You can feel the love radiating from this album, both from and to Brian Wilson. Cameron Michael Parkes dba Box O' Clox emphasizes in his liner notes the idea of Brian making music that is like sunshine streaming in through stained glass windows. There is a distinct air of spiritual seriousness here.

I was moved to seek this album out after noticing the track listing when I wandered into the description on Amazon. Parkes did not use a single Beach Boys hit. No "California Girls" or even anything from Pet Sounds. Indeed, even a fairly devout Brian fan such as myself recognized only four of the songs.

Mr. Parkes shows a lot of skill in the arrangements, which are full and intricate orchestrations worthy of Brian Wilson. Now, they are not exactly visionary, in that they sound fairly close to the originals, at least among the songs I was familiar with. It's fairly impressive, though, to be able even to do this. With a Beethoven symphony, you get a score. I doubt this guy had anything like.

Yet there is some subtly unique sound or presence to these recordings, distinct from the Beach Boys. Some of it probably comes simply from hearing these art songs performed at some distance from all of Brian's famous psychodrama, and thus being better able to focus on the songs rather than Brian's issues.

Let's take a quick moment also to praise Chloe Cumming for her beautiful pastel looking painting on the album cover. It's a wonderful thing in its own rite. This rates as one of the more striking album covers I've seen in awhile.

I see from the liner notes that several of the songs are from The Beach Boys Love You, a 1977 album that has slipped by me. I can see that this oversight will have to be corrected. There's a 1962 b-side Brian wrote for some outfit called Rachel and the Revolvers, up through "Everything I Need" which was written for Wilson-Phillips.

"I Wanna Pick You Up" has a father addressing an infant, detailing the loving manner he wants to take care of the child. Something seems just so delicate and fragile and unbelievably tender.

My top pick probably is "A Day in the Life of a Tree." The tree delivers a dying lament. It sounds like something that a tough minded country boy such as myself might mock - if it weren't such an amazing and unique song. This one in particular benefits from being distanced from the author. Through both the song and the loving arrangement, this track really creates a powerfully gentle and sad feel. I bet this could make me cry if I heard it as just the right time.

Perhaps this album isn't for purely casual Beach Boys fans. If you just know a couple of songs, maybe you'd better start with Endless Summer or something like.

However, anyone with any serious interest in orchestral pop music would be well advised to seek out this unique recording. Perhaps suggest this for purchase at your library. That'd be a nice service to everyone.

Certainly though, anyone who would consider themselves a major Brian Wilson fan really needs to hear this.

I note that I'm all done actually writing about this, just fiddling with proofreading and cross-posting and such- but still wanting to hear the album yet again. Mmm.