The Beach Boys Network |
| Posted: 12 Jun 2008 06:00 AM CDT Hey great article - thanks for posting that. Can't wait for the new Fleet Foxes album. | ||
| Posted: 12 Jun 2008 05:40 AM CDT http://www.newstatesman.com/music/2008/06/beach-boys-wilson-bands-album The lure of the beach Jude Rogers Published 12 June 2008 A new generation of US bands cites the Beach Boys as a huge inspiration. Why now? Ten years after Oasis soaked up the multicol oured madness of the Beatles and Blur updated the woozy whimsy of the Kinks, a very different kind of psychedelia is on the tip of every cool musician's tongue. Step forward, the harmony-drenched sounds of new American psychedelia, and its own generation of alternative rock groups. This scene, led by bands such as Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective, shares one inspiration: the more experimental sounds of the late-career Beach Boys. But why the Beach Boys and why now? Robin Pecknold of Seattle's Fleet Foxes, the hirsute, baroque pop quintet that Mojo magazine recently called "America's next great band", has one theory. "The Beach Boys' music soaks up all of America, from the sunny sound of Hawaii to the folk songs of the south to the intelligence of the north-east. In hard times, it's about remembering the romance of the country, and also about the power of the human voice to convey those emotions." In 1966, the Beach Boys had entered a strange phase in their career. While political and sexual revolutions were empowering the group's contemporaries, Brian Wilson had begun an intense collaboration as a songwriter with the songwriter and arranger Van Dyke Parks. The plan was to make a lush concept album called Smile, one that Wilson described as "a teenage symphony to God", inspired by the band's single "Good Vibrations". Back then, the album never materialised. Under the weight of Wilson's mental illness and drug abuse, and the band's internal wrangling, the recording sessions fell apart, leaving a mysterious trail of songs that would be revisited by Wilson only years later. His version of Smile was premiered at the Royal Festival Hall in London in February 2004, and finally released the following September. Not surprisingly, its influence quickly bubbled into the mainstream. Pecknold, the son of baby boomers who themselves grew up in the late 1960s, remembers hearing bootlegs of Smile long before 2004. As he talks about the effect they had on him, his voice glows with happiness. "They just blew my mind. They were so inventive and committed - the product of a man who just couldn't do anything else. There was also an incredible honesty to it, which we and other bands relate to. Because in American music today, it's almost like there's a trend against irony." Today, as in the late Sixties, America is a country whose reputation has been battered by an unpopular war. Perhaps this is why bands have been driven towards the innocence and purity of their musical roots. This is certainly the case with Fleet Foxes, who mix Beach Boys-inspired, spiritual harmonies with folk and hymnal flavours that suggest something deeper in their cultural make-up. And it doesn't matter to these bands that such influences were deeply unfashionable until recently. Other harmony-loving, influential young American groups such as Midlake and Band of Horses take another Beach Boy, Brian's little brother Dennis, as a huge inspiration. Though best known for his early death in 1983 and his brief friendship with Charles Manson, Dennis Wilson was also a cult solo performer. After sharing a tense childhood with his brother in the shadow of their controlling father, Murry, he made his classic debut album, Pacific Ocean Blue, in 1977. It is a long-deleted LP full of heartfelt, psychedelic soul songs. Fans have clamoured in recent years for its re-release, and it at last emerges this month. The upbringing of Brian and Dennis Wilson has another link with the new generation of psychedelic groups: almost all of them have had intensely musical childhoods. Take the influential Brooklyn quartet Grizzly Bear, whose electronic take on the Beach Boys' late-Sixties reverb has resulted in two gorgeous albums, Horn of Plenty (2004) and Yellow House (2006). Their frontman, Ed Droste, another huge fan of Brian Wilson, has talked proudly about his late grandfather being a professor of music at Harvard for 40 years, his mother being a music teacher who plays the autoharp, and the constant singing he enjoyed at home as a child. Elsewhere in New York, the avant-garde Animal Collective are one of the most fashionable groups around, a shifting band of musicians who all met at school in Baltimore and learned classical instruments. To date, they have made eight experimental albums that warp Beach Boys harmonies into unsettling shapes, but only recently have they penetrated the mainstream press. Animal Collective's biggest related success has been Person Pitch (2007), the third solo album by one of its members, Panda Bear, which the critic Simon Reynolds described as sounding "like the Beach Boys if they'd joined Hare Krishna". It earned five-star ratings in the Observer and the Independent and made the top tens of end-of-year polls, all for a record inspired by the birth of Lennox's daughter, Nadja, and a wealth of deeply spiritual, innocent harmonies. Perhaps it is a result of the Beach Boys' influence on pop culture that this summer you can't get away from them. Besides the critical adoration being heaped on the Dennis Wilson reissue, it is encouraging that Brian Wilson himself has become as industrious as he was in the mid-Sixties. On 19 May, he announced his return to Capitol Records, where the Beach Boys made their first album, Surfin' Safari, in 1962. On 1 September, he will release his latest solo album, That Lucky Old Sun. Like Smile, it was written and recorded with Van Dyke Parks, who is experiencing a career renaissance of his own after arranging the folk harpist Joanna Newsom's hugely acclaimed Ys and collaborating with the British psychedelic group the Shortwave Set. "It's a great honour to be here," said Wilson at the press conference to announce That Lucky Old Sun, rocking gently on his feet like a child. Bright yellow banners like party decorations welcomed him home. Then he spoke some words that said everything about his past, his present and the effects of his legacy on the young generation: "It's a very sentimental time in my life." "Pacific Ocean Blue" by Dennis Wilson (Sony BMG) is released on 16 June | ||
