New album info (as it rolls out...)

[Autotune]

It seems like we may have a new album from the boys that is around the same overall level of quality as M.I.U., but with more direct Brian involvement.  If that is the case, it is a nice enough denouement for the Beach Boys' recording career.

I'd hope for better production quality and slightly better hooks, let's put it that way.

I think this record will be ten times better than MIU. Seriously. I'm very confident in that, especially after hearing TWGMTR

I think it'll have better leads, more lush harmonies and probably a few more very good songs. And as ironical as it may be -in 2012 with the technology that's available and with two of the guys no longer with us- this will probably sound as a more cohesive group album than its predecessors since possibly Holland.

[b00ts]

It seems like we may have a new album from the boys that is around the same overall level of quality as M.I.U., but with more direct Brian involvement.  If that is the case, it is a nice enough denouement for the Beach Boys' recording career.

I'd hope for better production quality and slightly better hooks, let's put it that way.

I think this record will be ten times better than MIU. Seriously. I'm very confident in that, especially after hearing TWGMTR

I think it'll have better leads, more lush harmonies and probably a few more very good songs. And as ironical as it may be -in 2012 with the technology that's available and with two of the guys no longer with us- this will probably sound as a more cohesive group album than its predecessors since possibly Holland.

I like the way you, Zach95, and Wirestone think. Perhaps this album will be better than M.I.U. I will not be surprised if the overall production and songwriting surpass their late '70s work.

Incidentally, the production and engineering on TWGMTR is fantastic. The rhythm section is insanely well-recorded and mixed, with rich, buttery bass guitar and well-defined but still Wilsonesque drums.

Some on this board have said that the single has a "Joe Thomas/Imagination sound,' but that record sounded dated in 1998, swamped with nylon-string guitars a faint digital hiss audible at the beginning of the first track and many others. In contrast, TWGMTR sounds current in the best possible way. Here's hoping the rest of the album follows suit.

 

[Zach95]

It seems like we may have a new album from the boys that is around the same overall level of quality as M.I.U., but with more direct Brian involvement.  If that is the case, it is a nice enough denouement for the Beach Boys' recording career.

I'd hope for better production quality and slightly better hooks, let's put it that way.

I think this record will be ten times better than MIU. Seriously. I'm very confident in that, especially after hearing TWGMTR

I think it'll have better leads, more lush harmonies and probably a few more very good songs. And as ironical as it may be -in 2012 with the technology that's available and with two of the guys no longer with us- this will probably sound as a more cohesive group album than its predecessors since possibly Holland.

I like the way you, Zach95, and Wirestone think. Perhaps this album will be better than M.I.U. I will not be surprised if the overall production and songwriting surpass their late '70s work.

Incidentally, the production and engineering on TWGMTR is fantastic. The rhythm section is insanely well-recorded and mixed, with rich, buttery bass guitar and well-defined but still Wilsonesque drums.

Some on this board have said that the single has a "Joe Thomas/Imagination sound,' but that record sounded dated in 1998, swamped with nylon-string guitars a faint digital hiss audible at the beginning of the first track and many others. In contrast, TWGMTR sounds current in the best possible way. Here's hoping the rest of the album follows suit.

 

Is there any chance we can get a like button on this board? I know others have mentioned it in passing, but I'm serious! I would totally use it, i.e. right now. 

[I. Spaceman]

Isn't it better just to comment?

[Autotune]

It seems like we may have a new album from the boys that is around the same overall level of quality as M.I.U., but with more direct Brian involvement.  If that is the case, it is a nice enough denouement for the Beach Boys' recording career.

I'd hope for better production quality and slightly better hooks, let's put it that way.

I think this record will be ten times better than MIU. Seriously. I'm very confident in that, especially after hearing TWGMTR

I think it'll have better leads, more lush harmonies and probably a few more very good songs. And as ironical as it may be -in 2012 with the technology that's available and with two of the guys no longer with us- this will probably sound as a more cohesive group album than its predecessors since possibly Holland.

I like the way you, Zach95, and Wirestone think. Perhaps this album will be better than M.I.U. I will not be surprised if the overall production and songwriting surpass their late '70s work.

Incidentally, the production and engineering on TWGMTR is fantastic. The rhythm section is insanely well-recorded and mixed, with rich, buttery bass guitar and well-defined but still Wilsonesque drums.

Some on this board have said that the single has a "Joe Thomas/Imagination sound,' but that record sounded dated in 1998, swamped with nylon-string guitars a faint digital hiss audible at the beginning of the first track and many others. In contrast, TWGMTR sounds current in the best possible way. Here's hoping the rest of the album follows suit.

 

Of course we don't know the extent of Joe's involvement here. It's true that he's been mentioned as execuive producer, but the amount of work he's putting into this we don't know for sure. To be honest, I think there's still a mild lack of trust from us fans in Brian's current producing skills; and I think that making Thomas responsible for the sound of the new music has a little to do with that... the idea flies over Brian's output since who knows when ("perhaps he's not producing" we whisper into our minds). Threads have been saturated with posts on this. I'm willing to argue that Brian is in fact producing a large part if not all his stuff, and has been doing it all the time. But that is not my point now. My point is this:

When he recorded Imagination he had no band. He was in whatever state of mind he was at the time and so he had his one collaborator fill in his blanks --to an extent that's what all his collaborators have done in the past. So Thomas, perhaps not too sensitive and knowledgeable on Brian's music, brings in his stuff, his sounds, his instruments and his musicians and fills all the gaps that Brian leaves uncovered. The  situation today is different: Brian's had a band he toured with and recorded with extensively for the past decade; they can read his mind and do as it pleases him without asking. And he has the Beach Boys with him; they'll go to war for Brian if they have to. So, in the end, the blank filling that Thomas played in 1998 is being played -much more adequately and to Brian's taste- by his current bandmates and supporting group. So there's no danger of Imagination's weakest production featured appearing in this new album.

BTW, I wish somebody could enlighten us on the ups and downs of Brian's relationship with Joe. How did it fall appart and how did it get a second round.
 

[Wirestone]

BTW, I wish somebody could enlighten us on the ups and downs of Brian's relationship with Joe. How did it fall appart and how did it get a second round.

I have an old post from the late, great Coach Bob Hanes on this subject. I'll look it up when I get home. Suffice to say that things came to a head when Joe (who was afraid of flying) refused to go to Japan with the band in 1999. Brian quickly decided he liked things better without Joe (who was trying to be music director and clashing with Darian) and seems to have decided to fire him. Things got a little messy after that.

As for coming back together, no one knows. It seems like he answered some pressing needs -- material for a Beach Boys reunion record (since several songs for this project come from 98) and someone to film and produce the accompanying reunion special (Joe has specialized in live concert production over the past decade). He also worked with the band before, too, so perhaps they had a role in bringing him back.

[Zach95]

Isn't it better just to comment?

Not just to say something like I agree!

[I. Spaceman]

Isn't it better just to comment?

Not just to say something like I agree!

I dunno, I think making an effort to even type just that shows much more active participation in a human conversation than clicking a button. The shorthand of modern communication (which amounts to non-communication) is a real drag. But that's just my opinion, never mind. At least you didn't type +1!

[Andrew G. Doe]

BTW, I wish somebody could enlighten us on the ups and downs of Brian's relationship with Joe. How did it fall appart and how did it get a second round.

I have an old post from the late, great Coach Bob Hanes on this subject. I'll look it up when I get home. Suffice to say that things came to a head when Joe (who was afraid of flying) refused to go to Japan with the band in 1999. Brian quickly decided he liked things better without Joe (who was trying to be music director and clashing with Darian) and seems to have decided to fire him. Things got a little messy after that.

As for coming back together, no one knows. It seems like he answered some pressing needs -- material for a Beach Boys reunion record (since several songs for this project come from 98) and someone to film and produce the accompanying reunion special (Joe has specialized in live concert production over the past decade). He also worked with the band before, too, so perhaps they had a role in bringing him back.

You neglected to mention the most obvious pressing need. $

[Wirestone]

BTW, I wish somebody could enlighten us on the ups and downs of Brian's relationship with Joe. How did it fall appart and how did it get a second round.

I have an old post from the late, great Coach Bob Hanes on this subject. I'll look it up when I get home. Suffice to say that things came to a head when Joe (who was afraid of flying) refused to go to Japan with the band in 1999. Brian quickly decided he liked things better without Joe (who was trying to be music director and clashing with Darian) and seems to have decided to fire him. Things got a little messy after that.

