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Smiley Smile Stuff => General On Topic Discussions => Topic started by: Don_Zabu on April 17, 2011, 07:26:36 PM

Title: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Don_Zabu on April 17, 2011, 07:26:36 PM

~~Didn't think so~~.

But in all seriousness, are they any singers you can think of that have similar vocal timbre to Brian, Carl, Mike, or anyone else in the band, especially in more modern music?

I guess Panda Bear from Animal Collective kind of sounds like young Brian Wilson (no doubt intentional on his part), but that's about all I can think of.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: stack-o-tracks on April 17, 2011, 07:46:08 PM

Taylor Hawkins sort of sounds like Dennis on Holy Man.

I think he kinda sounds like a combination Dennis and Carl in this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN6GQBPUPuk

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Shady on April 17, 2011, 08:16:10 PM

The Explorers Club, they want to be the beach boys so bad it's creepy, but I still kinda like them

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snBv4xKPtd4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snBv4xKPtd4)

blatant plagiarism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgLiYy5uYhw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgLiYy5uYhw)

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Runaways on April 17, 2011, 08:45:37 PM

explorer's club is pretty bad. that top song is bleh. forever is ok tho

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Myk Luhv on April 17, 2011, 08:49:29 PM

I'm sure I've posted this before but I'll use this thread as an opportunity to post it again. It's a reviewer from allmusic -- Richie Unterberger, I think -- talking about The Sunrays. I think it holds generally for virtually every Beach-Boys-influenced band to come ever-after:

Quote

[. . . B]e aware that as was often the case in imitative rock music, the Sunrays were a much more lightweight version of the original model. Imagine the Beach Boys' most superficial and Whitest mid-'60s sides with more mainstream L.A. pop arrangements and you have some idea of where the Sunrays were coming from. The harmonies are accomplished but on the sterile side, with even more of the Four Freshmen influence that colored the Beach Boys' vocal arrangements. [. . .] And, most important, the material is mostly inconsequential, frothy pop [. . .] To be honest, they make the Beach Boys sound gritty, proving that it took more than smooth, high vocal harmonies to capture that group's magic; it also took the complexity and emotional depth of Brian Wilson's compositions and production, which of course couldn't be emulated.

So I don't sh*t on the parade, however, I will offer up some songs that, it seems to me, manage to... if not quite get around this, then are less egregious about the whole influence at least. These are all by Splitsville from their album The Complete Pet Soul. It's an album of Pet Sounds- and Rubber Soul-influenced tracks, initially released as an EP but expanded to a full LP (hence the 'Complete' in the title). For your listening pleasure: "The Popular" (http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/The+Popular/1O90d4?src=5), "Aliceanna" (http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Aliceanna/1LLpn6?src=5), "Caroline Knows" (http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/Caroline+Knows/1LLpqk?src=5), and "The Love Songs of B. Douglas Wilson" (http://listen.grooveshark.com/s/The+Love+Songs+Of+B+Douglas+Wilson/1O90eG?src=5). I never said these guys were subtle!

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: CenturyDeprived on April 17, 2011, 08:57:04 PM

Wayne Everett, lead singer of The Lassie Foundation.

They were/are an amazing band from Southern California, very Beach Boys meets My Bloody Valentine, with other pop elements thrown in.

Wayne often sings in a falsetto in a very Brian-esque fashion (very well) which is truly brilliant.
Their best work IMO is the album Pacifico.

Here's a song clip (there's not a lot on youtube to choose from, they have material much better than this too):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nL5G8PMrcL0

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: adamghost on April 17, 2011, 09:53:31 PM

The bands that try so hard to mimic the Beach Boys sound drive me nuts, because they almost always miss the point, which is the emotional content the sounds evoked.

That said, Alan Boyd has a lot of heart and he has a Wilson thing going on with this voice that's very unforced. I like it even better, though, when he indulges his love of Nilsson...

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: WWDWD? on April 17, 2011, 11:58:27 PM

As far as singers whose voices sound like members of the Beach Boys (rather than bands that are trying to adopt a similar style)...

I'd have to agree with Don_Zabu. Panda Bear from Animal Collective sounds a lot like a mixture of Brian and Al at the same time. This is best demonstrated in the song Comfy In Nautica http://youtu.be/25_gjUbvqNg (http://youtu.be/25_gjUbvqNg)

Taylor Hawkins does do a good Dennis too.

The main vocalist from The Besnard Lakes has a decent falsetto that occasionally sounds a little bit Brain (without trying to) http://youtu.be/C5i3z2Wv-Qs (http://youtu.be/C5i3z2Wv-Qs)

That's all I can think of at the moment.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Don_Zabu on April 18, 2011, 12:19:45 AM

Quote from: dylz on April 17, 2011, 11:58:27 PM

As far as singers whose voices sound like members of the Beach Boys (rather than bands that are trying to adopt a similar style)...

