Two Reports From “Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin” Listening Party
By DJ M on August 1st, 2010
In Brian Wilson/B. Boys
PETER AMES CARLIN "Brian's music, the good stuff, anyway, makes me feel the same way. Everyone has peaks and valleys, and some BW releases are mixed bags - some tunes feel inspired, others feel a little more labored. But here's a great and unexpected twist: 'BWRG' is the real thing, end to end. It's the heart of BW, interpreted by Himself, and seemingly unfiltered. It works on levels I can't even describe yet. Too soon, I need another ten or 20 spins to really get the hang of the songs, to grasp the connections, to trace the journey between young BW's primal bond to 'Rhapsody in Blue' through the length of his own life and work, to this masterpiece of cultural/musical synthesis/imagination/artistry."
REUTERS "Initial listens of 'Gershwin' reveal Wilson to be in strong voice, clearly heard above the trademark harmonies that tend to drown him out on stage. His version of 'It Ain’t Necessarily So' comes close to Bronski Beat’s falsetto cover. The bossa nova version of '‘S Wonderful' tips its hat to Joao Gilberto’s. 'Gershwin' could also be viewed as a companion to the Beach Boys’ 1966 masterpiece 'Pet Sounds,' given the similarities between that album’s jaunty instrumental title track and the new album’s vocal-free take on 'I Got Plenty O’ Nuthin.’' Or between 'They Can’t Take That Away From Me' and 'Wouldn’t It Be Nice,' respectively."