As for coming back together, no one knows. It seems like he answered some pressing needs -- material for a Beach Boys reunion record (since several songs for this project come from 98) and someone to film and produce the accompanying reunion special (Joe has specialized in live concert production over the past decade). He also worked with the band before, too, so perhaps they had a role in bringing him back.

You neglected to mention the most obvious pressing need. $

Really? For the album? Tour? Special? Hard to imagine the band would be cash-strapped.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Isn't it better just to comment?

Not just to say something like I agree!

I dunno, I think making an effort to even type just that shows much more active participation in a human conversation than clicking a button. The shorthand of modern communication (which amounts to non-communication) is a real drag. But that's just my opinion, never mind. At least you didn't type +1!

[I. Spaceman]

Isn't it better just to comment?

Not just to say something like I agree!

I dunno, I think making an effort to even type just that shows much more active participation in a human conversation than clicking a button. The shorthand of modern communication (which amounts to non-communication) is a real drag. But that's just my opinion, never mind. At least you didn't type +1!

HAHA!

[Iron Horse-Apples]

That is to say, I agree.

This board is the antithesis of that sort of facebookery

[southbay]

1. Andrew...why are you sharing your (albeit unfortunately limited) thoughts on the album with the Hoffman crowd and not us? Aren't we really your favorites?  So, you DON"T think Shelter and Isn't it Time are classics? Are they "semi" or "almost" classics, then???

2. Per Amazon, vinyl release pushed to July 3 ?!?

[Runaways]

where does Sir. AGD say that?

i saw that he said from there and back will make our jaws drop

[Zach95]

That is to say, I agree.

This board is the antithesis of that sort of facebookery

Oh please. Not everyone uses Facebook for asinine purposes.  Sheesh.

[southbay]

where does Sir. AGD say that?

i saw that he said from there and back will make our jaws drop

In that same thread.  In response to the twitter review that called each of those three tunes "Instant BB claassics" , AGD posted a word word response..."Disagree". In a later post he states that, indeed, FTTBA will make our jaws drop. I want to know what his thoughts indeed are about Shelter and Isn't it Time.  It is certainly possible I am misunderstanding his post...

[Runaways]

oh great and powerful AGD, please tease us with your heralded knowledge

[Rocker]

Maybe AGD doesn't post it here because of the powers that read this board. They might not like that so I guess we should just wait and hear it when it's released (or read those other boards)

[Zach95]

I personally think its elitist and plain stupid to taunt an entire group of fanatics with an OPINION of an album no one else has heard.  Just my two cents. It's not like AGD's opinion changes anything about the album, except our distorted perceptions.

[Runaways]

AGD is the great teaser, but i want my perception distorted ._.

[Zach95]

I ALWAYS appreciate AGD's insight and information. I guess I just don't like it when people say, "I have a secret! But I really can't tell you what it is".  That's all.

[monicker]

I personally think its elitist and plain stupid to taunt an entire group of fanatics with an OPINION of an album no one else has heard.  Just my two cents. It's not like AGD's opinion changes anything about the album, except our distorted perceptions.

But this is how the guy thrives and feeds his bloated self-importance. It seems to work, too, because many venerate the guy for simply knowing Beach Boys minutiae and being petty and condescending about it. It reminds me somewhat of a sado-masochistic relationship.

[drbeachboy]

I ALWAYS appreciate AGD's insight and information. I guess I just don't like it when people say, "I have a secret! But I really can't tell you what it is".  That's all.

When you tell secrets, you soon have no secrets to tell. All I can say is, when Andrew does respond, read it very carefully. Usually, subtle hints are everywhere.

[Wirestone]

I personally think its elitist and plain stupid to taunt an entire group of fanatics with an OPINION of an album no one else has heard.  Just my two cents. It's not like AGD's opinion changes anything about the album, except our distorted perceptions.

But this is how the guy thrives and feeds his bloated self-importance. It seems to work, too, because many venerate the guy for simply knowing Beach Boys minutiae and being petty and condescending about it. It reminds me somewhat of a sado-masochistic relationship.

Stop being a jerk.