The Smiley Smile Message Board

per Matt's facebook he is in LA recording vocals for 3 days with Brian, Blondie and Scott Bennett

Sounds like Brian needs a falsetto part.  Wonder where Jeff is for that.  Both of them can fulfill the requirement juuuust fine though.  Looking forward to hearing Matt in the mix! Good to know Brian's pushing forward on the new record with ex Beach Boys alumnus.

I'll take heat for this but I gotta say im not the biggest fan of Matt jardines vocals so this doesn't really excite me

Different strokes for different folks Shady.   Have you ever heard Matt perform live?  He is the real deal.  Always a highlight of seeing Al's band live.  Best news I have heard all day!  I like Foskett and really appreciate the critical role he seems to plays as a support for Brian, but in the world of Beach Boy Falsettists (sp?) Matt just seems to get closest to that sweet 1960's Brian like whine.  Really excited to hear the results!!!!

Who are the beach boys (M&B) again? >:D

Awesome. I much prefer Matt's voice to Foskett's. This will be cool.

Brian is dropping Jeff as his back-up in favor if Matt J.

Naw, that sounds too good to be true.

He can't do that, who would LEAD the band?!?

Totally agree with this. At times Foskett can be really grating on the ears. At times it even affects my enjoyment of some of Brian's solo records. So this is great news! Sometimes I wish Matt had been involved in Brian's solo career from the start.

Let's see if this link works... Brian & Jeff from January 23.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202886332218692&set=vb.1213937959&type=2&theater

(I totally agree with the positive Matt Jardine remarks.)

I'm just happy that Brian is recording...doesn't matter with who 8)

Darian.

Paul Mertens..  Jeff isn't goin anywhere anyway.. He is Brian's closet friend and confidant// handler// bodyguard..

This is amazing news. I've been crossing my fingers for this moment. Matt really does get the falsetto better and closer to the original (Brian) than most of the successors. It has the fullness and richness better than Foskett's driving more pinched sound. Foskett's doesn't bother me as much as it does a lot of people it seems, but Matt's is better. Here's hoping he brings Matt on tour with him.

As much as I perfer Jeff OVER Matt (partially due to nostalgia), I'm still a big fan Matt and am glad to see him involved.  Of course the best part of this is it shows Brian using as much of the Beach Boys crew as possible.  I'd LOVE for Ricky to make an appearance on the CD too, as well as Billy and Ed!

I like MJ's vocal from the BB's song You're Still A Mystery.

Good news indeed… but makes me wonder what Brian's putting together here? If this is for the Jeff Beck collaboration, then I'm getting more and more bewilderfused… Matt's involvement takes things closer and closer to something sounding like a Beach Boys project. While he was neve a Beach Boy, be was an integral part of their live and recorded sound for long enough, and surely if Brian Wanted falsetto on one of his solo albums he'd have Jeff (Foskett) supply without a second thought.

Must be for one of BW's other album projects, or maybe a Beach boys album is being recorded by he other main players and will be presented to Mike and Bruce as a fait accomplis - just add vox boys or we release this without you.

Or maybe I shouldn't even think about it before coffee and before AGD has brought more facts to the table…

With Al a major participant in the album, I'm sure he pulled some strings. And Brian obviously knows Matt, and his voice would add another texture -- I suspect Joe Thomas might have had his fill of wall to wall Jeffsettos on TWGMTR.

Then... why not just use The Beach Boys ? Maybe just I'm getting old and (even more) cynical but it's beginning to look like there's an increasing degree of nose-thumbing going on here.

Can someone block the road so Joe Thomas doesn't reach his mixing appointments?

If I ever win big on the lottery, one of the first things I'd do is put Thomas on a personal monthly retainer of $XXX,XXX, the first (and only) clause of which would be, "never, ever record, mix or produce another record involving Brian Douglas Wilson".

Very good news! I love Matt's falsetto.
This project sounds interesting

I like Foskett's falsetto, but I do much prefer Matt's. Both do a great job IMHO, I just prefer Matt's falsetto. Congrats to Matt, must be wonderful singing with that group; can't wait to hear it!

Make it an official Beach Boys project already.

Call me a dreamer but what I would really like to hear is Mr. Brian Douglas Wilson do a falsetto or two.

You're a dreamer....(but so would I!)

This is really, really good news. Matt's falsetto is worlds upon worlds more fitting for Brian's work than Jeff's (sorry).


