My thoughts on Brian's new album

[Doug Burrell]

I just got my copy yesterday. I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting very much. I
love Brian as much as anyone, but I know his voice isn't in the best shape.
Well, immediately, I loved the first song, "How Can We Still be Dancin'?". I
think this one has potential if they released it as a single, (which I am sure
will not happen.) It also made me think that Brian should maybe continue to
write songs but let other people sing them. Elton sounds good on this record
to me. The song rocks, although I don't like the tempo changes very much.
"Soul Searchin'" is also very good, but again, another singer (Carl) carries
it. Further proof in my mind that at this point, Brian should write for
others.

After the first listen (which is all I've heard so far), I'm not immediately
impressed with the next three tracks. Maybe they'll grow on me, who knows? I
do dig "Desert Drive", though. To me, this sounds like a Beach Boys record and
I miss their vocals on it. Why does Brian insist on doing so many of the
background vocals? He's got a talented band who can sing very well; why not
use them? I think it would add to the harmonies a lot.

Didn't care for "A Friend Like You", too much. "Make a Wish", "Rainbow Eyes"
and "Don't Let Her Know She's an Angel" still sound good to me. "Saturday
Morning in the City" is one of my favorites on here. "Fairy Tale" can't
overcome it's cheesey lyrics. "The Waltz" is pretty decent, but it maybe has
the worst lyrics I've ever heard. What's up with Van Dyke? Mike Love would be
proud of those lyrics! Geez, did working on SUMMER IN PARADISE ruin VDP that
badly?

Overall, I'd give it three stars out of five. Which, honestly, is better than
I expected. Is there any chance we might get a hit single off this album?

Doug

The Many (mis)Adventures of The Beach Boys!
http://clik.to/dougburrell

Doug Burrell.com
http://www.dougburrell.com

[inven...@hotmail.com]

> Overall, I'd give it three stars out of five. Which, honestly, is better than
> I expected. Is there any chance we might get a hit single off this album?

Hi Doug,

I really doubt that this record will crack the highly-regimented
playlists of commercial radio. But it's ok with me, because I'd rather
not have this cd be some young listener's first exposure to BW.

I bought it late last night, listened this morning, and find it pretty
disappointing overall. Elton John's vocal is really good. "Rainbow
Eyes" is a beautiful song (as I already knew from the boot and
Caroline Now versions--but I wish it had "sweet insanity" here).
"Gettin' in..." is Pet-Sounds-like. There are interesting instrumental
textures and vocal harmonies scattered throughout the songs.

What I don't like--the compressed, slick, echoey sound on voices and
instruments (esp. when Brian's vocals are stacked) and the lyrics, the
lyrics, the lyrics, esp. the Kalinich-penned lyrics. Did I mention the
lyrics? The nadir might be "A Friend Like You." Good grief--there are
Hallmark cards with better poetry. I wonder whether Sir Paul took a
look at the lyrics for this song and decided to just do the "A friend
like you" line.

I don't mind naivete--I admire it in everything from Blake's Songs of
Innocence to "outsider" art. But the lyrics here are often just
insipid. I still plan to listen, again and again, and glean all I can.
It baffles me: first, this record and next, SMiLE? It's cognitive
dissonance time!

Cheers,

Michael

--
To be interested in old music is to be a social outcast.
Robert Crumb