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Post by kds on May 6, 2020 13:03:18 GMT
This DVD is a document of Brian Wilson's first time taking Pet Sounds on the road. I think it stands as a far better document of that tour than the live album, but I still think it would be much better had the full show been included. Brian Wilson was doing 40+ song sets for this tour. www.setlist.fm/setlist/brian-wilson/2002/royal-festival-hall-london-england-bdb8dca.htmlBut, the DVD consists of the full Pet Sounds album, plus Good Vibrations. On the plus side, Brian and his band are in great form here, and by accounts this is far better than the later Pet Sounds tours. But, much like the Boys C50 DVD, this could have been so much more.
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Post by Kapitan on May 6, 2020 13:20:38 GMT
This was really special to me because, remember, at that time Brian was still (relatively) new to touring and that band was still something of a miracle. Plus, we weren't used to hearing several of these songs live yet. It's actually hard to really feel the excitement I felt then, considering the Never-ending Pet Sounds Spectacular that has been going on for about five thousand years or so. But back then? "Here Today," "I'm Waiting For The Day," "I Know There's An Answer," as well as all the obvious classics?
Brian sang passably well, but that was still the era when it was almost impossible not to cut him some slack just because I think everyone was rooting for him every single moment.
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Post by kds on May 6, 2020 13:24:18 GMT
I was relatively late on the BB/BW train, so I thought I'd missed my chance to see Pet Sounds in concert. I was quite excited to see the album in 2016, especially with Al being in the band, and those two shows were quite good, but this 2002 performance is far better, from Brian at least. The band were incredible both times.
I did forget to mention the Pet Stories doc that was included as a special feature. Although, it's now free on Youtube.
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Post by Kapitan on May 6, 2020 13:59:13 GMT
Although, it's now free on Youtube. Funny how time changes these things:
- The rarity of seeing Brian Wilson perform in 2002 made it easy to forgive his awkwardness and mediocrity / The normalcy of it now makes it harder to forgive.
- The newness of seeing that special a band in 2002 made it really spectacular / The normalcy of it now makes it almost old hat.
- The novelty of hearing the entirety of an album like Pet Sounds in 2002 performed live was really special / The normalcy of it now makes it well beyond old hat.
- The interviews of "making of" stories made the DVD really worthwhile / YouTube makes DVDs a funny, if space-hogging, relic.
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Post by kds on May 6, 2020 14:14:21 GMT
I also think that Brian's awkwardness and poor vocals have greatly declined in the last five years. I first saw him as a solo artist in 2015, and he was far better then than when I saw him earlier this year.
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Post by Kapitan on May 6, 2020 14:26:25 GMT
Certainly. I think in the earlier tours, it wasn't that he couldn't sing, it was more that he wasn't used to singing live and had his problems with nerves and general discomfort. (Don't get me wrong, his voice had obviously declined from even earlier eras; but I don't think that was the major problem around 2000.)
In more recent years, I do think it's just the natural decline of his voice with age more than nerves. While I don't doubt he still has his moments of stage fright and anxiety, he has been touring consistently for 20+ years now. Overwhelmingly the issue now seems to be he has less oomph, even more limited range, probably just less stamina and force from the lungs. Nothing surprising about that, either.
Then there is the question of his approach to Pet Sounds, which I think might be a combination of boredom and the above loss of capacity.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on May 6, 2020 14:31:37 GMT
This is one I like to watch on occasion. Brian is in good vocal form and there are moments when it sounds like the old Brian. I especially love when he goes all out for the falsetto on Caroline, No.
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Post by B.E. on May 16, 2020 23:57:20 GMT
Being the anniversary of Pet Sounds, I decided to watch this DVD earlier today. What a treat! (Not to mention a blast from the past.) I had just discovered Pet Sounds, an immediate favorite, not long before this release. This served as an introduction to Brian's solo career and his band. It knocked me out on both counts. I watched this and Paul McCartney's Back In The US many times in those years. Both were special to me. Fast-forward 15 years and I wasn't sure what to expect. Well... I was overjoyed. I almost couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing. The atmosphere was fantastic. Brian was in great voice. He looked good and seemed healthy. He was all smiles and determination. I kind of wish we could have frozen that Brian in time. Forget everything that went down in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, doesn't Brian sound like you might expect 1965-Brian to sound 40 years later? Sure, there were a few high notes that he struggled with, but literally only a few. And, they weren't so bad as to take you out of the performance. And, if I'm being critical, perhaps the ad-libbing at the end of "I Know There's An Answer" was a relative lowlight, and on average his lead on "Here Today" wasn't quite up to the standard he had set up to that point. But, those are the only criticisms I can think of. I wish I had taken notes. There were so many great moments from Brian and his band throughout (too many to attempt to list here). In regard to the editing, I'm grateful. I'd prefer to see the best performance of each song. They aren't hiding anything, we see the change in attire. I want to remember, and experience, Brian at his best. I thought the editing, including visually cutting back and forth between members, was well done. In regard to the DVD only including Pet Sounds and "Good Vibrations" (as opposed to a full concert), that doesn't bother me. If anything, I prefer it that way. Including the Pet Stories doc filled out the release (and if I watch it, I'll make a separate post about it). It was really nice seeing that configuration of the band again. Taylor, Scott, Nicky...
Man, at the time, fans must have been in disbelief. Brian hadn't been that well in decades. Granted, I'm speaking based on an edited performance to show him in the best possible light. But, the performances are genuine! They happened. No other Beach Boy could have sung that material better than Brian did in those concerts. Not Mike, Al, or Carl (if he had been alive). Brian brings it. As does his incredible band. And, those vocal arrangements really shine through. The music is flat-out stunning. The songs just work so well together. My all-time favorite album.
Edit: It might go without saying, but I like hearing Brian's solo take on his masterpiece. By no means do his performances replace the originals, but I value being able to see and hear Brian sing songs like "That's Not Me" and "God Only Knows". And, sing them well.
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