New Brian album announced

[Rocker]

Taken from BBBritain:

Launch Radio Networks has issued the following report
from Howie Edelson:

BRIAN WILSON SCALING THINGS BACK ON NEW STUDIO ALBUM

Brian Wilson is back in the studio and going full steam ahead for a new solo album, due out next year. In an exclusive to LAUNCH, Wilson revealed that in addition to the track he co-wrote with Burt Bacharach called "What Love Can Do," he's completed about a half dozen tracks, featuring most of the instruments and vocals performed by himself and touring band member Scott Bennett. Wilson added that on several songs horns have been overdubbed.

LAUNCH asked Wilson if he's heading into the studio every day: ["No. Not every day. Every two, three days. About four, four hours per session. I'm writing on a synthesizer. It's like a kick, it makes me inspired to write a melody."] SOUNDCUE (:10 OC: . . . write a melody)

The stripped down approach has been used by Wilson many times in the past, most notably on the Beach Boys' Wild Honey and The Beach Boys Love You albums, released in 1967 and 1977, respectively.

Wilson's mid-'90s work with the Paley Brothers' Andy Paley was the last time he utilized the "two-man-band" approach.

Among the songs that Wilson said will be included on the still-untitled album are "Oxygen To The Brain," "I'm Goin' Home," "A Message Man," "Wonderin' What You're Up To Now," a new untitled ballad sung partially in Spanish with both music and lyrics by Wilson, the Bacharach co-written "What Love Can Do," and a cover of Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Proud Mary."

Brian Wilson will be performing a special 40th anniversary performance of the Beach Boys' Pet Sounds album on November 1st in Los Angeles at UCLA's Royce Hall. It's his only remaining scheduled show this year.


So he does most of the singing by himself again....hm....

[Jim McShane]

Interesting...

Well, Scott Bennett is a one-man band, he can play darn near everything you'd want instrumentally from drums to guitar to keys to harmonica to who knows what else. And he's a VERY good vocalist. And the "No Wrong Notes In Heaven" collaboration with BW on Scott's "Dotted Line" CD is quite good.

But...

I just am afraid of the vocals. At first blush it seems it could easily be too much Brian. But maybe there are other bandmembers doing vocals as well, that would be a real plus.

[Old Rake]

Frankly, I really like the sound of this. This sounds like the most BRIAN project that Brian's worked on in a long time. It sounds like he's large and in charge on this 'un, and the stripped down approach really appeals.

I dig the song titles too: "Oxygen To The Brain?" Sweet.

And "Proud Mary" *FINALLY* resurges! That oughta make AGD have fits, but I'm ecstatic.

[Glenn Greenberg]

I hope it's more like Wild Honey than The Beach Boys Love You.

[Old Rake]

I hope the exact reverse.

[Sir Rob]

Wonder if it'll have 'It's Not Easy Being Me' on it?

[matt-zeus]

I like the sound of it, I love the Paley sessions, I want more Brian being hands on. I like 'Goin home' assuming thats the one from then. 'Wondering...' is a title mentioned in the Tim White book, I think. I can live without Proud Mary, but at least we get the Shortenin bread riff again!
I think if Brian sings well I can live with it, personally (not a popular opinion) the BW band vocals get on my nerves a bit after a while.

[LostArt]

I was hoping that Brian would use other vocalists to round out the vocal blend.  Can Scott Bennett sing falsetto?  Why not bring in Mike Love to put that bottom down, and bring Al Jardine in (on a different day, if necessary...no problem) to further aid in getting that Beach Boys sound.  I'll buy it just to hear the Wilson/Bacharach (or is it Bacharach/Wilson?) tune.  

[The Shift]

I'm very worried about the inclusion of Proud Mary. What the heck's Brian going to do once that's in the public domain? There'll be no more reason to continue...

[Rocker]

I'm very worried about the inclusion of Proud Mary. What the heck's Brian going to do once that's in the public domain?

