One other rule: they tour to promote it.

So, no tour - no album?

No thanks.  To me, what really counts is the recorded album. I've never understood how so many of my fellow BB fans here consider touring so sacred and essential.  I've love to see a tour come from such an album, but if it's too logistically problematic, or unpopular amongst the participants, or would preclude recording the album-- I say screw the tour.  Reunion doesn't necessarily need to include touring.  I can't be the only one here who sees it this way.

Glad you guys were able to check out the article --- I had fun talking with Brian --- I think we will post the audio from the interview soon. 

Can't wait!  (Can't wait for the new album, either!)

I haven't listened to NPP or any song on it since about June, and that's possibly due to fatigue.  So many months spent in anticipation, reading every snippet of news I could find about the album, listening and re-listening to every crappy 30 second iTunes sample sample, scrubbing through hours of BBC radio archives to listen to Sail Away.  Then it's finally released and I play it non-stop for a month.  Yeah, it might be fatigue.

Here's what's funny, though.  I'm watching TV news with my 10 year old son just yesterday, and somebody says the word "unconditional."  The boy immediately starts crooning, "There's only one kind of love, the kind that I've been dreaming of..."

That's staying power.

So no digital release?  If no, why?

The Explorers Club apes Brian and the Pet Sounds sound better than anybody out there.  Technique, instrumentation, production, harmonies-- it's all there.  In fact, I often mix their Freedom Wind album into my Pet Sounds era playlists.  I can't wait for their new album.

EDIT: Now that I've read the interview, I'm stoked that Darian and Probyn contributed to the new album in some capacity!  Too bad Brewer couldn't get the man himself to at least add background vox. 

Ok, I just listened to the live version, and y'all are right-- it is excellent.  Still absolutely detest the studio cut, though.  I can't think (off the top of my head) of any other song whose live/studio versions are so polarizing for me.

Seriously, I guess I'm busting the chops of the authors and subjects of these articles too much. They're being published, I'm not, so what do I know?

Meh, I'm published a few times a month (non Beach Boys related pieces) and I completely agree with your criticism.  Lazy writers.

They say first impressions are lasting.  I heard this track for the first time in Siberia in the mid-90's.  I had purchased a "Best Of" CD from an open air market.  The CD was consumer-burned and the liner a color copy.  It contained the classics-- most of which I was familiar with and loved.  Hearing them again brought me much joy in that dark, cold land.  Then, abruptly it transitioned from Wouldn't It Be Nice to Lady Lynda.  Not being familiar with their later material (and thus not appreciating their musical evolution), the transition was jarring.  I hated Lady Lynda.  And try as I may to let it grow on me, it never has.

Bonnie, I've been a casual fan all my life, but only a fanatic since about 2012.  Let me take a crack at some of these.

1)  Why does Don't Worry Baby sound so freaking good with earphones on?

--I find that this particular song sounds great over lo-fi loud speakers at stores (Wal-Mart, the Ikea parking lot, etc.).  In fact, oddly, that's probably my favorite way to hear it.  

2)  Surf's Up can provoke some pretty dark stuff sometimes, and I say that from a relatively happy head.  Anyone else have that trouble?

--I thought that way about most of their early 70's catalog, even before I knew Brian's history.  I still don't care for much of their material post Wild Honey, but Surf's Up is one of my favorite BB songs (probably in some part because it is anachronistic on that album)

3)  Does every true BB fan hate Barbara Ann, and three quarters hate Help Me Rhonda?

--I'm partial to both.  I will say that my impressions, having followed this forum religiously since 2012, is that most posters here prefer the later, darker material.  The surf/car tracks garner a lot of scorn.  Only on this forum can you find multitudes of posters that prefer stuff like "Love You" and Carl's solo albums over Pet Sounds and its progenitors.  

4) How come I could remember long verses of lyrics from Pet Sounds, after hearing some songs only one time?

--Could have something to do with the lack of filler material and flawless production.  I personally think Pet Sounds/Good Vibrations -- not Smile-- was Brian's musical destination.  It was the culmination of a lifetime of music in his head.  It was his masterpiece.  Some would strongly argue that Pet Sounds was only a lead-in to Brian's true apex, Smile.  I'm as obsessed with Smile as the next fan, in the grand scheme of Brian's musical evolution, Smile is the fried egg added to an already perfect burger.  Pet Sounds is THE album.

5)  Why (oh why) did TBB release the Christmas Album?

--The Christmas Album is my 3rd favorite BB album.  I especially love the pairing of traditional Christmas songs with BB vocals and harmonies in their absolute prime.

6)  Does anyone else get all danged-up and emotional hearing Brian sing?

--Always.  So much that I want every person in the world to hear it.

Yes, they brought back the original shirt in 2002, but it was limited.  I've checked Pendleton's website on and off over the years and have never seen it available.  So unless you go second-hand through ebay or Amazon for one purchased during that limited release, you can't get your hands on the actual BB design.  Pendleton shirts are crazy expensive.  I'd never pay that much for one of their current designs, but I'd probably pay double for one in the original Beach Boys design.

The Spanish iTunes?  Any word on when Americans can buy this track?

It blows my mind that a thread on top quality BB songs after Holland has actually extended more than one page.

