Just my first thoughts on Mike's new album.  A this point, I am grateful for new music from the guys, so cheers to Mike and his band for putting this out there.  

IMO the strongest tracks are:

1-  Here Comes the Sun - the new arrangement is good.  The song is a classic and one of my all time favorites.  No reason to remake the original note-for-note - Mike and his band took a risk in redoing a classic and succeeded in pulling it off.
2 - Girl From Impanema - Nice arrangement of another classic and ML vocal is excellent.  I must have heard 50 versions of this song, and ML is one of the better ones.
3 - California Beach - very catchy, fun, breezy and light


Good tracks:

Rockaway Beach - not the the Ramones, but still decent and I enjoy this one.    ML vocal seems a lot stronger in some of the concert footage than on the recording though.

Keepin' the Summer Alive - good arrangement - nice guitar work and  ML vocal give the song a new feel

Summertime Blues - I really like the BB arrangement of this song, but I have heard ML vocal stronger in many concerts footage than on this recording.

California Sun - fun and has good energy.


Not sure why Mike, Brian, and Al re-record classic BB tunes they sang leads on?!?!?!?  

Surfin - I like this version better than the version from SIP.  

Surfin Safari.    Not a bad version, but really unnecessary


Just why:

On and On and Over and Over.  What is the reasoning behind remaking some lack luster tunes from Mike first solo album?

For whatever reason, Mike vocals are inconsistent.  On some of the songs, he sounds great.  Others, he sounds every bit of 80 YO.

I wish Mike would have done a remake '65 Love Affair by Paul Davis rather than remaking one of the BB songs or the Abba track!!!

I know that album will likely get blasted because its from ML - and its not essential, but its fun and the top 3 tracks are really good.  

I don't get why Mike or Brian or Al cover old BB songs they already sang lead on  

Personally, I like Mike's choice of Rockaway Beach for his latest album and California Beach fits as well.    
Anyway,  in similar vein, for a new summer album, I nominate . . .  . .

'65 Love Affair by Paul Davis - do-wop do-wop ditty wop do . . .

PS  Paul Davis has several BB -esk tunes.   Love, or Let be be Lonely . . another possibility.

I actually like a lot of the tunes by Mike and Celebration. 

Are the two albums available in digital format?   

For all you young'ns, back in the day we used to make "mix tapes."  I was a big fan of putting together my own mixes of albums, etc and probably sent a couple of mix tapes to a girlfriend or two . . alas . . .   

My understanding of music play lists stopped  with creating a playlist on my iPhone, which is fine if all the music is available on iTunes. 

Now, my quest is to expand on the BB 1973 IN CONCERT LP, and create an ultimate BB IN CONCERT mix tape from primarily from the era - plus a few other tunes.    From what I can tell, some of the music is only on YouTube, thus foiling my plan.   

My kids spend a lot of time on SoundCloud and my son has a couple of rap / hip-hop songs on there getting a lot of hits.  Would it be possible to create a "mixtape" on SoundCloud?  Can I record tunes from YouTube?   Suggestions?

BTW, here's the set list:   

1   Do It Again
2   Sail On Sailor
3   Sloop John B
4   Calfiornia Saga
5   Okie from Muscogie
6   Cotton Fields
7   Marcella
8   All I Want To Do
9   Darlin'
10   Wouldn't It Be Nice
11   Wild Honey
12   Feel Flows
13   Don't Go Near the Water
14   Long Promised Road
15   Heros & Villians
16   Add Some Music
17   Forever
18   Only With You
19   Trader
20   Its About Time
21   We Got love
22   Funky Pretty
23   Long Promised Road
24   I Just Wasn’t Made for These Times
25   God Only Knows
26   All This is That
27   Welfare Song
28   River Song
29   Angel Come Home
30   You Still Believe in Me
31   Getcha Back
32   Rock N Roll Music
33   Roller Skating Child
34   Isn't It Time
35   I Can Hear Music
36   Its Ok
37   Good Timin'
38   Come Go with Me
39   Let The Wind Blow
40   Caroline No
41   Don't Worry Baby
42   Keepin' The Summer Alive
43   Goin' On
44   Little Deuce Coupe
45   Dance Dance Dance
46   Surfin Safari
47   Catch A Wave
48   California Girls
49   Help My Rhonda
50   I Get Around
51   Surfin USA
52   Good Vibrations
53   Fun Fun Fun

