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James Minchin III
It's fair to say that this music, recorded live at the Warner Theatre in Washington, D.C., is the best new material from Brian Wilson in more than 30 years.That Lucky Old Sun is a song cycle based on a tune with its spiritual roots in slavery. That song is about hardship, but this semi-autobiographical song cycle is about nostalgia. It's what life in California means to Wilson, and what Wilson means to California.
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In this two-hour live recording, The Beach Boys' Brian Wilson plays his most ambitious album, Smile, at Carnegie Hall. Released almost four decades after its creation, the album has been reconstructed and reworked from original tapes and new recordings. Listen to songs from Smile, Beach Boys favorites, and excerpts from recording sessions in this Creator's at Carnegie special.
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Four years after reviving and releasing his abandoned masterpiece, Smile, Wilson is back with a new album, That Lucky Old Sun. Between performances of songs from the new disc, the former Beach Boys singer shares what it was like to return to his old recording home at Capitol Records.
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In the late 1960s, Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson began work on an ambitious album called Smile. It was never released. Now Wilson is touring Europe, playing a 45-minute concert version of the music to high praise from critics. Hear "Surf's Up," a song originally recorded for Smile.
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Brian Wilson was most responsible for the Beach Boys' unique sound that fused harmonious rock with the ethos of surfing. After the success of the Beach Boys, Wilson's had a much-publicized 20-year struggle with drugs and emotional problems. In 1988 he produced his first solo album, Brian Wilson. Ten years later he recorded another solo album of new material Imagination.
()New artists like Iron and Wine; a self-professed has-been with little music ability (William Shatner); old-school artists like Brian Wilson and favorites like Wilco and Interpol ... you picked quite a list. Thanks to all participants and to all the musicians that made 2004 a great year for new music.
()2004 was a year when a handful of artists with their best days long behind them surprised us with their strongest music; Loretta Lynn and Brian Wilson come to mind. It was also a year when a lot of new musicians recorded some of the most personal and fragile songs you'll hear — Iron and Wine, Bright Eyes, Joanna Newsom and Sufjan Stevens to name a few.
()Below are the 20 most mentioned songs from both listeners and reviewers with randomly selected comments from some of those who picked them.
()Bob Boilen speaks with All Things Considered music reviewers Will Hermes, Tom Moon and Meredith Ochs about the most anticipated releases for fall 2004. Hear sneak previews from R.E.M., Brian Wilson's long-awaited album Smile, plus new music from Tom Waits, Elliott Smith and more.
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Brian Wilson composed The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations" by stitching together many recording sessions. The result is a song that today stands as an American classic. Bob Boilen speaks with Wilson and other musicians from the "Good Vibrations" sessions about the revolutionary song.
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In the late 1960s, at the height of his popularity, Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson began work on an ambitious album called Smile. Almost four decades later, the album is ready for release. Bob Boilen sits in on the Smile recording sessions.
()Photographer Annie Leibovitz has produced a book full of images of musicians and their art. It's called Annie Leibovitz: American Music. Leibovitz speaks with NPR's Scott Simon.
()Rock 'n' Roll historian Ed Ward reviews Smile, the recently released album Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys began working on after Pet Sounds.
()Bill Radke reviews former Beach Boy Brian Wilson's long-anticipated London performance of songs from his unreleased album Smile.
()NPR writers and critics pick the best albums of 2004. Included is music by Modest Mouse, Tinariwen, The Hilliard Ensemble, Brian Wilson, Guy Davis and Wilco.
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Rock critic Ken Tucker gives us his top picks in pop for 2004. He runs down his 10 best albums, and then talks about some trends of 2004, such as the return of punk, the year of the hip-hop producer, crunk music, and the potential end of an era as iPods and single song downloads replace album purchases. Ken Tucker is also a film critic for New York magazine.
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