brianwilson.com - New TLOS VIdeo

[Matt H]

There is a new video promoting TLOS at brianwilson.com

[Wrightfan]

 

Make it September 2nd now!

Love the cover art also.

[Don't Back Down]

Nice video, can't wait to hear the final product!

Is Paul still with the band/on the album? or did he leave too? Did they just get that woodwind player shown for that one-off gig at Capitol?

[Awesoman]

The album sounds very promising.  Was that the cover art at the end of the video?

[XY]

Whoa, this sounds amazing, especially "Midnight"!

[SloopJohnB]

I couldn't see the first video, now I can't see this one... I tried Firefox and IE, updating QuickTime... Nothing.

Would someone be kind enough to rip it and convert it to another format? 

[carl r]

Whoa, this sounds amazing, especially "Midnight"!

Yes, it's a good 'un - seems like there is a proper string section as well. I know the power of editing, but he seems to be enjoying himself. As long as they've cleaned up a couple of the more cluttered tracks, this'll be his best album in a long time. And then if Capital promote it the same way the POB has been promoted (well-targeted web ads, for example) - it should do pretty well.

[elnombre]

I couldn't see the first video, now I can't see this one... I tried Firefox and IE, updating QuickTime... Nothing.

Would someone be kind enough to rip it and convert it to another format? 

In firefox, go to Tools --> Content and try enabling JAVA and Javascript. If that doesn't work, drop me a PM and I'll rip the videos.

[NightHider]

Brian is in great voice and the production and harmonies sound great.   Glad to see he is putting out a (mostly) full fledged new album.  Thanks to all involved!!

However, these (new) melodies just don't sound like BW written material to me.  I think he has been with the Wondermints too long and that it is time for him to go back to some folks he has worked with before or at least try an new collaborator altogether.  A BB/VDP  collaboration I am sure would have marvelous results and I believe all parties are ready for it.  These TSOL songs are nice but they just don't sound like Brian's work - even the backing harmonies are relatively pedestrian compared to the rest of the Wilson catalouge.  Maybe BW is getting older/more mature or maybe someone thought it better not to mention someone else was at the helm for a majority of this work.  I'm thinking the latter.

Other than that, we will be purchasing TSOL on vinyl.  Looking forward to a full listen, maybe that will change my mind.  Until then, I am going to put in Orange Crate Art - BW's previous 'Ode to California' album.

[TdHabib]

God, what a great promo. Very touching, and BW is in very good voice indeed. Kudos to Scott Bennett for getting all of this out of Brian. IMHO, this is pure Brian/though Scott certainly helped that.

[Amy B.]

Brian is in great voice and the production and harmonies sound great.   Glad to see he is putting out a (mostly) full fledged new album.  Thanks to all involved!!

However, these (new) melodies just don't sound like BW written material to me.  . . Maybe BW is getting older/more mature or maybe someone thought it better not to mention someone else was at the helm for a majority of this work.  I'm thinking the latter.

Agreed that it sounds great. As for this not being all Brian, you think Scott is not being truthful when he says that Brian came in with fully realized melodies? I think they sound very Brian-esque, and the harmonies, particularly on Midnight's Another Day, are great. On MAD, they're positively haunting.

[the captain]

I think most of the sound seems to be from the live-in-studio performance(s), but especially that "Southern California" part from the beginning may be studio. (I didn't like that extra vocal at the very end of that clip, by the way.) Whoever had most of the original ideas, whoever wrote the most of it, whoever added which parts, I'm not too concerned about because I like it. Just like it doesn't really affect my listening experience whether Mike or Brian wrote "get around round round, I get around," who named Pet Sounds (and why) or whether VDP wrote some music from Smile or just present for its creation, those are songs and albums I like. I have heard TLOS and I like it. The things I most didn't like about the versions I've heard were Brian's pitch problems, which I optimistically assume won't be a part of the album release. Granted, I can pessimistically worry about newly introduced production touches that I won't like. Either way, whatever. Scott wrote it. Brian wrote it. (Hell, I wrote it, I remember the day well, I was playing "Shortenin Bread" for 71 hours straight and suddenly there was this burst of creativity.) I'm pretty happy it's on the way.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Brian is in great voice and the production and harmonies sound great.   Glad to see he is putting out a (mostly) full fledged new album.  Thanks to all involved!!

However, these (new) melodies just don't sound like BW written material to me.  I think he has been with the Wondermints too long and that it is time for him to go back to some folks he has worked with before or at least try an new collaborator altogether.  A BB/VDP  collaboration I am sure would have marvelous results and I believe all parties are ready for it.  These TSOL songs are nice but they just don't sound like Brian's work - even the backing harmonies are relatively pedestrian compared to the rest of the Wilson catalouge.  Maybe BW is getting older/more mature or maybe someone thought it better not to mention someone else was at the helm for a majority of this work.  I'm thinking the latter.

Other than that, we will be purchasing TSOL on vinyl.  Looking forward to a full listen, maybe that will change my mind.  Until then, I am going to put in Orange Crate Art - BW's previous 'Ode to California' album.

Very thoughtful and honest post, NightHider...

[TdHabib]

Whoever had most of the original ideas, whoever wrote the most of it, whoever added which parts, I'm not too concerned about because I like it. Just like it doesn't really affect my listening experience whether Mike or Brian wrote "get around round round, I get around," who named Pet Sounds (and why) or whether VDP wrote some music from Smile or just present for its creation, those are songs and albums I like. I have heard TLOS and I like it.

I agree wholeheartedly Luther.

