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

[The Shift]

Heard the album for the first time today while the family was out. Loud volume.

By the time they got back I was blubbing.

Pacific Coast Highway is awesome. Makes MAD sound like a SiP outtake.

Summer's Gone has no right to exist. Brian Wilson's supposed to have peaked creatively some 46 years ago. But this track is up there. Really.

Part of me wants it to never end. Part of me really believes this is Wilson either saying "goodbye" to the band or "goodbye" to the fans.

Folks are still giving a toss about a few bucks' price difference.
just buy the thing and listen ... Priceless.

[Heysaboda]

Good thing you went into it expecting not to like it!  Just imagine what could have happened if you allowed yourself to consider it might be decent. 

 

(this is why we love Ron)

 

[Nothgual]

Got the album today.  I find this a very frustrating listen.  There are moments of greatness, but a majority of it sounds like a Beach Boys parody.  These moments  than make up for the tons of embarrassing fluff though.  Isn't it Time is great, Think About the Days is alright except for that ugly piano sound, Shelter's chorus is nice and of course the suite.

Now that my opinion of the album is off my chest, have you guys heard the very recent interview about the album where Bruce says that T'ill I Die was the "end of the (Beach Boys') career"?  I find that to be surprisingly insightful.

[Micha]

As said here, the likelihood that the Boys would have had anything to do with a project like TLOS is infinitesimal. Too strange. Too arty. Mike wouldn't have allowed the Parks parts.

How could you possibly know that? Listen to the last three songs on TWGMTR, especially the lyrics. If Mike wouldn't allow those, why should he not allow spoken parts? The villain Mike thing is sooooo retro!

But I absolutely agree with you about TLOS being Brian's best solo album.

[The Shift]

… have you guys heard the very recent interview about the album where Bruce says that T'ill I Die was the "end of the (Beach Boys') career"?  I find that to be surprisingly insightful.

So what's insightful Bruce doing for a living these days? Give him my best next time you see him – and if there's any way I can help, get him to drop me a line.

 

[Runaways]

Got the album today.  I find this a very frustrating listen.  There are moments of greatness, but a majority of it sounds like a Beach Boys parody.  These moments  than make up for the tons of embarrassing fluff though.  Isn't it Time is great, Think About the Days is alright except for that ugly piano sound, Shelter's chorus is nice and of course the suite.

Now that my opinion of the album is off my chest, have you guys heard the very recent interview about the album where Bruce says that T'ill I Die was the "end of the (Beach Boys') career"?  I find that to be surprisingly insightful.

i thought he said it was the of Brian.  I've also never thought the term "self parody" made any sense.

[The Shift]

Pacific Coast Highway

Noted: that first word "Sometimes…"

Knew I'd heard it delivered similarly before… and just realised: whether intentional or not, it's a ringer for the first word in Dennis's (unreleased) I've Got a Friend.

Anyone agree?

[Roger Ryan]

The whole track sounds like a Dennis Wilson song to me (...and I mean that as a compliment).

[southbay]

Got the album today.  I find this a very frustrating listen.  There are moments of greatness, but a majority of it sounds like a Beach Boys parody.  These moments  than make up for the tons of embarrassing fluff though.  Isn't it Time is great, Think About the Days is alright except for that ugly piano sound, Shelter's chorus is nice and of course the suite.

Now that my opinion of the album is off my chest, have you guys heard the very recent interview about the album where Bruce says that T'ill I Die was the "end of the (Beach Boys') career"?  I find that to be surprisingly insightful.

i thought he said it was the of Brian.  I've also never thought the term "self parody" made any sense.

He said it was the last great Brian Wilson song, and he started saying it 30 years ago.  He may have changed his mind.

[startBBtoday]

The whole track sounds like a Dennis Wilson song to me (...and I mean that as a compliment).

Agreed, the dramatic piano is very Dennis on that track.

[Justin]

I suppose this thread can be unstickied now?

[rab2591]

The album has 5 stars on Amazon (out of 60 reviews) as of right now!

If some of you all haven't yet, you should put some reviews up!

[superunison]

OK so I bought the album this morning, but have had the sh*ts all day and didn't want to listen while my guts were like this because I thought it might compromise my first listen.  Watched the Queen's jubilee concert instead, but roll on tomorrow, I hope I feel better then.

Saw this the other day, logged on today to find it again to make sure it wasn't just something I dreamt.  Post of the year. Cool story bro.

[Ron]

Part of me wants it to never end. Part of me really believes this is Wilson either saying "goodbye" to the band or "goodbye" to the fans.

I was thinking today, maybe it's about Denny and Carl? 

"My Life; I'm better off Alone.... My Life; I'm better on my Own"  is about the pain of losing someone you love, you'd be better off if you never got close to anybody. 

[thatjacob]

I finally caved and bought the mp3 download instead of relying on spotify. I'm with everyone else: I think this album will be better while driving.

[Runaways]

I finally caved and bought the mp3 download instead of relying on spotify. I'm with everyone else: I think this album will be better while driving.

It sounds pretty badass in the car.

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

Yes it does!

[southbay]

Yes it does!

Agreed re tracks 1-9.  My car doesn't really do tracks 10-12 justice, though.

[bsten]

Yes it does!

Agreed re tracks 1-9.  My car doesn't really do tracks 10-12 justice, though.

Time to get a new car...

[bsten]

How come there's so few songs either writtten by Al, Dennis, Carl or Bruce, or that has them singing on the tunes? It was my belief
we were gonna get an album with several songs having Carl and/or Dennis overdubbed (that's the word?), like on Don't fight the sea. Besides - isn't that really a Beach Boys song and why wasn't it included on the album?

/B

[ontor pertawst]

I'm guessing Al, Carl, Dennis, and Bruce haven't exactly been prolific songwriters the past few decades. I'm glad "Don't Fight The Sea" isn't on the album, it's already been released! Those opening cheesy sounds would've really grated.

[Ron]

Ultimately it's because Brian really IS calling the shots in the studio, and naturally likes his own songs better than he likes any anybody else wrote. 


Lemme also say, the rest of the band has a really hard time producing anything at all.  The other two producers appear to have passed away.  Mike likes producing things then they never come out.  Bruce likes producing 1 song every 10 years.  Al likes producing 1 album every 30 years.  Brian likes producing 1 album a year. 

[Steve Mayo]

add me to the list of liking to listen to the new cd in a car while just driving around. wonderful........

[Acechaser]

Given that Brian "saved" some 90's songs for the Beach Boys to sing on a new album, I am surprised that "Desert Drive" and "South American" were not among those saved.   I would love to hear both songs with full BB vocals.   

[Andrew G. Doe]

I'm guessing Al, Carl, Dennis, and Bruce haven't exactly been prolific songwriters the past few decades.

I'm pretty sure that Dennis and Carl haven't actually written a note since 1983 and 1998 respectively.