*Merged* Brian Wilson current album thread

[GhostyTMRS]

Don't know if this has been talked about here and I don't even have the magazine handy, but I was flipping through it last night and there's a blurb about Brian's new album in the current issue of Rolling Stone in the "In The Studio" column that mentions Brian deciding whether to include a duet he recorded with Zooey Deschanel. He says "I can't believe we pulled it off". 

 

[Mikie]

Zooey who?

[Moon Dawg]

  How long have Brian & Co been recording this album now?

[Moon Dawg]

Zooey who?

  She has a sitcom called New Girl. Or at least she did. Sings fairly well.

[MyDrKnowsItKeepsMeCalm]

Brian deciding whether to include a duet he recorded with Zooey Deschanel. He says "I can't believe we pulled it off". 

Rerecording of Let's Put Our Hearts Together?   

But seriously, can't wait to hear it, whatever it is!

[pixletwin]

I like Zooey's group, She & Him. They sometimes work in a few Beach Boys related tracks into their albums too.

[Ron]

Zooey who?

She's nerdy hot.  Goofy, but yet pretty.  Funny, but yet a little annoying. 

[guitarfool2002]

Zooey is cute, funny, quirky, and has an awesome style - very vintage. Talented musician, too.

And her cinematographer dad Caleb worked on Brian's Good Vibrations promo film back in 1966, so there is a direct connection through generations working with Brian, which is actually a very cool thing to have happen in 2014. If they didn't already, that would be a great angle to cover.

[GhostyTMRS]

The blurb mentioned another female duet partner, but I didn't recognize the name. It also mentions song titles. Does anyone have the current issue handy?

Now with this information and all the pics of Blondie, Al, etc. I'm wondering if this is going to be an all-duets album.  

[GoodVibrations33]

The blurb mentioned another female duet partner, but I didn't recognize the name. It also mentions song titles. Does anyone have the current issue handy?

Was it Kacey Musgraves?  She posted a photo of her and Brian, in the studio, on her Instagram account not too long ago.

[petsite]

In The SUN by She and Him - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ3cTwI9bIw&list=RDpZ3cTwI9bIw#t=6 LOVE that tune!!!!!

[Ron]

I think it should be NEW songs by people like Kacey or Zooey or whoever, and Brian does all the background vocals, either as a wall of Brian or on some songs arranging him and his band singing everything.  Then a couple minor leads by Brian (couple lines, or sing the bridge, etc.), and have Brian produce the whole thing.  

Back in the day, there was no shame in that.  It would be different, would highlight Brian's strengths that really only he can do, would negate Brian's weaknesses (writers block), and would allow Brian to be creatively sparked by some of the youngest and most talented musicians out right now.  

People like Kacey Musgraves have a hundred songs in them, she can write a fucking GREAT song right now, on that piece of paper, if you want her to.  Brian can't do that anymore.  Brian can flesh out the background and the melody, and the production like Kacey can only dream of.  

I hope it's going to be something along those lines, but I'm afraid it's just going to be the same old tired "Old guy sings his old songs with hot new act" album.  

[GhostyTMRS]

The blurb mentioned another female duet partner, but I didn't recognize the name. It also mentions song titles. Does anyone have the current issue handy?

Was it Kacey Musgraves?  She posted a photo of her and Brian, in the studio, on her Instagram account not too long ago.

That was it! Thanks. It said she recorded another duet.

[GhostyTMRS]

I think it should be NEW songs by people like Kacey or Zooey or whoever, and Brian does all the background vocals, either as a wall of Brian or on some songs arranging him and his band singing everything.  Then a couple minor leads by Brian (couple lines, or sing the bridge, etc.), and have Brian produce the whole thing.  

Back in the day, there was no shame in that.  It would be different, would highlight Brian's strengths that really only he can do, would negate Brian's weaknesses (writers block), and would allow Brian to be creatively sparked by some of the youngest and most talented musicians out right now.  

People like Kacey Musgraves have a hundred songs in them, she can write a fucking GREAT song right now, on that piece of paper, if you want her to.  Brian can't do that anymore.  Brian can flesh out the background and the melody, and the production like Kacey can only dream of.  

I hope it's going to be something along those lines, but I'm afraid it's just going to be the same old tired "Old guy sings his old songs with hot new act" album.  

The titles mentioned were new, but considering Brian's past solo output I'm guessing there may be a few re-records on it. 

[Ron]

That would be slightly better if it's unreleased stuff, I just don't want to hear remakes of classic Beach Boys songs. 

[Pretty Funky]

Just found a pretty good interview where he mentions writing with others younger than him, but not singing.

http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/brian-wilson-s-united-states-of-music-1.1823177?page=1

...He doesn’t believe collaborators are necessarily the answer. “I’ve had it with collaborators. I still work sometimes with Scott Bennett – he writes lyrics – but he’s the only one I work with. I don’t really know who would want to work with me at this stage. Young people? People my own age? I don’t know. I’d be very interested if someone approached me. I’m open to that...


Pretty good answers for a Brian phone interview. Nothing new but sounds like he is doing ok.

[GhostyTMRS]

I wonder when the decision to bring young singers was made. I guess it's a good selling point i.e. "Brian works with the hipsters". I'm guessing we won't be hearing much Jeff Beck on this album, if at all.

[urbanite]

Well he's exercising, which is a good sign, and of course he's in an up, relatively expansive mood for Brian Wilson.

[Alan Smith]

I wonder when the decision to bring young singers was made. I guess it's a good selling point i.e. "Brian works with the hipsters". I'm guessing we won't be hearing much Jeff Beck on this album, if at all.

Yeah, a dubious attempt at connecting Brian with the indie market - and a cred boost for Z/D, who was the featured talent in the WIBN chapter of Mark Dillon's (mostly) great 50 sides of the BB's.

A talented muso perhaps, but a terrible singer by any measure and makes my ears hurt.

The B-side of the 45 of the above mentioned In the Sun is an unpluggedish style cover of "I Can Hear Music".

[KittyKat]

He takes a slap at Mike Love in the Irish Times interview, saying that he himself wrote a lot of lyrics for Beach Boys' songs and that Tony Asher and Van Dyke Parks were much better lyricists than the other Beach Boys. You know he means Mike. So much for Mike's ambitions to write more with Brian.

[Ron]

I dunno.  I didn't take that as a swipe at Mike.  I took it as Brian being Brian, i.e. rambling on and saying whatever comes out of his mouth.


"We used to write songs.  That was a long time ago.  I like cake."

[Andrew G. Doe]

  How long have Brian & Co been recording this album now?

Well over a year. Fifteen months or so.

[Mendota Heights]

Here is Brian and Zooey: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJkBdEIFur8.

6 years ago.

[The Shift]

  How long have Brian & Co been recording this album now?

Well over a year. Fifteen months or so.

This burst of creative energy that was at one stage amassing enough material for three albums must surely have evolved into a 10-album chest of treasures by now!

[Nicko1234]

Don`t Brian`s comments about touring entirely contradict his earlier comments? Maybe I`m misremembering...

Seems like this new project almost has more guests than the Stars and Stripes sessions.