Wednesday, February 25, 2004

The one and only David Scott Esq. provides this snapshot of Brain Wilson's opening show at The Festival Hall in London on Friday past.

the good guys won or pop is art and vice versa

Late 1965. Imagine Brian Wilson's "California Girls" - now spin forward a couple of months to the sonic spangle of "Pet Sounds". Take a breather, proceed another few months on to "Good Vibrations" then enter the uncharted waters of, officially, "the most famous unreleased album of all time", "SMILE".
It's mid 1967. Is it any wonder that Brian Wilson crashed and burned at such speed? Being surrounded by morons didn¹t help either.
2004. Brian Wilson is currently surrounded by 18 musicians giving life to the most audacious pop experiment of it's day or our day, a kaleidescoped music collage which leaves you breathless in it's spin.
Tom Mix, Laurel And Hardy, Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, Existential Vaudeville, a mesmerising portrait of America in tiny shattered fragments. It's a music you've never heard before. It¹s beautiful and hilarious.
Polaroid, Royal Festival Hall 21 Jan 2004. Brian Wilson and Van Dyke Parks hands joined and raised in victory. the good guys won.

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