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Post by Awesoman on Jun 27, 2022 6:39:43 GMT -5
So how do we feel about this one? For me this is a big bowl of "meh". The new material recorded for this movie is mostly sloppy and forgettable and the old Paley recordings demonstrate just how subpar most of that stuff really was (although it is nice that they finally got an official release). I do not like "Right Where I Belong" at all; from it's jarring opening to Brian's slurring through most of the vocals, it's just not good. The re-recorded Beach Boys songs are very hit or miss. Although the backing band is in top form, these songs suffer from unpolished lead vocals on "It's O.K." and "Long Promised Road". "The Night Was So Young" does fare a tad better though. Perhaps the finest moment on the album comes with the live version of "In My Room" although it's pretty hard to mess that one up. Among the Paley material present "Must Be a Miracle" perhaps holds up the best for me.
I did enjoy the documentary this soundtrack is based on though. Although at this point a movie detailing Brian's inner turmoil isn't exactly reinventing the wheel, it was nice watching him open up to Jason Fine and getting a glimpse of a day of his life. I just wish the soundtrack held up better. It's ultimately an unfocused hodgepodge of unreleased content and newly recorded songs and covers. And none of it is essential listening.
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Post by dauber on Jun 20, 2023 16:56:50 GMT -5
I finally listened to this all the way through.
It's basically...a seemingly random holding tank of some in-progress new stuff and some of the 1994-ish Paley tapes -- and a really nice reminder of why perhaps those tapes should stay unreleased. (Man, I didn't realize back then how TERRIBLE Brian sounded...practically screaming everything...)
Brian's low-to-lower-middle-range vocals sound like he's struggling, but somehow his high vocals (what little there are on this album) sound actually pretty good.
The overall sound on the album is hit and miss, unfortunately. Lots of terrible balance, and Brian's voice is constantly in the red on a couple of tracks.
There's absolutely no coherency either. No flow. No nothin'. just....bleh. I'd almost rather listen to Gettin' In Over My Head.
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Post by boogieboarder on Jun 21, 2023 7:37:18 GMT -5
… I'd almost rather listen to Gettin' In Over My Head.
I guess I’m one of the few who actually like Gettin' In Over My Head. I listen to it a lot.
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Post by dauber on Jun 21, 2023 8:51:48 GMT -5
Really, I think what's wrong with GIOMH boils down to: - The overall sound. From what I heard, Mark's mixing was supervised by someone who had no qualifications to supervise mixing. His new mix of "A Friend Like You" kind of proves that if he were left on his own, he'd make a really good sounding mix.
- Many of the songs are just too long. Case in point -- the instrumental break in "Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel" goes on forever. - "The Waltz." Ick. Brian's voice sounds painfully awkward, and the lyrics have GOT to be a put-on. - Smile. Brian had toured Smile once, maybe even twice, so we were all on the edges of our seats to get it, but GIOMH is what we got instead. I think that certainly plays a part (unfairly, of course) in why a lot of people don't like the album.
I think if those issues are addressed, GIOMH is a much better album.
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