Music review: Brian Wilson – ‘No Pier Pressure鈥�
Having been a huge fan of the Beach Boys since the age of 10 and owning the entire discographies of both the Beach Boys and Brian Wilson, it鈥檚 difficult for me to listen to the latest release from Wilson with an unbiased ear.
Building on the success of his band鈥檚 鈥淭hat鈥檚 Why God Made the Radio鈥� from 2012, Wilson releases his 11th solo studio effort and still shows plenty of flashes of the musical brilliance he displayed over the last 53 years. The 72-year-old icon delivers a deliciously appealing collection featuring touches of inspiration from some very special guests. Zooey Deschanel of She & Him performs a dreamy, relaxing version of 鈥淥n the Island鈥� with a smooth mixture of island sound meets bossa nova on the ultra-cool number.
Not to be outdone, Kacey Musgraves adds her pop sensibility with a pinch of country sass to the charming 鈥淕uess You Had to Be There,鈥� sounding surprising like the beach beauties Wilson wrote about on classic songs like 鈥淪urfer Girl,鈥� 鈥淲endy鈥� and 鈥淐alifornia Girls.鈥�
Fun鈥檚 Nate Ruess joins Wilson for a delightful collaboration on the soft-sounding 鈥淪aturday Night.鈥�
As good as these arrangements come off sounding, the finest music is produced when Wilson is joined by fellow Beach Boys Al Jardine, David Marks and Blondie Chaplin on 鈥淲hatever Happened,鈥� 鈥淪ail Away鈥� and 鈥淭ell Me Why.鈥� As a Beach Boy, Jardine鈥檚 voice was often overshadowed by the engaging vocals of Mike Love and Carl Wilson, but Jardine鈥檚 voice still sounds eternally youthful and innocent as he delivers a nostalgic vocal performance on the endearing 鈥淭he Right Time.鈥�
鈥淭he Last Song鈥� tenderly brings the album to a close with Wilson softly singing, 鈥淚 wish that I could give you so much more.鈥� For an artist that has provided me with a lifetime of significant, sun-kissed memories, Wilson adds yet another treasured piece to a catalogue that has lovingly placed the warmth and comfort of the California sun in my heart to cherish and share each and every day.