Archive for November, 2008

ESQ Chases The Sun

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

The latest Endless Summer Quarterly is out, and as always, it remains required reading for all Brian Wilson and Beach Boys fans. The centerpiece this time is an extensive interview with Brian, Scott Bennett, Jeff Foskett and Paul Von Mertens on the making of That Lucky Old Sun. There are a lot of interesting snippets, but the overall themes to me are the overall musical vision that Brian still has, and the key role Scott Bennett played in the album.

Other goodies include differing memories of the writing of the legendary Warmth Of The Sun and the assassination of Kennedy, an interview with Glen Campbell and lots of other stuff. So if you don’t subscribe yet, head over to the website and subscribe.

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Back In The Circle

Friday, November 28th, 2008

Full Circle

Not sure how this one escaped me, but glad I’ve got it now…many of you won’t have heard of Roger Nichols but all of you know We’ve Only Just Begun (the Carpenters wedding staple) and indeed, Mr. Nichols is the co-writer of that song. His one album of classic Sunshine Pop was one of the first reviews of this blog and now, he has got back with his group, The Small Circle Of Friends to record some of his classic songs. This was actually released in Japan last year, but thanks to Steve Stanley of the Now People, it now has a worldwide release and is available on Amazon.

You may well know the classics Let Me Be The One and Out In The Country, which are featured here, but there are beautiful songs throughout, including Look Away and the inspring instrumental, The Winner’s Theme. Also featured are five 60s era demos of songs featured on the album. This is classic sunshine pop, with beauty and depth, and one of the great songwriters. Highly recommended.

Posted in Record Reviews, Sunshine Pop | No Comments »

Now In The North-East

Saturday, November 22nd, 2008

Brian tour still seems to going well; he is now in North-East. Here is a very good review in the Boston Globe from the show at the Orpheum – great comment that someone said they hadn’t seen Brian so engaged for such a long time.

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Amongst The Midwest Farmers Daughters

Saturday, November 15th, 2008

Brian is currently touring the Midwest -on the 12th, he played at the Ann Arbor theatre in Michigan. This is a place with a special connection to Brian’s solo history as he played his first solo show there almost ten years ago. Hard to believe how fast that time has gone and all that happened in the the meanwhile. A nice review of the Ann Arbor show can be found here.

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Nashville Skyline

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

Brian’s first date of his November Lucky Old Sun tour was at the Ryman in the musical city of Nashville. There seems to have been a good response from fans and critics, as in this report from the Nashville Scene newspaper. Let’s hope it sets the tone for a really good tour.

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Watching The Lonely Sea

Monday, November 10th, 2008

One video clip that I always wanted to see was Brian singing Lonely Sea from the movie Girls On The Beach -for me, this is Brian’s first great song and taps into that rich stream of deep emotion and longing, especially by extending the surfer’s ocean into an extended metaphor for an unattainable love. Anyway, here it is on YouTube -thanks to Cathryn on Facebook for posting it. And it’s a good time also to remind you of Greg Panfile’s fantastic essay on the song on this very site.

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American Icons

Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Cabin Essence Blog is strictly apolitical, but given the enormity of what his election represents, as well as the job at hand, has to congratulate Barack Obama on his election and wish him wisdom for the years ahead.

Obama may be moving off the road and into the White House, but another American icon, almost 20 years Obama’s senior will soon be on the road for his Lucky Old Sun tour, commencing in Nashville next Monday. I eventually got my That Lucky Old Sun goodies today from the official website, and was watching the DVD . Again, it struck me just the breadth and depth of Brian’s musical vision. America and the world should be thankful for him, and that he is on the road sharing his music with us.

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The Charming She

Sunday, November 2nd, 2008

Volume One

Zooey Deschanel charmed her way into Brian Wilson fans hearts (not to mention Brian himself) on the recent MySpace Artist On Artist footage, but she is also a musical artist in her own right, not to mention her acting resume (including Almost Famous). She & Him is the group name given to her colloboration with M. Ward and their first album is called Volume One. It’s a soulful folk-rock album, with countrified touches, and just like her appearance on MySpace, the overall impact is to charm one into submission with cutesy-pie vocals and ernest sentiments.

Most of it works, especially on the aptly named and superb Change Is Hard, which connects with a deep emotional resonance. There aren’t any direct nods to the Beach Boys/Brian Wilson but there are Beatles links in the only two covers on the record, I Should Have Known Better and You Really Got A Hold On Me. All in all, worth seeking out – after all, it isn’t everyone who can draw Brian Wilson out in an interview.

Posted in General Music, Record Reviews | 1 Comment »

Grammies Galore?

Saturday, November 1st, 2008

The Beach Boys and Brian Wilson have had a tenous relationship with the Grammy awards, with the only proper Grammy ironically going to an instrumental, Mrs O’Leary’s Cow from SMiLE. But with lots of new Beach Boys-related material coming out in 2008, there is a chance to redress that in 2009. The following have been put forward -note that this is the first stage and will go to the voting members of the Grammy -so if you know any voting members, you know who to influence!

Category 1 – Record of the Year
Brian Wilson – Midnight’s Another Day
Award goes to Artist, Producer, Recording Engineer, and Mixer:
Brian Wilson, Mark Linett, Scott Bennett, and Michael Corcoran
Ballot Entry # 731

Category 2 – Album of the Year
Brian Wilson – That Lucky Old Sun
Award goes to Artist, Producer, Recording Engineer, Mixer, and Mastering Engineer:
Brian Wilson, Mark Linett, Scott Bennett, Michael Corcoran and Bob Ludwig
Ballot Entry # 691

Category 3 – Song of the Year
David Marks – I’m So Clever
Award goes to Songwriter: David Marks and Buzz Clifford
Ballot Entry # 308

Category 6 – Best Male Pop Vocal Performance
David Marks – Big Wave
Award goes to Artist: David Marks
Ballot Entry # 086

Category 8 – Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals
Dennis Wilson and Taylor Hawkins – Holy Man
Award goes to Artist: Dennis Wilson and Taylor Hawkins
Ballot Entry # 112

Category 11 – Best Pop Vocal Album
Brian Wilson – That Lucky Old Sun
Award goes to Artist: Brian Wilson
Ballot Entry # 290

Category 87 – Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s)
Brian Wilson – Midnight’s Another Day
Award goes to Arranger : Paul Von Mertens
Ballot Entry # 137

Category 92 – Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical
Brian Wilson – That Lucky Old Sun
Award goes to Engineers : Brian Wilson, Mark Linett,
Scott Bennett, and Michael Corcoran
Ballot Entry # 329

Category 109 – Best Short Form Music Video
Brian Wilson – Going Home
Ballot Entry # 379

Category 110 – Best Long Form Music Video
Dennis Wilson Forever
Award goes to Director and Producer: Billy Hinsche
Ballot Entry # 195

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