The Smiley Smile Message Board

So I got the 7" of Don't Fight the Sea / Friends (A Capella) in the mail today, but I don't have an record player at the moment. Did anyone 'rip' the a capella to mp3/wav yet? The former is of no interest ;)

Although I am not that keen on the recording or should I say the song itself.
Basically what we have with Don't Fight The Sea, is a Beach Boy reunion song.

I know they weren't all in the studio at the same time, and I know it's not
a Brian Wilson production. I am aware some of the parts were recorded
decades ago. Even so, basically it's a brand new Beach Boys song, Why is
this not a huge headline grabber all over the planet?

First new Beach Boys song in 20 years ! Why was there no frenzy over this?

And it's better - by far - than most of the group songs since the Light Album (and some of the stuff on that, where it would've fit nicely).

Well, it may be a Beach Boys reunion song, but pardon my honesty, it's a poorly written song (both in lyrics and chord progression), sung by a couple of old dudes. I mean, this is how the world most likely views it. You can ask the same about Brian Wilson's solo stuff - why is there no frenzy over that? (it is essentially Beach Boys songs, but with better backing vocals - compared to today's Beach boys of course). It might just be the same problem as with 'Don't Fight the Sea'.

I'm getting older too. Maybe that's why I don't buy much music from younger artists. How do you know how bad The Beach Boys backing vocals are today? I haven't heard anything new in 15 years.

Well, it's my understanding that some of the backing vocals on 'Don't Fight the Sea' is new?

Yes, some are new. I was questioning your original comment that Brian's band sing better backing vocals than today's Beach Boys. Other than DFTS, we haven't heard new vocals in 15 years. I love Brian's band, so I'm not knocking them at all. I'm just thinking that we cannot compare until The Beach Boys do that new Reunion album next year. ;)

I hear you. But I think the main concern here is the age difference. Very few of the old 'rockers' manage to keep their voices fresh in their late 60s - there are of course exceptions in people such as Steve Winwood and Colin Blunstone, but the general trend is quite apparent deterioration.

Yes, that is true, but I think that they would pull off backing vocals much better than lead vocals.

Agreed!

Al Jardine sounds great IMO. I sometimes have fantasy's about how great the Lucky Old Sun
album would have been if Al and Mike had sung a few of Brians lead parts here and there.

But anyway I am shocked, perhaps for the last time in history a new song, featuring vocals
from at least four Beach Boys including Brian. and Carl! and Al sounds great!

The song is slightly a bit of a dog, not terrible, but you know..average. But still its the
Beach Boys! I am just surprised It hasn't become a big thing.. Most of my friends interested
in music have no idea the song exists unless I happened to tell them. I don't think most people
are aware Don't Fight The Sea exists with four Beach Boys singing on it.

Actually, there are 5 Beach Boys on DFTS. You forgot, Bruce is on there too.

Oops.. Bruce counts too

But a good song will be a hit regardless of who sings it IMO.

If the hottest act at the moment (and don't ask me who it is....Kate Perry maybe?) sings a poor song it aint going to be a hit.

For Al to get a single out is amazing. To think it will get airplay and some motion is a long-shot.

I have to agree!  Boggles the mind.

The answer is:

a) This board is fixated with Brian and Smile.
b) They never, ever 'heard' all the brilliant music from Pet Sounds to Holland. They listened but didn't 'hear'.  If they had, they'd realize Brian is a shell of his former self.
 They think Gershwin is brilliant when it's truly merda (compared to Brian's hey day).

.

Oh, and Don't Fight The Sea is some kind of unfettered musical genius?

Just because it has all the Beach Boys on it in some capacity doesn't make it good! As attested by the fact the song itself is limp, the production cheesy, and the lyrics banal in the extreme.

And for all the things you mention, vintagemusic, it's NOT a new beach Boys song. It's Al Jardine grabbing headlines for his crap solo record.

Not amazing - it's a nice but mediocre fund raiser, not a commercial enterprise, and its real sales incentive is the B-side.

I have to agree with you here. I really never listen to lyrics, but on this song the lyrics just pop out, almost embarrassing me. And like I said initially, the song itself - its chord use/progression is nothing to shout about either. But yeah, I mean, sure Al can sing, but is it amazing? Well, it sounds like a guy in his 60s singing. And by all means, that's cool. Colin and Rod does it, Jagger does it, Ray does it, etc.