A couple of other things .... When Brian and Melinda are in the Cadillac and close the door that SOUND is incredible. It really sounds like they are in a car and just closed the doors. Not just the background music Kenny g being cut off, the dialog between the two is louder and totally different as it would be in a closed space. That is GREAT attention to detail. There is also engine noise from the plane when Brian has his attack. Almost every scene in a plane from every movie there is...they leave out the engine noise. Really great attention to detail all over this film.

Another example is the cinematography in the opening montage of the BBs career up to Pet Sounds.  I'm a hobbyist filmmaker and the attention to detail there blows my mind.  The film effects change as the years are portrayed.  Those sequences truly look like they were filmed in the early 60's with vintage equipment. 

Question: I'm sure I'll get flamed for not seeing this on page 45 of some 300 page thread, but did they film the recording scenes in the actual studios where Pet Sounds/GV/Smile were recorded, or were those sets?  If the latter, can anybody comment on the historical accuracy of the rooms/layouts?

I don't think I would be as bugged if I hadn't read for months about how awesome Dano's voice was and how thrilled the crew was to discover that he was a 'musician.'  "He starts singing and we subtly fly Brian's voice in, and it's freaking spectacular!!!" (Paraphrasing.)

Nah.  Actually not.  I would have preferred either a quicker transition or a full-on lip sync.

I rented the DVD from Red Box last night.  Wife fell dozed off several times and lamented the fact that I paid $1.60 to rent it.  I really loved the attention to detail, the cinematography, and of course the soundtrack. 

The one thing that bugged me was Dano's singing.  Not a horrible singer, but he quite clearly has a different vocal range than Brian did.  He's clearly uncomfortable trying to hit some of those notes.  The transitions to real Brian are good, but I think they should have occurred earlier for each piece.  The missus, who isn't even a casual Beach Boys fan, was quick to point out the discrepancy between Dano's singing voice and Brian's. 

I bought this album just for the hidden stack o' Brians, which is awesome.  I found the album itself an excruciating listen.

What would happen if...



you used a less obscure thread title?

 

Smiley Smile is king of obscure thread titles. "John Stamos Accused," anybody?

I would eventually convince myself that the stuff was good, and be one of those annoying superfans who can't have a conversation about the band with a normal person because you've abandoned all critical discrimination.

Do these people actually exist, though, in BB fandom?  From what I've seen on forums, folk seem to have a pretty clear-headed view of the later years, accepting that there's a long, slow decline, but some worthwhile tunes to be found here and there.

Yeah, I'm not so sure about that, Fire Wind.  I lurked here for several years before joining and chiming in, and it was pretty clear to me that the Boys' later output is king here.  As for that output, I've tried countless times to appreciate (and sometimes even make it through a full listen) to their later material.  Holland is the last album I can stand listening to-- and even that one makes me cringe.  At this point I feel it safe to pronounce that I will never, ever, ever grow to like Love You.  

All this said, there are some parts on Still Cruisin' that blow me away, such as Carl's parts on Somewhere Near Japan and the intro to Island Girls.  So yes, I'm pretty open-minded.  I've honestly tried to like their later stuff, but it hasn't happened yet.

They're good for what they are.

Frisbees?

I think 'suck' may be a bit too strong...

Depends on how you define not sucking, I guess.  Compare Good Vibrations and Surf's Up to say,  What You Gonna Do Bout Me and The Grammy.  Tough for me not to use the word 'sucks' in that context.  Totally agree with the rest of your comments, though.

He's sometimes on, sometimes off.  Oddly, he sounds the most Brian-esque on his solo and non-Beach Boys material.  He sounds the least Brian-esque on TWGMTR, unfortunately.  But check out his "Through My Window."  To me he sounds very Brian-esque in that track.

It must be, because listening to albums on YouTube is such a sonic pleasure  

 

I listened to both albums on YouTube last night.  Definitely not the best medium for any first listen.  And I'm sorry, but aside from a nice measure here and there, I thought both sucked.  It pains me to say that, being that Carl's is my favorite BB voice, but on his solo stuff he sounds like a cheap Peter Cetera imitation.  Not sure a Hi Fi listen will change that opinion.

From the 'corrected' liners:

On his two solo albums – Carl Wilson in 1981 and Youngblood in 1983 – Carl returned to his R&B roots. “I didn’t want to compromise and make my solo stuff sound like the Beach Boys,” he commented at the time...

Unfortunate.  Beach Boys Carl is a delight-- every track, every note.  Non-Beach Boys Carl sounds like he's aping Peter Cetera.  Listening to Carl avoid sounding like The Beach Boys is like watching Michael Jordan play baseball.  Underwhelming at best.

I have never heard Carl's solo albums, so I will definitely be very grateful for this release.

I'm still in discovery mode on some of the rarer Beach Boys material and much of the solo stuff from everybody but Brian.  I'm cautiously excited about listening to the Carl album for the first time.  If it's anything like the Like a Brother album, it'll be really anti-climactic for me.  I do plan to Youtube it, as soon as I'm finished tempering my expectations...

Is there really no way to purchase this album digitally?  I'm dying to hear these old tracks in decent (non-YouTube quality) in the car, and I might have to install a tape deck to do it. Can somebody please explain to me why something physically out of print must also be completely unavailable online?  Like it costs Capitol anything to sell it to me on iTunes.