Yes.


YES.

"Who would lead the band?"  I've often wondered what the other guys think of Jeff always raising his hand to finish a song.  I think those guys probably know where the song finishes.  It always seems a pit patronising to me when this happens.

I still think Jeff does a good job helping Brian out on stage when he stops singing and stuff.

Me too!

Nothing against Jeff Foskett; I think he does a good job on falsetto, especially live. But, every time a part comes on the That's Why God Made The Radio album that requires a falsetto, and then Jeff comes in, I go "Nooooooooooo!!!!!". It is very disappointing. I would've liked to have heard Brian do a couple of takes/tries, have Joe Thomas pick the best take, and then (cough) work his magic to make it sound acceptable. It's a bit of a letdown to hear Jeff so prominent in the mix, because it feels like Brian is just sitting back, playing it safe, not even trying. That is especially evident in live performances, but I can understand that. If Brian did the falsetto part live, it would be a train wreck and embarrass him. The recording studio is a different situation, though.

He's said he wanted to.  He was looking forward to the next album but if Mike won't budge in regards to the writing situation (which is certainly his right), Brian can only do the "next best thing".  Believe me.  I wish they were all together again.  I REALLY liked the last album.

I'm glad that Brian is in the studio recording again. And I'm glad he's getting picky and involved in the selection of his musicians/singers. It's a bummer that Mike and Bruce won't be on the record (because damn Bruce's vocals were great on TWGMTR), but it is what it is.

Jeff hasn't led the band in at least a decade, IIRC.

It's not really those things that are the issues with JT, though, are they? I mean, you found TWGMTR pretty darn excellent, right?

I thought Thomas’ studio production/sound was much more subdued on “Radio” compared to “Imagination.” His odd “Recorded by” credit on “Radio” is a smokescreen; he certainly served as a de facto co-producer at least. “Radio” still had some Thomas touches I don’t care for (overuse of woodwinds, that friggin’ oboe/clarinet sound he sticks on a lot of his stuff; although Brian has overused woodwinds in my opinion in the last decade without Thomas as well), and his reliance on autotune is not unique to him, but still very annoying. The use of autotune is the only major problem with the 50th live album, but it’s a big problem. It’s really weird too, because Thomas does the “Soundstage” PBS shows and they usually sound pretty good.

I don’t understand the “Brian should get all the Beach Boys singing on this album” thing; Brian and Al clearly wanted to do another BB album and tour after the 50th tour. Mike clearly is no longer willing to do the Pet Sounds-style formula of coming in to sing an album full of stuff Brian wrote with some other co-writer. I don’t think Mike would feel differently if the collaborator was Jeff Beck or Scott Bennett instead of Joe Thomas or Tony Asher.

I guess I kind of wish they would have been more alerted to Mike’s getting stuck so much on wanting a BB album to feature Love/Wilson co-writes (assuming Mike isn’t just using that complaint about “Radio” as an excuse to not do more reunion activities because he doesn’t like that financial/power structure), and just placated Mike enough to wring another BB album out of the group, because I think another album could have been (and could be) pretty good.

Back to Thomas. He isn’t the guy I’d pick to be involved, but I refer back to Howie Edelson’s post some time back. Thomas was the nearest to a Neil Aspinall-type the group have had any time in the last few decades, and he had the money and organizational skills to get a studio album, live world tour, a TV special and two DVDs/Blu-rays, all out within the span of a year. Maybe Mike soured on the guy by the end of the tour, but Thomas aided in getting more done than most have with this band.

As for Matt Jardine, I’m glad to see him recording with Brian (with hopefully Al in there at some stage too). Matt did at least one gig with Brian solo back in 1998. Brian clearly knows Matt is a solid singer to go to.

I don’t think Matt appearing at some sessions has anything to do with Foskett. We don’t even know for sure that Matt’s vocal work entails any falsetto work. He’s a good harmony (and lead) singer in general.  

Matt recording with Brian now?  not much of a surprise, really, When you think about it, Brian fills the room with vocalists that he's comfortable with, and after spending time with Al, has not doubt remembered Matt's fine voice in the mix of the 80's/90's  material. Likely, Brian asked Al if he thought Matt would come down at some point when Al was in studio before Christmas and thats all it took....   :)

I am more excited to hear Blondie is still recording with Brian.