And TheOther: While I know what you're trying to say, I don't think it's all true. There is some really bad stuff out on the market, being immensely popular - think Bieber and Rebecca Black - so there's no guarantee that a good song necessarily will always be a hit, that's for sure. But regardless, I guess what you're saying is that 'Don't Fight the Sea' isn't all that good, so that will definitely not stand a chance.

Don't Fight the Sea ain't bad. It's actually one of the highlights on the Postcard to California album. Still, I think it embraces modern production values far too much to be truly great. And Al was never the best songwriter of the BB's, even in their prime. Still, you have to dig those massive vocal hooks.

Sounds like a Brianista talking here. DFTS may not be a new song by age, but it is new to us. You write this post like your opinion is the only one that matters. Some of us like it and it does matter to us. I'm 54 and have listened to a lot of music produced in the late 70's and 80's and DFTS is no cheesier than half the stuff recorded in that period. The 45 is for charity and not for grabbing headlines. Except for a few online articles, I've seen very little of Al Jardine drawing the spotlight on himself. If you don't like it, tha's fine, but do you really hate it that much? I'm interested because I feel that songs like "When Girls Get Together" or "California Calling" are far more below caliber than DFTS. At least DFTS has some really terrific vocals on it.

@surfriderhawaii
Gershwin is not merda. I think history has proved that. Again, why does one thing need to be ripped in order to get a point across on another? Start a new thread if you want to talk about something other than Smile.

I agree with your DFTS thoughts exactly!

But I dare you to listen to "King for a Day" and then Gershwin.  Night and day diff.  Anyone who loved Brian's pre-74 voice 'has' to cringe on Gershwin.  Al could have done the same exact album and it would have sound 1000% better.   Gershwin just sounds 'canned', totally predicable.  PAPA DOO RUN RUN coulda done it.

Gershwin was a nice idea but there's a reason most reviews were mediocre or poor.  You're right, not Merda but just bores the hell out of me.

Sorry, I thought you were talking about Gershwin, the composer, not Brian's album. I agree with you, as I am not a fan of his singing voice either. I haven't liked it since the 85 album. I will say though, that BWRG & BWPS are his best sounding albums.

I'm no AGD when it comes to writing, that's for sure.  I love Gershwin - "Rhapsody in Blue" is one of my all time top 10 favs.  Just Brilliant!  I think "Surf's Up" is brilliant too!  Brian's crowning achievement!

But it boggles the mind about "DFTS".  Cause we have some here who pine away for Mike recording "How Can We Still Be Dancing". My God :-(  Here we have a brilliant Al/Carl vocal just released and people want to focus on some more crap.  I mean, if they couldn't do anything decent after 85..........

It really boggles my mind that Al couldn't come up with something better that DFTS (especially if this is one of the bright sides of the album (according to one poster). I mean, he had so many years, and even if he wasn't the best songwriter of the Beach Boys, he still should be able to produce something better than this. And even more so considering he involved the other Beach Boys.

So I came on a little strong. It was somewhere inbetween being told I didn't 'get' the Brian-less music (as if, he's all over the damn place on those songs) of Friends, Sunflower, etc just cos I don't like 'Don't Fight The Sea' that I decided to get mad.

Brianista? No. I am not slavishly devoted to his music. I don't just like music because it features The Beach Boys = Carl's singing? It's fantastic! Which seems to be surfriderhawaii's argument.

Sorry to offend Dr, but I guess i just have a low tolerance for the eighties music. It's below par, in my opinion.

I shall go so far to say that not only are The Beach Boys the best band I've ever heard, they are also the worst.

 @tansen.   
 I hear no production issues on DFTS. I've played this for family, friends and some co-workers and all liked it and said they knew who it was as soon they started singing. I know, Brian didn't write it, so it can't have much merit. ;)

@hypehat

I understand where you are coming from, and thanks for the answer. I tend to get past a lot of second rate songs, because they can take just about any sh*t song and make it sound beautiful with their voices. Those voices together are pure magic to these ears.

I think it's first rate!  The reggae section is very cool!

What's a shame is that the BB could have had a killer album in the early 80's.  Just take "DFTS", "Looking Down the Coast" and "California Dreamin" - Al had 25% of a really good album covered.  Guess the trouble is, as a producer, he's a turtle.

