SPAZ slobbers all over THE BEACH BOYS' That's Why God Made The Radio!

THE BEACH BOYS

THAT'S WHY GOD MADE THE RADIO

Available NOW!

And to think I thought that they don't make albums like this anymore....

I have to admit that the thought that it would be strange to hear THE BEACH BOYS singing about surf, music, love, cars and all the other stuff that goes with growing up in California. I mean, they were young when they started the band and it was OK back then... but c'mon, that was then and this is now!  It's been 50 years since they guys first came together and it seemed kind of creepy for someone pushing 70 to sing about teenage love...

But that was until I heard That's Why God Made The Radio!

What I wasn't comprehending until I heard the album was that Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Al Jardine, Bruce  Johnson and David Marks aren't really literally singing about young love, they are singing about the FEELINGS of being young and in love.  They are singing about the emotions that rule the mind, body and spirit when you are at an age when life is sweet.  And for many of us, those feelings still ring true, no matter what age.  I mean, who doesn't remember the golden years of our lives right before responsibility and adulthood robbed us of our hopes and dreams?  It is those wonderful memories that rise to the surface as the listener experiences what is the best new Beach Boys studio album since the deliciously off-kilter music they released in the '70s.  For the record, while I like the tune "Getcha Back" from '85, the self-titled album that song was pulled from was killed by '80s production.  And furthermore, I'm still not quite sure about "Kokomo"... still on the fence about that one!

While the five members are augmented by session players and vocalists, this is definitely the work of Brian Wilson and his lifetime friends. From the glorious intro that spotlights the BB's signature harmonies, this is a special treat for fans, new and old.  It is obvious that they try to recreate some of the sounds of their golden years, but they also sound fresh, vibrant and alive.  Nobody sounds quite like the Beach Boys and believe me, there are some great artists out there who successfully re-create the style but they end up lacking the true spirit of the BB's California sound. 

"That's Why God Made The Radio" speaks of an era when the radio brought people together, brought joy to the listener and spread the gospel of the power of music.  It is a song that does just that.  While the chorus' melody is faintly reminiscent of the them from "Midnight Cowboy", that doesn't stop it from reaching down inside you and stirring up emotions of a time in your life when the radio was your best friend when you were alone...

And the magic doesn't stop there!

"Isn't It Time", "Spring Vacation", "Shelter", "Beaches In Mind", "From There To Back Again", "Pacific Coast Highway" and "Summer's Gone" are amazing slices of Beach Boys pop filled with harmonies and hope. Only "The Private Life Of Bill And Sue" falls flat, but that's a minor complaint that I won't spend any more time talking about.

That's Why God Made The Radio is one of the best albums of the year and ensures that the Beach Boys' legacy is stronger than ever.  By the time the sound of the waves close the album, there's a certain sadness that is washed away when you start the whole album again.  

This is the sound of the California dream.... something that every generation can understand and relate to. And it will touch you right down to the core of your being.  The album encapsulates the band's career while delivering a bittersweet joy that can only be felt by those with a heart and soul. God Bless The Beach Boys!

An EXCLUSIVE interview with BRIAN WILSON!

Rhapsody In Brian

An exclusive Interview with BRIAN WILSON

BRIAN WILSON REIMAGINES GERSHWIN

Available 8.17.10

By Stephen SPAZ Schnee

Sometimes, you wake up and expect your day to be as unexciting and humdrum as the last. But then two simple words can suddenly break up the monotony of your existence and allow the sun to shine again. Those two words for me were: BRIAN WILSON. Yes, as in ‘songwriting legend’ Brian Wilson!

So, anyway, Brian was going to be promoting his Reimagines Gershwin release (Disney/Pearl) and I jumped at the chance to throw some questions together for this once-in-a-lifetime interview opportunity. This was Brian Wilson, after all. Living legend. A Gershwin for our generation.

If you haven’t heard anything from Reimagines Gershwin, then my suggestion is to immediately throw this mini masterpiece in your CD player and crank it as loud as possible. As you would guess from the title, the album finds Wilson approaching the music of George and Ira Gershwin with a fresh perspective, complete with those gorgeous harmonies that Brian is so famous for. On this release, he embraces the music that influenced him, and returns the favor by ‘reimagining’ these lovely classics, creating both an absolute gorgeous Brian Wilson album and a perfect homage to the music that moved him. In turn, Brian reintroduces Gershwin to a whole new generation of music fans who may not have really bothered to listen before (“Gershwin? That’s SO grandma and grandpa!”)

The real treats on Reimagines Gershwin are two songs that Brian wrote after listening to over 100 unreleased Gershwin demos. “Nothing But Love” is a wonderful uptempo track that will be considered one of the finest tracks he’s written in 20+ years. But the absolutely gorgeous “The Like In I Love You” is certainly one of the finest songs he’s written in his long and well-documented career. The great rearrangements of Gershwin tunes are utterly fantastic, but “The Like In I Love You” is worth the price of admission alone. Man, this is a song to cherish each and every day!

I was able to catch up with Brian as he was promoting Reimagines Gershwin on the East Coast. While I had prepared to ask him 457 questions about life, love and music, I felt that I should stick with the topic at hand, so I whittled my list down to the handful listed here.

SPAZ: What inspired the Reimagines Gershwin project?

BRIAN WILSON: We had always sort of kicked around the idea of doing something with Gershwin songs. When we signed with Disney, we talked about it and then we just ran with it.

SPAZ: Was it easier or more difficult to approach and reinterpret these songs than it normally is to arrange a batch of new self-penned tunes?

BW: It was more of a challenge to me because I wanted to do it justice for George and Ira. I wanted them to have been proud of this album.

SPAZ: You’ve been working with a band of great musicians. How did they feel about this project when you first put the idea forth?

BW: The band thought it was a fantastic idea because they all love Gershwin music as much as I do.

SPAZ: The album has a beautiful flow to it. Before you commenced recording, was there a pre-conceived idea on the tracklist or did you put it all together after the tracks were recorded?

BW: A bit of both. Part was preconceived but we recorded all of the tracks before we figured out the lay out of the album.

SPAZ: You listened to hundreds of Gershwin piano demos and created two wonderful tracks from that experience. What was it like listening to these unreleased melodies from a musical legend?

BW: I was thrilled beyond belief that I was able to get in touch with George Gershwin through his music. What a wonderful experience

SPAZ: At the end of the day, are you hoping that this project will introduce (or re-introduce) the brilliance of Gershwin to your Rock ‘n’ Roll fan base?

BW: I think it’s a wonderful way to bring Gershwin music to a younger generation. Young people need to know this music.

SPAZ: When thinking back to the first times you heard these Gershwin songs, were you enchanted by the melodies, the lyrics or the original arrangements?

BW: I was enchanted by all three!!

SPAZ: Is it flattering to know that you are often mentioned in the same breath as other songwriting legends like Gershwin?

BW: It’s a thrill to hear that, of course!

SPAZ: Are there any plans in the future to work your magic on other classics from legendary songwriters?

BW: I’m not sure. Don’t know how you top Gershwin

SPAZ: What’s next for Brian Wilson?

BW: I’m looking to do something with the Disney catalog. Classic Disney songs.

SPAZ: What do you currently have spinning on your CD player?

BW: Oldies but goodies, of course!

Thanks to Brian Wilson

Special thanks to Monica Chamberlin, Betty Cruse, Thuy Ngo and Craig Swedin