And I lean more to Matt's falsetto than Jeffs'. From the You Tube clips I watched from Brian's Beck tour, I found Jeff's falsetto on "Old Man River" a bit hard on my ears.

Is there evidence on YouTube to suggest Matt still has his 80s/90s falsetto chops?

AMEN!! 

I actually think there's evidence to the contrary -- his falsetto is thinner these days.

Is there evidence to support anyone involved with this band, official, touring member etc. has the vocal chops they had 30 years ago?

inb4 Al Jardine, he's a freak of nature. AL DOESN'T COUNT (literally, his math skills are terrible).

It is thinner and not as good as it was in the 80's and 90's (listen to the Red Barn Rehearsals, Paramount Theatre, and Unplugged from '93). As you get older, it's expected to be thinner.  To me, these two vids aren't that hot - not nearly as good as the versions of Hushabye, Surfer Girl, In My Room, Hawaii, and Add Some Music he use to sing with the Beach Boys in the 90's.  Little too nasally for my tastes - especially Don't Worry Baby here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_yoEEN0tBQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDo8tyLStvQ



  

Ouch...that's Adrian Baker levels right there.

Ohhhhhhhhhhh.  Low blow, Billy.

:lol

Okay, maybe it's an exaggeration, but that was definitely too nasal.

He sounds good and kinda Brian-esque on In My Room. I'd imagine double tracked in the studio he'd still sound awesome.

Nice acoustic  variations  of BB songs..  Some added chords for spice on In My Room.. Good stuff.. Lip sync I think also.. WHAT IF..?? BB had done a bunch of stuff like this instead of Stars + Stripes.. No guests just BB and and a studio band pop//jazz players..  I think it would have been more successful  than Stars + Stripes..

Other than Al, no. But folks in this thread were talking like Matt's falsetto would be a giant improvement over Jeff's, which probably isn't true.

This is really exciting! It seems like this record is going to be more Beach Boy than the last one.

Can't wait for some real details to come out on what kind of record this is going to be.

Guys like Christian Love and Matt Jardine bewilder me. Why would they spend their lives performing covers of their fathers' hits?

 What else can they do?

Performing music, no matter whose it is, is a much better living that working 9-5 at a desk every day.

Exactly! But the worst of it came during the 2012 tour, because he stifled Brian's singing. Remember that show where Brian sang the high part of the second verse of  Good Vibrations? He was nailing it, but stopped when he realized that it was Jeff's "job". That, ladies and gentlemen, is why Brian doesn't sing real high notes anymore. I think he's being told not to.

But there are times when he can't hit the high notes so I guess Jeff is his back up. While I don't claim to understand how the human voice works, Brian really got it going as the C50 progressed, maybe due to the fact he was doing so many concerts. Trouble is, the formula already is in place for Jeff to cover him as I suppose you never know if he is going to give out. Mike is another who gets better as the touring season goes on.

I was at the Sydney PS show where he started a song (can't remember which) and I just knew he was struggling. He had to stop about a third way through and start again.  Another song Brian was again struggling (may have been GV) Brian gave a quick hand gesture to Jeff, who then covered a complete verse. Jeff is ready to cover those moments.

Hello all,
I thought I should post & clarify some points here. Got a call from BW management asking me if I was available to sing in the studio with Brian. I spent the past 3 days putting down lead & backing guide vocals on 8-9 tunes. Hopefully they'll keep some of my work but I do know others will sing over what I put down. They're fleshing out new tunes & they are very good, catchy songs. You will be thrilled & surprised. Scott was in for a day working on a tune & it was Brian, Blondie & me the other two days. This is studio work folks & apparently Jeff was not available for this little stretch. It happens & is not a big deal. Brian sang really well, better than I've heard him sing in awhile, was in good spirits & he was assigning me parts on the fly while I was in the vocal booth. Blondie sounds absolutely amazing &, strangely enough, we have a great vocal blend together. It was a very positive experience overall. I believe Dad, aka Al, will be in the studio with Brian in Feb fyi.

OK, maybe I've enjoyed a few too many Jack Daniels this evening to post this, but yes, for sure the next album will be by "The Beach Boys" and will feature the vocals of not only Jeffrey Foskett but also Mathew Jardine, both of whose vocals will be indispensable to a 2014 or 2015 BBs project.

Holy hell! Talk about a guy on this message board and the real deal might actually turn up!  ;D

Can't wait to hear these songs.

