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Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Mike's Book Discussion Thread (and how it relates to the SS board)
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on: September 25, 2016, 08:03:30 PM
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The psychological dynamics of memoirs are at best subjective. They are usually related to emotional events. The memory may focus on the emotions of the event as opposed to the "objective" version of events.
Depending on the emotional dynamics of the event, the memory can tilt the author to write down one of several possible views of the events being recalled. Emotions can range from fear to revulsion in a perceived event from memory when stress related feelings are surfacing from long-term memory. On an event which is recalled favorably, emotions can range from being surprised and then pleased, to what used to be called a peak experience, with ecstatic responses.
One variation can occur which is feelings of regret, ranging from mild guilt to extreme emotional self-loathing with self-destructiveness. The fascinating thing is that self-defining events are like car crashes, in that several witnesses may have conflicting views. Any insurance adjuster or police person knows this clearly. Hence the differing accounts of Beach Boys' important events.
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Non Smiley Smile Stuff / General Music Discussion / Peter Lacey's New Way Lane
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on: July 07, 2016, 02:35:56 PM
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My friend and colleague in both the musical and literary worlds, Peter Lacey, has recorded a new album, entitled New Way Lane. I have taken time to get to know this album, hoping to have the time to absorb it.In a recent interview, Peter said that once long ago, an English band, The Beatles, had captivated the UK with their music, and that he remembered walking around his neighborhood and hearing Beatle music in nearly every home coming out as he walked by. This lp has a distinct charm because it is so very English. Peter has, at the same time explored some new themes, with lyrics celebrating a number of English persons, some that are quite moving.
The first side offers several highly melodic tunes beginning with "The Star of My Own Show." This track strikes me as a celebration of the ability to make life fun, even when alone. We are the creators of our own view of our world. Musically, the tune shadows Paul McCartney's late Sixties work in the Beatles. The title track, New Way Lane, is a stately track which recalls God Only Knows musically, as well as Penny Lane. Peter's vocal here is quite satisfying, recalling Paul's laid back tunes.
Laundro Matt, a soulful track, bounces along with a Booker T and the M.G.s feel. The tune offers a nice contrast from the first two tunes. Lyrically, the tune has a remedy to everyday vexation, and that is to get stoned at Matt's house. Phi Slamma Jama...relieve the stress with a head clearing from Matt...a laundromat for your everyday stress.Jasmine (Blooms Tonight) is a departure for Peter from his previous tunes. Over a ska/reggae beat, the story unfolds slowly. Jasmine has discovered freedom in her soul as she dances. The tune's narrator calls the play by play as a young woman embraces her sexual side.
Peter's Bella Donna explores obsession. The music perks along like a coffee pot, the piano being used as a rhythm keeper. The nature of Bella Donna is subtlely disclosed early on, as the tune's storyteller looks at himself in the mirror and sees himself wasting away, the result of too many goodies at Matt's place. A hypothetical return of God is God Send's theme. The return of God to Earth is highlighted by an unexpected prosperity equals reality theme which rankles the old church. This tune could have been written by Randy Newman.
The Afternoon Nap is a tune that brings a sense of contentment that might be a reminder of some of Brian Wilson's work on the Friends and 20/20 albums. The tune is gently jaunty at first, leading into a lovely tag that Brian would be proud of that you absolutely HAVE to hear. Home Free is a song that seems to express both grief and relief. Perhaps the person sung about in this ballad passed away, or is gone and never heard from again. This is a highlight of New Way Lane. Desperate Dan is a tune that can be heard in many ways. It is one of the lesser songs here, but offers some tasty guitar ala Joe Walsh. Old Fashioned Cafe, like many of the songs on New Way Lane, offers a picture of life in a small town or neighborhood that is frequented by a group of characters who hang together, clinging to the one social center that this village or neighborhood has had for years. It is a place these folks protect because life without the cafe would be unbearable. The simple track, highlighted by a ukulele, provides the frame for this postcard of a way of life that is nearly gone.
Here, Out West, we have a saying that essentially means that its time to leave. We say "I think its time to head out." The album's final track is called Better Make Tracks. Of course, the other interpretation of this saying, using musical nomenclature would be....its time to begin the next album. The melody here is extremely catchy. It would be hard NOT to hear it bouncing around your brain for days after listening to it!
