Besides writing Big Sur (my favorite being the landlocked version) he also helped Paul McCartney out with some of the memorable lines on Back In The U.S.S.R., some of those lyrics are classic Mike!

I have to admit I was not so much skeptical about the material on this new album but I wasn't expecting it to be as  amazing as it is. Tracks 9-12 really is beautiful work.  Not sure if they're going to release any more albums but this makes for a great swansong.

If You've Got Trouble.

Agreed, when Ringo pleads "Rock on, anybody" you know it's a dud!

Check out the "new album"-thread. There's an interview posted today in which Al mentions that Carl's vcals from the song "Waves of love" from the aborted '95 album will be used

Sounds great Rocker, thanks, anything with Carl's angelic voice on the new album would be a worthy addition.

Does anyone know of the possibility of Dennis and Carl being present on the new album? Are there any unfinished works in the vaults of their vocals that perhaps could be added to the new material? What would you think of that idea? It worked for the Beatles with FAAB and Real Love, maybe our boys can do the same. 

Settle Down
Telephone Backgrounds On A Clear Day
Wouldn't It Be Nice To Live Again

Never heard of the first two, what year are they from and who wrote them? I would give my left nut to hear WIBNTLA, I've heard nothing but glowing reviews for it, It's from the Surfs Up era is it not?

Thanks Rocker, It would've been great to have attended any of those shows. Getting to see Carl performing his signature God Only Knows for the last time would have been bittersweet.

Does anyone know if there are audio clips or videos available (YouTube or otherwise) of Carl's last ever live shows?

California Slide 

I wonder if Jack Reiley ever won that Pulitzer Prize?

Thank you Sir...now I wonder what ever happened to that Manson fellow that Dennis hung out with? 

What are Stan and Steve Love doing these days? What's Rocky Pamplin up to? How's Marilyn, is she remarried? Feel free to discuss the whereabouts of any major or minor players in The Beach Boys camp.

Really great interview

It really is, I think Mike is ecstatic to be reunited with his cousin and Al and that the lawsuits are a thing of the past.

This is on three threads now.

Whoopsi 

The New York Times interviews Brian and Mike

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/a-few-words-with-the-beach-boys/

The 60's and 70's are all about the political landscape being shaped by music.  Anti-war, pro-evironment, race relations, equal rights

One of my favorite Beatles songs Blackbird is about the civil rights movement.

Everybody Wants To Live

U2
Nickelback
Guns N Roses
Red Hot Chili Peppers

It's amazing when you play Sunflower and Surfs Up one after the other how different they are in overall mood. I think another very personal song by Brian would be Let's Put Our Hearts Together, like Peter Buck said "It's so personal it's almost to hard to listen to."

What do you think is Brian Wilson's single most personal song either with The Beach Boys or as a solo artist?

My vote goes to Til I Die, one of the most deeply personal songs ever. Brian wrote the lyrics as well as the music which makes it all the more poignant and moving considering his state of mind at the time, kind of a musical suicide note. His lyrics like "I'm a cork on the ocean and I'm a leaf on a windy day" are very effective metaphors that reflect a vulnerable, fragile man. Also the chord patterns and keyboard work sound like you're being caught up in the ocean's undertows, just an incredible work of art.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=N4FB25h6B9Y&feature=endscreen

There's no better Macca records than RAM and McCartney II IMHO.

Agreed, though I rate Back to the Egg and Chaos & Creation pretty close to those two.

BTTE would be my favorite WINGS album, hands down better than even BOTR.

There's no better Macca records than RAM and McCartney II IMHO.

Stereolab

I'd list Stereolab as one of my favorites as well as

The Beatles
The Who
Beck
Pavement
Sonic Youth
Fiery Furnaces
Velvet Underground

Has anyone mentioned Matthew Sweet?

I think Matthew Sweet and other power pop type performers were heavily influenced by the Beach Boys. Bands like Big Star, The Who, Cheap Trick and Todd Rundgren I'm sure were fans of Brian.