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Post by Kapitan on Nov 19, 2021 14:14:17 GMT
Brian Wilson released At My Piano on November 19, 2021, on Decca Records. The album comprises piano-only performances of 15 songs spanning about 50 minutes. Wilson played all piano parts himself, though it is not a "live" recording with single parts played straight through: there are overdubs of Wilson's piano atop other parts of Wilson at the piano.
The release coincides with the commercial release of a new documentary, "Long Promised Road."
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Post by kds on Nov 19, 2021 14:31:15 GMT
I'm listening now.
I'm four songs in, and trying to decide if I'm going to finish it or not.
This just isn't my thing. Piano / new age versions of rock / pop songs have never really appealed to me.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 19, 2021 14:48:20 GMT
I've just given it a listen. And sure enough, it is precisely what it seemed to be with that first preview track a couple months ago. It's background music, not quite muzak--that wouldn't be fair, as it implies a real dumbing down, and these songs are still impressive compositions performed with credible arrangements--but it's not exactly scintillating listening for those already familiar with the originals, in my opinion.
It is basically like the pop equivalent of piano reductions of orchestral music: it gives you a good sense of the music, but if you could hear the originals, I'm not sure why you wouldn't choose to listen to them. As it played, I went on with my morning's work. Occasionally I'd perk up and think, "oh, cool choice." But that's about it.
We have discussed the sound of the album a little already in the main forum. It's miles away from the brighter piano sounds you might hear plunking away in the background of Beach Boys tracks. Instead it's soft, relatively dark, and awash in reverb. I am not a huge fan of that decision.
There is virtually no chance I'd buy this, not because I necessarily dislike it--I don't!--but because I just don't feel any real need to listen to it much more, if ever.
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Post by kds on Nov 19, 2021 15:01:18 GMT
So far, the Sketches of Smile is somewhat interesting.
I'm glad that songs were chosen that actually fit the format (ie. they didn't try to do a slowed down piano version of Surfin USA).
For what it is, it's not bad, it's just not my thing. It's up there with RPO for me in that I won't be purchasing this.
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Post by B.E. on Nov 21, 2021 21:02:10 GMT
So far, I'm loving it. I had time to listen to the fist 11 tracks last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Obviously, it's got a consistency in sound (which is important to me), but also in quality of performance. And not only do I think the song selection is very strong, but it's sequenced well, too. Each song flowed into the next and it was all just one (or two or three) fantastic melody after another, and with incredible harmonic choices. Now, we all know that to be the case, but I'm really finding it worthwhile to hear the music (not the production or vocal performances or arrangements that we all know like the back of our hands). "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times", for example, had me in a trance. What BEAUTIFUL melodies. Especially when the "ain't found the right thing to put my heart and soul into" melody comes in under the "sometimes I feel very sad" melody. Utter perfection. And although that section of the original recording always knocked me out, all those vocals are really squeezed in there. Especially when you consider the heavily overdubbed group vocals sung in a foreign language. I actually just realized today that I've misheard that lyric all these years. I thought Brian was singing "can't find" as opposed to "ain't found". Now, mind you, I'm comparing the At My Piano version to a world class production and still finding value in it. Sometimes I think a great performance (or lyric) can almost distract us (or me, at least) from truly appreciating the melody. On the flipside, consider all the songs that we have issues with the production, or little arrangement choices, the lyrics, or performance. I'd actually like to hear more albums like this, and from other artists. As I posted in another thread, I was so inspired that I played my keyboard for the first time in years. I had always wanted to learn how to play but never properly took the time. I've already completed my first lesson. Hopefully I'll be able to complete a similar project of my own. I wrote a bunch of songs in my early 20s which I later realized could use some melodic development. Back to Brian, this album proves to me (yet again) that his music, his melodies and progressions, are truly GREAT and stand the test of time all on their own. Lastly, the fact that it's Brian performing his music here, adds a lot for me.
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Post by jk on Nov 21, 2021 21:53:55 GMT
Thanks, B.E., for this heart-warming post. Makes me want to listen to AMP all the way through. And, we need heart-warming posts right now.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 21, 2021 22:25:21 GMT
Sometimes I think a great performance (or lyric) can almost distract us (or me, at least) from truly appreciating the melody. On the flipside, consider all the songs that we have issues with the production, or little arrangement choices, the lyrics, or performance. I'd actually like to hear more albums like this, and from other artists. Great post, and I want to both affirm and expand on the quoted part. Regardless of how I feel about this or that initial material or interpretation of that material, I also want more albums like that, not necessarily piano reductions but just interpretations. Reinterpretations. The kind of thing that was standard in the pop/rock music industry for its first few decades. I do believe that, as important as any definitive recording may be, there is something special about material that really finds a broad audience of not just listeners, but performers and interpreters.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 30, 2021 13:50:26 GMT
Here is a new review of At My Piano from Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Pitchfork. He gives the album a 5.0 (out of 10). Erlewine is a veteran music journalist and senior editor of AllMusic.
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Post by B.E. on Nov 30, 2021 14:47:24 GMT
I think the way “Our Prayer” is used to begin and end “Sketches of Smile” is inspired. I really like it. It’s done so smoothly and effectively.
I also don’t remember that idea ever being tried or discussed among fans. (Not that I closely followed all those discussions. So, correct me if I’m wrong.)
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Post by kds on Nov 30, 2021 15:33:50 GMT
Here is a new review of At My Piano from Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Pitchfork. He gives the album a 5.0 (out of 10). Erlewine is a veteran music journalist and senior editor of AllMusic. 5/10 feels both harsh and accurate at the same time for some reason.
