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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2022 22:06:16 GMT
As this thread indicates, She & Him announced a Brian Wilson themed tour a while back. It turns out that tour is in support of a new Brian Wilson covers album they are releasing in July. This Stereogum article says Wilson returns the favor of their having guested on NPP by appearing on their "Do It Again."
Below is the tracklist and their version of "Darlin."
TRACKLIST: 01 “Darlin’” 02 “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” 03 “Til I Die” 04 “Deirdre” 05 “Melt Away” 06 “Good To My Baby” 07 “Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder)” 08 “Don’t Worry Baby” 09 “This Whole World” 10 “Kiss Me, Baby” 11 “Do It Again” (Feat. Brian Wilson) 12 “Heads You Win, Tails I Lose” 13 “Please Let Me Wonder” 14 “Meant For You”
That is a horrible, horrible version of a great song. They completely emasculate it.
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Post by Kapitan on May 24, 2022 13:40:01 GMT
I saw this story today on the She & Him Wilson covers album, and had two thoughts about it.
1. Exactly as Deschanel said in that recent podcast I'd posted a link to, sure enough, She & Him is referred to as "The 'Almost Famous' actress and musical partner M. Ward." That does have to be annoying, to be the group's primary songwriter and singer but to be referred to as an actress all the time!
2. They say they decided to ask Brian to guest on "Do It Again" because neither of their voices was good for that "percussive vocal top-line melody." But honestly, for that kind of melody, latter-day Wilson might be as bad a choice as you could make. Mike Love's original was perfect for it, and I could imagine Al Jardine doing a good job of it today, too. But Brian's tendency to be a bit mush-mouthed hardly makes him the ideal candidate. It's cool that he's guesting on their album, but if he's singing that lead, that's not what I'd have chosen. (The music industry is likely bracing for my disapproval.)
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Post by kds on May 24, 2022 13:50:03 GMT
I saw this story today on the She & Him Wilson covers album, and had two thoughts about it.
1. Exactly as Deschanel said in that recent podcast I'd posted a link to, sure enough, She & Him is referred to as "The 'Almost Famous' actress and musical partner M. Ward." That does have to be annoying, to be the group's primary songwriter and singer but to be referred to as an actress all the time!
2. They say they decided to ask Brian to guest on "Do It Again" because neither of their voices was good for that "percussive vocal top-line melody." But honestly, for that kind of melody, latter-day Wilson might be as bad a choice as you could make. Mike Love's original was perfect for it, and I could imagine Al Jardine doing a good job of it today, too. But Brian's tendency to be a bit mush-mouthed hardly makes him the ideal candidate. It's cool that he's guesting on their album, but if he's singing that lead, that's not what I'd have chosen. (The music industry is likely bracing for my disapproval.)
To be fair, isn't acting what Zooey is primarily known for?
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Post by Kapitan on May 24, 2022 13:53:06 GMT
It is, for sure. But once she mentioned it, I just could see it from her perspective: when you're talking about the band, and she writes the songs and sings most of the leads (whereas Ward produces and plays guitar), it would get old to have stories at least imply that it's his brainchild, with her being the pretty face up front.
Now, she DOES serve that "pretty face up front" role, and those who say otherwise are kidding themselves. But she does do more than that, and I could imagine that really getting under your skin to never have it phrased even as "The actress best known for 'Elf' writes and sings," or something like that.
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Post by kds on May 24, 2022 14:00:38 GMT
It is, for sure. But once she mentioned it, I just could see it from her perspective: when you're talking about the band, and she writes the songs and sings most of the leads (whereas Ward produces and plays guitar), it would get old to have stories at least imply that it's his brainchild, with her being the pretty face up front.
Now, she DOES serve that "pretty face up front" role, and those who say otherwise are kidding themselves. But she does do more than that, and I could imagine that really getting under your skin to never have it phrased even as "The actress best known for 'Elf' writes and sings," or something like that.
I'm sure it irks her to a certain degree. But, I'm willing to bet she realizes that, it's because of stuff like Elf, The New Girl, and Almost Famous, that She & Him are likely more well known than they'd be otherwise. I hope she takes it in stride better than Billy Bob Thorton.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 1, 2022 18:50:50 GMT
She & Him's second single from the Wilson covers album, sure to get your universal acclaim...
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Post by kds on Jun 1, 2022 19:19:08 GMT
I can't say I really enjoyed Darlin, but that version of Wouldn't It Be Nice is.....nice. I kinda like it.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 1, 2022 19:22:04 GMT
I didn't mind it. Obviously there's no sense in comparing it to the original--one of the absolute masterpieces in the history of popular music, both as a song and recording--but it's decent enough. Doesn't slavishly follow the original or throw it out the window, either, but follows a middle path. And a pretty good job layering harmonies by Zooey.
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Post by kds on Jun 1, 2022 19:28:44 GMT
I didn't mind it. Obviously there's no sense in comparing it to the original--one of the absolute masterpieces in the history of popular music, both as a song and recording--but it's decent enough. Doesn't slavishly follow the original or throw it out the window, either, but follows a middle path. And a pretty good job layering harmonies by Zooey. I thought the layered vocals were pretty good too. This might've been a better lead "single" than Darlin. Maybe an oddball choice for the lead single was another tribute to The Beach Boys / Brian Wilson.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Jun 1, 2022 23:27:33 GMT
Regarding "Wouldn't It Be Nice", it's not bad; I actually like parts of it a lot. It sounds like something Brian Wilson would've produced in the late 1970s or even parts of his solo career.
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Post by B.E. on Jun 1, 2022 23:54:08 GMT
I like this version of "Wouldn't It Be Nice" quite a bit. It definitely captures Brian's pounding, chugging piano style. The intro I think is a conscious nod to "I'm Broke" (which is pretty darn cool!). Overall, it sort of has the feel of a "Back Home". The vocals are also much better here than on "Darlin'". By the way, one thing I liked about "Darlin'" was that they sort of gave it an early 60s Roy Orbison feel, musically. So, I like that they are putting different spins on the songs. I'm not sure there's much use in them just trying to copy the songs exactly: 1) that would be boring 2) it would be mostly futile. Reading some of the hate over at EHF had me thinking this would be bad. It's not at all.
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Post by kds on Jun 24, 2022 13:30:58 GMT
It's not been mentioned, but She and Him started their Melt Away tour on June 13. Here's the setlist from that night (per Setlist.fm, and it's the only set from that tour that's been posted so far). One would think that On the Island, you know the song where She & Him actually appear on a Brian Wilson album, would've cracked the setlist, but what do I know?
Good to My Baby Wouldn't It Be Nice Deirdre Melt Away 'Til I Die Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder) Don't Worry Baby Darlin' Kiss Me Baby I Thought I Saw Your Face Today Change Is Hard Gonna Get Along Without You Now Turn to White Magic Trick This Is Not a Test I Could've Been Your Girl I've Got Your Number, Son I Was Made for You In the Sun You Really Got a Hold on Me Do It Again Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? Sweet Darlin'
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Post by The Cincinnati Kid on Jun 24, 2022 13:43:09 GMT
Melt Away live:
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Post by kds on Jun 24, 2022 14:51:18 GMT
Maybe it's just my PC speakers, but the sound there sounds quite muffled. But, overall, not a bad version of Melt Away.
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Post by Kapitan on Jun 24, 2022 15:03:12 GMT
I am very glad they are doing this tour and album, but I have to say that I don't think Deschanel has the voice to treat that song as the vocal showcase they seem to be using it as.
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