't think that's lazy. I like many an awkward artist (we are on a Beach Boys forum) and probably many a pretentious artist (it comes with the territory, often), this guy's approach and style as a musician, producer, singer - everything, just grate me beyond words. I know he's not trying to be hip or something he's not and it doesn't surprise me that they've been over the top pretentious even pre-fame. I don't doubt they have technical ability as musicians. The only similarities I've heard in their work to the Beach Boys is the occasional "Hey, this guy is trying to sing like Brian did in the 60s and isn't doing a very good job."

I didn't initially approach their music with "Bunch of pretentious assholes, this is gonna be horrible" because I didn't know anything about them. Truly, they're one of those bands that each time I'm sent in the direction of a new song, I think "Maybe this will be the one where I finally get why all my friends go on about them." I want to like what my friends like and relate to them because I don't relate to them on much anymore, but when I listen and give it another chance, it's only been further affirmation that they're just not for me at all. I should stress that, I guess - they're not for me, but if they do something for you, then that's honestly cool and I'm not gonna take issue with art affecting someone in a positive way.

No moar negativity on my part after this - I don't want to go there and I don't want to take anyone else with me.

Animal Collective?

yeh, sorry to any of their fans for calling it junk, it's fine music or whatever ... just doesn't do anything for me. sounds kind of digital or something.

Yeah, I was kind of jerky about it, but honestly, I don't know anything about Animal Collective or their various members who do solo stuff.  In fact, I couldn't name any of them other than Panda Bear.  I don't really know what they look like, I've never read any interview or anything.  The point is, I don't think they're pretentious, because I know nothing of them other than the music, which I happen to hate.  Taste is taste.

I liked the Beach Boys just as much when I thought they were not really cool to like just as much as I do now that I think they are pretty cool to like.  I try to make my musical judgements purely musical.

Sorry if this was posted elsewhere in the thread (I didn't see it), but this interview with Kelley Stoltz has a cool story about Brian.

http://www.seattleweekly.com/content/printVersion/167142/

Very cool story! How many rock stars would actually give a sh** and call back at all!

I just listened. Very good! They sound a lot like Fleet Foxes.

Perfume Genius is another recent artist I like. This song is incredible!

http://youtu.be/LCvQlnJ0uZs

Hey, fair enough. You can see why I called it lazy in the first place though, right? I guess it was sort of lazy for me to assume that it was lazy of you to call it junk, and for that I apologize. You made a lot of legitimate, fair points, and I respect your opinion. I much rather have people say stuff like this about things they dislike than, like you said, "I hate these guys because they're a bunch of pretentious jerks".  :)

When you compare the Beach Boys to the other bands at the time (the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Who, etc.), yeah, they were kinda square.  Sure, they earned the musical respect of their peers, but they never really seemed to be included in those various "circle of friends" that their fellow rockers were in.  Just look at some of the individual band members:  We may all love Al Jardine, but he's not exactly the kind of guy you'd bring to a party to serve as your "wingman".  And then you've got Bruce: love the guy but he makes the band Air Supply look like heavy metal (although him having the gonads to call the current prez an a-hole did finally score him some much-needed cool points).

If there ever was a "hip" member of the band, that honor would go to Dennis by default.  I fail to understand how his crazy escapades never made a bigger splash in the rock world than they should have.  Partying with the murdering Charles Manson family?  That's pretty cool.  Unable to play drums in the 70's due to breaking his hands in some obscure accident?  That's a rock 'n roller if I've ever seen one.  

Now you're talking.

Good points here. I think the only really cool and hip members of the group by the 70's were Dennis and Carl. Carl had built connections by talking to the Grateful Dead, Chicago, Elton John etc. They also had communication with some members of the Who and Brian was in touch with Macca too some extent. They regained their hip-credentials in the 70's with Holland and their live performances in particular. Blondie Chaplin came from nowhere and ended up being great friends with Keith Richards, something he can only attribute to being a Beach Boy for 2-3 years. What really killed the hip image was 15BO and Love You was very much the same. Had LA(Light Album) or something like it with a few more rocking tracks in 1974-75 they woulda remained hip. Endless Summer screwed them over in the sense that it allowed for Brian to come back (with his oldie ideas) and therefore take away Carl's leading role. They coulda easily done more progressive albums in the mid-70's despite Endless Summer and enjoyed the appreciation of a wider spectre of fans. I still dig parts of 15BO and all of Love You, but that was their last big chance at hipness burned.

