The Beach Boys
Nicholas Tochka is less interested in crafting a coherent portrayal of Charles Manson’s “musical lives” than in connecting his critical hypothesis of “the invention of the Sixties” to critical theories.
While one hopes that never-before-released live shows are found and released, it is nice to revisit the start of Brian’s Wilson’s second-chance career.
Brian Wilson’s clear falsetto voice may be stilled but his amazing trove of timeless music lives on.
I applaud She & Him’s selection of Brian Wilson tunes while at the same time feeling that some are not well-suited to their loungey, languid pop stylings.
Arts Fuse writers continue their countdown of great music celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. This month’s list includes such big names as Bob Dylan, ZZ Top, The Who, The Beach Boys, and George Rochberg.
It’s quite clear that the fickle record-buying public really screwed up in the early ’70s; the Beach Boys were on top of their game.
What comes across most clearly to the viewer is that every single day — practically every single hour — is a struggle for Brian Wilson.
This album is not a slavish imitation of an old sound but a fresh take on the kind of timeless, tuneful fun that pop music used to be all about.
No Pier Pressure is Brian Wilson’s 11th solo album and it shows little diminution of his still-prodigious talents.
Music Commentary: Analyzing the Greatness of Brian Wilson’s “God Only Knows”
I hope this close look makes clear the exquisite craftsmanship that went into “God Only Knows.” But for many of us, the song has a magic that goes beyond the mere exercise of compositional skill, even skill of a very high order.
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