The Smiley Smile Message Board

Discussion and review of Phillip Lambert's Inside the Music of Brian Wilson

I really enjoyed this book.  It takes an in depth look at BW's music, focusing mostly 1961-1967.  It contains song by song breakdowns sorted by recording date of everything through the SMiLE sessions and then gives more of a general overview of the post-SMiLE through WIRWFC, with a few songs highlighted like 'Till I Die and Marcella.  The book is full of tables and charts that serve as timelines and are used to breakdown and compare certain material (my personal favorite was the table that has the lyrics to Surf's Up line by line with columns containing VDP's interpretation, BW's interpertation and the author's interpretation).  In the back there are a ton off different tables and charts giving you pretty much every detail of anything Brian was ever involved in the studio.

While this probably isn't something you would want to read cover to cover, it is a great reference material and also really made me look at some of my favorite works in a new light.  The only problem I had with the book is that it is very music theory heavy.  I took about a decade's worth of classical piano and guitar lessons so I am pretty proficient but some of it was a bit over my head, which can make for a really dry read sometimes. 

Overall though I thought it was great and would recommend it to any fan because it will definitely give some new insights.

Totally agree with you, Hart.

I liked it. But what I didn't like was how dry the theoretical presentation was. What I mean is, the musical breakdowns were more quantitative than qualitative. Lambert lays out chord progressions, and sometimes compares the chord progressions of Song A to Song B. But he doesn't get into those chord progressions in the way I'd like; in the way that a good music appreciation or music history course does. But I do like that he's at least musically knowledgeable, as opposed to something like Gaines' book of musical illiteracy.

Easy: a 5 out of 5. It is meant to educate a readership with basic knowledge of chord structures but does not aim to address the specialists who read music a prima vista and that suits me just fine. And the number of songs treated is very generous.
For me he found the best balance possible.

I just like it for all the charts, diagrams, and such spread throughout the book. The parts where Lambert talks about music theory I usually skip over when reading, way too technical for this non-musician. I do like that he gives the SOT boots a mention or two.

I agree. I'd go even so far as to say that if you're a bit skint and still a huge fan, the Ames Carlin and the Lambert books together will do nicely.

He has a good grasp of Brian's talent, but too much is taken from the Todd Gold and Badman books leading to false info. Also don't think Brian's post 66 work should be so briefly covered. To me a serious study of his music needs to be either balanced evenly through the years, or have a strict cut off date not covering anything after that. I think some of Brian's best stuff came in the late sixties/early seventies so Surfin Safari having more pages then Surf's Up kind of grates on me. I am not a musician so much of the technical talk kind of bores me.

OK now to the good parts. He does well when he talks about the quality of a given song and the way they evolve from each other. The lists are interesting to read, and he really gives Brian the kind of praise he is worthy of. All in all it's quite academic but I think it will give you a new perspective on some of the songs.

How limited is the later stuff?

Two brief chapters cover 67-05. I like the early stuff as much as anyone but some of Brian's best work came after Smile.

Agreed...for me that was the only downside to what is otherwise a wonderful and interesting book.  It brought to light many connections and compositional tools that Brian used over the years in his own work, which was really fascinating.  I love "music geek" stuff, so I loved the chord analysis for nearly every song (up till '67 at least). 

Overall, probably my favorite Beach Boys related book.

I truly enjoy this book but sometimes have to skip over some material because of what many people have said: the music theory info. I'm not too good in that department so when I read that kind of stuff, it doesn't make any sense to me...but it's a great read for us BB/BW geeks.

I bought it a few months ago. My copy is nearly worn out in the Pet Sounds/SMiLE section. I have a permanent bookmark on the page that talks about 'Wonderful'.

It's a no-nonsense book - and that's why I read it constantly.

Nice Burbs reference on your signature.

haha thanks! I was wondering if anyone would get it. Such a great movie.

"I've never seen that. I've never seen anybody drive their garbage down to the street and bang the hell out of it with a stick."  :lol

That quote you just typed is one of my favorite things to quote out of nowhere

 :lol That made me laugh out loud.

That's a sh*t store anyway.

I just recently bought the Keith Badman Beach Boys book, and the guy at the shop threw this one in for free!

Sounds like the guy at the shop had things backward. Or you did.

Consider yourself lucky! At Amazon US it's going for $65 new!

Ha!  I'm aware of the issues with the Badman book.  I wanted to get myself a copy as it has some pretty great pics and info.  I know some of it might be wrong, but it is what it is.  And I think I got a pretty good deal with the two!

Exactly. Where else can you read about the likes of "Side Two"?

Funnily, he comes at "The Shift" from the opposite angle to me. I say it shifts up, he says it shifts down (p. 46).