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Post by Al S on Nov 23, 2020 22:07:31 GMT -5
Today we discuss and rate Strange World, written by Bri and Joe, and allegedly a part of the legendary "suite" Brian concotted circa 97/98, parts of which were fragmented across this album (Think About the Days, Strange World, There to Back, PCH, Summer's Gone).
There are allegedly another 7 "suite" songs that Brian wanted to stock-pile for another BB album - this is all according to Joe via David Beard's Goldmine interview.
Strange World is a song of spiritual love and thanks from Brian to his longtime housekeeper and friend, Gloria - a beautiful gesture straight from the heart.
Sadly, however, and it pains me to say so, this song doesn't really do if for me in terms of the track, which features longtime BB cronny Garry Griffin on Accordion, and melody - this is something I would expect to hear tagged onto the end of a teen flick like Princess Diaries 2 or Freaky Friday.
Great singing from Brian and likely Jeff, but that seems about the extent of the personal in attendance, making it the most transparent BW solo track on the album, and it's almost a skipper or pee-break opportunity for me.
A low 7.
Here's a boot-toob if you can't access the above:
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Post by E on Nov 24, 2020 1:52:27 GMT -5
I think this is one of the best tracks on the album. 10.
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Post by AGD on Nov 24, 2020 3:28:58 GMT -5
The intro to the real meat. Jeff very evident on the highs. An easy seven.
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Post by Vale on Nov 24, 2020 3:53:02 GMT -5
A six for me.
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Post by jk on Nov 24, 2020 6:20:50 GMT -5
Prevaricating between a 9 and a 10. So many good things in there, not least the timps à la "IWFTD" and the piano intro and spooky outro. The bridge ain't bad either. Darn it -- ten.
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Post by Matt H on Nov 24, 2020 7:46:19 GMT -5
Of the Suite songs on the album, this is my least favorite, 7.
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Nov 24, 2020 7:59:35 GMT -5
I am giving Strange World a 9. This one is my second favorite song on the album. Very Pet Sounds-ish sounding with the arrangement, the instruments and the bicycle bell. I even enjoy Brian’s lead vocal. It’s amazing that he held on to this for so long; awaiting a Beach Boys reunion. A wonderful tune from Brian.
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Post by kds on Nov 24, 2020 8:22:31 GMT -5
Track nine gets a nine.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 24, 2020 8:42:54 GMT -5
Strange world - A fine track, but for me it doesn’t come close to the next 3. 7/10
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Post by Emdeeh on Nov 24, 2020 10:30:19 GMT -5
I like "Strange World" and prefer it as the album closer on my personal playlist for TWGMTR, gets a 7.
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Post by John Manning on Nov 24, 2020 10:35:33 GMT -5
Almost there… a high 9 and that only because of the majesty of what is to come.
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Post by Autotune on Nov 24, 2020 11:54:36 GMT -5
An ok song that comes dangerously close to the Wilson-Thomas standard of predictability: you can guess how the entire song will go upon listening to the first four bars.
Not many BBs involved, it seems, with Wilson and Foskett belting out most if not all of the vocals.
Strange World veers the album away from the group-effort vibe it had until two seconds ago.. The same vibe will be recaptured during the next two tracks... only to be lost again in what -paradoxically- should be a collective farewell.
6/10
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Post by #JusticeForDonGoldberg on Nov 24, 2020 14:50:27 GMT -5
Originally, this was my favorite song on the album. Now, I’m not so sure. The piano intro is extremely nice, and the first verse is top quality, but the hook just doesn’t hit like it should. I’m not sure why it doesn’t Connect with me, but it just feels like there’s something missing. Love the hidden ending, with the soft key changes and the wind sound
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Post by Will/P.P. on Nov 24, 2020 21:15:09 GMT -5
Prevaricating between a 9 and a 10. So many good things in there, not least the timps à la "IWFTD" and the piano intro and spooky outro. The bridge ain't bad either. Darn it -- ten. I'm that third 10/10. I believe "Strange World" is as good as the best '60s stuff. Magical Brian from first listen to the last time, which was this morning.
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Post by Al S on Nov 25, 2020 20:43:09 GMT -5
Strange World strangely enough gets a LOVE!!! rating of 100% across 19 voters.
6 - 3 votes 7 - 6 votes 8 - 3 votes 9 - 4 votes 10 - 3 votes
Now, once more unto the breach!
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Post by Al S on Nov 25, 2020 21:07:01 GMT -5
Today we discuss and rate From There To Back Again, apparently this was a new composition for the album, or suite or both.
When this album came out and I sat down to listen, I didn't skip forward or leap ahead - I listened track by track; and as per my scoring here, up to and including Strange World, despite some minor quibbles I was pretty blown away at what I'd heard given the groups relative inability to get their collective shit together for a long long time.
