Brian Wilson
Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin
Walt Disney Records
Aug. 24
By Matthew Kiernan
Besides having a reputation for being the godfather of beach-rock and a Wall of Sound innovator, Brian Wilson is also known as an overall musical genius.
Always pushing himself further throughout his solo career and time spent as lead singer for the Beach Boys, its not surprising that he would turn his eyes toward reworking classical composer George Gershwin’s pieces, which transcended genres at a level equal to Wilson’s art.
Brian Wilson Reimagines Gershwin is an exhilarating revamp of the early 20th century composer’s works, with Wilson breathing new life into them via his angelic vocal harmonies and perfected productions.
Wilson opens the album with his layered harmonies with himself on “Rhapsody in Blue,” before transitioning into jazz instrumentation. The record later goes full circle on the final track “Rhapsody in Blue (Reprise),” ending with a show tune-like finale.
Orchestrations are fully embraced on the record, which isn’t completely realized until “Summertime,” featuring a vocal jazz tenderness in Wilson’s singing.
“I Love You, Porgy” seems to show Wilson in his safest element of vocalization. The song is a singer’s paradise, demonstrated by legendary vocalists such as Billie Holiday and Nina Simone choosing to perform the track during the last century.
The album next goes in the complete opposite direction on “I Got Plenty O’ Nuttin,” by Wilson opting out of incorporating lyrics and focusing on a countrified instrumentation of harmonicas, violins and saxophones.
It wouldn’t be a Wilson record without at least one song that draws upon his classic beachy sound, and this one is no exception, as heard on “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” It’s one of the most upbeat tracks on the album, having tambourine slapping and doo-wops culminating into a bright saxophone solo.
While bringing Gershwin’s tunes into the new millenium, Wilson has proven he has gracefully matured with each succeeding year and hasn’t lost an ounce of brilliance.
