I have often said and still believe it isn't useful from any conceivable artistic perspective for a reunion anyway (while admitting it may be somehow beneficial to them personally), so I don't care if comments like this hurt the chances for that. But public insults--regardless of which side is doing the insulting--are just classless. It's one thing for nobodies like us to rant on message boards (although that's pretty sad, too, actually) but for public figures to disparage one another through the media is more than a little repulsive to me.

Oh, and it is possible to like both. That seems like a concept way too advanced for him.

And yet a concept that seems to escape people around here all too often, too, as if liking something that isn't related to the BBs or BW somehow invalidates your love or appreciation for them. You wouldn't think it would be such a tough thing to grasp, but it sure seems to be.

Am I the only one who thinks Aeroplane Over the Sea is an overrated collection of garbage?

No, both you and Luther are the only ones who think that.

Actually I love it, believing its among the best five albums of all time. I was just answering his question.

No.

Has anyone heard Neil Diamond's new Rick Rubin-produced album?.... Kind of reminded me of Don Was's treatment of Brian's stuff on IJWMDTT.

I haven't, but interestingly, both albums include keyboardist Benmont Tench.

I almost forgot that I had vowed I'd record a song over this four-day weekend. So this morning when I remembered, and when a fragment popped into my head, I got my little butt to work. The result is this demo, "Good Situation." Enjoy. Or hate. Or feel ambivalent about. Here it is: http://www.sendspace.com/file/u3w8uj

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Si8PYpfG2-M

Brian singing Wouldn't it Be Nice from 1989. Never heard him on lead for this song during this period (unless I'm not looking hard enough. It was usually Carl at this time right?)

I wonder if there is a pre-recorded track including a pre-recorded Brian vocal, because he sure doesn't seem to be singing live (yet some of the others do seem to be live). Note the way he keeps turning his head away from the mic.

I wonder what he'd think of Neutral Milk Hotel's In The Aeroplane Over The Sea.

My guess--and obviously it's just a guess--is that he wouldn't like it. Over the years in various interviews he's talked about not liking things purely based on the singer's voice. And while I think Mangum's voice is really touching, it's not good in the sense that Brian Wilson seems to like singing. I really believe that on the whole, he'd rather hear an album of any words whatsoever--or none at all--being sung well in harmony than something really creative and personal but not necessarily sung well. But Mangum certainly does like BW.

You guys amaze me. See: I never 'got' Genesis, nor Queen. I didn't even 'get' the Beatles either. I had Sgt. Pepper for a couple of years on vinyl and then sold it. People sent me CDRs of 'Revolver' and 'Rubber Soul'. I didn't even get to the end of those records. I don't care for the White Album at all. I must miss a few genes here, I'm afraid, since many people like artists in 'clusters'. The Beach Boys affiliations I really love are Phil Spector (of course) and Van Dyke Parks.
As for the rest: John Fahey (adore him); Augustus Pablo; Lee Perry; King Tubby; Ry Cooder; Toumani Diabaté; Orchestre Baobab; Lambchop; Massive Attack; Lucinda Williams; Flaming Lips; Mercury Rev, and many others who I can't name for lack of time.
Now: flame away...

What's to flame? I don't see why liking the Beach Boys has anything to do with Genesis, for f***'s sake. Jesus, I hate Genesis. I love Queen, but it has nothing to do with the Beach Boys. (Yes, both have vocal harmonies. Yes, they both covered "I Can Hear Music." But generally their music, including vocal harmony styles, have nothing to do with one another.) Beatles are obviously linked due to the mid-60s "competition" stuff being public. But it's all irrelevant. Like what you like and never apologize.

as for those who'd rather discuss food with him - i don't believe you.  what a gigantic waste of your time that would be.  and imagine the thumping you'd get from people.  'you had a couple of hours with brian wilson, and you talked about scallops?  what?' 

Believe it. Not scallops though if I can help it, i'd like to see what he thinks of Portuguese custard tarts and see if he wants to try some nice British cuisine - this is assuming we're in a British restaurant of course. Otherwise Brian will have to invite me to his regular restaurant to see what I think of his favourite dishes, I like (among other things) Steak, Burgers, Chips (french fries), Lasagne, Fajitas, Stir Fry, All day Breakfast, Escalopes, Jacket Potatoes, Omelettes, Pizzas, KFC, Corn on the cob, Chicken, Waffles, Pancakes, Birthday cake, Tea, Oxo, Cup-a-soup, Spag Bol, Chocolate (especially Belgian and Swiss) and biscuits. So if Brian is reading this then any of the above will do, but i'm really open to anything.

