THE BEACH BOYS
''THAT'S WHY GOD MADE THE RADIO''
JUN 5 2012
CAPITOL
38:47
1/Think About the Days
Larry Millas / Jim Peterik / Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/1:27
2/That's Why God Made the Radio
Larry Millas / Jim Peterik / Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/3:18
3/Isn't It Time
Mike Love / Larry Millas / Jim Peterik / Brian Wilson/3:45
4/Spring Vacation
Mike Love / Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/3:06
5/The Private Life of Bill and Sue
Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/4:17
6/Shelter
Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/3:02
7/Daybreak Over the Ocean
Mike Love/4:20
8/Beaches in Mind
Mike Love / Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/2:38
9/Strange World
Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/3:03
10/From There to Back Again
Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/3:23
11/Pacific Coast Highway
Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/1:47
12/Summer's Gone
Jon Bon Jovi / Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/4:41
Adrian Baker /Vocals
Alisha Bauer /Cello
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter /Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
Eddie Bayers /Drums
Scott Bennett /Clavinet, Organ
Jessica Bish /Snaps
Curt Bisquera /Drums
Chris Bleth /Oboe
Nelson Bragg /Percussion, Timpani
Tom Bukovic /Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
John Cowsill /Drums, Snaps
Chad Cromwell /Drums
Joel Deroulin /Violin
Paul Fauerso /Keyboard Arrangements, Percussion Arrangement, Producer, Vocal Arrangement
Jeffrey Foskett /Guitar (Acoustic), Snaps, Vocals
Vanessa Freebarin-Smith /Cello
Probyn Gregory /Banjo, French Horn, Guitar (Acoustic), Trombone
Gary Griffin /Accordion
John Hobbs /Piano, Tack Piano
Cliff Hugo /Bass
Sharon Jackson /Violin
Al Jardine /Vocals, Whistle
Bruce Johnston /Vocals
Peter Kent /Violin
Songa Lee /Violin
Christian Love /Vocals
Hayleigh Love /Vocals
Mike Love /Vocals
David Marks /Guitar
Skip Masters /Voiceover
Paul Mertens /Flute, Sax (Baritone), String Arrangements
Larry Millas /Bass
Jim Peterik /Percussion, Ukulele
Michael Rhodes /Bass
Jim Riley /Guitar
Julie Rogers /Violin
Nick Rowe /Guitar
Brett Simons /Bass
David Stone /Double Bass
Scott Totten /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Nick Walusko /Guitar
Brian Wilson /Producer, Vocals
John Wittenburg /Violin
REVIEW
by John Bush Plans for the Beach Boys' 50th anniversary tour came together surprisingly quickly, but nothing prepared fans for a full studio album just six months after their official reunion. Further surprises included apparently cordial relations between all surviving members, Brian Wilson in the producer's booth, the presence of 12 original songs on the album, and the complete absence of any attempt to cash in on fond memories of "Kokomo" or Endless Summer or "Do It Again" or "Help Me, Rhonda" -- depending on which generation the band might want to court. That's Why God Made the Radio is as good as it gets for those who love their Beach Boys. It includes frequently gorgeous charts from Wilson and just a little sweetening to the songs (musically with help from Wilson's regular band and arranger Paul Mertens, lyrically with help from Joe Thomas and Jim Peterik). The album is a record of two halves -- or sides, in case the band was thinking back to famous side-by-side classics like 1965's Today! The first half is mostly upbeat, with highlights "Isn't It Time" and the title track evoking pleasant curios from late-'60s LPs like Wild Honey or Friends. The second half is largely reflective, with songs that reveal the band's feelings about time passing and life ending (much more than any other material in their entire careers). Granted, no latter-day Beach Boys record comes without missteps, but fortunately there are only two. "Spring Vacation" is embarrassingly chummy, with the lines "As for the past, it's all behind us/Happier now, look where life finds us/Singing our songs is enough reason/Harmony boys is what we believe in/Some said it wouldn't last/All we can say is we're still having a blast." Meanwhile, the downright odd "Private Life of Bill and Sue" takes a fictional couple into the reality-show realm for a misguided cultural critique. For those worried about either Love or Wilson dominating the proceedings, it's clear to see that not only Wilson gets his moment in the sun. For Mike Love, it's "Daybreak Over the Ocean," which could have come off as an update of "Kokomo"'s tropical motif (with Mike crooning a little too close to your ear), but is thankfully treated very lightly. For Al Jardine, it's "From There to Back Again," easily the most beautiful song on the album, a Side 2 ballad epic that Wilson frames impeccably around Jardine's voice, aging but still sweet. (It ranks as one of their best ballads since the '60s.) These may not be the songs that will ever light up their live sets, but together they form what is easily the best Beach Boys record in 35 years -- and a surprisingly cohesive, reflective, listenable one at that.