| HMV - POB is on it's way!? [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 05:18 AM CDT According to an email from HMV my copy of POB has been dispatched already. Is this possible - I didn't think it was released until the 16th? | ||
| Re: Vocals on \ [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 04:08 AM CDT Actually I think Rolling Up To Heaven is the last time he sounded like his old self. In 1971 Brian's voice was in pretty good shape. I corrected that wikipedia thing but I see it was put back on there. His voice from Pet Sounds on was a little lower pitched ala Heroes, or I'm Waiting For The Day, but Back Home from 1975 is the first time it doesn't sound right to me. Try to find the demo recording of Awake from 1971 it shows how good Brian could still vocalize, and I know that Brian's lead lines on 'Til I Die weren't done until 1971 because early that year the Beach Boys played a version without them on a progressive radio station. | ||
| Re: Dennis on BBC Radio 2 in 35 minutes [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 04:05 AM CDT Mostly chat and banter, only those three tracks as you've pointed out. Having said that, over FM on my stereo, the remastered tracks definitely sound fantastically clear and detailed. | ||
| Re: A couple of American Spring questions... [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 04:04 AM CDT Yeah she is a lot worse on that. Fallin In Love was the 1973 single b side and that's Diane. Diane did co sing a few songs namely Sweet Mountain, and from 1973 Had To Phone Ya. SHe also sings It's Like Heaven. Other then the obvious Good Time, I hear Carl on Forever as well as Brian. Brian also can be heard on Tennessee, Thinkin', Sweet Mountain (low and high parts), and Everybody. | ||
| Re: Energy [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 03:02 AM CDT Well, I guess we agree that more drilling should be done==although I would say that hitherto the Dems were right to stop it. It can and does mess up the environment, especially when there's a mistake. Also, there are obvious strategic reasons for holding onto oil as long as possible at a time when it looks like we are running out. But maybe the time has finally come when it's necessary. As far as keeping it in the USA/North America, it almost certainly would, but that wouldnt matter too much because oil is sold at the same price everywhere, unless its subsidized, like in the oil-producing countries. I really think that if drilling started by year's end the price of oil would only go down a few dollars a barrel. I really think the high prices are here to stay. If the USA/Israel/whoever attack Iran, oil will go up to 200 dollars almost instantly, causing a very deep world-wide recession. I personally have little faith in current alternative fuels, I think nuclear power may be the only way to get out of the mess we're in--if that's even possible. (Of course I am no real expert, though.) When I was in America in March(In Missour) gas was about 2.95/gallon and I definitely felt the bite, even though that price was less than half the price it is in the country I live in. (But in this country people are more careful with their money than most Americans are.) But I was really amazed at how many HUGE trucks, SUV's, etc there were driving around. Not only more than Europe. I would say significantly more than even ten years ago. That has got to stop. In fact, prices are already forcing big car manufacturerrs in the USA to change their tactics. Higher fuel efficiency will cost cost the consumer less(and even put oil prices down a little, I guess.) Also the USA desperately needs to build a new public transport system. It NEEDS it, and will need it more in the future. THese problems might alleviate now and again, but I think for the most part they are here to stay. Oil is not an inexhaustible resource. Period. I'm not arguing with you here, I'm sure you agree. Just on a little soapbox. I guess I think where we differ is causes and reasons and "ways to fix it. You can make a very good argument that the Dems plans are better for the long term, especially if revenue is directed from oil sales to building infrastructure(as it has been in Europe.) You see, I don't think there is any fix to this problem--and we've got to plan ahead for when oil really does go to 200 bucks or more--which I think it will. I really think, since the price of gas has gone up almost six times it's former price in the last five years or so, that something more than tension in the Middle East and the development of China/India are to blame. We are simply running out of oil. ANd civillization is going to crash when it hits 300 dollars/barrel. WE need to plan for that. Or somebody does. And I think, honestly somebody is. I don't want to get into a debate on Iraq war in general. I've had many of those arguments. I generally don't think it was a good idea or the right thing to do. BUT. If the world is running out of oil, it may have been the only thing to do in their eyes. The implications of someone else controlling all the oil is terrifying to the US government and I think they would wreck even the US/world economy to keep control of it--because without it, the US could be doomed in the future. All the rhetoric about terrorism etc. being a cause for the war I t hink is frankly ridiculous, only a means to an end. My opinion. Yours is probably different. Like I said, I don't really want to go there: I doubt if either of us would tell the other something he hasn't already heard! | ||
