mpolak21

a.) Clean is the right word for BWPS for me too, but I prefer just about the way everything recorded in 65-68 sounds over Pro-Tools/Garage Band so I bring my own set of biases. b.) I don't want to bag on Brian and the backing band too much, they're great, they're the closest thing to he can get to this sound. But they still aren't quite this sound for me. I like the Child is the Father of the Man section better actually without the extra lyrics, Surf's Up and Wonderful would be the two cuts for me that I think sound significantly better on the Beach Boys version. c.) My favorite little par

There will never fully be justice for the victims and their families no amount of punishment can ever really heal wounds like that. But the hell on earth all involved, those who covered it up, those who could have stopped it, and Sandusky, will now live with for the rest of their lives is at least a start in the right direction.

Loved the Brian Wilson Presents disc when it came out, and I think a few songs Blue Hawaii, Plymouth Rock are on the level or better than the comparable Beach Boys versions (those ones in particular because they were finished). But where I feel the Beach Boys sound really takes over is the middle suite and my favorite part of the album climaxing with Surf's Up. As talented as the Wondermints are, I just can't help but shake the image of the New Mainstreet Singers from Christopher Guest's brilliant A Mighty Wind from my head with them. Everything is so cheery it sounds like a toothpaste commerc

Sorry, I thought the Chicago point was directed at Wendy. My mistake. I have throughly enjoyed every episode of The Underground Garage I've heard. Little Steven just came to mind. Sun City was stuck in my head today. Don't know much about JC Brooks other than the video, if they ever around my area I will perhaps seek out their live show. --Mike

a.) Ampleness of JC Brooks bosoms aside (did I just write that sentence, I guess just wrote that sentence). The dude has some fans. If Little Steven was solely referred to as "that short dude with head scarf." You would be justified in saying, "hey, he's a little more than just that." b.) It will give your point about the board's Chicago centricity more creedence if and when you use it in the future the person, whose post you are responding to, is actually from there. Wendy lives in Indiana. c.) Since I mentioned Little Steven, Springsteen did a guest spot on his radio show over the summe

Either Before Hollywood or 16 Lovers Lane would make my thirty, I'd imagine. --Mike

1-5: Beach Boys Smile sessions Disc 1-5.

It's an interesting idea. I don't think I could do it, the elimination of ever finding something new after the set of 30 albums would be way to difficult. Robert's picks are pretty good though. I'd certainly have Forever Changes in the 30 I had to take. Which Talking Heads would you go with, Remain in Light? I am probably more of a Fear of Music guy, personally. Any of the Eno/Heads albums though are perfect, not to mention the live stuff. --Mike

All Things Must Pass is an awfully great album if you are unfamiliar. --Mike

If you dig sixties pop of that era in the Free Design vein, the great Andrew Sandoval, who put together the LA Nuggets boxset, the Big Star box, and all of the Monkees and Kinks re-issues amongst others, has a tremendous internet radio program I strongly recommend checking out: http://www.cometothesunshine.com/. The podcast of his Top 100 songs five hour special helped me through a cross-country drive. --Mike

Yeah, that one is worth seeking out, but it's hard to find. Another 80's title that sadly went out of print. I also highly recommend Domenic Priore's book on the Smile sessions and Charles L. Granata's book about Pet Sounds, if you're interested in those specific records.

This is the best one I've read on Brian: http://www.amazon.com/Catch-Wave-Redemption-Beach-Wilson/dp/B000QCQGPU/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320358214&sr=1-8. This is a really good read too: http://www.amazon.com/Nearest-Far-Away-Place-California/dp/0805047026/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1320358246&sr=1-8 --Mike

Yeah, I found Townsend's "they may be your fucking icons, but they're my fucking friends" quote pretty moving, liked the speech a lot as well. The answer to Who vs. Zeppelin is "listen to both of them" by the way. --Mike

That's true, I'm awfully hard on the guy for sins committed 30 odd years ago, but for his vocals on "That's Not Me" alone, dude should get a pass.

You're right I was generalizing quite a bit, and ultimately my own perception of that record (I wouldn't exactly call the Walken-What Light-Leave Me Like You Found Me triumvirate "songwriting maturity" but to each his own) is going to color any pontificating I do on it. --Mike

http://brianwilsonfans.com/a_ml.php This is pretty fascinating read from Mojo Magazine right around the time of Brian Wilson Presents Smile about Mike Love, the article is titled appropriately enough "Is Mike Love evil?" Interesting look at pop music's Fredo Corelone. --Mike

Well if you are interested in the packaging and the vinyl listening experience the big set is certainly worth it. The session book is great, the packaging is tremendous and the vinyl sounds amazing. If you can deal with just getting the tunes, I'd go 2-disc version and search out an illegal download of the full boxset. I don't know if and where they are, after I bought the box at Best Buy Tuesday morning, I made it a point to stop looking for torrents just in case I had any buyer's remorse. But you know, I've been obsessed with this album for a better chunk of my life, there's even stuff on th

This is the answer to your question, I believe. If you haven't heard Wilco before and you get SBS you don't have thoughts like "this is a disappointing album compared to YHF" if anything new fans can give it the fairest shake it's going to get. I'm a little more surprised when I find out people who have been around the band for awhile love that one without reservation than hearing that's the one a new fan really got into. If you've never heard to anything like AGIB or YHF, SBS is a good one to give to someone who's only real exposure to anything resembling decent modern rock is an MP3 of Seven

I really really like the Enjoy Wilco on MY Terms thread, that is, at least, Just a Fan's crowning achievement. --Mike

Yeah these are fine. We give the greenlight to rips of the sort as long it isn't commercially available, just when doing it with audience sourced live shows be careful with MP3 conversion with audience sources, tapers get a little testy when you downgrade audio quality for public consumption. --Mike

Yeah, I am a huge WVU fan. Even though he was far more successful here, everything that happened to him at UM was present in his time here. He carried himself like God's gift to football even when he was going 3-8 in his first year. We had more success defensively, but the Big East circa 04-07 certainly isn't comparable to the high end Big Ten. And on offense as great as the spread run attack can work, essentially it's only six or seven plays. When defenses had the athletes to match and contain, he never had a plan B. His final two weeks at WVU, the Pitt loss (28 point home favorites, a win pu

All of this is going to make one hell of a ESPN 30 for 30-ish documentary one day: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/sports/ncaafootball/west-virginia-accepts-invitation-joining-big-12.html?ref=sports. --Mike

I'm glad someone likes that song, it's never done much for me. How have you been, Frog? Hope things are well. My addiction to Tweedy solo boots was well served by you back in the day. --Mike

I like this one a lot: