Customer Reviews

Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Admission: I am a DIE HARD Brian Wilson fan, and I love the concept of this album. That said, I'm not particularly crazy about most of it. For me, the absolute highlight is "Your Imagination" (5 stars); it's very creative and brings a different/fresh light to a great tune. Although I'm not as crazy about it, "Help Me, Rhonda" also sheds new light on a great tune - I give him creativity points. Unfortunately, for me, the rest of the tunes are nicely done re-makes, with little to add. Granted, the original versions of these songs were so well produced, it's hard to find new things to say. If you like these artists and you would like to hear their voices singing Brian's tunes, you will love this. If you are expecting imaginative takes on his tunes, you will be largely disappointed. I personally think this would have made a better single-CD set. 'Don't mean to be sour (I'm not), 'just want you to know what you're getting.

A project like Making God Smile wherein a wide variety of artists undertake covers of an outstanding artist's material is risky. There is plenty of room for people taking something we are used to hearing a certain way and butchering it in the name of noveau creativity. Happily, Making God Smile does just the opposite. What you have in this collection is a fresh take on a wonderful (and sometimes surprising) collection of Brian Wilson tunes -- both solo and Beach Boy era stuff. Some is fairly close to the original prototype, such as Phil Keaggy's take on "Good Vibrations" while others have taken tremendous liberities with the material (for example, a "Help Me, Rhonda" that swells with angst underneath a slightly techno sound). There is a straight-ahead country/folk reading of "Put Some Music in Your Day" and a fun version of "My Favorite Vegetables" by the former frontman for Daniel Amos. But the real stunner that (in my humble opinion) actually outdoes the original is Rick Altizer's take on "Surf's Up" that updates the sound of the classic version on SMiLE nicely while speeding up just a tad so as to make it even more compelling.

If you are a Brian / Beach Boys fan, you will want a copy of MGS for your collection. It gives respect to the original artist in the best kind of way and will cause you to hear familiar favorites and a few lesser-known gems in a whole new way.

I am not a fan of tributes. Too often, the album is nothing more than an attempt to piggyback on an established artist's fame and sell a record company's own artists in the process. In addition, they so often fall flat as either mediocre attempts to duplicate the originals OR musically so out of kilter as to be disrespectful to the originals. This tribute avoids both extremes.

This is stunning record, often bettering Brian Wilson's originals. For example, the shiny power-pop rendition of "I Know There's An Answer" from Pet Sounds, melding the unused "Hang On To Your Ego" lyrics, is absolutely joyous. Aaron Sprinkle -- practically a one-man producer/band, nails the song, making it contemporary and yet still respectful to the original.

And this is how it goes throughout the 17 tracks included here. Phil Keaggy absolutely nails "Good Vibrations", and while it doesn't veer from the original formula, he meets the challenge of a daunting song well. Kate Campbell does a beautiful folk-country rendition of "Add Some Music To Your Day." And while there's not a single surfing song here, there's much from Pet Sounds and the late 60's/early 70's Beach Boys records, as well as covers of three songs from Brian Wilson's solo records, and frankly, these versions -- by folkie Tom Prasada-Rao ("Your Imagination"), Christian music's Randy Stonehill ("Love and Mercy"), and folk-pop singer-songwriter Jane Kelly Williams ("Lay Down Burden") -- are (dare I say it??) superior to Wilson's own renditions. And I must say that D.C. Talk's Kevin Max (in arguably the most creative interpretation) brings U2 to "Help Me Rhonda!" Can you imagine? No, you can't, but believe me, it works.

The producers even toss in a campy version of the silly "Vegetables" from the aborted "Smile" album for hard-core fans (though that's one I generally skip over). From power-pop to folk-pop there's a beautiful consistency to this record.

Bottom line: If you are a purist who cannot abide the Beach Boy originals being tampered with, go buy Beach Boys Classics because you won't be able to tolerate this record or any tribute for that matter. But if you want to hear a contemporary album that demontrates the continuing vitality of these songs in a new era, get this record. You'll be glad you did. The packaging, the 24 page color booklet with loving tributes to Brian Wilson by the artists, and the beautiful cover (inspired, of course, by the original Smile cover), are icing on the cake. This is my pick for the album of the Summer of 2002!

The album is pretty good, and I'm glad to see these talented artists get together to celebrate this man's music, which has been so influential, even to Paul McCartney. Phil Keaggy, the greatest guitarist on the planet, compliments Brian Wilson's song with his own brilliance, yet stays true to the song without deviating too much from it. Kevin Max is a fantastic singer, but needs to find a style that better suits his talents. I wished I sang like him, but his talents are being wasted in his attempts to stay with the popular culture's current trends of hip-hop and R&B. Sixpence deliver the second best performance on the CD. If You're a fan of these artists, I'd recommend it. If You're a fan of Brian Wilson, You may be rightfully hesitant to invest money in a CD that may frustrate You, as covers are not always true to or nearly as good as the originals that You Love so dear...

Be aware of what you are buying... if you don't know already... these are "christian" or religious artists doing Beach Boys/Brian Wilson songs. First of all, these artists are all jokes. Whenever they're not riding on the success of other artists that are better than them by covering their songs, they are spreading the "gospel" to the world... and you know, voting for republicans and others who want the rich to rule the world, gay-bashing, being racists and writing stupid songs about someone they think they know ALL about even though they act nothing like that person... spreading none of the love, understanding and compassion that their "gospel" supposedly promotes... in fact these people are mostly hypocritical jerks, rude, arrogant and out to get rich from selling their snake oil & "jesus junk"! Putting out the kind of garbage they do- they shouldn't be allowed to cover a genius' songs. Don't support this by buying it. If you're looking for a good cover record of Beach Boys or Brian Wilson tunes, there are plenty of others out there. Don't support the bigotry, homophobia, hate and greed that "christians" promote! Don't buy this record!