I don't like Bruce as a lead singer, but as a harmony singer he has always been awesome, and still is. He is in good company too. To name just one, the great William Langford,  who was the falsetto tenor in the original Golden Gate Quartet and was (IMHO) the best harmony singer ever, took few leads and none of them memorable, just like Bruce's.

It's boring to read dumb pointless theories "If Brian/ Al/  wrote "Pisces Brothers"/ "Kokomo" people would praise it" as if there's some validity in there. It's pretty big "IF". Brian's style is different than Mike's, ditto Mike's style different than Brian's.

Right! Starting from a blatantly false "IF" you could "prove" anything you want. It's not only common sense, it's a basic theorem of logic.

There is no giant worldwide conspiracy against Mike. The problem is that his worst enemies are:
1) Himself.
2) His fans.

But the thing with Joe Thomas is that he actually gets stuff made, done, and out there released for people to buy.

That to me has always been his best attribute, as both a producer and apparently a business guy (on C50 anyway). He has gotten multiple Brian albums out, and in 2012 got a studio album, a tour, a live CD, a DVD/Blu-ray documentary, and a live DVD/Blu-ray all out within the span of about 8 months.

Meanwhile, the Paley sessions have languished in the vaults for two decades, with Brian occasionally rifling through the material to pad out new projects.

I think a 1995 Beach Boys album based on those Paley sessions would have been great, and a BW or BB album based on that would have been preferable to "Imagination."

But Thomas being a sympathetic ear for Brian in the studio and being able to push projects to fruition is an important aspect.

I always got the sense that Thomas seems like a nice guy, and has a *personality* that Brian has liked in the studio more than not, and I appreciate (even if it went down the path of overly-slick AC sound) that Thomas has mentioned in interviews that he doesn't act like a fawning superfan around Brian.

There are a dozen other producers and scenarios I'd prefer for Brian over Joe Thomas, but he has jump-started some of the most important and enjoyable things of the last couple decades in the BB universe (C50 wouldn't have happened without Thomas, and one could argue his '98 work with Brian is what allowed Brian's touring to take off in 1999).

Ideally, Thomas would continue in more of a business capacity with Brian the way he did on C50, while allowing Brian to do some stripped-down stuff on his own.

I'd love for Brian to work with Jeff Lynne. But better yet, an album of just Brian and a piano. Done. Record a few dozen songs, stitch it all together, and it could be amazing.

O yes, just Brian and a piano. I think we'd get about a third very forgettable things and a third so-so but pleasant pieces. But the other third would be mind-blowing.

Hear the title track here: https://soundcloud.com/theendrecords/mike-love-unleash-the-love/s-t7WXN

OMGG. Beyond awful, and this has nothing to do with the history and politics of the Beach Boys, or me being a "Brianista". And what's the matter with Mike's voice? Is that the effect of some tons of autotune, or what?
Thanks for the link, however.

Good if it gives Brian a reason to release a new album.

Posted to Mike's facebook page this morning:

Welcome home Bruce!! It was wonderful having Bruce back home onstage with us in Sacramento!! Bruce was in well voice and form!! We missed you and happy to have you back!!
Rock on Bruce!!
Peace n Love,
Mike Love

Thanks for this excellent news!

Oh my. I've just listened to RJR on the headphones for the first time (and second, and third...). I had to get up and dance to the music. It's AMAZING!
And RangeRover, thanks for making me notice the tambourine "carpet".

Look, the sooner we all come to terms with the fact that Smiley Smile is one of the greatest albums ever, and that the Smiley Smile version of Wind Chimes is perhaps the greatest thing ever commited to tape in the known universe,  then the sooner this board can return to some semblance of normality.

I agree again!

Wonderful [Smiley Smile Ver.]

  I could easily put it in my "Best of the Beach Boys" 12 track compilation

I agree!

Well, that's a tasteless title.

Yeah, and extremely so (the Rolling Stone article's title, of course).

