*Merged* Brian Wilson current album thread

[alf wiedersehen]

There are ways to use pitch correction tastefully and make it 100% undetectable - Joe Thomas has just made it clear that he is astonishingly lazy with this and especially the live album.

The only album I've ever felt ripped off about buying. Although there are some great moments on there, that first disc is completely unlistenable. That purchase was pretty much $20 down the toilet.

Joe Thomas just sucked all the life out of that live CD. I have cell phone recordings that sound better than anything on that CD. I can't imagine what he was thinking releasing it in that fashion?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXE_n2q08Yw&feature=kp

[Al Jardine: Pick Up Artist]

Heh, I remember complaining a lot about the sound of TWGMTR when it came out and cadres of users of this board saying it wasn't that bad and that I didn't know what I was saying.

Good to see that the disappearance of the shiny new sheen has killed that notion.

[Andrew G. Doe]

The auto-tune on TWGMTR (exempting the IIT single remix) is actually done very subtly.

I'm guessing you've never listened to "From There To Back Again". Because if you had, you'd not be making that statement. Actually, I don't mind RoboAl, but subtle it ain't.

Now, compared with what Thomas did to the live album, the autotune on Cher's "Believe" is subtle.

[drbeachboy]

Heh, I remember complaining a lot about the sound of TWGMTR when it came out and cadres of users of this board saying it wasn't that bad and that I didn't know what I was saying.

Good to see that the disappearance of the shiny new sheen has killed that notion.

I still have very little complaints about TWGMTR. I definitely do not like what I hear autotune-wise on disc one of the Live CD, nor do I like that the life & energy was sucked out of the whole recording.

[Andrew G. Doe]

I do have a question for AGD, however....  Mentioning that GIOMH almost didn't get released, I have always been kind of curious why it even was?? Being so close to BWPS, it almost seemed unnecessary. I agree it is much flawed. So, who pushed it out there to begin with?

GIOMH was recorded, mixed and mastered by early fall 2003 and was shopped around LA... and everyone turned it down flat. Because it sucked. Scotty Bennett told a fan as much in early 2004, it was posted on the BBB board (where I was then admin) and in very short order I got an email strongly urging us to remove that post. I've been told by different sources, independently, that it was part of the BWPS deal: you release that, you have to take GIOMH too. My favorite comment about it came from a long-term BB fan when I asked them if the mix really was as bad as I was thinking: "nope, it really is everything louder than everything else".

I may get another email for relating this, but frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

[TimeToGetAlone]

As far as noticeable autotune goes, I can handle TWGMTR.  But I still think the heavy use of autotune that has been prevalent in modern times is one of my most hated things in music.  Excessive 80's production have nothing on autotune when it comes to making me cringe.

[Al Jardine: Pick Up Artist]

I just hate the production on TWGMTR all around. Plasticky.

[The Shift]

I do have a question for AGD, however....  Mentioning that GIOMH almost didn't get released, I have always been kind of curious why it even was?? Being so close to BWPS, it almost seemed unnecessary. I agree it is much flawed. So, who pushed it out there to begin with?

GIOMH was recorded, mixed and mastered by early fall 2003 and was shopped around LA... and everyone turned it down flat. Because it sucked. Scotty Bennett told a fan as much in early 2004, it was posted on the BBB board (where I was then admin) and in very short order I got an email strongly urging us to remove that post. I've been told by different sources, independently, that it was part of the BWPS deal: you release that, you have to take GIOMH too. My favorite comment about it came from a long-term BB fan when I asked them if the mix really was as bad as I was thinking: "nope, it really is everything louder than everything else".

I may get another email for relating this, but frankly my dear, I don't give a damn.

But if someone quoted your post, it'd be preserved even if you edited the original, yes? Then it'd have to be up to the mods, who're generally in favour of freedom of speech and defending the truth?

[♩♬🐸 Billy C ♯♫♩🐇]

For what it's worth,  I recall reading the story about GIOMH being tied in with BWPS elsewhere as well...assumed it was common knowledge.

[Ron]

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.  

Just make sure she only gets paid for the 10 minutes she spent writing it, right? 

Exactly!

[Shady]

I take it all back, brian is probably a big fan of the opening lyrics to the lana del ray song "cola"

 

[Wirestone]

Heh, I remember complaining a lot about the sound of TWGMTR when it came out and cadres of users of this board saying it wasn't that bad and that I didn't know what I was saying.

Good to see that the disappearance of the shiny new sheen has killed that notion.

You still don't know what you're saying.

[FUN³]

musically, brian needs a rick rubinesque reinvention, sans handlers/hangers-on.

[ToneBender631]

The auto-tune on TWGMTR (exempting the IIT single remix) is actually done very subtly.