Okay, I'll give you the bottom line...New Way Lane is the best album Peter has released. Unless there's a Smile equivalent lurking in Peter's instrument closet, this is the most consistently satisfying album Peter has cut. It is catchy. It is lyrically clever, and it hangs together extremely well as an album. You will be glad you grabbed it while its hot! It can be found at pinkhedgehog.com
Copyright 2016 by
Peter Reum-All Rights Reserved
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Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: The Observer: It’s Time to Destroy ‘the Legend of Brian Wilson’
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on: June 03, 2016, 04:53:19 PM
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To ignore Brian's work on Wild Honey, Friends, 20/20, Sunflower, Surf's Up, Holland, 15 Big Ones, Love You, MIU, and That's Why God Made Radio, plus his best solo work such as BW 88. Orange Crate Art. Imagination, BWPS, Lucky Old Sun, The Gershwin project , and his last estate solo album is to say that a white horse is a brown cow. In spite of the obvious fact that the animal in question has a mane, can run at full speed, and neighs instead of mooing does not impressed this most obtuse of writers. Oh well, the guy probably puts acid in his Koolaid.
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Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Don Was Talks Brian Wilson, NPP, IJWMFTT Film - New Interview w. Photo
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on: May 19, 2016, 01:09:31 PM
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I was a contributor to the Don Was BW film, and Don had a love for Brian that came through thoroughly. Don flew me to New York City, put me up in a beautiful hotel room facing Central Park, and had taken the top floor of the hotel for his shooting various pieces of mine. I got to meet John Hall from Orleans and Graham Nash with David Crosby. When I saw the final film, I was glad I took part and stepped outside my comfort zone. The Don Was film/cd, and Van Dyke Parks work with Brian on Orange Crate Art really helped to get Brian back into prominence in music at a crucial time before he began touring. Here's to Don and Van Dyke!
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Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: My Ultimate Theory about Smile and the Beach Boys
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on: May 15, 2016, 02:43:59 AM
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I think Smile is left open for interpretation by its listeners. In attending the premier, I can say that as a piece of music in three movements, it is sequenced in a form that is dazzling. The second movement is brilliant. The other two movements are inspired as well. It does not hit some Beach Boy listeners as finished. There is room for interpretation. I would examine every piece of Smile in its creative time. It definitely moved me in ways that no other Brian music can, including his other pieces that are long form. Long may it present itself as a piece for performance that now exists, regardless of its part in music categories that become blurred in an experimental piece like Smile.
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Non Smiley Smile Stuff / General Music Discussion / Re: Your top 5 favorite albums/songs
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on: May 10, 2016, 11:24:06 PM
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1-Little Feat-Waiting for Columbus 2-Beach Boys-Wild Honey 3-Robbie Robertson-Contract From the Underworld of Red Boy 4'John Trudell (with Jesse Ed Davis) 5-Brian Wilson Presents Smile 6-TenCC-TenCC 7-Texas Tornados-1st lp 8-Frank Sinatra In the Wee Small Hours 9.Marvin Gaye-What's Goin' On 10'Miles Davis-Porgy and Bess
Songs
1-Little Feat-Dixie Chicken 2-The Beach Boys-Surfs Up 3-Duke Ellington-Take the 'A' Train 4-Van Dyke Parks-Palm Tree and Moon 5-Mystery Train-Elvis Presley 6-Chuck Berry-Nsdine 7-Laura Nyro-Wedding Bell Blues 8-Smokey Robinson- A Quiet Storm 9-The Band-Whispering Pines 10-Robbie Robertson and Ulali-Mawk Schi
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Smiley Smile Stuff / General On Topic Discussions / Re: Beach Boys Albums Ranked Worst to Best
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on: February 16, 2016, 06:17:34 PM
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I am not one to slag The Beach Boys, but I am not disposed to rank all the various albums, but I'll do a top 5 and bottom 5 Top 5: Smile Pet Sounds Wild Honey Sunflower 🌻 Today Bottom 5: Summer In Paradise Stars and Stripes Beach Boys '85😜 Best of the Beach Boys (1st in a series of Capitol vapid and pointless reissues) Best of the Beach Boys 2 (Second of the ridiculous reissues)
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Non Smiley Smile Stuff / The Sandbox / Re: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
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on: January 23, 2016, 08:37:30 PM
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I loved the first trilogy, did not care for the second trilogy, and found this film a return to the quality of the first 3. I got a kick out of how they found the Millennium Falcon, the action scenes toward the end, and the preview as to where the second movie may go. It was tough to see Han buy the farm, but it did add some gravity to the end. That said, StarWars at it's best cannot touch the first six books about Dune by Frank Herbert.
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Non Smiley Smile Stuff / The Sandbox / Re: The Blizzard of 2016
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on: January 23, 2016, 08:25:35 PM
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Hope everyone has heat, water, food, something like candles in case the electricity fails, and a working phone. Here in Montana, where snow this heavy happens every winter, we add four wheel drive to the above stuff.
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