Nothing cooler than being associated with a guy who ordered the murder of a pregnant woman and a bunch of other harmless people.

Elvis got just a few credits for songwriting (btw that was nothing special back then but standard practice). But if you compare "All shook up" in Otis Blackwell's original demo with Presley's version you probably could even say that the writing credit is appropriate.

Otis Blackwell "All shook up" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyKn8M3HLP4
Otis Blackwell "Paralyzed" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYQdOyuwicU&feature=related
Glenn Reeves "Heartbreak hotel" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzf7AQqXmgM

Look for the Presley recordings in your well sorted record collection.

Another interesting thing is that the writers of the songs certainly made more money giving credit for Elvis than they would've ever made otherwise. And remember, they did that by choice.

If you want more insight, get this: http://shop.elvis.com.au/prod1549.htm

 
Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Fats Domino are fantastic but none of them has the diversity of Elvis. Little Richrad has a lot (and so does Jerry Lee Lewis) but Fats and Chuck are very sticked to just a certain style of music (Berry more than Domino) while Elvis made his own style. That guy was a masterful singer and musician and you can't limit him to only Rock'n'Roll, R'n'B or Country. The man was and probably still is too elusive to fit into any category. If one can't understand this one should be at least fair enough to admit this instead of parotting bullsh!t that was written by people who themselves don't have a clue.
The recordings are there. Just listen to them.





Can't believe this sh!t. Elvis was the boss. The Colonel worked for him. They were the perfect team. Colonel took care of the business site and Elvis of the music. That's the way Elvis wanted it and the way he became the biggest star of all time. Can't say anything against that. It's the same with the Colonel, people talk sh!t about him because some conspiracy-freak once wrote something.



My point is: don't claim something you don't have a clue about





BTW sorry if this sounds harsh, it wasn't supposed to.

I was being facetious, chief.  Thanks for playing.

???

I can't believe no one has mentioned Stereolab in here yet. Full of Beach Boys inspired stuff.

Not gonna make this a political thread. But Bruce calling President Obama an "asshole" is hardly cool point worthy. In fact, it just makes him look like what he is: a clueless old, rich white guy.

Not to promote anything on here, but my band has a lot of Beach Boy influences (mostly harmonies and vibe). They ARE my favorite band, of course.


http://monarques.bandcamp.com/

I always loved the Beach Boys, but felt somehow vindicated when Frank Black released HOTYE as a single. Whenever anyone says the pre-PS BBs aren't hip, I usually roll my eyes. If, however, a smack-down is required, these eight little words do the trick:
The Jesus and Mary Chain Covered Surfin' USA.

You just did.  But Bruce will have the last laugh in November.  Mwah-hahaaha!

They are also respected by REM, U2, Smashing Pumkins, Weezer, Stereo Lab, and I could go on.

When I discovered Yo La Tengo covered Little Honda and Farmer's Daughter I felt the same way. In addition to some other groups mentioned here, Daft Punk, surprisingly enough, adored the Beach Boys.

Anyone else get a really strong Weezer vibe from "Take A Load Off Your Feet"??

In what way? I don't really hear it at all, but maybe you're thinking in different terms than I am.

I would actually pick Weezer as one of the great examples in recorded music history of something sounding the most opposite, that anything possibly can, to TALOYF.  You'll definitely need to explain this one.

I don't hear anything Weezerish in TALOYF either, but in the stereo of my mind I can hear them doing a pretty great cover version of it.

It has a great similarity to certain sections of Weezer's unreleased power-foot-opera "Songs From The Black Hole (In My Sock)".

I thought the same upon his suggestion and thought maybe he was hearing something similar in there.


That'd be something like... oh, I don't know. Cradle Of Filth, maybe?


^_^

Haha, let me be more specific...

"TALOYF" has a groove, attitude, verse/chorus structure, and chord progression that remind me of a specific type of Weezer song.  Best example is "Undone - The Sweater Song" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHQqqM5sr7g&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHQqqM5sr7g&feature=related)).  To say that it is akin to Weezer in general is ridiculous...

It never crossed my mind until I saw this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJAwoe-jYa0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJAwoe-jYa0)


This is kind of what I meant.

