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Post by Kapitan on Dec 30, 2021 13:56:22 GMT
With two days to go, I thought it might be worthwhile to look back at this year as a whole: solo acts, the touring band, commercial releases--everything. These are some things that came to my mind, but please feel free to supplement or comment as you see fit. Let's reminisce ... and then we keep living!
The Beach Boys The group finally released Feel Flows, and I would say the consensus has been it was really good. I hesitate to say "worth the wait," because I hate waiting! But it seriously was fantastic. Lots of very good material from one of my favorite eras (actually sometimes I'd say my very favorite era) of the group.
On the other hand, while there were a few minor teases about what might be forthcoming after the deal with Iconic--documentary, maybe tribute show(s), maybe a concert or a few concerts--we haven't got any concrete 60th anniversary news yet.
Brian Wilson Strange year for Brian, with no albums really expected but two delivered: At My Piano and the Long Promised Road soundtrack, as well as the documentary of the same name finally becoming available. (I swear, waiting for Feel Flows and Long Promised Road felt like waiting for Smile!) I loved the doc, ended up eventually enjoying the piano album, and found some things to like in the soundtrack. Wilson was also on and off the road despite COVID.
The Beach Boys Touring Band What would you expect? They toured!
Al Jardine It was early in the year, but let's remember that Al Jardine released two "new" songs: another version of "Waves of Love" titled "Waves of Love 2.0" (which I actually think finally nails it, a pretty damn good song/mix/version) and Ballad of a Cow, aka "Jenny Clover." He also continued his touring relationship with Brian Wilson's band.
California Music Most of the surviving Beach Boys and an assortment of associates released their 2020 remake of "Add Some Music to Your Day" as well as a handful of other new and old tracks on an album, Add Some Music.
Associated Musicians Of course, the Beach Boys' universe is vast, having employed both studio and live musicians alongside the core band since almost the beginning. Inevitably, some of them pass. This November, longtime associate (and Carl's brother-in-law) Billy Hinsche died of lung cancer. He was 70.
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Post by kds on Dec 30, 2021 17:55:48 GMT
I'm pretty happy with the FF release. I'm not certain how many fans might be coverted to the early 70s BB material, but for those of us who already appreciate Sunflower and Surf's Up, it was great.
My only real complaint about 2021 is the lack of a physical release for the LPR soundtrack.
And I thought we might get some plans regarding the C60 by now. I'm not expecting a full on reunion, or tour, or album, but I thought we might hear more about the doc and/or tribute show.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 30, 2021 18:05:49 GMT
Thanks for the thread/topic, Kapitan, and I'm going to be brutally honest with my response. Based on everything you posted - and you summarized the year quite well - it appears on the surface that it was great year. And, to probably 99% of Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fans, it was a great year, certainly better than could've/should've been expected with COVID-19, the age of the band, and the state of the relationships. However, I fall into that other 1% of fans, and, well, I can't help it. I just see things differently.
1. Yes, Feel Flows was an excellent release. The good part of it, the best part of it, is that we now finally, actually have it, and will have it forever. However, I still have a bad taste in my mouth over the delay in getting it released, and it finally arriving in the fall, bypassing spring and summer. It just seemed to take away from the positive feelings and vibes that are usually associated with getting a "new" album.
2. We got the press release about the group signing with Iconic, then we got nothing. And, all that did was lead to endless speculation. Oh, endless speculation can be good - that's what we do on message boards. It gives us something to discuss. And, I'm not even insinuating that we were entitled to any early, non-confirmed, unfinalized plans, but it would've been nice. Anything would've been nice, but we got nothing from Iconic after the initial signing/press announcement.
3. You give me a year when we get two new Brian Wilson albums and a documentary and I'm happy. Usually. Should be. Wasn't. I don't care for the albums and, even though I haven't seen Long Promised Road yet, from what I did see, I don't care for.
4. Yes, The Beach Boys toured, but the concert that I had tickets for, was cancelled. Twice now.
5. Yes, Al Jardine released Waves Of Love 2.0 and a ballad about a cow. Nothing else needs to be said about that.
6. The fact that Brian Wilson chose to boycott the "Add Some Music To Your Day" recording and video takes all positive feelings away from the project for me.
7. Sadly, we lost Billy Hinsche at the too-young age of 70. By all accounts, he was one of the good guys.
Other than that, it was a helluva 2021. Happy New Year!
