Brian Reimagines Gershwin

[Myk Luhv]

I finally listened to this album for the first time yesterday evening and once more... again later that night. I'll just copy verbatim what I wrote to a friend of mine in an email about the album:

[M]y initial impressions are that it is very good but definitely is an album to take in after many more listens. It's the kind of album that actually rewards you the more you listen to it, like all good albums! I guess it depends on how familiar you are with the Gershwins' songs -- I'm actually not very familiar with 8/10 (excluding the Wall-O-Brian Rhapsody In Blue  snippets and the two "collaborations") of the songs on the album, shamefully -- but I really enjoy his versions of "Summertime" [it sounds downright sinister musically!], "I Loves You, Porgy" [Brian Wilson is now genderqueer, I guess!], "It Ain't Necessarily So", "Love Is Here To Stay", "I've Got A Crush On You", and "Someone To Watch Over Me" [these last three are just lovely, really]. Though I must admit, I do not think there is a single bad song on the album; they're all at least 'good' and very listenable!

Yeah, I couldn't be a music reviewer. I will probably update this (or just post again) when my views become more substantial upon further listening though, I imagine.

[Peter Reum]

I had a similar experience today. I walked into Hastings to but the monthly Mojo and Uncut and went through the cd section listening to the Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin cd. The guy said they had moved about 20 of the 30 they had ordered. That sounded good to me...

[Shady]

It's back up to #2 on amazon and it's still selling strong on music sites.

I'm happy 

[donald]

Although I've been listening to a "borrowed" copy, I bought it today at Best Buy.   Under Brian Wilson, behing someone named Charlie Wilson.  I "corrected" the sequence, putting it before c in the front of the bin.

Although I knew that Scott co-wrote with Brian, seing the credits in the booklet (Gershwin, Wilson, Bennett) again brought home the fact that this isn't simply Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin.

The Brian Wilson "orchestra" sounds as good, if not better, than ever.

[Myk Luhv]

Is it just me or is there a lot more harp [sorry, harmonica] on this album? I at least hear it like there is, and I love it! More harmonica, Brian... now you just need to add in some farting Moog synth and a little "Shortenin' Bread" and you're almost there!

[HighOnLife]

#1 Jazz album on Billboard.

Congrats on your first #1 album, Brian.

[Ron]

Just imagine if you're a Jazz aficionado; if this album's #1, it's got to get your attention, and you may not normally listen to Brian or the Beach Boys.  Kind of neat to see Brian reach a different audience. 

[Runaways]

eh. michael buble is usually at the top of that list.

[Ron]

Brian could kick Michael Buble's A$$. 

[Myk Luhv]

What exactly does it take to hit #1 on the Jazz Albums chart? I'm skeptical that it's really significant like it would be for the Hot 100 or whatever.

[Runaways]

it's not.  All it takes is to have "jazz" as part of the categorization.  still nice, but michael buble's album has been #1 for a long time and that album came out last year. 

[Matt H]

Any idea what it will be on the Billboard 200 this week?  I hope it doesn't fall significantly.

[slothrop]

As someone who was a serious fan of jazz and Gershwin before getting into The Beach Boys/BW I was a bit skeptical about the album when its imminent release was announced. Not necessarily because I didn't think Brian wasn't capable of performing the songs, but rather, because I feared my familiarity with all of the songs (except the new ones) would taint the experience. I feared I would be a bit bored and unsurprised by the album. When "TLIILY" started streaming some of those fears dissapated. Brian was singing his sweetest in years and the arrangement was very pretty.

Now that I've heard the whole thing, I'm pretty blown away by most of it. At very least in Brian's top 3 solo recordings and just refreshingly unique, indeed. I've never really enjoyed "I Loves You, Porgy" no matter who sang it. Don't know why. But Brian's wonderful version (especially that great tag) really made me see the song I've been skipping all these years. I thought "Summertime" was going to be completely unnecessary--so many have already put down amazing versions. Brian's is creepy, bluesy and definitely deserves to be here. "I Got Rhythm" is one of the best "nostalgic" throwback songs in the entire BB/BW canon, and there's a lot of them as we all know. But the highlight for me is "Someone to Watch Over Me". Already one of my absolute favorites in the Gershwin songbook, Brian's hauntingly gorgeous arrangement takes it to a whole new place. It's like hearing it for the first time. "Nothing But Love" kicks despite the weak title--dig the flying harmonies and cheezy "15 Big Ones" organ.

All together a wonderful album, even with some minor flaws. It'll be spinning for quite a while. And it excites me as to what Brian might do next.

[jeffcdo]

Nicely stated slothrop!

[The Heartical Don]

#1 Jazz album on Billboard.

Congrats on your first #1 album, Brian.

Seconded. It's time the reign of terror by Buble and Krall ends. The world needs Brian Wilson now. BWRG will soon bring the Middle-East conflict to an end. I am told that Netenhayu and Abbas play the thing continually, to support the peace process.

[HighOnLife]

Hit's Daily Double has Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin dropping from #31 last week to #49 this week. Billboard had the album at #26 last week. We should know by tomorrow where it is this week. If it's still in the top 50, that's a small drop.

[The Heartical Don]

Hit's Daily Double has Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin dropping from #31 last week to #49 this week. Billboard had the album at #26 last week. We should know by tomorrow where it is this week. If it's still in the top 50, that's a small drop.

I would not worry too much. I think BWRG is a 'sleeper' album. People usually pick these up by accident, for instance when they're with friends and something quiet and euphonic is put in the player, after an evening of Wishbone Ash.