A few years back, Brian Wilson went back into the studio and took a bunch of those original songs and recorded a new album that he released as SMiLE.  Which was great, but now we are going to get the chance to hear the songs as they were recorded in those original sessions.  Original band members, Al Jardine, Mike Love, and Brian Wilson have gotten together with Capitol/EMI to compile a collection of songs that will be released later this year as The Smile Sessions.  The collection will be released in both physical and digital formats, including a deluxe boxed set that will include “early song drafts, alternate takes, instrumental and vocals-only mixes, and studio chatter.”  This is making my impossible dream of a new Beach Boys album a reality.  Hope you guys are at least half as excited as I am.

Thanks to Paste and Blurt for sharing this wonderful news.

The Beach Boys – Heroes & Villians

I’ve been keeping my eye on the remixing scene during my absence, and it’s been pretty slow. No major activity by Soulwax or any other big name, and no real key albums dropping to remix.

Simply: it’s the slow season for remixes.

So let’s just take a moment to relax to some Beach Boys shall we?

Wait a second! This isn’t your grandparent’s Brian Wilson! This cozy little remix is a vibrant seizure of sound that will rock your cortex.

If it doesn’t, I promise a full money back guarantee.

I hope your ears get their moneys worth. Ω

(p.s.) I hate when remixers plug themselves in their own mixes. It’s stupid, and so was the “Mac OS X Alex” voice they used.  So “The Girls Can Hear Us”, if you’re listening… stop it.

1. “PDA” – Interpol

Interpol’s albums have grown exponentially worse with each new release, but this song is from their moody masterpiece of a debut, Turn On The Bright Lights. The song chugs along mechanically, led by throbbing bass drum hits and stabbing, dissonant guitars, returning to a confounding chorus about sleeping on “200 couches.” But then the song pauses, brightens. The chugging returns more excited than before, carrying a fragile organ coo on its shoulders, and the sounds zigzag and crash into silence.

2. “I Know There’s An Answer” – The Beach Boys

This wonderful Pet Sounds track is buried awkwardly in the third quarter of the album, which is perhaps why it is so criminally ignored. All the components of the song’s final 37 seconds are singularly present throughout the entire song: the bizarre circus piano, the merry banjo, and that tambourine. But it’s not until the song’s wordless coda that the threads are played together, and it is the blending of these elements that create true magic. It’s Christmas morning, it’s your first kiss, it’s absolutely perfect.

3. “Stop Breathin’” – Pavement

The song seems to begin in the middle of a phrase, without introduction. Stephen Malkmus croaks, “Dad, they broke me,” over drunken arpeggios and repeats the line twice at the finish of the first chorus. But he sings it only once for the second chorus, so we know a change is coming. Suddenly all falls silent, save for the sluggish 6/8 heartbeats of the drums. A brooding finger picked guitar line enters and is soon joined by another, each of them rising, falling and intersecting. The noise builds to a fever pitch, narrows to one single note of feedback, and then erupts again, roaring into a second coda.

So China in my opinion really raised the bar when it came to  the opening ceremonies.  I really enjoyed watching the theatrics of it all.  They continued to just wow the crowd and the millions watching all over the world.   So in honor of the events that have taken place and are going to be happening for next couple of weeks, I have created a little olympic-style playlist for you all. If you like you can leave a comment and vote for your favorite songs and then maybe I’ll hand out some medals. Anyway. Here is the playlist. Hope your ears bleed.

1. The Neighborhood – China Boy (removed 2/13/09)

2. Counting Crows – Holiday In Spain (removed 2/13/09)

3. Beirut – Postcards From Italy (removed 2/13/09)

4. James Taylor – Mexico (removed 2/13/09)

5. Five Iron Frenzy – Oh, Canada (removed 2/13/09)

6. Wilco – Impossible Germany (removed 2/13/09)

7. Jets to Brazil – Sweet Avenue (removed 2/13/09)

8. The Shins – Australia (removed 2/13/09)

9. Spoon – My Little Japanese Cigarette Case (removed 2/13/09)

10. The Beach Boys – Surfin’ U.S.A. (removed 2/13/09)

but back to where my music obsession started and to the reason for this post. i wasn’t telling the whole truth when i said that my mom made me listen to only “christian” music. there was one exception that was made that has forever shaped my musical tastes. and that exception is the tape cassette my uncle gave me when i was about five years old of the beach boys’ pet sounds. easily the greatest album ever put out by the beach boys and arguably the best album of 60′s. now i realize that all you beatles fans out there are about to jump down my throat, but before you do. The Beatles themselves have recognized it as the inspiration for their album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which is consistently ranked as the Beatles greatest album. not only that but paul mccartney has often stated that “god only knows” is his favorite song of all time. but don’t let any of this convince you of the greatness of this record. let the music stand for itself. if you have never heard this album or don’t agree with me please listen to it as soon you can. i hope your ears bleed (not literally)

the beach boys – caroline no (removed 8/24)