Respectfully, and as much as I love Al's voice, don't agree with those who think that an Al lead would have been better here.
Al's pure, youthful voice is perfect, for example, for a song like "The Right Time", but imho Brian's gruffer, weathered delivery works very well in RJR.
I also like the contrast between the lead and the "ethereal" harmonies.

The song could have been 25% better with Mark McGrath randomly grunting and yelling "Run! Run!".

AAARGH!

Use this service:

http://9soundclouddownloader.com/

enter https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/342303408%3Fsecret_token%3Ds-bbxLr&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=

Then download

Thanks a million Reggie! This worked the magic for me!
What can I say? My faith in this tune was not squandered. Will need more listens, but at the moment it's one if my favourites in Brian's whole solo career. AND one who maybe would not sound out of place in "Love You".
Several people nailed it: "refreshing". Oh, for a whole R&R album made this way.

P.S.
And yes, it's a real pity that for the all too known reasons we can't hear Mike's stellar bass voice on this (I SO hear him around 1'45''). Sigh.

I love good music regardless of genre, but let me say this: no musician/group I know in any time and place has the diversity and sweep of the Beach Boys, and no music gives me more emotions.

I hope it's nothing serious and Bruce is soon back with his favourite Mikes.

I always knew RJR was going to be good...

1) Do It Again. I love any clip of it, as it's such an exhilarating song in any live setting. My favourite is the 1995 one with Brian, Carnie and Wendy.
2) Good Vibrations (studio footage)
3) Time To Get Alone (sessions 1968).
4) Sloop John B (promo film).
5) In My Room (1964).
Not  listed: Forever, Central Park 1971.

I'm no great fan of the Paley sessions, so didn't expect much from this tune, and didn't get much. It seems all so strangely un-Brian to me. I'd bet that "Run James Run" will prove much better.

P.S.
After some listens I think "Some Sweet Day" has potential after all, but would need a total re-recording with Brian's current voice, layered vocal harmonies and a completely different arrangement.

Most of my friends know how much I love the beach boys, so they are used to listening to Love You at my place. And luckily people seem to like it a lot too. The album is funny (johhny carson, solar system) and poignant (the night was so young) and it anticipates a lot of stuff musically. Also, there's that beautiful Patti Smith piece about it. In my opinion, it is the last of their great albums.

Smiley smile is another one of our favorites here. Love the lo-fi laid-back trippy psychedelicate intensely melodic feeling.

And, yes, also a great fan of the unreleased Adult Child - I'm with thorgil, who said he likes "left-field" Brian.

So, I don't know which albums are the most divisive, but I just don't listen to a lot of their post-77 music.

Do you know jiggy's fantastic work?
http://jiggy22.blogspot.it/2016/06/the-beach-boys-adultchild-alternate.html

Only in your world, which seems to be dominated by a neverending stream of perceived Mike Love trigger moments

You'd be better off if you got used to it instead of getting your panties in a bunch because there's more coming your way, bub.
Question for you, who's putting the gun to your head making you read my posts? Huh?  

It's in the natural flow for people to read all posts in a thread, you're part of a community here and to expect your comments to just be skipped over by some is dichotomous to that. It is unrealistic to expect anyone with an opinion or reaction to sublimate it 100% of the time, and also defeats the whole idea of group conversation to ask that of anyone. Completely narcissistic and possibly sociopathic. Just sayin'....

"Sociopathic" is over the top.

Maybe, but I said "possibly."  And it's partially a cumulative reaction to many years of reading his posts. How long have you been reading them?

Quite long, lol. Usually I find them funny. But then I'm probably biased - see my signature.

I love both Smiley Smile and Love You. Also love the unreleased Adult Child. But then, I always preferred "left-field" Brian, and wish there were so much more of that.

Deleted.

Deleted.

I confess that I like Chuck Norris jokes. This is my fav one because I find it strangely poetic:
"If the Tooth Fairy loses a tooth, she puts it under her pillow and waits for Chuck Norris to come."