Damn, I'm getting excited. Thanks for posting, Matt.

It does seem to look that way, doesn't it?  ;D Would it really be asking to much to have a Mike and Bruce "cameo" appearance? Just enough to be able to call it a Beach Boys album.

No indication in this thread or the BW album thread of any involvement by Mike and Bruce or any plans for the future. Have I missed something?

We have a lot of vocalists and Jeff Beck. I'm calling it closer to GIOMH 2 over a Beach Boys album and I mean that in similarities rather than quality at this early stage. 

There also was no indication that Brian was down for a reunion the first time around. All of this could easily be a set up for a new Beach Boys album.

Ok then. We'll see I guess.

If so, then the last year or so has been the best trolling by anybody, ever.

The only real difference in that would be having Mike and Bruce's voices on that album.

Which would be fantastic!

Or posting 'smartass' comments on a message board.

I forget who, might've been Al or Mike who said in an interview "the promoters told us to wait a bit to do another tour / release another album.. to build anticipation"... anyone recall this quote / interview?

Who knows for sure. But they definitely know how to mess with us. I'm hopeful.

Mike.

Al was ready to go!

Actually 'Mess With Us' would make a pretty good album title. Mike liking his double meanings and all! :lol

I know, right?

Now I seriously need to clarify that my comment on the video clip was directed towards that one particular performance , not in general. Lord knows I have videos up where I certainly wasn't in best voice 8)

Matt Jardine said, "I spent the last three days putting down lead and backing guide vocals on 8-9 tunes." He also said, "They're fleshing out new tunes."

Now, maybe Mike Love is full of crap, I don't know. But, he seems pretty adamant that for a new Beach Boys' album to happen, he wants to collaborate with his cousin Brian on those 8-9 new tunes. Wouldn't calling Mike (and Bruce) in later to put down their vocals - on ALREADY written songs - be exactly what Mike Love DOESN'T want. Wasn't that his major complaint with TWGMTR? Unless you are saying that Brain and Mike had secret writing sessions in composing the aforementioned 8-9 new tracks...

Good point. But I think that would be the scenario that I would enjoy the most.

My least favorite moments of TWGMTR were usually the bits that Mike seems to have been responsible for writing. But, his voice sounds great in the harmony blend. The moment at the of From There and Back Again when he starts the "bababa" line is perfect, in part due to his voice. Same goes for Bruce's singing.

To me, the situation you mentioned Mike not being part of would be best. There's probably no way that Mike will be around for this record though  :(

Great to hear from you Matt! :). And it's proves again that BRI and family members look at this board every so often.  And reinforces the need to be respectful when expressing an opinion.

Regarding falsetto, I always liked Jeff's but since Matt started touring with the band back in the day I've preferred his.  

I feel the same way. However, I think that had Mike and Brian been able to write together the quality of his lyrics would've improved. He was handed basically finished backing tracks and told to write lyrics for them - very inspiring. It's unreal that, arguably, two of the greatest songwriters of the 60s (who are in the same band, no less) couldn't even write one damn song together for an album.

If Mike and Brian were to get together for a day, listen to the Four Freshmen and Phil Specter for a few hours, and start jamming on the piano, I bet they could come up with a couple great tunes.

That being said, I'm glad Brian is doing his own thing. Not everything he does needs a Beach Boys label on it.

Maybe Mike just reflects whatever the music is like. On Today! his lyrics are perfect for the music, and that is usually the case when he adds lyrics after Brian starts a song. So maybe the circumstances just haven't really been right since Brian started collaborating with people other than Mike.

Thanks for dropping by Matt!  I am very happy that you are involved and would have loved to be a fly on the wall for those studio sessions.  I hope much of your contributions make the final product.  At the 7 seven live shows I have attended that you performed on, your vocals have been a highlight for sure.  Love your voice!  I'm getting excited for this album, whatever it is!  At any rate it is a real pleasure to have an insider and Beach Boy family member stop by!  Don't be a stranger.

Every word in that post made me Smile!!!

Matt is a true talent AND a class act!

Like who? Bob Norberg? Gary Usher? Roger Christian?

<<It's unreal that, arguably, two of the greatest songwriters of the 60s (who are in the same band, no less) couldn't even write one damn song together for an album.>>

Well, they did write "Beaches In Mind" from scratch, with Joe Thomas of course. And "Isn't It Time" was just a rhythm track with no melody or lyrics until Brian and Mike and Joe started working on it toghether.

