Thanks for the shout-out, it's greatly appreciated. Of all the many articles I've seen written about Wilson in the wake of his passing, this is one of the more insightful ones that's gets to the heart of the matter. The Swift quote really drives it home in a way none of the mid-wit stiffs in the music journalism could ever hope to articulate, even in reams and reams of words.
Thanks for the kind words! If the conspiracy theorists are right about the Beatles being a Tavistock Institute creation, I kind of wish the CIA had done something like that for Brian Wilson, to allow him to flourish and experiment more freely like Lennon and McCartney did.
I think the Beach Boys were always the All American band -- a logical continuation of 50s rock vs. being counter culture. Republicans liked to have them play in DC for the Fourth of July back in either the Reagan or Bush era.
But yes, if you haven't seen Americathon, you are in for a treat. Worth buying the DVD. (Last I checked it wasn't available for streaming.)
Interesting. It is definitely the most Beatles-esque of their songs. Even as a joke, though, it's so well constructed that it still requires a level of genius that few possess. As a joke, it's more like Owen Benjamin with a multi-layered depth to it, rather than a one-dimensional Weird Al style parody.
Moondance is a masterpiece of an album. Reminds me I gotta listen to it again. Just reading your comment, and I already got it stuck in my head, him singing, "And it stoned me to my soul ..."
I’m a child of the 80s but my boomer parents confirmed that the Beach Boys were huge in the UK in the 60s. Listen to this flagrant piece of British Pet Sounds worship which was a big hit in 1967:
Thanks, will check that out. Now it's got me wondering if The Pet Shop Boys chose their name as homage to the Beach Boys (although their music doesn't sound very Beach Boyish, at least what I have heard of it). Will have to look into that.
For best surviving pop star/composer, I'd go with Paul McCartney. He did the score for "Live and Let Die" as well as some classical composing. His "Standing Stone" has some echoes of the French Impressionist composers from a century ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVLpkrG9U5Y
Honestly, I think he did his best work as a composer with Wings, rather than the Beatles (though on the whole I prefer the Beatles). Band on the Run is silly, but the music is amazing. But then again, Eleanor Rigby, Yesterday, and his suite of songs on the second side of Abbey Road ... maybe his work with the Beatles is better.
While I don't share your enthusiasm for Brian Wilson or The Beach Boys, I am fond of some of the songs on 'Pet Sounds', especially 'God Only Knows'.
As for the greatest living composer of the modern era, my vote goes to Ray Davies.
A Well Respected Man
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny4M16j7oMI
Yes Sir, No Sir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRyvdlNnY9w
Shangri-La
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiXgLzyVcZQ
Catch Me Now I'm Falling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW4CO3n0TS8
Full Moon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmtnYe7I1a8
Acute Schizophrenia Paranoia Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTRqmw9jLT4
Destroyer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gh0ouIDAbw
Thanks, will definitely check those out!
Don’t forget Waterloo Sunset, Days, Two Sisters, Celluloid Heroes
Among many others!
Thanks for the shout-out, it's greatly appreciated. Of all the many articles I've seen written about Wilson in the wake of his passing, this is one of the more insightful ones that's gets to the heart of the matter. The Swift quote really drives it home in a way none of the mid-wit stiffs in the music journalism could ever hope to articulate, even in reams and reams of words.
Thanks for the kind words! If the conspiracy theorists are right about the Beatles being a Tavistock Institute creation, I kind of wish the CIA had done something like that for Brian Wilson, to allow him to flourish and experiment more freely like Lennon and McCartney did.
As for Mike Love, he and Al Jardine composed the opening song for one of the most based movies ever: Americathon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaFYcai1vK0
Will check that out! Like a lot of Boomers who were countercultural in the 60s, they seem to have rediscovered their love of America in the 80s.
I think the Beach Boys were always the All American band -- a logical continuation of 50s rock vs. being counter culture. Republicans liked to have them play in DC for the Fourth of July back in either the Reagan or Bush era.
But yes, if you haven't seen Americathon, you are in for a treat. Worth buying the DVD. (Last I checked it wasn't available for streaming.)
Sowing The Seeds Of Love is an in-joke. It's I Am The Walrus + Hello Goodbye + Penny Lane. Play it on the piano, and you'll laugh out loud.
Interesting. It is definitely the most Beatles-esque of their songs. Even as a joke, though, it's so well constructed that it still requires a level of genius that few possess. As a joke, it's more like Owen Benjamin with a multi-layered depth to it, rather than a one-dimensional Weird Al style parody.
For best surviving composer, I’d go with Van Morrison, hands down.
Moondance is a masterpiece of an album. Reminds me I gotta listen to it again. Just reading your comment, and I already got it stuck in my head, him singing, "And it stoned me to my soul ..."
https://youtu.be/AYqJtqyeilE
Also listen to the song Into the Mystic on that album, and the album Enlightenment 😄
I’m a child of the 80s but my boomer parents confirmed that the Beach Boys were huge in the UK in the 60s. Listen to this flagrant piece of British Pet Sounds worship which was a big hit in 1967:
https://youtu.be/Oyt1yt7_Q1o?si=zopAjkTVkO-DrSbd
A later (if slightly less blatant) homage to Wilson by The Alan Parsons Project:
https://youtu.be/d_DV-E2YOqE?si=xBdp3U0iWWvMOTTA
Thanks, will check that out. Now it's got me wondering if The Pet Shop Boys chose their name as homage to the Beach Boys (although their music doesn't sound very Beach Boyish, at least what I have heard of it). Will have to look into that.
For best surviving pop star/composer, I'd go with Paul McCartney. He did the score for "Live and Let Die" as well as some classical composing. His "Standing Stone" has some echoes of the French Impressionist composers from a century ago. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVLpkrG9U5Y
Honestly, I think he did his best work as a composer with Wings, rather than the Beatles (though on the whole I prefer the Beatles). Band on the Run is silly, but the music is amazing. But then again, Eleanor Rigby, Yesterday, and his suite of songs on the second side of Abbey Road ... maybe his work with the Beatles is better.
Musicians do not have to be creative unless they do extemporaneous adjustments. Composers intrinsically need to be creative.