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2021 19:48:07 GMT
I tried so hard to like that Brian piano album but it just sounds so muffled and Scratchy and brings absolutely no pleasure at all on a Sonic level sorry. I watch the documentary and I've commented elsewhere. The interviewer asked brian whether he and Dennis competed for girls and Brian said no. That was such a silly question from someone who knows about the Beach Boys because it was Mike and Dennis that used to have those kinds of things and what a silly question.
And then elsewhere have spoken of the documentary as hagiography and not as documentary.
But the lack of plans for the 60th anniversary and they absence of any new information after this supposedly spectacular change of management is the most disappointing things. Mike's group continues to play casinos, Bryan's fans continue to glorify him as a solo artist. Al is putting on some solo shows or family shows and Dave plays with a Surf City all-stars when he can, and the whole thing is so fragmented.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 30, 2021 20:59:21 GMT
My personal feelings about the year are middling: I think it was not (nearly) as good as many of us, myself included, hoped; but I also think there was plenty to enjoy, and maybe as much as we could reasonably expect.
And unfortunately, I doubt there will be many better years to come, at least not with respect to new product or performances from the principals. 2022 may--fingers crossed--be an exception, with there very likely to be something coming. So I want to enjoy what we get while they're here. It won't be many years now before whatever we get is archival.
Anyway, if I were to grade the year, I think it would be a C+ or B-. That's not compared to their own pasts, but to what I think is reasonable to expect from them now, this past year, in the circumstances in which we all find ourselves. Could've been better, could've been worse, but it leans slightly toward better than expected for me.
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Post by lonelysummer on Dec 30, 2021 21:04:39 GMT
2021. A terrible year for me personally, but this is not the place for that. Got to see another great Beach Boys concert with plenty of deep cuts, including several from Feel Flows. In the last three years, I've gone from hating the idea of Mike touring as the Beach Boys, to being fully supportive of his group. Very talented group of musicians he's put together. And then there's Bruce - still wearing the shorts, still trying to get that darn mic stand adjusted! I jest; seriously, I'm impressed at the level of energy these guys have. I wonder what I will be like at 80? I don't know how Feel Flows could be any better. I had been a doubter - I doubted the thing would ever get released. I'm happy to have been proven wrong. This is a set I will be playing for years to come. On the flip side, Brian's piano album was worthless to me. The soundtrack at least got some "new" songs out to the public, but where is the cd and/or vinyl? And we got to see Brian rolled out onstage for another set of shows where he looked miserable. I'd like to believe there will be more good things on the way in 2022...but I guess I'm a born skeptic. Hoping we get a Carl and the Hollands in Concert set, but my guess is that is more likely to come out in 23. Not so optimistic about the touring side of things, either, with the covid variants on the rise.
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Dec 31, 2021 13:15:30 GMT
Aside from a C60 announcement, I'm pretty satisfied with what we got. Feel Flows was great, we got two "new" Brian albums, although I have zero interest in one and only half interested in the soundtrack. The documentary was much more enjoyable than I expected. I saw Mike and Bruce during the summer where they performed It's About Time for the first time in 45+ years. Here's to hoping next year will bring more surprises.
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Post by carllove on Dec 31, 2021 13:53:23 GMT
Feel Flows actually exceeded my expectations, as did Long Promised Road, so I consider 2021 to be an excellent year for The Beach Boys, minus the unexpected passing of Billy Hinsche. Two Brian Wilson releases were just alright. Also, the date for the Mike and Bruce show that I had tickets for got moved to 2022.
For 2022,I have tickets to see Brian, Al, Blondie and Chicago on Brian’s 80th birthday and will hopefully be seeing Mike and Bruce in February as well. Surely there will be something for the 60th Anniversary. I guess we will see.
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Post by kds on Dec 31, 2021 16:24:49 GMT
I still haven't watched LPR. But, if I were to grade the BB year, I'd probably give it an eight of out ten.
Realistically, what more can we really expect from these guys so late in the game?
And we can pick nits about the delays or whatever with Feel Flows, but considering it covers such a niche era, we're damn lucky it exists at all.
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Post by bellesofparisstan on Dec 31, 2021 21:35:53 GMT
Certainly not an absolutely perfect year, but also far, far, far from a bad one either. Overall, I think it’s a good time to be a beach boys fan, certainly a much less embarrassing time to be a fan that it was in 2020
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