Search - Various Artists :: Caroline Now! The Songs of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys

Wonderful Surprise

A Masconi | Abergele, CA | 10/07/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have to admit - I was skeptical. I didn't really think the world needed another tribute album. Perhaps if all tribute albums approached the genius of "Caroline Now" - I'd change my mind. It's worth the price for the booklet alone: unpublished photos, extensive and informed liner notes, just really really cool. Musically it's surprise after surprise - Alex Chilton sounds better than he has since 1974, Eric Matthews is stellar, High Llamas, Eugene Kelly, Pearlfishers, Stevie J. from Belle and Sebastian - straight class.Artists from different eras sit side by side, united by the music.For some, it may be the first exposure to forgotten work from The Beach Boys lesser known catalogue - obviously this compilation is the work of true fans. Highly recommended. This really essential comp does Brian's (and the others') legacy proud.Thank You Marina."

More Than Just Fun in the Sun

Doug Simpson/Graphics Dept. | Los Angeles, CA USA | 08/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Exquisite! For long-time Brian Wilson/Beach Boys fans, there's more to the artists' work than just "Good Vibrations." This loving tribute focuses on little-known Beach Boys tunes written mostly by Brian Wilson (there are also a few by his brother Dennis and other Beach Boys alum). The real treat is hearing a different side to Brian Wilson than most fans may know, where Wilson wrote about melancholy, simple pleasures like "Wind Chimes" and holding his baby daughter in his arms. The mostly UK twee-pop bands do a fine job covering the tunes, with mostly low-key arrangments. If you're a casual Wilson listener, skip this. If you have explored Pet Sounds and anything past 1967, then this is a treat."

A perfect tribute to the Beach Boys

Sandy Starr | United Kingdom | 03/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This superb tribute to the music of the Beach Boys, by an eclectic range of musicians, is a must-have for dedicated Beach Boys fans who enjoy the band's rare and lesser-known songs. Tribute albums are often redundant exercises, and have a bad reputation, but this one actually reworks the material in interesting new ways and exposes the listener to lesser-known parts of the Beach Boys back catalogue.Brian Wilson has become perceived as something of a musical god in recent years, and while it's great to see him getting the recognition he deserves and touring with his excellent new band, it's often forgotten that other members of the Beach Boys wrote great music too. The selection of songs on this tribute album redresses the balance, representing both Brian's best songs and those of the rest of the band.A variety of approaches are taken to the music. Songs that originally seemed slight or underdeveloped when recorded by the Beach Boys are fleshed out, for example `Wind Chimes' from `Smiley Smile', sung beautifully here by Katrina Mitchell. A threesome of tracks from `Love You' - `I Wanna Pick You Up', `Honkin' Down the Highway' and `Let's Put Our Hearts Together' - are freed from that album's chunky, synth-oriented production, and take on a life of their own.Sometimes, it's just a matter of boiling a song down to its original essence - for example, Malcom Ross' reworking of `Heroes and Villains' from `Smiley Smile' simply teases out that song's breezy Hawaiian flavour. Other reworkings are more extreme - Camping turn `Busy Doin' Nothing' from `Friends' into a patois/dub piece (which won't be to everyone's taste), and the Peter Thomas Sound Orchestra mutate the title track from `Pet Sounds' almost beyond recognition, into a hilarious sci-fi concoction.The selection of artists represented on the album is impressive. Alex Chilton of the Box Tops (who used to support the Beach Boys on tour) sings a wonderful version of `I Wanna Pick You Up'. Chart toppers Saint Etienne deliver an ingenious combination of the rare Brian Wilson song `Stevie', and `My Diane' from `MIU Album'. 60s vocal group the Free Design reformed especially to record a gorgeous version of `Endless Harmony' from `Keepin' the Summer Alive'. Critically acclaimed singer Eric Matthews does a lovely job of `The Lonely Sea' from `Surfin' USA'. And the High Llamas, best known as obsessive fans of/successors to the Beach Boys, attempt a bubblegum electronica take on `Anna Lee, the Healer' from `Friends' - which doesn't quite come off, but is interesting.There's also an opportunity to hear great versions of lost songs, that are otherwise only available on bootlegs - most notably the joyous `Rainbow Eyes', performed by Kle, which was originally meant to appear on Brian Wilson's unreleased second solo album `Sweet Insanity'.Finally, the packaging of this album deserves praise. A new interview with Brian Wilson is included in the CD booklet, which is nice, but basically consists of: `Brian, how do you feel about the fact that all these famous people really love your songs?' `Well, gee, golly, it's just great, it fills me with spiritual love!' And you have to laugh when you read the pun on the back of the CD booklet: `Mike Love not war'.There's also a serious point to this pun - namely, that the Beach Boys should be celebrated for all the great music they've made over the years, and not dwelled morbidly upon for their personal problems and petty squabbles."