But yeah, I agree with your point.

Didn't Brian give Mike the title "Beaches in Mind" to work from? Not exactly an ideal slate for masterpiece making.

But its Mike doing his thing..... ;D

Thanks Matt, a classy guy.  I suppose we should just ask you, Matt, if we may, and if it is something possible or viable to discuss: what are the chances (and is there any movement toward it) that your Dad and Brian (with Dave involved) are asking Mike and Bruce to come in and "make this a BB record"? I sense that your Dad wants this in his heart. Or , of course, if this one is not "the new BB record," will the next one be?

On this list, our love for the group and our hopes for as much unity and reunion as possible often sets our minds and hearts aflame with confusion, speculation, dread, and anticipation, usually with little to go on. We love your dad so much.
congratulations of your work and thank you for all you do to ensure the BB legacy.

The Professor

At this point in time, this sounds like a GIOMH type album (with guest cameos). Matt describes them as "catchy songs". What I'm interested in seeing is the "Rock & Roll Spectorish" album he's been promising for years. Hopefully he's in the studio now with enough material for at least two albums.

I am excited for the album without M&B. Their voices will be missed but Brian is better without them bringing their "fun in the sun" baggage.

Real question -- why would Matt be cutting "guide vocals" when Brian and Blondie (and Scott) are in the studio? All of them can lay down final tracks. So who are those vocals meant to guide, exactly?

I don't necessarily believe it, but the sense that another BB record might be in the works is growing ...

It's probably easier for them to learn. They can rehearse and use the guides as a reference point. Joe Thomas said that Jeff Foskett laid down guide vocals for all the BBs on much of TWGMTR in 2012.

I sang guide vocals on some tunes. Other tunes had no vocals & we put down harmonies to add meat to the song along with a scratch lead vocal so Brian & Joe can listen to it.  Building as they go but changes will be made as the songs evolve. Some tunes were in demo form still ( now with very nice harmony bg parts) & others were in a more finished state. Always fun to work with Brian in the studio & he was enjoying the hang time while work was in progress. Blondie, who remembers me from when I was 5, was a pleasure to work & sing with & has such an incredible voice. I hope the tunes with his lead vocals makes the album. So so cool & so Blondie. Awesome vibe! Very productive & very intense 3 days of studio time.

Jeff isn't available-----that's odd.
Isn't he the only "Brian Wilson Band" member on retainer?

 :police:

Amazing stuff. Thanks for dropping by, Matt. Can't wait to hear the songs.

Thanks Matt.

RickB

Hey, I gotta say I'm super stoked that Matt Jardine has been working with Brian.

I mean how could you not respect a guy who had the guts to wear a tucked in neon tank-top while also wearing Zubaz pants? Or the tucked in Hawaiian shirt/jean shorts combo? Stylish. Not to mention the sweet ponytail and the fact that he was knockin' some bongos around. Gutsy.

Nah, but seriously, really good vocalist. And I really wouldn't mind hearing his falsetto instead of Jeff's on some of the album (unless of course Brian himself does them himself).

But most seriously, I'm glad to see that Blondie seems to really be playing a part in Brian's new album. So cool to see. Who would've imagined even a year ago that Blondie Chaplin (!) would be back in the studio working with Brian on what seems to be a few cool tunes.

Whatever the album ends up being though, I just hope it's not disjointed and all over the place. Personally I think it would be really smart to center it around Brian, Al and Blondie's vocals. Vocally I think those should be the only people on leads. Obviously Brian will get most, as it's his album, but I think it would be cool if Al got like 3 or 4 and if Blondie got 2 or 3. I guess we'll see though.

Thanks for posting, Matt.  Looking forward to hearing your contributions.

Matt, thanks for taking the time to post - always appreciated; can't wait to hear the goods!

Yeah, thanks Matt for the infos! This project gets more and more interesting to me.

Matt, I hope a good amount of your work is left intact… your voice has been missed recently…

Thank you for the insights, Mr. Jardine. And I like your falsetto. :)



And it turned out to be the IMHO second best song on the album! The most catchy one anyway.



So were Mike's vocals, IMHO his best vocals since "Holland".



I could very well imagine myself spending my life performing covers of Christian Love's and Matt Jardine's fathers' hits, but I don't think my voice is good enough for that.

No idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sps6w-VcyYE

 ;)