There is no arguing over the uniqueness of Brian Wilson’s compositions and productions, his influence on pop music, his singular status as one of popular music’s most enigmatic survivors. No Pier Pressure, his eleventh studio solo album, reveals that lush, harmony-laden approach he has been known for throughout his career — plus the wistful lyrics and spectacular musicians to see his vision made real. Wilson has returned to Capitol Records, his home with the Beach Boys, for these 13 songs as well as reuniting with longtime collaborator Joe Thomas. Also on this record are a couple Beach Boys, players from Wilson’s touring band, killer session players like Don Was, Jim Keltner, and Kenny Aronoff, plus ‘newer’ artists like She & Him (Zooey Deschanel’s duo with M. Ward) and Sebu Simonian of Capital Cities.
“Beautiful Day” opens with Brian’s still-so-very-distinct voice dancing above a simple plodding low piano, trumpet buried in the background, and low sad strings. It’s a simple rumination of the day, something we have heard Wilson do plenty of times before. “Runaway Dancer” is a sunny music synth pop song, very much like Paul McCartney during one of his more poppier turns, a throwaway song at best. Zooey Deschanel’s bland but pretty vocal carries the familiar Wilson lyric idea of “On The Island.” it’s mid-tempo fun, but very much like “Runaway Dancer” as a light song, layered with great harmonies but not much else.
The instrumental “Half Moon Bay,” coming about half way in, is surely welcomed. There is that wall-of-vocal harmony (why have only two or three voices singing together when you can have more than the ear can register, right?). This is the kind of song I ache to hear from Brian Wilson, not all those hanging-on-an-island confessions. Although its lyric is rather trite, “The Right Time” has a nice rim-shot groove and plinky piano mixed with organ. Listening hard one can hear a hint of “Sloop John B” making its way in, which may have something to do with the fact that this song features vocals by Wilson, Al Jardine, and original Beach Boys’ guitarist David Marks.
Wilson fires on all pistons on “Guess You Had To Be There.” A duet with Kacey Lee Musgraves, the lyric is personal, perhaps wry commentary on Wilson’s celebrated wild period when he dumped sand in his studio, there were too many “friends” to name, and he and Van Dyke Parks attempted to compose some of the greatest pop songs ever written. Again, the music is simple pop, with a nice mid-tempo beat and harmonies.
Piano, low strings, calliope sounds and background harmonies infuse the “The Last Song,” a bit melancholic loaded with looking-back laments in the way the material on the 2012 Beach Boys reunion album, That’s Why God Made the Radio, was. The big kettle drum beat and rise of harmonies at the end might manipulate us a bit, it’s very effective, especially with that last half minute of just piano and strings to add to the poignancy. No Pier Pressure comes from an American icon who certainly has no peer. What else might Brian Wilson still have up his sleeve? The way it’s been going in recent years, just about anything.
~ Ralph Greco, Jr.