I don't wanna make this a thread about Brian's singing voice, but I would WAY rather have Brian's singing over Al. He sounds great on "The Like In I Love You". And nearly the whole album he sounds really good. Sure he doesn't sound like 1967 Brian, but he definitely has that same lovely tone he has on "Please Let Me Wonder" on things like "'S Wonderful", "I've Got a Crush on You" and some others. He sucked on Orange Crate Art and Gettin' In Over My Head, and the BWPS songs were a bit too much for him, but he still is a good singer these days when he takes his time.

A. You are obviously unaware of Brian's pre "15 Big One's" voice
B. Better than Al now - wow, you are smokin the wacky wacky
C. Pro Tools and "Auto tune"
D. Brian does sing better than I do, that's for sure.

I don't think I said anything about production, but I'm no big fan of the 80's type production on Don't Fight the Sea, that's true. But honestly, I don't give a crap who wrote the song, a good song is a good song. Period. And as a songwriter/musician myself, it just ain't enough with some smooth voices covering over a bad song. Of course, a lot of the times this goes the other way too, but I'm more susceptible to like a song that has 'weird' or different vocals, as long as its good songwriting. I mean, take Dylan or Neil Young, not the greatest voices in the world, but dang, they have some incredible songs.
That being said, I'm having real trouble listening to Brian's solo work, and that is mostly because of his singing voice.

I think, 'killer' is stretching it a bit far. I can't stand BB's version of "California Dreamin'" - I mean the original is sooo good. Looking down the coast is quite ok, better than DFTS, but no masterpiece. And also, I have to say that i think the demo of California Feeling from the 70's is better than Al's new version. Again, this has to do with vocals - Carls lead is great on this track.

I'm with you here man. No one with any sense of musicality can claim that Brian's voice (now) is better than Al's. I mean, there is no contest here. And you're right, Brian's latest studio efforts have Autotune/Melodyne all over them. D: You must have a none-existing singing voice in that case ;D

There were reports at the time of BWRG's release that it did not feature any autotune on Brian's voice IIRC.

And the moon is made of cheese.

Care to point out an example? Of the moon, or BWRG's autotune?

Just remember there's a difference between autotune and tuning a vocal. There is no doubt that Brian's voice has been tuned at times - just like with any other artist these days.

I said, give me an example.

Don't get cheeky with me. Tuned vocals are all over the album. Giving an example of tuned vocals would be to give an example of drums and bass being 'beatmapped' (e.g. making sure they're in time in the editing process by quantizing to grid/an instrument  - elastic audio being one of Pro Tools' way of doing it). If it's done well, you can't really tell.

yeah, but that's very easy to say. I'm asking you to point one out to me, and you seem incapable. Fine.

By the time I've edited this we'll probably be onto the next post.

Then don't turn around and say Brian has a 'none-existent voice' because he's doing something every Tom, Dick and Harry does on his record, then! WTF.

It's definitely hard to point out, because of the reasons explained above. But we have all heard him in concert, and there's not doubt he sings better on record than live. Of course this has to do with multiple takes. doubling, etc, but tuning vocals is pretty much something any engineer/producer will do today. Brian's vocal is no exception.

I didn't say Brian has a 'none existing voice', I said SurfRider does if Brian sings better than him. It was an exaggerating joke though.
Anyways, no need to get upset hypehat.

Cool. It's been a long week. Let's not fight, although we can agree to disagree about DFTS  ;D

Absolutely! Now, let's enjoy the weekend! :D

Hoping to continue the peaceful vibes here:

Got this record and, since I don't own my own record player, had to wait till I visited my parents. I'm currently here listening to the a-side for the third consecutive time. Gotta say, I really enjoy it.

And obviously Friends (a Capella) is fantastic (though it's not ALL a capella...)

I still wish someone could 'rip' side B for me ;)

I think Brian's singing is quite good on BWRG, but there is clear use of post-production tuning of his vocal. Most obvious example I think is in 'The Like In I Love You', "the faith in faithful, the like in I love you" - can just hear that it isn't natural. Also suspect some manipulation on the higher parts of Rhapsody.

Most horrific use is on BWPS, on Surf's Up, eurgh...

Hopefully someone out there has a vinyl-to-Mp3 conversion-majig or some such sorcery.

In the meantime enjoy this short (oh so short) a capella rendition of "Friends", it's not much:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tilogc9K2Ag

ALL $15 goes to the Red Cross/Japan, you should simply send away for it.

Already bought it (if you read the first post in this thread), but have no vinyl player at the moment. A friend came to the rescue and just sent me the ripped version though - loving the a capella!