Brian Wilson and the Music Industry

As a self-proclaimed audiophile, a musical aficionado of sorts, I am continually perplexed and amazed by Brian Wilson, founder of the Beach Boys. The subsequent release of SMiLE in September of 2004 nearly forty years after the project was initially conceived has prompted many “experts” to proclaim the album as one of the all time greatest. I cannot disagree; I would venture to say that SMiLE IS THE best album ever recorded. Next to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon, the crux of which concerns madness, alienation, and societal disconnect, SMiLE’s themes concern among other things overcoming obstacles, joy, and self actualization. When one thinks of it, DSOTM and SMilE are the ying of the yang of contemporary pop music albums.

DSOTM is often heralded as a cutting edge revolutionary album (I would not contest this), as the things Pink Floyd were doing in the studio were simply unheard of, both literally and figuratively. SMiLE, whose release date was initially slated six years prior to the release of DSOTM and although released nearly forty years later continues to remain more cutting edge and sophisticated than anything ever recorded in the history of modern man. Unfortunately, the recording tactics used for SMiLE are now considered primitive by today’s recording standards (e.g. digital technology).

Amazingly enough, SMiLE although “officially” released in 2004 as indicated above (although various bootleg recordings from the original1966-67 Smile sessions have long been in circulation for years) is still better than anything currently or previously released. This says two things; first and foremost, Brian Wilson was and continues to be so far ahead of his time that we can never really be certain as to the extent and magnitude of his genius. Second, the contemporary state of the music industry is sad and pathetic. Currently the industry is far more interested in album sales more so than it is the quality of the music. This of course has always been the case, however we are currently suffering more as the development of advanced capitalism continues toward its peak. Albums are now more so than ever cranked out like parts on a factory assembly line, and as one might expect the quality of the music is not only secondary but often subsides, musical casualties of the capitalistic nightmare Marx prophesized.

Brian Wilson is arguably the best and most prolific pop songwriter of the 20th century, just ask Paul McCartney what he thinks. Sadly enough, SMiLE entered and peaked on the Billboard chart (the musical yard stick) at #13. Even more sad perhaps is that the album which wasn’t even that publicized, has not even gone platinum (neither amazingly enough has Pet Sounds), yet artists (I hesitate to use this term here) like Eminem who advocate the beating and raping of his then at the time wife, promote hate, gay bashing, death, and violence is currently a certified multiplatinum "artist." Something is really wrong here folks what the hell is going on? Are we so brainwashed by awful music that we are now simply unable to recognize good music when we hear it? Has our musical aesthetic been extracted by greedy corporate hate mongers who bombard us via multi media outlets with constant and incessant musical trash?

Which brings me to yet another point. How the hell did the music industry eclipse Brian Wilson from an album of the year nomination when the “artist” Kayne West (who mind you is an asshole for complaining about being “ripped” off at a certain award show) received a staggering ten Grammy nominations for his so tastefully titled College Dropout? Brian Wilson received one Grammy award, ironically for best rock instrumental. Talk about tossing the dog a bone. The Beach Boys changed the music industry forever with their vocal arrangements. Best instrumental, are you kidding? The Beach Boys for that matter have never received a Grammy. Yet we give them away to musical assassins who are ruining music for everyone. We need to denounce the music industry and demand better quality music or else we’ll surely be doomed forever.