2nded. In fact, the few times I joined in on the blueboard chats with "Brian," food is pretty much all I ever did discuss. And for what it's worth, "he" always responded. 

Maybe.

as for those who'd rather discuss food with him - i don't believe you.  what a gigantic waste of your time that would be.  and imagine the thumping you'd get from people.  'you had a couple of hours with brian wilson, and you talked about scallops?  what?'  (unless it's a deliberate comic self-stitch, of course.  like getting an audience with nelson mandela and asking him what his favourite number is.)

You're right. I'd actually tie him to a spare bed in my house, break his legs and force him to go through all his albums, dissecting every note. Then (after re-breakings of his legs at the necessary intervals) we'd begin going through every album whose creator had either mentioned or been critically linked to BW. And then we'd go back to his influences. If I suspected he wasn't listening, I'd slap him across the face a few times. Tired? Smelling salts and speed. Brian, we are GOING to talk about this, damnit. It interests me and it's in your field of expertise. You OWE me, motherfucker. I bought your albums. [Breaks an ankle again for good measure.] That's a good use of both our time.

He could win by doing something good, be it new or old.

Brian would hate Music Tapes, too. Julian Koster would get a punch in the face. (Sometimes he needs one anyway: a Christmas album on the singing saw? f***...)

ick.

Jeez, I go to work and come back to find everybody hates me. Guess I'll go eat worms, you bunch of f*ckers. EDIT: Whoa! I thought that would be edited to "luthers," as was happening earlier. And in case I am being mistaken for serious here, I'm kidding. (One never knows what gets missed...) I don't think you're a bunch of f*ckers. Or a bunch of luthers.

I think it would be great if, say, he were a guest in my home and were perusing my music collection, then asking me to show him five albums he hadn't heard. Otherwise, no thanks. The glazed-eyed, uninterested Brian would depress me. My dad is about Brian's age ... I get enough disinterest from him when I play him music I like. Remember, just because some band may claim Brian as an influence, or sound to our ears like Brian, (for better or for worse) doesn't mean he'd give half a f*** about them. He's made pretty clear over the years that he wants to listen to what he already likes. I say leave the old guy alone.

Thanks. It was sort of a thrown-together recording (as most everything I do is), just a way to appease my guilt Saturday morning over having not done sh*t in weeks or more. Not having a song handy, I picked one off an album I just bought, learned it and put this arrangement together. (The original, which maybe you can sample on iTunes--not sure--is like a Casio + Acoustic thing with the Franco-Swede singer heavily accented.)

I can understand compulsory service (if not necessarily be thrilled by it). But that is different than some sort of civilian security force.

There better not be compulsory service enacted anytime soon, or ever for that matter. The anti-war movement would probably swell in numbers if another draft were to ever happen.

I wasn't referring to military service (nor was Obama, from what I've gathered). Many countries have some form of compulsory service, be it military or community. I don't know if that is such a terrible idea (although again, I'm not thrilled personally by it). But as to your comment, of course anti-war movements would swell if a draft happened. That's the bulk of the reason there are anti-war movements in the first place. The past six or so years have been nothing compared to draft-era protests. For each of the "leave those far-off civilians alone," protesters, I'd guess there are a few hundred more "don't send me to die in your war." And that is a sentiment to which I can entirely relate.

But you like every song by bands you are or were obsessed with? I have been obsessed with Zappa, and there are probably hundreds of songs from him that I'm either ambivalent about or don't like. I find your 100% dedication ... well, unnatural. Kind of creepy, even. (And again, sorry, I don't mean to sound like a jerk. Just trying to understand it.)

I can understand compulsory service (if not necessarily be thrilled by it). But that is different than some sort of civilian security force.

Ha, his favorite BBs album? Does he say PS? Friends? Love You? These are previous answers ... nope. Summer Days and Summer Nights.

I like the tune from Guys n Dolls in there. ("This guy says the horse can do.") I'm a sucker for classic musicals.

Dont recall having seen that before. I can't imagine that was anything very well thought through or something in the works. I'd want to know a lot more about what he means by it, but it's something I'd be wholly against, most likely. If there is one trait I share with Republicans, it's the desire to be left alone by my government.

I'd imagine an appropriate venue might be part of it. They can't sell out large places, theatres cost a lot and clubs wouldn't have the sound to handle the details of this show. Basically it seems to me they'd either need to really ride Inara's Bird and the Bee fame to push theatres sales or be really creative (like playing college theatres or something that might be cheaper and smaller, but still have decent sound).