Well, watching the game, having a bud...

[jlaird]

I want Darian on this release, DARIAN RULES FOREVER!

[Jim McShane]

I was hoping that Brian would use other vocalists to round out the vocal blend.  Can Scott Bennett sing falsetto?

Yes, but not as well as Jeff or Probyn Gregory (or Taylor).  So maybe we'll hear Jeffrey on there too - assuming there are falsetto parts to be sung.

[Ken.W]

I want Darian on this release, DARIAN RULES FOREVER!

I think Lee mentioned that Darian is on a years contract with Disney, writing soundtrack stuff.

[Rerun]

Yes!  Brian singing a song in spanish!  One can only hope for "Featuring: Special Guest, Esteban."

[jlaird]

I doubt that Darian's contract doesn't allow him to work with any other artist, if he's only doing incidental music then there certainly wouldn't be a problem, and since the 'Mints tend to bust the studio out in a week, there is no way he couldn't find time to record some vocals, I'm sure between Brian Wilson and Disney he can afford a plane ticket to wherever Brian is recording.  And also, I think it's time for a new Wondermints record, Mind If We Make Love to You has been playing for 4 years, I need more 'Mints!

[JRauch]

F*CK YES!!!

That's about the best news I've heard in a while! I think the stripped-down approach is a great thing. I hope for something in the spirit of "Friends". I mean, I love his last records, but he tried very hard to copy a style that he is famous for (wall of sound). This one sounds like something new, original.

"I'm writing on a synthesizer"; "Oxygen To The Brain"; "sung in spanish"... The whole project sounds much more experimental to me than his last albums. It sounds like he does what he wants to do, not what would be commercial.... God I can't wait to hear something of it.

[JRauch]

It somehow doesn't matter to me this time if the vocals are rough, or un-perfect, as long as he sings with FEELING.

[donald]

Get in the studio, get it recorded and get out.  Do it once, with FEELING.  Skip the multitracked BW vocals. 

[Don't Back Down]

This sounds extremley promising. I just hope he uses real instruments, instead of synth sounds, and his voice is in great shape.

[JRauch]

I just hope he uses real instruments, instead of synth sounds

Well, why not? I could live with some Love You-eccentricity.

[Rockard]

Heh, I don't care if he uses real instruments or not, only thing that matters is that he is genuinly interested in the recordings and makes them as perfect as he can, based on his own current preferences and not someone elses or someones elses expectations.

And I still think he can sing a nice falsetto, if he really tries to perfect it when recording. The falsetto on surfs up (a childrens sooong) I think is totally fine. I still prefer a later-day brian falsetto to someone elses.

[Old Rake]

For an example of how it might sound, check out "Walking Down The Path Of Life," which I believe was ALSO cut with basically Brian and Scotty.

I think that song is one of the most interesting things he's done in a while. It at least has a measure of creativity and passion and he sounds very engaged, and its a lovely melody.

[JRauch]

To me, Brian is way past the point where he has to proof anything anymore to anyone. I'm just happy that he is having fun recording some new music. Especially in way that HE wants to record it, not how some Joe Thomas-guy wants it.

[phirnis]

I truly doubt that this is going to be an "experimental" album by any means, yet it still could turn out to be the most honest and inspired recording of his entire solo career. But then, that's pretty much what everybody's waiting for almost anytime a new BW record is being announced, isn't it?

Can't wait.

If he's going to do some truly stripped-down music like Anna Lee, The Healer, now that whole project might turn out to be fantastic. Kind of glad he's going to work with Bennett.

[Jim McShane]

For an example of how it might sound, check out "Walking Down The Path Of Life," which I believe was ALSO cut with basically Brian and Scotty.

I think that song is one of the most interesting things he's done in a while. It at least has a measure of creativity and passion and he sounds very engaged, and its a lovely melody.

I agree, I like the song - but don't forget the voice on top was Taylor Mills.