| Re: Night time [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 02:58 AM CDT And it *was* officially released in Germany, with One For The Boys on the flip. | ||
| Re: Unheard Beach Boys to be made available to the public [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 02:52 AM CDT Anyone have any info on sessions the band did for the BBC? Well thanks to AGD and Ian Rusten: November, 1964 5 - BBC2 The Beat Room TV show, London, England 6 - BBC Light Programme radio show (Top Gear/Saturday Club), London England 7 - BBC2 Open House TV show, London, England November, 1966 30 - Top Of The Pops BBCTV, London, England (broadcast December 25th) November, 1970 18 - Top Of The Pops BBCTV show, London, England May, 1972 16 - Old Grey Whistle Test BBC 2 TV, London, England 31 - Top Of the Pops BBC TV show, London The only video item from this list still in the BBC archive is the OGWT performance of "You Need A Mess Of Help". There are also a couple of good OGWT interviews in the archive, one with Carl from 1974, and one with Brian from 1976 (some sequences of the latter were used in "An American Band"). And there was also, of course, the multi-part "Beach Boys Story" BBC radio series from 1974. | ||
| Re: Carl's vocal on AJ track [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 02:17 AM CDT For info on when the interview will be repeated, go here - http://www.luxuriamusic.com/blogs/chuckkelley You all should listen to Heroes & Villains, it's on every Saturday from 1-2 pm (pacific). Lots of cool chatters in the chatroom... Chuck found this on the blog: Quote ChuckKelley's blog Founding member of the Beach Boys AL JARDINE on Heroes & Villains!! Submitted by ChuckKelley on Tue, 06/10/2008 - 10:42. Al Jardine, a founding member of The Beach Boys, has given an exclusive interview to Chuck Kelley, host of the weekly Beach Boys internet radio show, "Heroes & Villains" which will air on LuxuriaMusic (www.luxuriamusic.com) at the following dates/times... Friday June 13 at 4:00 PM Saturday June 14 at 10:00 AM Sunday June 29 at 9:00 AM *all times are Pacific Standard Time. Read more by ChuckKelley Pacific Standard Time: now for all those Europeans here, is this Greenwich-time -8 hours? | ||
| Re: Dennis on BBC Radio 2 in 35 minutes [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 01:59 AM CDT I totally missed it. But fortunately one can listen it back (I assume, haven't tried yet). This is part of the playlist (and a listen again-link as well): http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio2/shows/radcliffemaconie/playlist_wed.shtml Apparently some attention for the BB-singles box as well. Quote Title: DO YOU WANNA DANCE? Artist: THE BEACH BOYS Album: THE BEACH BOYS TODAY! Title: THOUGHTS OF YOU Artist: DENNIS WILSON Album: PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE Title: RAINBOWS Artist: DENNIS WILSON Album: PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE | ||
| Re: A couple of American Spring questions... [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 01:29 AM CDT This might be obvious to most, but the Beach Boys sing backup on Good Time. And that's Marilyn singing lead on all the tracks? Why does she sound so different on Let's Put Our Hearts Together? | ||
| Re: Unheard Beach Boys to be made available to the public [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 12 Jun 2008 01:24 AM CDT quote author=elnombre link=topic=5655.msg90614#msg90614 date=1213229499] Thanks for the info, Mikey [/quote] Don't thank me I just copied it from AGD's site: http://www.btinternet.com/~bellagio/ | ||
| Re: A couple of American Spring questions... [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 11:58 PM CDT The only track Diane has a solo lead on is "Everybody". I'll get back with the bvs - as for the Iowa sessions, the studio belonged to a friend of a friend. | ||
| Re: Vocals on \ [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 11:11 PM CDT Brian's vocal on California Saga is sped up. | ||
| Re: A couple of American Spring questions... [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 11:07 PM CDT i thought brian and mike were on sweet mountain | ||
| Re: Vocals on [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 10:44 PM CDT I think possibly the best gauge, meagre as it is, is his intro vocal on "California (On My Way To Sunny Californ-i-a)". Sounds about the same as on, say, Break Away. | ||
| BEACH BOYS BRIAN WILSON THE SURVIVORS 45 ["brian wilson"] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 09:43 PM CDT | ||
| Re: Beach Boys intrumentals [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 09:43 PM CDT I'd count them, and I love them. | ||
| Re: Beach Boys intrumentals [Smiley Smile Message Board] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 09:41 PM CDT If Passing By I definitely have to mention it.  | ||
| The Beach Boys Greatest Hits ["beach boys"] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 04:08 PM CDT | ||
| BRIAN WILSON PRESENTS SMILE *NEW DVD* ["brian wilson"] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 04:05 PM CDT
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| BRIAN WILSON I JUST WASN'T...JAPAN 11-TRACK CD SEALED ["brian wilson"] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 09:50 AM CDT | ||
| BBC Releases Unreleased Beach Boys Recordings [Smiley Smile Dot Net] Posted: 11 Jun 2008 08:39 AM CDT The BBC has announced it will release music from the Beach Boys, as well as many other bands and musicians.
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