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Post by Kapitan on Nov 30, 2021 15:49:11 GMT
Here is a new review of At My Piano from Stephen Thomas Erlewine of Pitchfork. He gives the album a 5.0 (out of 10). Erlewine is a veteran music journalist and senior editor of AllMusic. 5/10 feels both harsh and accurate at the same time for some reason. Truth hurts.
Erlewine isn't some GenZ guy whose review is "OK Boomer," either. He's in his late 40s at least and has been pretty fair with BW/Beach Boys over the years. I think his criticisms are legit. The question ends up mostly one of taste. I come out about the same place he did, which is that this album is fine. Not great, not necessarily good, but fine. At least (lacking Brian's vocals) there are no bad notes. But it is what it is, some occasionally interesting reduction-arrangements of songs. We'd have called it elevator music when I was a kid. Muzak.
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Post by kds on Nov 30, 2021 16:12:27 GMT
5/10 feels both harsh and accurate at the same time for some reason. Truth hurts.
Erlewine isn't some GenZ guy whose review is "OK Boomer," either. He's in his late 40s at least and has been pretty fair with BW/Beach Boys over the years. I think his criticisms are legit. The question ends up mostly one of taste. I come out about the same place he did, which is that this album is fine. Not great, not necessarily good, but fine. At least (lacking Brian's vocals) there are no bad notes. But it is what it is, some occasionally interesting reduction-arrangements of songs. We'd have called it elevator music when I was a kid. Muzak.
I think the criticisms are legit too. And, personally, I might actually be tempted to rate the album lower. But, like I said on first listen, I think the album is good for what it is, I just have little interest in what it is.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 10, 2021 13:47:50 GMT
AllMusic finally posted a review of this album (though not a rating, strangely; if anything it's usually the inverse). It is generally positive, though not overwhelmingly so. It reads in full:
"As the songwriter responsible for the sounds that all but define several eras of American music, Brian Wilson is one of the few artists who can return to the highlights of their catalog again and again without it becoming too tedious. At My Piano finds the iconic Beach Boys founder reworking some of his best-loved tunes as spare piano instrumentals, with a set list that includes four Pet Sounds compositions, songs from the Beach Boys' early surf-obsessed days, and selections from Wilson's solo albums. Ubiquitous melodies like those from "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "California Girls," or "Good Vibrations" are light and easygoing in stripped-down piano form, peeling back Wilson's tendency for dense arrangements and allowing the tenderness, joy, and naïveté of his songwriting to come to the forefront. Less celebrated songs like "Friends" or the crushingly melancholic "Till I Die" sound great in their somber piano renditions as well, showing how Wilson's essence as a songwriter was present in his hits and non-hits alike. The main shortcoming of At My Piano is that even though Brian Wilson is playing songs that he wrote, the mellow, elevator music style of these versions doesn't sound any more significantly connected to Wilson than any other session musician or unknown piano player running through familiar tunes as background music at a martini bar would sound. Despite this, it's pleasant to hear these songs in a new form, and to realize Wilson's depths as an artist when he presents himself at his most minimal, and it's still preternaturally beautiful."
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Post by kds on Dec 10, 2021 14:26:15 GMT
AllMusic finally posted a review of this album (though not a rating, strangely; if anything it's usually the inverse). It is generally positive, though not overwhelmingly so. It reads in full:
"As the songwriter responsible for the sounds that all but define several eras of American music, Brian Wilson is one of the few artists who can return to the highlights of their catalog again and again without it becoming too tedious. At My Piano finds the iconic Beach Boys founder reworking some of his best-loved tunes as spare piano instrumentals, with a set list that includes four Pet Sounds compositions, songs from the Beach Boys' early surf-obsessed days, and selections from Wilson's solo albums. Ubiquitous melodies like those from "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "California Girls," or "Good Vibrations" are light and easygoing in stripped-down piano form, peeling back Wilson's tendency for dense arrangements and allowing the tenderness, joy, and naïveté of his songwriting to come to the forefront. Less celebrated songs like "Friends" or the crushingly melancholic "Till I Die" sound great in their somber piano renditions as well, showing how Wilson's essence as a songwriter was present in his hits and non-hits alike. The main shortcoming of At My Piano is that even though Brian Wilson is playing songs that he wrote, the mellow, elevator music style of these versions doesn't sound any more significantly connected to Wilson than any other session musician or unknown piano player running through familiar tunes as background music at a martini bar would sound. Despite this, it's pleasant to hear these songs in a new form, and to realize Wilson's depths as an artist when he presents himself at his most minimal, and it's still preternaturally beautiful."
Hmmmmm. Edit: To be fair, it's not just Brian, but the studio self overs over the years from The Beach Boys, Brian, Al, and Mike combined have made the idea quite tedious to this fan.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 10, 2021 15:19:55 GMT
I definitely think that for the serious fan and encompassing the full band's material, that's true: it has at least begun to get old, if not quite having gotten all the way to tedium. (I think you could argue even that it has gotten tedious.) Especially if you're including the touring acts and planning to see them repeatedly.
But for more casual fans, and just in terms of Brian's recordings, it might be more true. While he has returned to well known oldies a few times (Live at the Roxy, Pet Sounds Live, Brian Wilson & Friends), in general his studio albums have not primarily comprised remakes. (BWPS is an exception, but it's one that casual fans probably wouldn't have much known. I suspect it was mostly new to them.) A few tracks on Imagination were remakes, but they weren't especially well known to general audiences, either. You have the old songs being released officially for the first time--which are many--but that's something only serious fans would know, too. Probably the Christmas album would be the most obvious example of remakes to those fans. But even that was 15 years ago or so.
So I can see the more casual fan finding this album quite enjoyable and not necessarily thinking "oh god, more remakes from a Beach Boy." I mean, Brian hasn't pulled a Love and done a full album' worth of remakes (and a few more remakes on the "original" album, either).
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