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| So many good vibrations... |
There have been only a handful of musical geniuses in rock and roll (Dylan, the Beatles, Bowie, Marley, Pete Townshend, the Glimmer Twins, and a few others), and sadly, we lost one of them today in Brian Wilson. Co-founder of the Beach Boys (perhaps the most all-American band ever), Wilson's genius in the studio (it's said he made the studio into an instrument), as well as his creation of the California sound and ability to write songs that are among the most memorable ever are just some of the legacies he leaves behind.
After a nervous breakdown in 1964, Wilson began to concentrate more on his studio work, and man, did it pay off. In 1966 the Beach Boys released Pet Sounds, which was an instant classic, and is widely regarded as one of the ten greatest albums ever. Sadly, Wilson fought mental illness much of his life (probably not helped by his substance abuse), and a good portion of it was during what should have been his most productive years. He did rebound in the 1990's to some acclaim, and won a couple of Grammys.
Wilson's last years were marked by his suffering from dementia, but he did continue to tour until 2022.
There are many tributes pouring in today (as well there should be) by people much more knowledgeable about Wilson, the Beach Boys, and rock and roll than I, so I'll just leave it at though Brian Wilson may be gone, his music will be with us forever--and what a joy that is for all of us.
I wrote about "God Only Knows" in Vol. CLXXXII, and as it's my favorite Beach Boys song (and probably in my top ten tunes of all-time), I'll close with one of the most beautiful (and intricate) pop songs ever written--a stunning and majestic piece of pop pie:
Rest in peace, Mr. Wilson.
Fuck Donald Trump
Peace,
emaycee
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