Gosh, this is hard. To feel so strongly about a man that I never met. Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys died yesterday at the age of 82. A funny struggle in my life - funny haha, I suppose, rather than ironic. It's just that it took me more than a second to truly appreciate his artistry and craft and then once I did, I never changed my thought on his efforts. I'm pretty sure I don't have to tell you (those of you old enough to know) that he and The Beatles had a bit of a rivalry. That I was a Beatle man, I took their side as one does when young and dumb. But it wasn't a harsh rivalry. Paul McCartney himself has said that they pushed each other along during that time. Revolver to Pet Sounds to Sgt Peppers. It kept going. And thank God that it did. It wasn't a rivalry (anymore than The Beatles had with The Rolling Stones.) It was - what are we going to do with this new thing? Not so much, "How can we top it?" but rather, "What can we do with this new idea?"
That is artistry and that is what Brian Wilson accomplished in his life. His very difficult life. Some of it foisted upon him by his father (and I might add cousin Mike Love...not my favorite character) but so too by himself. You may go through the reams of research on him as there is much of it, but he did himself few favors by his life choices. So too could you say the same about many of rock icons (music icons, truly - look at Mozart) but his was a life that was created and lived through his prism. Much of it complicated. As was his music.
So some backstory. Me and my friend Keith, way back in the day when we were not but 13 or 14, starting really listening to the old stuff. For us, at least. Both born in 1973, there was a lot of old stuff! Buddy Holly was a favorite. So too quickly became The Beatles. We scoured the bins at Turtles looking for the vinyl records, especially the 45s. They were, to us at the time, the end all be all of music. I dare say that they still are to me. Yet we soon found other material, but the Beach Boys were "off limits" because they just weren't "cool." Oldies music. Surf music that didn't mean much to us in Georgia. And Mike Love was such a prick (by that point, we did know the members.) Well, Mike Love remains a prick. But I did eventually wish to branch out and one day, after hearing too many recounts in Rolling Stone magazine (when it was still relevant) about the album Pet Sounds after another of their so many Greatest Albums of all Time lists, I had to check it out.
Younger writers...beware this trope. It is lazy. There is too much in this day readily available to your fingertips to NOT know what went before. However...
I remember driving up Roswell Road with Keith. There was a record shop on the right and we wanted to find something to do anyway. Likely 1989 or 1990. We went in and I was determined once we found it, "I want this album. I want to listen to it!"
Keith was almost as adamant, "No! The Beach Boys suck!"
Fair enough, I thought. It was my money and I bought it and we went back to his place and listened to it. Though Keith never liked the Beach Boys any more than before that day, he could not deny - THIS was a great album! He could be a foolish man, and so can I. It was so good that now, these days, it is my second favorite album of all time (only bested by Joni Mitchell's Blue album.) Not The Beatles. Not the Stones. Not anything by The Who (whom I love) or any other artist. No, sir! This album was beautiful. And remains as such to this day.
It was Brian Wilson's fevered dream, I suppose. Perhaps a voice in his head (as he often referred to it.) It really doesn't matter how it came about, but the writing between himself and Van Dyke Parks, the music by The Wrecking Crew and the beautiful harmonies by those same Beach Boys...I was hooked. Of all of the albums (and I am an album man) that I have listened to the most over these last many years since that time, Pet Sounds remains in heavy rotation. "Caroline No" is exquisite. "Wouldn't It Be Nice" sublime. "Don't Talk" and especially "I Know There's An Answer" which began life as another name "Hang On To Your Ego" - "You Still Believe In Me" - I could list every track on the album. It is prime music.
And that is sort of the thing. When I listen to The Beatles, I get a feeling. My feet can't stop bouncing. Early work, at least. And their later music still brings me joy. But outside of some few songs (and great ones), none of them pull me to a place like this work. I did not grow up in California, nor did I even have a teenage year like the Beach Boys sang about. I was a teenager that heard his words and sounds and was forever transformed. I suppose I can assume others were as well. "In My Room" was a big one for me as well and perhaps others. "Heroes and Villains" later in life. "Surf's Up" which really pulled it away from their early days. Just everything...I loved it!
It changed my life when I was a senior in High School and though not terribly different than The Beatles...it WAS different. It was a different feeling without ever having stepped foot into the surf. It was musical mana. That is when I learned that they were not a beach band despite their name. That is when I learned that Brian Wilson was not a beach musician. He was...a genius. Despite his years hanging out in sand within his own house, all the bullshit with his psychiatrist (be careful) and all that he already had to deal with from his family (his father, as I read it), Wilson was a master. And despite all of THAT, he finally got his Smile album out. Not as great as he might have wanted in the 70s, but damn good anyway!
I do not think that I am the only person that might say that "God Only Knows" is a perfect song (I might not either since Mike Love tries to ruin it midsong) and it is that song that I will always remember even with all of the rest. Brian Wilson was a genius. It is too poor that he had so many things trying to tug at him all of his life (again, many caused by himself) but with all of that, he gave us all brilliance. It took me time to figure that out. I guess he did too. I imagine it does to all of us. Rest in Peace, Brian. And thank you for hours and hours that you have given to me and so many others. My ears and mind are better for it. That is all.
Recent Comments