And then this song comes on - WOW! Just WOW! To have the last 28 minutes completely blown away before the first verse ends is one thing - but then this song just keeps giving via a sweep as epic as the melodies of Pet Sounds, the vision intended for Smile and the explorations of Sunflower.
The vocal stack sounds like the much missed Carl could be in there (he's not of course) and the track builds and rises exquisitely.
A standout lead for Al, he lifts his verses and imbues them with dignity and soul. Brian's through our compromise section takes on the introspective depth of something akin to the verses of The Beatles You Never Give Me Your Money. There's a palatable sense of finality or ultimate realisation as Brian finds a meaning to his past and a recognition of his here and now.
The wordless end section is a great counterpoint to the poignant delicacy of what's gone before and provides an optimistic at peace with oneself kind of feeling as the track rolls through to the next great section.
Moving, amazing and a sweet surprise every time - 10
toob-boot
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Post by drbeachboy (Dirk) on Nov 25, 2020 21:39:10 GMT -5
Bar none, the best song, the best lead vocal, the best background vocals on the album. From There To Back Again receives a 10. I think it rates a place along side the other classic songs by the band.
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Post by Mikie on Nov 25, 2020 22:10:29 GMT -5
'Video unavailable. The uploader has not made this video available in your country'. Ohhhhhh, I feel sooooooo ripped off! Thanks for thinking about us Yanks here in the U.S., eh Al?
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Post by Al S on Nov 25, 2020 23:01:37 GMT -5
'Video unavailable. The uploader has not made this video available in your country'. Ohhhhhh, I feel sooooooo ripped off! Thanks for thinking about us Yanks here in the U.S., eh Al? LOL - did ya see the second link? Is that broke too? Re the first link not workin’, take it up with America’s band, it’s from their Toob page.
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Post by #JusticeForDonGoldberg on Nov 26, 2020 1:35:42 GMT -5
As a song, it’s amazing. Great vocal, great harmony, great instrumental, a little bit heavy on the early 2010s production but I’ll take it. As a BW song, it’s extremely unauthentic. this feels like one of those songs that Joe Thomas talked about, where he basically recorded every little thing that Brian played on the piano during a session, and then attempted to form it into a song. it works, but not in the way I would hope it would. At least in my opinion, it meanders at parts, and the lyrics seem to say way less than they think they’re saying. Overall, I gave it a seven, because the disappointing parts do scrape together into a pretty good song. But still, this feels like 85% Thomas, 15% Wilson. But that’s kind of a problem I’ve had with the majority of Brian‘s work post 98, with some exceptions.
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Post by AGD on Nov 26, 2020 1:36:05 GMT -5
Totally blew me away on first listen. This song has no right to be this good. Best thing they've done since the 70s. One point deducted for RoboAl. Magnificent.
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Post by E on Nov 26, 2020 1:59:14 GMT -5
Great changes. Great song. Best on the album. Best thing they've done since Holland. 10
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Post by Autotune on Nov 26, 2020 6:48:07 GMT -5
Thomas’ ad-libbed-filled production value reaches unheard of heights of good taste and inventiveness. Al Jardine sings his best-ever lead on record. The song, a rhapsodic musing on the passage of time conveys its message despite some obscure lyrics.
10/10
PS: is it me, or Bruce is singing his heart out during the entire album?
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Post by jk on Nov 26, 2020 6:49:53 GMT -5
Pure gold, its sections strung together like a necklace of nuggets.
Ten.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2020 7:37:51 GMT -5
This is it. This is fucking it. People wanted Brian/The Beach Boys to return to 1966 recording heights for 40 years. 40 years of wandering the desert...synthesizers, MOR, island folk, RAPPING by Mike and Brian, covers of covers. Infighting. Mental illness and tragic deaths.
2012 and out of nowhere, here it is. This is an UNBELIEVABLE track. The production is leagues better than it has any right to be. Someone get those flute players a damn Grammy or something. Wow.
Al is immaculate. The lyrics are...perfect? Probably for beach boys standards.. Captures the nostalgia, not too sappy or faux-intellectual. Earnest and from the heart.
AGD mentioned Abbey Road, I definitely see the comparison. The ending suite of that album was considered an accomplishment when the Beatles were still at their artistic height. This? This is more of a damn miracle. I feel sorry for fans who somehow cannot grasp the meticulous excellence of this work. There may be a mental block that says nothing beyond Til I Die is worth a damn. This is worth every damn and is the best beach boys song since that track. One of the all-time best. God bless whatever divine entity put this album into motion. That’s a 10/10 wowzers from me.
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