-ahem-

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: kookadams on April 18, 2011, 04:12:27 AM

I always thought Joe King from the Queers had somewhat of a Mike Love tone to his voice.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Andrew G. Doe on April 18, 2011, 04:16:15 AM

Alan Boyd.

Christian Love (although he does have a decided genetic advantage).

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Scotty on April 18, 2011, 06:58:57 AM

Papa Doo Run Run - IMHO always been a better live band than the Beach Boys. I remember a quote by Don Bleu who said "They sound more like the Beach Boys than the Beach Boys do!"

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Magic Transistor Radio on April 18, 2011, 08:41:33 AM

Brian: Jason Lytle
http://youtu.be/R8qkrNaxt_c

Dennis: Bono
http://youtu.be/co6WMzDOh1o

Carl: Thom Yorke
http://youtu.be/pKd06s1LNik

Mike: Michael Stripe
http://youtu.be/xQN7A6Vl1H4

Imagine these 4 guys coming together!

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Don_Zabu on April 18, 2011, 04:48:03 PM

Quote from: Magic Transistor Radio on April 18, 2011, 08:41:33 AM

Jason Lytle: Holy crap, it's uncanny.

Bono: ...yeah, I don't think so.

Thom Yorke: Totally what Carl would sound like if he was a wafer-thin lethargic Englishman.

Michael Stipe: ...are we listening to the same Michael Stipe?

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: rab2591 on April 18, 2011, 05:03:23 PM

This guy sounds like every one of the Beach Boys at the exact same time:

http://www.youtube.com/user/dmcguire70#p/u (http://www.youtube.com/user/dmcguire70#p/u)

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Magic Transistor Radio on April 18, 2011, 06:25:05 PM

Quote from: Don_Zabu on April 18, 2011, 04:48:03 PM

Quote from: Magic Transistor Radio on April 18, 2011, 08:41:33 AM

Yeah, I wasn't totally sold on Thom York sounding like Carl. I can't really think of modern singers that sound like him. But I do thing Michael and Bono do resemble quite a bit.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Amy B. on April 18, 2011, 06:55:02 PM

Quote from: Magic Transistor Radio on April 18, 2011, 08:41:33 AM

Mike: Michael Stripe
http://youtu.be/xQN7A6Vl1H4

Imagine these 4 guys coming together!

Michael Stipe sounds like Mike Love? Not the Michael Stipe I've been listening to since I was a teenager! Look up "Oh My Heart" by REM and tell me that sounds like Mike Love.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Denni on April 18, 2011, 10:28:21 PM

Quote from: stack-o-tracks on April 17, 2011, 07:46:08 PM

Taylor Hawkins sort of sounds like Dennis on Holy Man.

I think he kinda sounds like a combination Dennis and Carl in this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QN6GQBPUPuk

You're right :)

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: MBE on April 18, 2011, 11:04:21 PM

A Uk singer Billy Nicholls sounds like them circa Pet Sounds. His Would You Believe is a fantastc LP.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mLR-Ijsfs1k&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUkaeqnLGmM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RudeFxLstiI&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXajMnidL38&feature=related

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: brother john on April 19, 2011, 01:34:06 AM

Quote from: Shady on April 17, 2011, 08:16:10 PM

Yes, its uncanny how much like BW Jason Brewer sounds at times.

But I love The Explorers Club. I don't see them as rip-offs, and while their lyrics are almost universally lightweight, the sound the band produces is amazing, and they are great songs that do have emotional depth, for me anyway.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: hypehat on April 19, 2011, 03:54:46 AM

Personally, I listened to The Explorers Club album and could not stop laughing! Especially 'Do You Love Me', where I had a bit of a moment then started singing 'It's Ok' along with it, or the second track of the record and 'Mess Of Help'.... I mean, those guys know exactly what they're doing.

Title: Kayla Williams (awesome!) - Carter Cathcart
Post by: bsten on April 19, 2011, 05:52:08 AM

Kayla Williams !!!
The female side of the Beach Boys - listen to the harmonies - she does all the vocals herself!!!
www.kaylawilliams.com

- listen here -
http://www.youtube.com/user/kaylawilliamsmusic
- click on "show all"
(there are about 20 BB covers - all awesome!)

