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Post by Kapitan on Aug 3, 2020 13:59:05 GMT
The album of the week this week is Al Jardine's 2010, 2011, and 2012 album A Postcard From California.
Released in various formats at different times in different places, it includes several Beach Boys covers (of both previously released and unreleased songs), a few new songs, and some spoken word pieces. All of the surviving Beach Boys, as well as recordings of Carl Wilson, are included on the album, as are guest spots by Neil Young, David Crosby, Glen Campbell, Flea, members of the Beach Boys touring bands, members of America, and numerous other musicians.
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Post by kds on Aug 3, 2020 14:33:21 GMT
Postcard is actually a pretty enjoyable album for the most part. It's a light, well sung album, even if it's a little heavy on self covers. That being said, I actually prefer the version of Honkin' here to the Love You version. The new versions of Help Me Rhonda, CA Saga: California, and CA Dreaming are alright, but unnecessary. Speaking of unnecessary, here's another attempt at California Feelin'. Somebody at BRI is convinced this is a great song.
The title track, featuring Glen Campbell, is quite good. I really enjoy Don't Fight the Sea a lot, and it actually sounds more Beach Boys esque than half of TWGMTR. Speaking of TWGMTR, I can see why Brian balked at Waves of Love, which finds a home on Postcard (although I think it was a bonus track on the 2012 release). Drivin' featuring Brian Wilson, is a pretty fun song.
That spoken word bit with Alec Baldwin. What the ever loving flock is that? At least it's short, and only occurs once.
Nothing else really sticks out. I'll give it a six. I guess for one of the least prolific Beach Boys in terms of songwriting, this is about as good an album as Al Jardine could deliver so late in the game. A very listenable album, but short of real highlights overall.
Not on the album proper, there's the storybook version of Sloop John B as well, which is amusing on first listen.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 3, 2020 15:00:06 GMT
I enjoy A Postcard from California, but its song selection of mostly (self-!) covers does put me off and keep me from rating it too highly.
The full (I think) track lists are:
1. A Postcard from California - ORIGINAL 2. California Feelin - SELF COVER 3. Lookin Down the Coast - SELF COVER 4. Don't Fight the Sea - SELF COVER/UNRELEASED 5. Tidepool Interlude - SNIPPET 6. Campfire Scene - SNIPPET 7. California Saga: California - SELF COVER 8. Help Me, Rhonda - SELF COVER 9. San Simeon - ORIGINAL 10. Drivin - ORIGINAL 11. Honkin Down the Highway - SELF COVER (12. California Dreamin - COVER)
12/13. And I Always Will - ORIGINAL
Waves of Love (1) - SELF COVER/UNRELEASED Sloop John B - SELF COVER
Waves of Love (2) - SELF COVER/UNRELEASED The Eternal Ballad - ORIGINAL
That means on the 13 songs composing the album proper (using the expanded album proper, not the initial 12-song version), there are FOUR original songs; two snippets; SIX self-covers; and one other cover. That's insane.
I would rather have seen him just do a bunch of folk songs if he wanted to do covers, like he did with "If I Had a Hammer" around that time.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 3, 2020 15:07:33 GMT
I should say, though, despite that criticism seeming harsh, I actually give the album a 7. The reason is, it's a fully enjoyable album to listen to. Even if I don't feel a deep need for rehashes of these same songs, I do like listening to them when they come on. It's a far more enjoyable album to listen to than Carl Wilson's or Mike Love's, than some of Brian's, etc.
It isn't groundbreaking in the slightest. It isn't "important." But it is good sounding.
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Post by lonelysummer on Aug 3, 2020 21:26:26 GMT
Wow; and people say Carl was not a prolific writer! In this era of reduced expectations, i give it a solid 8. First of all, i don't detect any auto-tune here. Al still has his voice; and any cd that includes some vocals from Carl automatically is improved IMO. I really don't mind the remakes; it's like i went to see Al Jardine in concert. He played some new songs, some old songs, brought out a few guests, and a good time was had by all. Now, what are the odds he'll ever do a sequel?
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 3, 2020 21:32:51 GMT
Now, what are the odds he'll ever do a sequel? Scheduled release date, April 1, 2042.
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Post by kds on Aug 4, 2020 12:10:48 GMT
I think it might've been far more likely for Al to do a follow-up if he didn't join Brian's band a few years ago. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's a nice gig, and Al's presence is most welcome at Brian shows, and on Brian's NPP album.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 4, 2020 12:40:21 GMT
Remember, he had joined Brian's band for a round of Pet Sounds shows back in 2007ish, too. He left ... to "finish" his solo album (which took another three years or so). So he could always repeat that history and whip something together in another decade or so.
Really, though, I do wish he would release more studio music. It's a shame that his great voice is only heard in live settings and not memorialized on more material.
I referenced it before, but I would even love for him to do an album of traditional folk songs. He could get a small group of great musicians together and hammer out (no pun intended) some arrangements. Do mostly live-in-studio tracks, overdub some as necessary. Nothing crazy. You can't tell me he couldn't whip through a handful of Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Kingston Trio, Chad Mitchell Trio, Peter Paul & Mary, Dylan, etc. in short order.
Just make sure someone else produces so he can't tinker!
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Post by kds on Aug 4, 2020 12:51:23 GMT
Considering he's toured pretty regularly during breaks with Brian's band, never say never. I'd just be surprised.
But, I do agree, since Al's voice has held up very well, I'd like to hear it on some more new music.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Aug 4, 2020 14:42:12 GMT
However, with Al touring with Brian's band and being surrounded by those brilliant musicians, I sometimes wonder (and wonder the same thing with Brian actually) how/why Al wasn't more motivated or influenced to create more new music.
That being said, A Postcard From California is an album I might rate higher if I didn't know the background of the album. Seriously, there's 13 songs (including "Waves Of Love" and "Sloop John B") and 8 are covers or songs that were "in the can". That leaves only 5 originals, and those are the title track, "San Simeon", "Drivin'", "And I Always Will", and "Waves Of Love" - and those are only...OK. It's hard to give much credit to a project like this, especially when it's the first and ONLY solo album from a Beach Boy after so many years.
Yes, it's a pleasant listen I guess, but that's about all I can take from it. Like most Beach Boys' solo albums, A Postcard From California would've sounded better with those Beach Boys. And, because some of these songs WERE recorded WITH the Beach Boys - again going back to what we know about these songs - it makes this album even more pointless and frustrating.
The bottom line for me is this. For several years (decades actually) prior to the release of A Postcard From California, Al complained about many aspects of the Beach Boys live act, especially Mike's penchant for playing the hits. Well, two things happened. First, Al joined Brian's band and ended up playing, um, the hits. And, second, instead of recording an album of all/mostly new material, maybe releasing an artistic statement (the hell with those old Beach Boys' drivin' songs), Al releases an album of old Beach Boys-like songs. A 5. The album is well sung and well produced, but we waited, what, thirty years...for this?
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 4, 2020 15:27:04 GMT
I don't even really consider Waves of Love a new/original song, since its origins (including some of the recording) go back decades.
You get to a big challenge I repeatedly face with rating albums: am I rating in a vacuum or considering what could/should have happened, or how it works for what it is, etc.?
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Post by B.E. on Aug 4, 2020 15:34:03 GMT
You get to a big challenge I repeatedly face with rating albums: am I rating in a vacuum or considering what could/should have happened, or how it works for what it is, etc.? Let me set the standard on the spot: 65% vacuum, 25% how it works for what it is, and 10% what could/should have been. (I may or may not follow my own lead )
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Post by B.E. on Aug 4, 2020 15:34:42 GMT
I understand the focus on and criticism of the tracklist, but when I think about which songs I find most enjoyable (and, consequently, in this case, I think are best), it's "Don't Fight The Sea", "California Dreamin'", "A Postcard From California", "A California Saga", "California Feelin'", and "Honkin' Down The Highway". The rest of the songs aren't too far behind, as the album is consistently good, but I'd highlight "Help Me, Rhonda" as the lone misstep, musically, and "Tidepool Interlude" as the least satisfying track. "Drivin'" is also of questionable quality.
I think it's important to note that these aren't cheap Mike Love/Adrian Baker remakes or poorly sung Brian remakes or autotuned Mike Love monstrosities or misfit Don Was/Joe Thomas productions. These are very well sung and tastefully produced. They offer something different and satisfying. They're the exception to the BBs rule. Look at "California Dreamin'" - that is nothing like the Beach Boys version (or any other version I've heard) and it's just as good. "Honkin' Down The Highway" has an entirely different feel to it (how could it not?) and, again, I think it's equally good.
A very pleasant 7/10 for Al.
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Post by Kapitan on Aug 4, 2020 15:36:51 GMT
I think it's important to note that these aren't cheap Mike Love/Adrian Baker remakes or poorly sung Brian remakes or autotuned Mike Love monstrosities or misfit Don Was/Joe Thomas productions. These are very well sung and tastefully produced. They offer something different and satisfying. They're the exception to the BBs rule. Look at "California Dreamin'" - that is nothing like the Beach Boys version (or any other version I've heard) and it's just as good. "Honkin' Down The Highway" has an entirely different feel to it (how could it not?) and, again, I think it's equally good. This is a pretty good summary of how I feel, too. And we landed on the same rating (7).
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Post by kds on Aug 5, 2020 16:23:40 GMT
I meant to pull out my CD yesterday, which is a 2012 release I believe. I was listening to Postcard on Spotify, and noticed that, on Drivin', Al says "Texaco, you're killin' me." I could have sworn he cited BP on the CD I have.
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