That's amazing. Thanks. 

Jaw... dropped. Thank you, Howie!!

Why is "When Girls Get Together" universally despised among BB fan circles? Must be the lyrics, right? I agree they're awkward but I don't find them particularly offensive and the backing track is pretty amazing I think.

It's kind of a weird song. The lyrics are painfully corny, but I do really like the feel and the sound of it. Kind of a circusy sound that deepens into something more poignant. It needed better lyrics and it feels somewhat adrift being placed towards the end of KTSA.

Yet Brian and Al are not welcome....

Yet Mark "Orange County Biff Tannen" McGrath douche is. Great guy that Mark McGrath. Not that he, Mike, or Trump could possibly have that bully gene or anything like that...

https://youtu.be/jSU9oL5nLMA

Yikes. I do get kind of a 'young Mike Love' vibe from this footage to be honest.

Mark McGrath *actually singing Fly* as part of a Beach Boys concert. Let that sink in just a bit more.

It's been a couple years now (this was around October 2018), so I don't remember the exact convo - but I think you are right ... his response was bizarre, and these guys are bizarre at times. And tbh I was taken aback by meeting him in this way - as a fan. My take at the time was that he didn't think it fit with the vibe or image of the type of show he was doing. Like, "postcard from California"/folk tales of BB songs type of thing ... like Lookin At Tomorrow was political, etc. That was my take, but who the F knows ... no idea where he would have confused it with "Never Learn Not To Love", that's a real stretch ha.

EDIT: I remember a little more- I believe I said, "I'm surprised you didn't play 'Lookin' At Tomorrow" ... it wasn't like I was telling him he should have or requesting it ... made the response even more weird. I might have even said, "Since you played Surf's Up, I'm surprised you didn't play Take A Load off Your Feet or Lookin At Tomorrow", and he could have even said something like, "No, Lookin at Tomorrow is not ... [big pensive pause with offended look] ... it's not right ... you can't ... it's ... it's not appropriate ..." ... it was that weird man. I'm paraphrasing because I don't remember the exact words, but that was the general gist of the interaction.

I heard Al perform a lovely version of the song at City Winery in April 2018. just six months earlier. Truly strange!

Agree with all of this, HeyJude. It is completely dysfunctional. 

I was really surprised when I saw the Mike&Bruce Beach Boys in summer 2017, and Mike never once mentioned the 1967 Sunshine Tomorrow archival set that was newly released. During intermission there was even a slideshow advertising Mike's book and other stuff for purchase, but no reference to it.

Thanks for that list, All Summer Long. Some combination of any of these would be incredible! I'll be gutted if this doesn't come out.

Very cool. Especially that he's familiar with, and a fan of, TWGMTR. Thanks for sharing.

Yep. That's great!

[The Beach Boys - Friends Acapella Snippet (News Broadcast/Press Conference?)]

The Beach Boys - Friends Acapella Snippet (News Broadcast/Press Conference?)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sMOtru6zI8

Love this! Has a gentler feel than the studio version, almost sounds more like the Meant For You intro. Really pretty.

3) There are so many behind-the-scenes disasters regarding Feel Flows that they legitimately didn't know which one you're referring to

        Thanks, I needed that.

Happy birthday, Al! All best wishes!

Every release since "Sunshine Tomorrow" has felt like getting to know a completely new and different band for the first time.

In that case, the current dysfunctional situation should feel deeply comforting, reassuring you that these are the same Beach Boys you've always known.

But would a "Feel Flows" box set be any less representative of the brand name "Beach Boys" than seeing the touring Beach Boys play Mike's solo releases like "This Too Shall Pass" over actual Beach Boys songs? On one hand the suggestion is the 1970-1972 era doesn't represent what the brand identity is in 2020, yet on the other neither do Mike's solo releases which are featured at every Beach Boys concert.

I understand your logic here, but can definitely think of a key player who would not.

But the weird thing about this whole scenario (that the Feel Flows set is simply too 'off-brand' for the Beach Boys, which is putting it in jeopardy) is that the project was approved in the first place by all the members. Just curious, was the project *always* going to be the scale it is currently, i.e. a 5CD box set?

^ Great thoughts.

Fantastic. So, Nate sang not only the lead on Saturday Night...but also at least some of the background parts, directed on the fly by Brian Wilson.

There are indeed some very rich harmonies on this song. I never listened carefully enough. Quite lovely.

This is great. Very sweet story where Brian directs him on harmonies. Thanks for the tip!

Lovely!

Wow that’s awesome

Just the thought that Brian wanted to get it as a gift for Melinda is sweet and romantic. But I understand why she wouldn't have wanted a vintage car, they are lots of work and if not properly cared for become a giant decaying money pit.

Has Brian ever owned a vintage car? As in a car that in its day was an antique of some sort? I believe Dennis and Mike both did

...Ole Betsy?

[Mike Love said on stage they are ready and willing to play anywhere it just depends if the city or state will allow.]

Mike Love said on stage they are ready and willing to play anywhere it just depends if the city or state will allow.

That is really not a great look right now.

Man, catching up on this thread. This is heartbreaking.

All over an album that was given as a gift in the first place.

I agree with this so much, and want to add to this idea. I think this is something that many fans forget: the heart and soul that brought us Pet Sounds was at one point very much on the verge of death. Considering how Dennis went, and considering just how off the edge Brian’s mind/body went, it is absolutely a miracle that he is alive and well today.

So from my perspective I think that anything that Brian shares with us today is a blessing. Even if Joe Thomas throws some generic chords down and Brian comes up with a melody, that melody is a gift to us - its a melody we were very close to never ever hearing.

And not everything he has done in the last three decades is worthy of fawning over. But I also wish that before people rushed to write some harsh critique that berates Brian and his music, that those people would ponder that Brian almost never had the chance to write another song or enter another recording studio again.

Again, not saying we can’t write negative reviews about his music, but the NPP reviews went so far off the deep end in terms of being completely rude - for reasons I can’t even imagine.

Great perspective, I like this a lot. Thanks.

I just wanted to thank both of you for the very kind words about that review, it really means a lot to me! I still feel very passionate about the NPP album overall, and I still hold the same opinions as I wrote back in 2015, with the exception of maybe one or two tracks that have not aged as well as their counterparts on the album over these 5 years. I think the album sounds amazing from a pure sonic angle, and the way the backing tracks are tightly arranged to allow some intricate layered parts to bust out of the mix really enhances the high sound quality of both the recording and mix.

If anything I undersold it; I really enjoyed reading your review so much. Love the passion behind it and it's contagious!

I quite agree too, NPP has well stood the test of time. It still sounds lovely to my ears, and it's still cool that Brian took some chances working with contemporary artists and a wide range of styles. He should be very proud of it.

Oh yep, this is a great review. Thank you!