Carter Cathcart
http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/carterc

- listen here -
http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/carterc/excerpts.ram
http://www.angelfire.com/ca4/carterc/ido.ram

:)

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: The Shift on April 19, 2011, 06:12:09 AM

First time I heard the Irish singer Brian Kennedy on the radio I thought Carl had gone solo (again).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0auyw06rSgQ

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: punkinhead on April 19, 2011, 06:43:57 AM

Fleet Foxes

Title: Jeffrey Foskett
Post by: bsten on April 19, 2011, 06:44:57 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b16Ubm3gbLI

:)

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: The Shift on April 19, 2011, 06:48:16 AM

Quote from: punkinhead on April 19, 2011, 06:43:57 AM

Fleet Foxes

Some will differ but that band has almost made a career from rewriting You're Welcome a couple o' dozen times? (I love them by the way...)

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: WWDWD? on April 19, 2011, 07:20:48 AM

Quote from: Wee Helper on April 19, 2011, 06:48:16 AM

Quote from: punkinhead on April 19, 2011, 06:43:57 AM

Fleet Foxes

Some will differ but that band has almost made a career from rewriting You're Welcome a couple o' dozen times? (I love them by the way...)

Haha! I can see that.
They have a song on their new album that has a real Phil Spector vibe (instrumentally at least) http://youtu.be/Mtx7zLRM8t8 (http://youtu.be/Mtx7zLRM8t8)

Quote from: rab2591 on April 18, 2011, 05:03:23 PM

This guy sounds like every one of the Beach Boys at the exact same time:

http://www.youtube.com/user/dmcguire70#p/u (http://www.youtube.com/user/dmcguire70#p/u)

Wow! This guys is pretty great. His version of Hushabye is pretty special. http://youtu.be/xpgfIwQkw_Y (http://youtu.be/xpgfIwQkw_Y)
From my side of the world too. I wonder if he is in any of the local Beach Boys tribute bands.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: Magic Transistor Radio on April 19, 2011, 07:53:19 AM

Ok, so nobody agrees that Mike Stripe sounds like Mike Love :P

Well how about this guy from They Might Be Giants?

http://youtu.be/NAbZzdalZh4

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: kiwi surfer on April 20, 2011, 02:56:30 AM

Already mentioned several times but the Explorers Club for me. Love 'em to pieces.

It's fun to see how many BB songs you can identify in each song of theirs. There's even a Rio Grande moment and another track that could slip right onto Wild Honey and only Brian would know for sure.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: buddhahat on April 20, 2011, 03:06:12 AM

Quote from: dylz on April 17, 2011, 11:58:27 PM

Funnily enough, just listening to the new Panda Bear album now as I'm reading this.

I agree with the above poster that imitation usually results in a case of diminishing returns but I think Panda Bear and Animal CXollective are a good example of a modern band borrowing a sound and building on it/taking it in new directions, just as Brian Wilson took the Phil Spector sound and fashioned something entirely original out of it. You only have to look at how influentional AC have been on subsequent new bands to realise they are more than mere copyists.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: PaulTMA on April 20, 2011, 04:58:47 AM

Quote from: Wee Helper on April 19, 2011, 06:48:16 AM

Quote from: punkinhead on April 19, 2011, 06:43:57 AM

Fleet Foxes

Some will differ but that band has almost made a career from rewriting You're Welcome a couple o' dozen times? (I love them by the way...)

I thought the reason they existed was to make every 20something buy a plaid shirt and form a terrible band. Bit like Nirvana 20 years ago.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: PaulTMA on April 20, 2011, 05:00:37 AM

Quote from: buddhahat on April 20, 2011, 03:06:12 AM

Quote from: dylz on April 17, 2011, 11:58:27 PM

Admittedly these bands are called things like Rude Dog & The Dweebs, Geocities and Doogie Howser MD and hopefully will be defunct within a year.

Title: Re: Any singers you can think of that sound like The Beach Boys?
Post by: buddhahat on April 20, 2011, 05:41:17 AM

Quote from: PaulTMA on April 20, 2011, 05:00:37 AM

Quote from: buddhahat on April 20, 2011, 03:06:12 AM

Quote from: dylz on April 17, 2011, 11:58:27 PM

Admittedly these bands are called things like Rude Dog & The Dweebs, Geocities and Doogie Howser MD and hopefully will be defunct within a year.

Caribou, The Morning Benders, Deerhunter, Grizzly Bear to name but a few. Whether they'll last, who can say, but Animal Collective's influence, specifically Merriweather Post Pavillion, is undeniable, just as Brian Wilson's influence on that album is plain to hear. I think that the classic Beach Boys' albums are still influencing music and pushing it forward in exciting and creative directions is something to celebrate. There's a good article about it here: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/all-hail-the-zoo-wave/story-e6frg8n6-1225986627496 (http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/arts/all-hail-the-zoo-wave/story-e6frg8n6-1225986627496)