It’s undeniable that of all the bands that have come and gone
in rock music since its inception, not many have been as important as the Beach Boys. Not officially the first
“surf rock” band, but certainly the first to be internationally noticed with a
string of hits over the course of just a few years before starting what would
eventually become known as “Psychedelic Rock” with their then completely
unheard of song structures in albums such as 1966’s Pet Sounds and 1967’s Smiley
Smile.
When the 1970’s came, the Beach Boys unfortunately fell in to somewhat of a nostalgia act,
with their new music not selling so well and relying on playing less and less
new songs when playing live shows. Though the band continued to record and tour
throughout the 70’s and 80’s, they only had a select few hits from otherwise
unknown albums. Songs such as Kokomo
or Getcha Back were recorded in this
era but didn’t take the band out of nostalgia status.
A year ago this coming Wednesday, in honour of their 50th
Anniversary, the Beach Boys released
That’s Why God Made The Radio; their
first new studio album of original material in twenty years, their last being
1992’s Summer In Paradise. Despite
having been a touring band led by vocalist Mike
Love, the Beach Boys haven’t been an official band with
more than two original members since the early 1990’s, five of the surviving
members reunited to celebrate half a century of recording music; beloved
guitarist Al Jardine, the musical
mastermind Brian Wilson, Bruce Johnston, who has been touring
with Mike Love’s Beach Boys, and original guitarist David Marks who performed on the first four Beach Boy albums in Al’s absence. Brian Wilson’s younger brothers and original members Carl and Dennis are the only original members absent, both having been
deceased since 1998 and 1983 respectively.
With this new album, the band has managed to capture the surf
rock sound that they abandoned far back in the mid-60s and have successfully
found their youth again as performers, for the most part sounding just as sharp
as they did when they were in their 20’s. The album starts off with an
introduction called Think About The Days.
It doesn’t feature lyrics, but it does have Brian playing piano accompanied
with vocal harmonies, showing listeners instantly that they haven’t lost their
touch as singers.
The album continues in to a series of songs that could sound
track a summer. The title track and Isn’t It Time are the two singles
released from the album, both songs having addictively fun melodies and a free
feeling to them that could bring a smile to anyone’s face. Spring Vacation is a true anthem with a nice smooth sound to it
that keeps the relaxing feel with vocals shared between Mike, Bruce and Brian. Beaches In Mind, heard later on the
album, also shares the anthem sound
The Private
Life of Bill and Sue has a unique honeymoon in Hawaii feel to it. It has a
beat that can be danced to and just adds to the unique sounds heard all through
the album. This song was among the few songs that were newly written
specifically for this album, another one being Shelter. The chorus of the slightly slower paced song Shelter show that the band haven’t
forgotten the essence of a good 1960’s summer love song, comparable to their
classic Don’t Worry Baby, though
Shelter is light-years away from being the classic that Don’t Worry Baby was.
Daybreak
Over The Ocean, my personal favourite song on the album, is the slowest
paced song on the album. It is the first song on the album to feature Mike As
the primary lead singer, as it was originally recorded for his unreleased solo
album. It has a similar feel to it that their classic track Kokomo has to it, in most part thanks
to Mikes soothing and relaxing voice.
The song Strange World
concentrates on the more musical aspects of the bands capabilities, as opposed
to trying to make a song that sounds suitable for summer. They incorporate a
noticeable percussion sound in the background to give the song a dramatic feel,
but the vocals still give a good summer feel.
The Beach Boys
could have easily released some sort of compilation album for their reunion;
they could have even put together an album of half-assed tunes just for an
excuse to tour. But instead they took their time, and recorded easily their
best album in over 30 years, showing that they are not just looking for an
excuse to tour but also looking for one last attempt at making memorable songs.
If this is the last album the band ever records, then it sure was the perfect
way to end 50 years of recording music, with the album having gone top five.
This album does get a high rating in my books due to how
seriously the process of the making of this album was taken as well as its
reception and strong, professional and (obviously) mature musicianship that was
put behind it by three Rock and Roll
Hall of Famers who after all these years haven’t lost their touch. As well
as the fact that the album as a whole is better than even some of the albums
released even in their earliest most successful days.
For a better in depth (and slightly Hollywoodized) history of
the Beach Boys, I recommend checking out the film The
Beach Boys: An American Family to see depictions of many important and
surprising moments in the bands early years.
ALBUM HIGHLIGHT
“That’s Why God Made The Radio” – It’s
not easy to pick a specific highlight. The anthem of Spring Vacation or the cheerfulness of Isn’t It Time all made for possible candidates, but for this album,
the title track is the obvious choice (the first time I’ve selected a title
track as the highlight). Having been written in the late 90s, the song was
rightfully chosen to start off the album and introduce the continuing summer
sound of the band, and it shows how the five (rather very old) men can still
successfully and beautifully harmonize their voices like so many others have
attempted and failed at. The breakdown of this song is among the best moments
on the entire album and the song in general is a must listen for anyone who
hasn’t heard the album yet and is curious as to how they still sound.
FINAL RATING
9 (Out of 10)
Track List:
1.
|
"Think About the Days"
|
1:27
|
2.
|
"That's Why God Made the Radio"
|
3:19
|
3.
|
"Isn't It Time"
|
3:45
|
4.
|
"Spring Vacation"
|
3:06
|
5.
|
"The Private Life of Bill and Sue"
|
4:17
|
6.
|
"Shelter"
|
3:02
|
7.
|
"Daybreak Over the Ocean"
|
4:20
|
8.
|
"Beaches in Mind"
|
2:38
|
9.
|
"Strange World"
|
3:03
|
10.
|
"From There to Back Again"
|
3:23
|
11.
|
"Pacific Coast Highway"
|
1:47
|
12.
|
"Summer's Gone"
|
4:41
|
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