[the captain]

Whoever had most of the original ideas, whoever wrote the most of it, whoever added which parts, I'm not too concerned about because I like it. Just like it doesn't really affect my listening experience whether Mike or Brian wrote "get around round round, I get around," who named Pet Sounds (and why) or whether VDP wrote some music from Smile or just present for its creation, those are songs and albums I like. I have heard TLOS and I like it.

I agree wholeheartedly Luther.

Cool. If I can add to the statement, I'd add that I understand the desire for it to be 100% Brian. That helps the story of Brian, the legend, etc. But I don't want to base my impression of the music on the person whose name is on it (or, if cynics are to be followed, whose isn't). That's a story. That's the accompanying narrative. The sound of the music is to me what is most interesting. I like the sound of the music.

[oldsurferdude]

Brian is in great voice and the production and harmonies sound great.   Glad to see he is putting out a (mostly) full fledged new album.  Thanks to all involved!!

However, these (new) melodies just don't sound like BW written material to me.  I think he has been with the Wondermints too long and that it is time for him to go back to some folks he has worked with before or at least try an new collaborator altogether.  A BB/VDP  collaboration I am sure would have marvelous results and I believe all parties are ready for it.  These TSOL songs are nice but they just don't sound like Brian's work - even the backing harmonies are relatively pedestrian compared to the rest of the Wilson catalouge.  Maybe BW is getting older/more mature or maybe someone thought it better not to mention someone else was at the helm for a majority of this work.  I'm thinking the latter.

Other than that, we will be purchasing TSOL on vinyl.  Looking forward to a full listen, maybe that will change my mind.  Until then, I am going to put in Orange Crate Art - BW's previous 'Ode to California' album.

Psst...these newbies are not written by Brian! Can't you tell it's old Mike Love stuff? God, I feel a bit sad for ol ' Brian-people presume he didn't even compose his own material-what a shame.

[Day Tripper]

I feel a bit sad for ol ' Brian-people presume he didn't even compose his own material-what a shame.

 I guess a lot of that can be attributed to the Paley / Wilson collaborations. Fans have speculated how much input Brian had on some of those also. Has Andy Paley ever spoken on the record about that? Or is he silent out of respect for Brian or fear of contractual legal repurcusions?

[TdHabib]

I feel a bit sad for ol ' Brian-people presume he didn't even compose his own material-what a shame.

 I guess a lot of that can be attributed to the Paley / Wilson collaborations. Fans have speculated how much input Brian had on some of those also. Has Andy Paley ever spoken on the record about that? Or is he silent out of respect for Brian or fear of contractual legal repurcusions?

Paley's spoken about it in drips in drabs to avoid legal stuff, presumably; what I've heard is surprising: Paley wrote "Slightly American Music" entirely, but he also stated that Brian wrote the bulk of the lyrics (in addition to some of the melody) of "Gettin' In Over My Head," and while Paley wrote a lot of "Soul Searchin'," Brian got so excited about it he went to England (where Paley was working on something else) to work on it with Paley; also "Saturday Morning in the City" and "Chain Reaction of Love," (if I'm not mistaken) had their origins back in the late 60s through the mid 70s; as well as that Mike Love wanted desperately to re-write the lyrics for "Chain Reaction of Love."

Anyway, back to TLOS-A Narrative

[Don't Back Down]

Any info on the studio session footage in the new video? Are those real or 'fake' like the ones on BWPS dvd?

[Wirestone]

Speculation is natural. For what it's worth, I believe Brian co-wrote all of the TLOS material with the exception of "Southern California" -- the song that begins the new video. That's written and performed on the demo exclusively by Scotty Bennett.

I've also heard that Scotty helped BW rework MAD from a rocker to its current ballad form. "California Role" has its origins in a Landy-era tune. And "Mornin' Beat" has some similarities to "Walkin'" an unreleased track from the late 60s.

[Amy B.]

Any info on the studio session footage in the new video? Are those real or 'fake' like the ones on BWPS dvd?

I don't see why it would be fake. It just shows Brian sitting there, sometimes talking, sometimes signing, and sometimes playing keyboards, which is probably what he did. I don't think the band would have recorded and then gone in and pretended to do what they already did for the benefit of the cameras. Or if they did, who cares-- what they're showing really happened.

[LostArt]

However, these (new) melodies just don't sound like BW written material to me.

These TSOL songs are nice but they just don't sound like Brian's work  Maybe BW is getting older/more mature or maybe someone thought it better not to mention someone else was at the helm for a majority of this work.  I'm thinking the latter.

Until then, I am going to put in Orange Crate Art - BW's previous 'Ode to California' album.

Umm...you are aware that Brian didn't write any of the songs on Orange Crate Art, right?

[brianc]

The songs sounded great to me. A lot of these pieces have already been confirmed as being songs from Brian's unreleased past. If Scott Bennett helped augment the process and bring about something cool, who gives a crap?

My only complaint, thus far, from what I've heard, is that the drums are a bit bombastic. Brian doesn't have to stay stuck in the '60s, but even his drums or Moog taps from the '70s have that unique Brian stamp. Even the 1988 album has a unique Brian drum sound. TLOS... from the video clip... doesn't have anything other than "average" drumming, to my ears. But that would be a minor complaint on my part. By and large, it sounded killer, and I can't wait for it to come out.

[roll plymouth rock]

Really cool clip.....much more excited for the album now!

And cool cover art to boot

[Shady]

Can't say I'm a big fan of the cover art.

But I can say i'm very excited and happy for Brian.