Brian Wilson's solo back catalogue has been an impressive re-imagining of the distinctive song writing that catapulted The Beach Boys to success half a century ago. The 72-year-old's eleventh studio recording under his own name does little to change that formula. The thirteen tracks here work hard to embrace the past, re-uniting Wilson with Al Jardine, while introducing more contemporary contributors to the mix. For the most part, it's a successful collection that is unmistakeably Wilson at his laid back best.
The playful album title, 'No Pier Pressure', seems to suggest that Wilson doesn't feel motivated to emulate the latter day triumphs of artists like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen. Instead, he's content to play in his own sandbox and explore the possibilities of his favoured vocal harmonies. It's a record that manages to simultaneously be full of nostalgia and is musically a world away from pop music in 2015, while embracing some of the most recognisable voices in the charts. It's an interesting approach that doesn't always pay off, but it doesn't detract from the feel-good sun-drenched hallmark sound of Wilson's music.
The duets that really work are those with Kacey Musgraves and Fun. vocalist Nate Ruess. The former called 'Guess You Had To Be There' nods to Mugraves Country roots with the inclusion of a banjo that broadens Wilson's typical Californian sound. It's a weird fusion of two musical styles that works well thanks to the warmth of Wilson's harmonies. Equally, Ruess' lead vocal on 'Saturday Night' emphasises the innocence and teenage sentiment of the lyric. Crucially, both of these collaborations broaden the appeal of 'No Pier Pressure' beyond the nostalgic tone that prevails elsewhere.
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