Lady Lynda - if the song didn't have the awkward (IMO) bach intro.  If the song started with Al singing "Lady" . . . .at about 0:23 in  - makes for a much better song IMO

Not sure if this has been discussed or posted here before, but I just came across this so I thought I would share.    If you have not heard of the song "This is Elvis, , here is the story and the song . . . .  amazing!  

http://forums.stevehoffman.tv/threads/carl-wilson-this-is-elvis-song-tribute.413753/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-h7QxjgxyU

Wow -

I have never seen the entire band looking so sharp dressed before!

1-Holland
2-Sunflower
3-20/20
4-Today
5-Pet Sounds
6-Love You
7-Surfs Up
8-The Beach Boys 1985
9-Wild Honey
10-Summer Days

Guys:   I have the book!     Get it, you won't regret it.    It is great!

1 - Wouldn't It Be Nice
2-  Sail On Sailor
3 - Do It Again
4-  All I Wanna Do
5 - Marcella
6 - Add Some Music
7 - I Know There's An Answer
8 - Surfin' Safari
9 - Breakaway
10 - Let Him Run

IMO, there are a handful of BB tunes where the live version is better than the studio.   IMO, "Aren't You Glad" live blows away the studio version.   Any others? 

How did Constant Companion not see the light of day as an official release?!?   

I like the Light Album, but it suffers from a mishmash of musical styles.  I found this alternative light album on youtube.   Just brilliant IMO -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XREJHr9SygY&lc=z23ofbygsxyodrzjk04t1aokgykc4lha3lmfohvjjylark0h00410

Personally, I really like the song but feel is suffers from some mediocre vocals.   What if Mike, Al or Carl took the lead?   Could have been a huge hit!?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MRSHpYKFfE

With most of the dialogue falling into the “Mike Love=Satan incarnate, this is terrible travesty and insult the BB legacy” camp, I wanted to write a real review without the side banter – and this board of all places deserves one.

I am sure most of us have heard the music, but I wanted a fresh listen to Mike new album  . . .

Let me just say, at this point, I feel getting any new material from Mike or Brian or Al is a bonus! (Though some may disagree)

Anyway, here goes my song-by-song review – but first, the album cover:   The album cover is god awful, cringe worthy, strange and borderline embarrassing.    If Mike were wearing a while robe and there was a cross in the background, it could not be stranger. . .  

Now the music:    The music is all over the place, and there is a lot of music, so I grouped the songs into 3 categories:

Group 1: New solo stuff
Group 2: Reworked old stuff
Group 3: Note for note recreation of old stuff

Group 1: New stuff . . .

1 -All the Love in Paris:  Great song!   The album’s first cut is enjoyable and pleasant. Nice vibe and good vocal from Mike.  This is in contention for the best track on album, and features a great sax work by Dave Koz.

2 - Crescent Glow:  Who is Morpheus?     The Greek God of Dreams . . . I had to look that up.
I like Mike’s vocal on the previously leaked YouTube version much better. Yet basically the song is harmless - and another easy going soft rock song.    The strange thing is, as IO write this, I can’t get the chorus out of my head . . . “  glow crescent glow  . . “  

3 - Too Cruel:  Nice mid-tempo rocker, very catchy and fun – that being said, I like the YouTube version with ML son on lead vocal a better, but this is a good song.

4 - Cool Head, Warm Heart:  Great song – with a BB vibe and powerful message!  

