Search - Rpo :: Symphonic Sounds: Music of The Beach Boys

An orchastral balance for both kinds of Beach Boys Fans!

Kendal B. Hunter | Provo, UT United States | 01/05/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I have always wondered how we would regard Brian Wilson if he had been born 300 years ago. I could seem him up there with Beethoven, Brahms, Bach, Handel, and the other masters that were revere. Mr. Wilson was handicapped by being born in LA in the 1940's, and was trapped by the corporate environment and the gimmick-name of "The Beach Boys." He was locked into a genre and style and the world never let him progress beyond the stereotype. He is beginning to get the recognition he deserves, but it is too little, too late.(For a man who is deaf in one ear, he can really sing and compose music! He is like Beethoven!)This album is a way to partially atone for our errors. It is a symphonic rendition of many opf the Beach Boys songs, with an emphasis, as the title suggests, on "Pet Sounds." I was a bit leery about purchasing this CD, but I finally bought it on a whim, and I have not regretted purchasing this disc. It is wonderful.It strikes a nice balance between the two Beach Boys. You have the Sun, Sand, and Surf Beach Boys, which is what most people traditionally recognize when you say the name. Then you have the Pet Sound Beach Boys, where my musical tastes lie. This disc appeals to both camps in that the "Overture" and the "(Just for Fun . . .) All Surf!" pieces have the tradition elevator music Beach Boys, but to balance this out, you have orchestrated versions of "God Only Knows," and "Wouldn't It be Nice" to balance the more introspective crowd.The "Kokomo" track barely sounds like an orchestration, but any errors on this track's part is propitiated by "Disney Girls," and "Darlin'," two of my favorite post-Pest Sounds songs. "The Warmth of the Sun" captures the essence of the song!"The Water Planet Suite" is what I want played at my funeral. It covers the Beach Boys entire catalogue, and balances the Pet Sounders and Fun, Fun, Funners, and so everyone would be happy listening to this in a classical setting. It begins with "Heroes and Villains," for the inner sanctum "SMiLE" fans. A fitting tip of the hat to this lost album!The Beach Boys have been shortchanged, and had the misfortune to be contemporaries of the Beatles. If they were not set against this abnormally talented group, you probably would had a different Beach Boys-a fuller, richer, more orchestrated group as is presented on this CD."

An enjoyable listen...

Charles Hagee | ELKINS PARK, PA USA | 10/11/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bruce Johnston's labor of love, a symphonic tribute to the music of the Beach Boys, turns out to be a pleasant disc that's only major flaw is in playing it safe. The selections are obvious, but competently performed. And the vocals are all satisfactory. I actually enjoyed the "Just For Fun (All Surf!)" medley, in that it reminded me of the Rincon Surfing Band. Matt Jardine, son of Beach Boy in absentia Al, turns in a spirited "Darlin'". And Adrian Baker's vocals on "The Warmth Of The Sun" are also well worth a listen. I just wish that there had been a few more moments from the Beach Boys' post-Sixties catalogue, such as "Sail On Sailor", "Feel Flows", "Somewhere Near Japan" or "Baby Blue". (FYI: former Beach boy sideman Ron Altbach did try this approach on his out-of-print BEACH BOYS SUITE in the late Seventies. It's worth searching out.) One does wonder who had the idea to give "Kokomo" a symphonic treatment. If Bruce was hard up for a Mike Love tune, why not go off the board for cinematic "Sumahama"? Now that would have been gutsy!"