…what Brian Wilson would be without the Wondermints. We all know the integral role members of the group play in Brian’s touring and studio band, let alone Darian Sahanaja’s pivotal role in getting SMiLE finally released. So Brian Wilson fans should really be buying an album of these guys snoring in gratitude for their role in Brian Wilson’s comeback.
The recently released “new” Wondermints album Kaleidoscopin’, subtitled Exploring Prisms Of The Past, brings together songs from their early tapes that were not released on CD, other non-album tracks, songs from tribute albums and other bits and pieces. It includes what some may regard as the Wondermints greatest gift to pop culture, the theme from the Austin Powers movies, and it’s certainly nice to have that on Wondermints CD.
Even better are songs like No One’s Girl, I Should Fall, Invisible Paint and the aching love song Gone which would have graced any Wondermints album. Throughout, there is the consistent melodic power pop that drew the initial connection between Brian Wilson and this group.
It may be a collection of odds and ends from the group, dating from the 1990s, but it starts the 2010s decade on a high musical note. The album also features extensive and insightful liner notes from the band. Brian Wilson fans may be obliged to be buy it, as suggested above, but will be putting it on repeat rotation. You can get buy it on Amazon by clicking on this link.