''THAT'S WHY GOD MADE THE RADIO''
JUN 5 2012
CAPITOL
38:47
1/Think About the Days
Larry Millas / Jim Peterik / Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/1:27
2/That's Why God Made the Radio
Larry Millas / Jim Peterik / Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/3:18
3/Isn't It Time
Mike Love / Larry Millas / Jim Peterik / Brian Wilson/3:45
4/Spring Vacation
Mike Love / Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/3:06
5/The Private Life of Bill and Sue
Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/4:17
6/Shelter
Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/3:02
7/Daybreak Over the Ocean
Mike Love/4:20
8/Beaches in Mind
Mike Love / Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/2:38
9/Strange World
Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/3:03
10/From There to Back Again
Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/3:23
11/Pacific Coast Highway
Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/1:47
12/Summer's Gone
Jon Bon Jovi / Joe Thomas / Brian Wilson/4:41
Adrian Baker /Vocals
Alisha Bauer /Cello
Jeff "Skunk" Baxter /Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
Eddie Bayers /Drums
Scott Bennett /Clavinet, Organ
Jessica Bish /Snaps
Curt Bisquera /Drums
Chris Bleth /Oboe
Nelson Bragg /Percussion, Timpani
Tom Bukovic /Guitar, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
John Cowsill /Drums, Snaps
Chad Cromwell /Drums
Joel Deroulin /Violin
Paul Fauerso /Keyboard Arrangements, Percussion Arrangement, Producer, Vocal Arrangement
Jeffrey Foskett /Guitar (Acoustic), Snaps, Vocals
Vanessa Freebarin-Smith /Cello
Probyn Gregory /Banjo, French Horn, Guitar (Acoustic), Trombone
Gary Griffin /Accordion
John Hobbs /Piano, Tack Piano
Cliff Hugo /Bass
Sharon Jackson /Violin
Al Jardine /Vocals, Whistle
Bruce Johnston /Vocals
Peter Kent /Violin
Songa Lee /Violin
Christian Love /Vocals
Hayleigh Love /Vocals
Mike Love /Vocals
David Marks /Guitar
Skip Masters /Voiceover
Paul Mertens /Flute, Sax (Baritone), String Arrangements
Larry Millas /Bass
Jim Peterik /Percussion, Ukulele
Michael Rhodes /Bass
Jim Riley /Guitar
Julie Rogers /Violin
Nick Rowe /Guitar
Brett Simons /Bass
David Stone /Double Bass
Scott Totten /Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric)
Nick Walusko /Guitar
Brian Wilson /Producer, Vocals
John Wittenburg /Violin
REVIEW
by John Bush Plans for the Beach Boys' 50th anniversary tour came together surprisingly quickly, but nothing prepared fans for a full studio album just six months after their official reunion. Further surprises included apparently cordial relations between all surviving members, Brian Wilson in the producer's booth, the presence of 12 original songs on the album, and the complete absence of any attempt to cash in on fond memories of "Kokomo" or Endless Summer or "Do It Again" or "Help Me, Rhonda" -- depending on which generation the band might want to court. That's Why God Made the Radio is as good as it gets for those who love their Beach Boys. It includes frequently gorgeous charts from Wilson and just a little sweetening to the songs (musically with help from Wilson's regular band and arranger Paul Mertens, lyrically with help from Joe Thomas and Jim Peterik). The album is a record of two halves -- or sides, in case the band was thinking back to famous side-by-side classics like 1965's Today! The first half is mostly upbeat, with highlights "Isn't It Time" and the title track evoking pleasant curios from late-'60s LPs like Wild Honey or Friends. The second half is largely reflective, with songs that reveal the band's feelings about time passing and life ending (much more than any other material in their entire careers). Granted, no latter-day Beach Boys record comes without missteps, but fortunately there are only two. "Spring Vacation" is embarrassingly chummy, with the lines "As for the past, it's all behind us/Happier now, look where life finds us/Singing our songs is enough reason/Harmony boys is what we believe in/Some said it wouldn't last/All we can say is we're still having a blast." Meanwhile, the downright odd "Private Life of Bill and Sue" takes a fictional couple into the reality-show realm for a misguided cultural critique. For those worried about either Love or Wilson dominating the proceedings, it's clear to see that not only Wilson gets his moment in the sun. For Mike Love, it's "Daybreak Over the Ocean," which could have come off as an update of "Kokomo"'s tropical motif (with Mike crooning a little too close to your ear), but is thankfully treated very lightly. For Al Jardine, it's "From There to Back Again," easily the most beautiful song on the album, a Side 2 ballad epic that Wilson frames impeccably around Jardine's voice, aging but still sweet. (It ranks as one of their best ballads since the '60s.) These may not be the songs that will ever light up their live sets, but together they form what is easily the best Beach Boys record in 35 years -- and a surprisingly cohesive, reflective, listenable one at that.
2 comments :
I've always loved the Beach Boys...but I have a hard time getting past the time when Carl made them a good touring rock band. When I saw that Al J and Brian were touring with Mike and Bruce Johnston, I thought it would be great to see them again. Unfortunately I was working the evening they played locally. So thanx for the opportunity to hear this return.
Al
u r a sly dude.... I did not think this would still be a good link... The link works great!
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