The Beach Boys: That’s Why God Made The Radio – Stunning!

The Beach Boys founding members

L-R Carl Wilson, Dennis Wilson,Mike Love,Al Jardine& Brian Wilson

                     Thank God this much anticipated record reached  our shores-- fresh and  up to date.

                To coincide with the 50^th anniversary of the influential and legendary band, The Beach Boys, one of the  greatest and one of America’s best-selling bands of all time,  founding members Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and Al Jardine with long time member Bruce Johnston and 1962-63 member David Marks reunited and released their 29^th studio album, That’s Why God Made The Radio, last June 5, 2012.

With David Marks ( center).

Late 60's

L-R - Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine, Carl Wilson, Mike Love & Dennis Wilson

1980's

L-R- Carl Wilson, Bruce Johnston,Brian Wilson, Mike Love &Al Jardine

The Beach Boys today

L-R  Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine, Brain Wilson, Mike Love& David Marks

                This is their first studio album since 1996 and can be considered as their first 'real' album of new materials  since the self-titled , The Beach Boys, in 1985. The self-titled album was their first release after  the accidental death of founding member Dennis Wilson in 1983  and subsequent albums  were either admixed with their old hits or just a different versions  of their old songs or without the involvement of the beloved, Brian Wilson.

                Late  2010, as their 50^th anniversary was approaching, rumors of a reunion and a new album began  circulating.  In November 2011, the  aborted and mythical,  The  Smile Sessions, finally saw its official release. On December 16, 2011, it was announced that Brian Wilson, Mike Love,  Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks will reunite for  a new album and a tour for the band’s 50^th anniversary in 2012.

The reunion was quite  surprising and was viewed with skepticism by some critics , considering that  several years back,  Mike Love and Brian Wilson engaged each other in court litigations involving royalties and the right to the use of The Beach Boys brand. Since 1998, after  the death of another founding member Carl Wilson, the band had been touring in three different factions:  Brian Wilson’s; Mike Love’s and Bruce Johnston; and  Al Jardine’s.

                Mike Love and Bruce Johnston's touring Beach Boys band actually visited Manila twice, in 2005 and in 2010.  Even without Brian Wilson(the heart and soul of The Beach Boys) and Al Jardine,  I made it a point not to miss their concert  in 2010  at the Araneta Coliseum.  After all , Mike Love co-wrote and sang lead in many of their popular hits including one of my  favorite  Beach Boys songs, “California Girls." He also co-wrote and sang lead on the two popular Beach Boys songs  in the 80's: the U.S. billboard chart-topper “Kokomo” in 1988 and  “Getcha Back” in 1985.   Bruce Johnston is famous as the man who penned the Barry Manilow classic, ”I Write The Song.” He also wrote the underrated beautiful song “Disney Girls(1957)” whose cover by  Captain and Tennille is the one I usually hear on local radio. I remember the concert was fun,  had a   good  attendance  and the  band gave  a spirited  performance; spearheaded  of course by  Mike Love. The drummer I would say did justice to my no. 1  favorite  Beach Boys song “Don’t Worry Baby.”

                                   The reunion  as expected drew  positive  response from  fans and their new album shot to number 3 in the U.S. Billboard chart, their highest charting album since 1965. 

                 The Beach Boys stated in interviews few months prior to  the album’s release that it will end in a Pet Sounds-inspired suite and that the title track, “That’s Why God Made The Radio” is  considered by  Brian Wilson as one of their best. Also, just like in Pet Sounds, their 1966 masterpiece  record (and considered as one of the greatest album of all time),  Brian Wilson   was  in  control of the  cockpit for this one.  Aside from producing, he wrote or co-wrote all but one of the songs.

                This  album is a very strong release.  Without counting the opening track,  which is  a  blending of harmonies and piano , it is bookended with what I would consider as the two best songs: the title track, “That Why God Made The Radio” and "Summers Gone." 

            "That's Why God Made The Radio" is a  classic sounding  Beach Boys tune. A throwback to the early  days of “Don’t Worry Baby” and “Warmth Of The Sun.” "Summers Gone" is a  poignant and heartbreaking tearjerker.  

               In between, are  set of songs filled with great  melodies and  nice  harmonies that tackle mostly familiar themes of  summer, cruisin’,  surfin’, beaches, yearning, and reminiscing.  My favorites are “Isn’t It Time,” “Spring Vacation,” “Shelter,”  Mike Love’s ‘Day Break Over  The Ocean” and “Strange World.”

           In a way this is like a concept album about a man looking back in life. The joys of seeing old friends and reliving their glorious past. About still being amaze  on present day phenomenon like reality shows ("Private Life Of Bill And Sue") or life situations ("Strange World"). Reminicing about lost love and opportunities. About aging... and ultimately  coming to terms with the reality that everything is past them now, using  the words summer and sunset among others, as  metaphors. The Beach Boys after all are in their seventies(or late sixties) already. It seems they did not try to be hip. 
         They just  did  what they do best- to be themselves, The  Beach Boys. This is a big factor, I think,  why this album succeeds.  
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          As an introduction, it starts with an overture of vocal harmonies( like in Smile Sessions) and a reflective piano piece,  followed by the classic song, “That Why God Made The Radio” which  immediately will  captivate the listener. ”From the dashboard of my car/ Cruisin’ at 7/Push-button heaven/ Capturing memories from afar/ In my car,” Brian Wilson reminisces.

          The listener’s attention is kept in bright mood by a succession of melodic , bouncy, and  sprightly songs. “Isn’t it time we danced the night away/How about doing it just like yesterday,”  the band muses in "Isn’t It  Time.” “Spring Vacation/Good vibration/Summer weather, We’re back together/, Easy money/Ain’t life funny/Hey what’s it to ya/ Hallelujah,” perhaps a laid-back Brian Wilson  chuckles in “Spring Vacation.” “Daybreak over the ocean/Moonlight still in the sea/Will the waves gentle motion/Bring my babe back to me” sings Mike Love reminiscent of “Kokomo’s” relaxed atmosphere.  

      Towards the end, starting at the 9^th track, “Strange World,” followed by the Pet Sound-inspired suite, the  album descends slowly and elegantly , like an ebb tide, into melancholia.  The suite begins with another classic-sounding tune, "From There To Back Again," a yearning ballad sung beautifully by Al Jardine and  is capped with the  magnificent and heartbreaking but soothing  ”Summer's  Gone,” a song Brian Wilson wrote as a reflection of his mother and brother Carl Wilson’s death and was intended as the last song of the final Beach Boys album. “Summers gone/ Gone like yesterday/The night grow cold/ It’s time to go,” “Summers gone/ it’s finally sinking in.”  

             

                           Many things can be said and had  been said about this album , all in all, this is not Pet Sounds nor Pet Sounds-Lite (as I have read somewhere), this is not a perfect album, it may have flaws both in  music and in  lyrics... but for me, listening to this record is a great emotional experience. It’s absolutely brilliant and stunning. I hope Sir Paul McCartney may have just  found an inspiration to make another memorable album.

Tracklist:
1. Think About The Days
2. That's Why God Made The Radio

3. Isn't It Time

4. Spring Vacation
5. The Private Life Of Bill And Sue
6. Shelter
7. Daybreak Over The Ocean
8. Beaches In Mind
9. Strange World
10. From There To Back Again
11. Pacific Coast Highway
12. Summer's Gone