I'm guessing you've never listened to "From There To Back Again". Because if you had, you'd not be making that statement. Actually, I don't mind RoboAl, but subtle it ain't.

Now, compared with what Thomas did to the live album, the autotune on Cher's "Believe" is subtle.

I'm guessing you're speaking about the opening line, particularly the "...there's no where else I'd rather be" line. The tell-tale artifacts of fast re-pitching aren't there like they are on say, the opening line of "Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl". Al's performance is pretty tight on this, and there is probably a bit of auto-tune, but it's not what everyone is making it out to be.

Also, Thomas didn't mix either album; he was the producer. The mixing "honors" go to Frank Pappalardo, who handled both TWGMTR and the live album. The auto-tune on sections of the live album, that's a different conversation altogether...

[KittyKat]

Since when do producers not have final say or influence on the mix?

[ToneBender631]

Since when do producers not have final say or influence on the mix?

They do, but in a project like this, they're probably not the one setting retune times on the auto-tune plug-ins...But it will really vary a lot from project to project and producer to producer.

[runnersdialzero]

musically, brian needs a rick rubinesque reinvention, sans handlers/hangers-on.

Too bad Rubin has done very little actual work in the last two decades and is paid millions solely to have his name attached to a project nowadays.

[Sheriff John Stone]

musically, brian needs a rick rubinesque reinvention, sans handlers/hangers-on.

Too bad Rubin has done very little actual work in the last two decades and is paid millions solely to have his name attached to a project nowadays.

He actually produced Lana Del Rey's 2012 single, "Ride".

[coco1997]

These collaborations sound exciting, mostly because they're completely out of left field. Could the project end up being a complete disaster? Certainly. But the artists involved are talented, critically-respected performers. Would you rather have Zooey Deschanel or Katy Perry? Frank Ocean or Drake? Kacey Musgrave or Taylor Swift?

[Ron]

I agree that they're interesting choices, but who's choosing them?  BTW dont' hate on T Sweezy. 

[Shady]

Probably Capitol, maybe somebody in Brian's band.

I'm staring to turn. While I was slightly familiar with lana del rays music,while listening to her song "born to die" on the way home from work, I started liking the idea of her voice blending with Brian's.

I'm feeling better about this news

[Ray Lawlor]

Probably Capitol, maybe somebody in Brian's band.

I'm staring to turn. While I was slightly familiar with lana del rays music,while listening to her song "born to die" on the way home from work, I started liking the idea of her voice blending with Brian's.

I'm feeling better about this news

I would like to add to this. For the record , I hate the idea of duets, so I was initially in my WTF mode on this idea.  I wouldn't know Lana Del Ray from Marina Del Rey so I was essentially clueless about her work.  But I love the thought of new idea's , which make things fresh and vibrant. And this is certainly different, that is for certain. But when I hear about "duets"; I tend to vibrate, and not in a good way !  But I ask ; does anyone consider "Sloop" or "Don't Hurt My Little Sister" or "Salt Lake City" or "Kiss Me, Baby , for example, a duet ; or rather , is this just an example of Brian , producing those records, juxtaposing the vocals , changing the dynamic on these great songs ?

I guess what I am saying is that I don't consider this a "duets " album ; for example is Alan singing verse one; Brian singing verse two and Blondue singing verse three a duet ; or is it a Beach Boys trademark  switching off on vocals , changing the dynamic of the production ?

Who knows , maybe everyone will be surprised and will like it , and then we'll have world peace !

Cheers. Ray

[Dancing Bear]

If the songs are good I don't care if Brian is singing a duet with Charles Manson. "A Friend Like You" sucked not because Paul's voice didn't blend with Brian's, it sucked beacause it was a forgettable dittie. If Paul had guested in "Midnight's Another Day" they would have sounded good together.

Of course, the concept of good songs is very subjective.

[Ray Lawlor]

If the songs are good I don't care if Brian is singing a duet with Charles Manson. "A Friend Like You" sucked not because Paul's voice didn't blend with Brian's, it sucked beacause it was a forgettable dittie. If Paul had guested in "Midnight's Another Day" they would have sounded good together.

Of course, the concept of good songs is very subjective.

As Ella Fitzgerald sang :  it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing.

Agree  .   Just no singing with Stamos please

[Al Jardine: Pick Up Artist]

If the songs are good I don't care if Brian is singing a duet with Charles Manson. "A Friend Like You" sucked not because Paul's voice didn't blend with Brian's, it sucked beacause it was a forgettable dittie. If Paul had guested in "Midnight's Another Day" they would have sounded good together.

Of course, the concept of good songs is very subjective.

Dude, I'd love to hear Brian collab with Manson!