Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2019 17:34:28 GMT -5
Again, these are my thoughts track by track as I listened for the first time.
The title track is horrible, it sounds like some generic opening to a young children's show on PBS.
The second is better. A little more daring and Brian-esque. Im not a fan of the arrangement or production, however. I really can't describe it except to keep throwing that word "generic" around. It sounds like pro-tools or something (I know it's not.) There's none of that edge or "real" quality that Brian's 60s and 70s stuff has. It's too digital, too controlled.
South America has been perfectly described above--it'd be a great Jimmy Buffett song...but it's a poor Brian one. Sound's like Brian's Kokomo, but without the catchy hook.
Where Has Love Been didn't leave much of an impression.
Keep an eye on summer sounds like that mock song that plays in Bojack Horseman when Wanda meets the Russian guy who was also in a coma. Take that however you want.
Dream Angel is actually pretty good...but it sounds like a lame attempt at a 90s power ballad almost.
Cry actually sounds like Brian. This has shades of that Love You and even 60s era aesthetic. I dig it.
Lay Down Burden is alright too. At this point in the album tho, the consistently "meh" production/arrangements are starting to grate on me.
I dont see the point of the LHRW remake. Why redo your own song you already had completed perfectly before?
Sunshine...ugh...Sounds like some tepid, off-brand Beach Boys cover band trying to slip in an original track to their setlist. Someone who knows about Brian/the Beach Boys but doesn't actually APPRECIATE them, trying to write a song that captures their style...without understanding what that style really is. And where the hell does that "baby, don't be afraid to call" coda come from? Sounds like two unfinished tracks mashed together. I do kinda like the lullaby/music box part, but it sounds like a digital stock music of that. Should have just recorded the notes off a real thing and used them in the album. Really, that's the problem with this whole LP, and all of Brian's solo stuff. It sounds manufactured, controlled and digital. The musicianship of a wrecking crew, little idiosyncrasies like the talking in Here Today, the barking in Caroline No...that kinda aesthetic is sorely, SORELY lacking.
I really, REALLY can't believe I'm saying this...but delving into Brian's solo material lately has taught me to appreciate Mike Love more. What Brian's solo stuff always, invariably lacks, are catchy melodies and hooks. I never fully appreciated how important that is until it was gone. Some of his other stuff that lacked catchy hooks in the past were more than saved by the gorgeous arrangements, vocal harmonies and the lyrics either being brilliant (PS/SMiLE) or honest and funny (BDN/LY). In these solo outings, Brian's godlike penchant for arranging has failed him, his voice has aged (and he doesn't have the others), and his lyricists are usually pretty untalented. So, there's really nothing there but some mediocre tracks with so-so at best arrangement/vocals/lyrics/overall sound. It's a shame, and believe me I get no pleasure out of criticizing my idol like this, but that's my honest take. If you told me I'd learn to appreciate MIKE more by listening to BRIAN'S solo stuff a year or two ago I'd have said you were insane. But truly, if you want to disprove the "Brian and the 5 assholes" narrative to a diehard Brianista, show them his solo stuff (barring BWPS and TLOS). Mike's lyrics may have been sometimes cheesy and one note, but at least they were catchy and memorable. With the exception of TLOS, I don't think Brian made a truly great studio LP of original material since Love You.
I'd say this is a 4 or a 5...and I'll round up to the latter because I'm feeling generous.
The title track is horrible, it sounds like some generic opening to a young children's show on PBS.
The second is better. A little more daring and Brian-esque. Im not a fan of the arrangement or production, however. I really can't describe it except to keep throwing that word "generic" around. It sounds like pro-tools or something (I know it's not.) There's none of that edge or "real" quality that Brian's 60s and 70s stuff has. It's too digital, too controlled.
South America has been perfectly described above--it'd be a great Jimmy Buffett song...but it's a poor Brian one. Sound's like Brian's Kokomo, but without the catchy hook.
Where Has Love Been didn't leave much of an impression.
Keep an eye on summer sounds like that mock song that plays in Bojack Horseman when Wanda meets the Russian guy who was also in a coma. Take that however you want.
Dream Angel is actually pretty good...but it sounds like a lame attempt at a 90s power ballad almost.
Cry actually sounds like Brian. This has shades of that Love You and even 60s era aesthetic. I dig it.
Lay Down Burden is alright too. At this point in the album tho, the consistently "meh" production/arrangements are starting to grate on me.
I dont see the point of the LHRW remake. Why redo your own song you already had completed perfectly before?
Sunshine...ugh...Sounds like some tepid, off-brand Beach Boys cover band trying to slip in an original track to their setlist. Someone who knows about Brian/the Beach Boys but doesn't actually APPRECIATE them, trying to write a song that captures their style...without understanding what that style really is. And where the hell does that "baby, don't be afraid to call" coda come from? Sounds like two unfinished tracks mashed together. I do kinda like the lullaby/music box part, but it sounds like a digital stock music of that. Should have just recorded the notes off a real thing and used them in the album. Really, that's the problem with this whole LP, and all of Brian's solo stuff. It sounds manufactured, controlled and digital. The musicianship of a wrecking crew, little idiosyncrasies like the talking in Here Today, the barking in Caroline No...that kinda aesthetic is sorely, SORELY lacking.
I really, REALLY can't believe I'm saying this...but delving into Brian's solo material lately has taught me to appreciate Mike Love more. What Brian's solo stuff always, invariably lacks, are catchy melodies and hooks. I never fully appreciated how important that is until it was gone. Some of his other stuff that lacked catchy hooks in the past were more than saved by the gorgeous arrangements, vocal harmonies and the lyrics either being brilliant (PS/SMiLE) or honest and funny (BDN/LY). In these solo outings, Brian's godlike penchant for arranging has failed him, his voice has aged (and he doesn't have the others), and his lyricists are usually pretty untalented. So, there's really nothing there but some mediocre tracks with so-so at best arrangement/vocals/lyrics/overall sound. It's a shame, and believe me I get no pleasure out of criticizing my idol like this, but that's my honest take. If you told me I'd learn to appreciate MIKE more by listening to BRIAN'S solo stuff a year or two ago I'd have said you were insane. But truly, if you want to disprove the "Brian and the 5 assholes" narrative to a diehard Brianista, show them his solo stuff (barring BWPS and TLOS). Mike's lyrics may have been sometimes cheesy and one note, but at least they were catchy and memorable. With the exception of TLOS, I don't think Brian made a truly great studio LP of original material since Love You.
I'd say this is a 4 or a 5...and I'll round up to the latter because I'm feeling generous.