That's Why God Made The Radio

The Beach Boys celebrate fifty years!

We all know how helpless, miserable and even hilarious a once glorious band may look trying to return in on original lineup. In many cases, such reunions are dedicated to some particularly big events in the ensemble’s life, like anniversary. Musicians play a necessary set of songs, share fancy words and say one last good bye to the audience, while listeners are not even sure if they should be happy about this return because their idols, old, bold and fat, have little to do with those who they used to be. The recent resurrection of the legendary The Beach Boys was met with mixed feelings from delight to alarm. Are we going to have another performer who has decided to use this simple way of playing on loyalty of fans and earn some more without putting much effort? It could have happened if not for two reasons. First of all, we are talking about more than just a reunion of the amazing Californian ensemble; it’s a fiftieth anniversary here. Secondly, and that might be most important, Brian Wilson is back to The Bech Boys.

Brian Wilson back in business

Last time Brian participated in the band’s studio activities more than fifteen years ago, but even back then The Beach Boys were going through tough times. Mainly, due to the problems of Brian who has always been a key figure in the outfit. Now, the musician is back in business, and he turned out to have strength enough for both a celebration tour and recording a new studio album, That’s Why God Made The Radio. It was an easy thing to predict the band would do everything to make this record sound like their best works that came to the world decades ago. Some of the new album’s songs were penned back in the late seventies, while the others were made just a couple of months ago, but the CD sounds very wholesome and consistent, which could be its strongest side. The Beach Boys fresh songs hardly reach the peaks conquered by their older hits, but the record is good at conveying the stylistic approach and mood of the brilliant early efforts. The music part of the just released CD has nothing special, but the songs are saved by the trademark vocal harmonies and flawless melodies of choruses.

A special role of the new album

That’s Why God Made The Radio has a very smooth set where it is hard to distinguish doubtless hits. The Beach Boys put emphasis on the atmosphere of the album and the lyrics which helped the listener get closest to the epoch that is left far behind. They did it particularly well with Isn’t It Time, Daybreak Over The Ocean, and Spring Vacation, picturing beautiful scenes of the seaside recreation. To make some contrast, they recorded a down tempo The Private Life Of Bill And Sue, mocking the mass obsession with reality shows. In the closing part of the album, we come across very impressive tracks Pacific Coast Highway, and Summer Gone. These are the most sincere and considerate songs where the musicians stop pretending to be young and full of energy, but give tribute to time and remember their friends who passed away. In conclusion, we have an album the very release of which is a greatest of lucks. The most encouraging part is not even the material of the record, but the fact that the living members of The Beach Boys managed to overcome their differences and come back together to the studio, just like old times, to prepare another gift for their listeners.