5 - Pisces Brother:  Another easy going soft rock tune – I know some may not agree with me, but I think Mike pulls this off.  A nice tribute to George Harrison, without coming across as sappy or corny.  I really don’t know how close George and Mike were, or if there was a relationship, but the song is believable.

6 - Unleash the Love:  Title track is up-tempo and catchy!  Acoustic guitar, horns, piano and kitchen sink work together with energy  - well produced.   Lyrically, a good message, with the exception of the line about Temples and Churches.   And Mike would have done better to leave out the “God” reference IMO.

7 -Ram Raj:  A departure from anything else on the album,  and a departure from anything I would expect to hear from Mike.  If you told me Dennis or Brian, yes, but not Mike.  A pleasant surprise though.  Reminds a little of Cool, Cool Water.    I immediately had to listen a couple more times after I first heard it.  I wonder if Mike could write an entire album of Ram Raj type of music?  Would be epic!

8 - 10,000 Years:  Similar in vibe to Ram Raj, but with some nice guitar and blues piano work and an edgy rock-n-roll vibe.  For some reason, reminds me a little of the old John Stewart song, Gold.

9 - Only One Earth:  Gospel flavor mixed with Mike doing a duet.    Catchy, but I find any spoken words in any song to be awkward.

10 – Make Love Not War – I didn’t like this at first, if felt forced, and Mike’s live acoustic version YouTube is great, but when I listened with my head phones the song popped.   Good vocal by Mike!  

Summary:  First a note regarding auto tune:    I know all music has been subject to vocal processing for many years, and “auto tune” is part of our lives, so I am ignoring that for the moment.  Those that have heard early version of these songs on YouTube, sans vocal processing, I understand your beef.  


I would be happy and comfortable to have this have playing the in backgrounds at my next BBQ!    


Group 2:  Reworked old stuff . . .

First, let me say many artists rework old songs with new arrangements, new vocals, etc and I totally get that.   “Lyla” by Clapton may be the most notable.  I take no issue with Mike reworking old songs.   (Keyword: “reworking.”  More on that later.)

1 -Daybreak Over the Ocean:   IMO a little better version than what was on TWGMTR  - at 5 + minutes though, the song seems repetitive to me, but its ok.  
2-I Don’t Want to Know:  This song has been around for a long time.   Organically sung by Doc Robinson with Mike’s Celebration band - Mike does a nice job on the lead vocal.  
3-The Warmth of the Sun:  Nice vocal by Ambha Love!  Fresh arrangement works well IMO.
4-Kiss Me Baby:  I really like this one too.  The vocals are good and I assume that is Ambha Love as well singing with Mike?
5--Getcha Back:  New and improved lyrics that tell a better story.   Maybe because I can relate to these lyrics, having share of "getcha back moments" I was surprised how much I am liking this one!  I Miss Carl’s great vocal, but  this updated arrangement sounds fresh and new.  
6- Brian’s Back.  Good song, and Carl’s vocal is still stunning to me, and works well with the new arrangement.   But why is this song on here?  Brian has been back for a long time.

 - - - - - - -

7-Darlin’:   Nice version with fresh production, AJR does a nice job and the song has a ton of energy, but nothing will ever compare to Carl’s live vocal, and this pales in comparison.   Why this is on Mike’s solo album, I am not sure??  
8 - Do It Again:   I like the Youtube video, I admit.  The song is just a great song, so I would probably like most any version, and of all the versions Do It Again, this one is probably my least favorite.  But I still like it.    While this does not live up to the original, like Darlin’ this has a lot of energy.  
9- Wild Honey:  I appreciate John Cowsill revisiting this underrated tune, but just doesn’t do it for me compared to the original.
10-Help Me Rhonda:  Lead vocal by Mike.   Cringe worthy alertz!!  The song starts out ok, but when Mike sings, “She was gonna be my wife and I was gonna be her man . . “   I hear finger nails on the chalk board, and Mike’s lead just can’t hold a candle to Al.  Mike sounds like a Karaoke’ singer here . . .  cringe worthy.

Summary:   Getcha Back is the highlight, and I also like “I Don’t Want to Know.”  “Daybreak” fits well with the first group of songs.  Mike should have stopped betweem 12 or 16 songs . . . . . but I guess he just could not help himself . . . . so on to the next group of songs.

Group 3:  Sometime less is more.

If you enjoy the occasional adult beverage, start drinking heavily before listening to the next group of tunes . .

As I mentioned, many artists rework old material and make new arrangements of old songs, or add new vocalists.  I totally get that!   However, recreating note-for-note new versions of some of the greatest music of all time is simply bastardizing your own legacy!!  

Why Mike why!  For the love of God, why??      Why rerecord BB music?

It is not that the songs are all terrible – though IGA is (casual listeners may not notice this is not the Beach Boys . . . but why??)    Hearing these classic songs drenched in auto tune  - NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! It hurts my ears.  I think I purchased a few K-tel albums back in the day before I knew better, but hey, I was 12 years old.    

Please explain to me, why did Mike cut these songs, does anyone know?   Was this a contractual thing?  


Summary:  Get the album and enjoy!  One of the best BB solo efforts - there is a lot of good music and Mike’s new stuff is good!  I was not sure what I was expecting, but this album is much better than I was expecting.  Some awkward moments sure.  Isn’t that trademark of all BB music?  Yet this is a good album, good vocals, and great musicians (does anyone know who?)


However,  . . . . Do yourself a HUGE favor and spend the extra money and buy the INDIVIDUAL tracks from Group 1, and songs 1-5 from Group 2.  Sure, you will spend $15 or so rather than $12, but do not buy:  
California Girls, Help Me Rhonda, I Get Around, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Good Vibrations, or Fun Fun Fun . . . .  . .  trust me, you will be glad you did .  . . .

BTW, I wanted to post this on Amazon, but Amazon won’t let me post review since I am not a verified purchase.  (I purchased the album on Itunes)
Thank you . . . welcome your comments . . .  

At local bar here in Seattle (Loretta's), on my birthday (Oct 21st).

Given I am going through a divorce, and life transition, this is not really where I would have liked to be on my birthday - a rainy Saturday.   

However, the bar is a quintessential awesome dive bar here in Seattle.   It is the place where you may hear some classic rock from the 70's but mostly a lot of 80s music, or even rap - and known for serving the 4th greatest hamburger in the US.  (look it up)

I was with a group of guys enjoying the adult beverage and burgers, talking sports, and staying dry, and trying to block-out the rap and hip hop, etc, when GOK (of all songs!) followed by SJB comes on the sound system, back-to-back.    I have no explanations as to why, no one I was with knows I like the BB.  I can only assume the radio Gods somewhere smiled down upon me for a few minutes on my birthday.    Still, I smiled deep inside.    I can't tell you how nice it was to hear those familiar sounds in and unexpected moment  . . . Sometime I forget just how good those  tunes are -

When the french horn came on, I told the guy I was sitting with, "shhh - I love this song."   He listens, then says, "Oh ya,  this is great stuff - this is the Beach Boys, right? "
Me "Damn Right!" 

If I had the chance to interview Mike Love, I would ask him what his favorite song to sing would be, not considering the audience reaction.  Mike would probably base his response on what the audience does, but I am guess he may have a difference answer if you took that out of the equation.   

Mike:   Pieces Brothers?
Carl:  Darlin' or Dancin' in the Streets
Bruce:  I Write the Songs
Brian:  Vegetables
Al:  Runaway

For those of you good with Mike Love's lyrical talent, I need some help -

What are the plausible explanation(s) -    I mean "real" lyrics to Rollin' Up to Heaven?  So I can let others know, just in case they think they are hearing inappropriate lyrical content  . . . . 

I always wanted to hear the BB play Girl Don't Tell Me with just Carl and playing acoustically  - I think it would have been a nice fit with the acoustic sets they have done from time to time.   

To my knowledge the song was never done live.

Another one:  Good to My Baby ... .