I think the band Grandaddy often evokes the vibes of the Beach Boys from 67 - 72. They are my favorite band of recent years. And Jason Lytle sounds similar to Brian from that same period.

http://youtu.be/LWmIkBrvQEI

Right now in High School, as soon as I mentioned that I liked the Beach Boys, there is an immediate backlash coming mostly out of the fanbase of the more popular late 60s-70s-80s rock bands such as Queen and Led Zeppelin. I think that the current image of the beach boys in most of the adolescents of my generation is a band consisting of only cheesy, surfing, and fun in the sun songs. 

Not surprisingly even after exposing a friend to the bands more successful music post-1965, he still thought of it as cheesy. And to tell you the truth, I expected it. Suddenly since after hard rock's bloom in the recent past, a lot of teenagers can't see anything sophisticated, artistic, and catchy in anything BBs , or in a lot of pop-rock music from the 60s. The exception being the silly attention whores on Youtube who continually express their disappointment in their generation. :P

Nice post! Stay true to what you like and what you enjoy, and those who understand will be there to enjoy it with you. The opinions of others who won't open their ears to not only listen but to hear the music doesn't amount to a hill of beans in the long run. It's their loss if they miss out on enjoying music which they don't want to experience because of an image issue or whatever else the hang-up may be in their minds.

I wish I could report otherwise but unfortunately that's the way it was and the way it will be with many listeners who won't open up and listen. I got into the Beatles and The Monkees really heavily around the 6th and 7th grade. I caught some crap for it, too, among some at school, who thought the music was "old" or uncool or unhip or whatever. Not that I only listened to that - I loved top 40 too, but The Beatles and Monkees just did it for me, along with the Beach Boys greatest hits albums we had since I was younger than that. For every one person who would do something like dub a cassette of his parents' "Sgt Pepper" vinyl, there were 10+ who couldn't figure me or my musical tastes out.

The ultimate payoff (payback?) came years later, after a snowstorm that found me digging out my car. I'm out there shoveling, and stop to take a break. I hear a car coming up the road, driving slow, with music pumping. It was a guy who looked to be about 17, definitely high school age, and he was cranking the just-released "Number 1" Beatles hits collection in the car, with the window down.

That made me smile.  :)

I still feel the slightest tendrils of shame for loving the Beach Boys so much, especially loving them over the Beatles. I also feel ashamed when people ask me what I'm listening to on my headphones I lie. I know this is wrong. But I know the faces I get for this love.
I used to work at a movie theater some years ago and at the time I had been reading Carlin's BW biography. As I was getting off work and leaving with book in hand, one of the assistant managers asked me what I was reading. I said a bio about Brian Wilson. She said, "who's Brian Wilson?" (cue mental facepalm) I said he was the main songwriter and leader of the Beach Boys. She said "oh" with a face I'll not forget. It was one that kinda said "seriously?"
I'm trying to be more upfront and proud about my love for my favorite band, but then I think of that look...

Honestly, I should have just said that it was a bio on the baseball player of the same name...  :-\

If that should happen again, that's your cue to make a compilation or playlist of just a dozen or so tracks you really enjoy and give it to that person. If they're open to checking out new sounds, they'll listen. If not, then you know it's a waste of time and leave it at that, and it's their loss or their choice not to open up their mind a bit, whatever the case.

It is amazing how certain songs outside the mainstream "greatest hits" of a particular band can win some folks over, or at least open them up to the possibility that a given band has some music worth checking out that they may enjoy.

See my posts under the "Breaking Bad" thread about that show using the Monkees' "Goin Down" a few weeks ago, and there were all kinds of people who didn't know that song going online to learn more about it and have a listen. That was a neat thing which television and the internet can produce, and it may sound high-minded but I'll bet a lot of viewers who heard and liked that song  may have been more inclined to dismiss the Monkees for various reasons before the song grabbed their attention during that musical montage on the show.

Or you could have told her to chew on tin foil for giving you such a look. But naw, continue with the feeling shame thing.

Alternately, you could have screamed my current username at her (and the lyrics that follow), an octave higher and only roughly in key, until she went away.

What inspired this name change runners?

Well, I went to high school from 92 - 96. This was a good time in music that went into the late 90s. Bands like U2, REM, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and Radiohead were smart and inovative. There is lots of great arty music today, but most of the fans are my age and not much younger. Thus it isn't top 40 music but of the indie scene. Surely there are still a crowd in highschools today that get into creative music still today. ???

of course there are.

anyway, i've always found that no matter how hard the beach boys fight to be lame, their music is really hip.