Disco de Brian Wilson: “Live at the Roxy Theatre [Bonus Tracks]”

Forget the giant sandbox, the magic transistor radio... hell, forget "Smile" for a minute and just drop these discs into you CD player and *listen* to Brian Wilson sing and play piano! Listen to these songs as if for the first time, listen to his still-supple but no-longer-sacchrine voice, listen to the amazingly empathetic backing band. Seperate the man from the myth, and your are left with a wonderful live performance of some of the greatest songs ever written. The new takes on the "Pet Sounds" material are beyond beautiful, Brian's reading of the Barenaked Ladies music-geek anthem "Brian Wilson" proves that he is not a fried, drugged-up loony, but a "with it" guy with a slightly twisted sense of humor. The recording is nicely done, capturing the ambience of the Roxy nicely with good dynamics and plenty of inner detail. A great album that is full of charms.

Live At The Roxy Theatre is a triumph. Brian Wilson and his band recreate classic studio creations that leave the listener wanting more. This set, like Wilson's concerts, contains both classic Beach Boys songs such as "Don't Worry Baby," "I Get Around," and "California Girls," that Wilson wrote and produced, as well as lesser-known gems like "This Whole World," and "Add Some Music To Your Day." Wilson also includes newer songs, like his tribute to brother Carl, the touching "Lay Down Burden," as well as two other new songs, "The First Time," and "This Isn't Love." The ballads are beautiful and the rockers are really rock. Brian even pokes fun at himself a bit by covering the Barenaked Ladies song, "Brian Wilson." I would recommend this album to anyone who wants to hear songs spanning Wilson's entire career or just wants to hear great live recreations of Wilson's classic writing and production style.

Much to the surprise of everyone, Brian Wilson began touring in the late '90s, and his shows became everything the Beach Boys were not-- a celebration not of surf and cars and fun in the summer, but of genius, digging below the hits and unearthing many gems. Backed by a supportive and brilliant band, the music on these two CDs, taken from two nights at the Roxy in Los Angeles, is brilliant.

The credit largely goes to Brian's band, the core of which is the L.A. pop band the Wondermints-- a superb group of musicians, and former Beach Boys touring bandmember Jeffrey Foskett, who largely sings Brian's falsettos. Brian's vocal range has contracted a bit over the years, and the vocal arrangements are structured for him to sing all the leads. While his voice is weak and occasionally goes off key or misses notes, its still got enough of that magic to carry itself.

The set is amazing-- from the opener, bizarre 1965 single "The Little Girl I Once Knew", the energy level is high, the performance is filled with obscure gems such "This Whole World", "Kiss Me Baby", "Please Let Me Wonder" and "'Til I Die" (the latter is a powerful and moving rendition), hits ("California Girls", "I Get Around", "God Only Knows", "Good Vibrations"), a couple "Pet Sounds" instrumentals, and a pair of new songs.

Now mind you, Brian's sort of odd mannerisms, accentuated moreso during these early shows, are there, but they're easy enough to ignore, and really, the performance is top notch. This is very highly recommended for any Beach Boys fan.

After years of personal struggle, storied Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson offically reemreged from his shell with "Live At The Roxy". This is by far Brian's best solo release, spanning 2 discs of his classic music, both solo and with The Beach Boys.

Disc 1 begins with a fiery take on "The Little Girl I Once Knew", one of the many obscure Beach Boys numbers featured here. What follows is a lare group of gems spanning nearly 40 years of music - "This Whole World", "Don't Worry Baby", "Kiss Me Baby", "California Girls", "Surfer Girl", "In My Room", "Add Some Music To Your Day", and "Please Let Me Wonder". Also, a new recording written in 1983 but not heard until now, "The First Time", is also included, and is one of Brain's all - time best compositions. Also, it's nice to hear him shy away from the ballads and rock out on "Do It Again" and "I Get Around". Also included is an interview with Brian that is short and sweet.

Disc 2 begins with Brain making a satire out of hunself, performing a cover of the Barenaked Ladies song "Brian Wilson". This immediately segues into the chillling "'Til I Die", perfomed so seriously that it makes one wonder if Brain really has recovered from his emotional problems. He bouncs back with a scorching rendition of "Darlin'". A few songs later, he does a heartwarming rendition of "God Only Knows". Then comes the heartbreaking "Lay Down Burden", his tribute to Carl Wilson. The mood swiftly changes with a cover of "Be My baby", to me the definitve version of the song. "Good Vibrations' bbrings the house down. It's almost as if you're there. "Caroline, No" endures thanks to his vocal work. "All Summer Long" glides along a caefree way with the blissful vibes. The haunting ballad "Love And Mercy" is also in its definitve version, shying aay from the technology used on the album version. Two bonus tracks add to the excitement of the album: an escapist rendition of "Sloop John B." and a thrilling "Barbara Ann" brings the set to an explosive close.

I think this cd shoudl be bought by anyone who likes music as much as I do. It's possibly the greatest live album ever made. Brian clearly is over his problems, and this cd shows his positive outlook on life.

Most Beach Boys fan wil find it shocking when they realize that their most troubled member, leader Brian Wilson, has actually released more solo albums than any other member of the group. This live album is the best so far.

Recorded live over two nights in 2001, Brian and his small but skilled band steamroll through a set of distinct gems, including "This Whole World", "Don't Worry Baby", "Kiss Me Baby", "California Girls", "Surfer Girl", "Add Some Music To Your Day", "Please Let Me Wonder", "Til I Die", "Love And Mercy" and over a dozen others.

There's a real sense of joy when you hear this album. Brian has exhuberant energy lacking from other documented recordings he did with The Beach Boys. His voice is in great shape here, even reviving the trademark falsetto on the "Don't Worry Baby" intro.

I would recommend this album for all Beach Boys fans, both young and old, as it brings back meories for older fans, and presents fresh material for the newer generation of Beach Boys fans.