Beach Boys - Film

  by Eoghan Lyng

published: 19 / 12 / 2024

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Article

To some of us who were introduced to The Beach Boys through Greatest Hits compilations and karaoke singalongs, the Surf's Up album was something special to encounter. With The Beach Boys (2024), a Frank Marshall-Thom Zimny co-venture, the surviving musicians recall the journey that led to this album; a record fuelled by angst and introspection where their early songs were directed by youth, bravura and good vibrations. What we have here is a brief, but compact, look at their history, starting from their early days as a band of teenagers harmonising together, to the hairier, more expressive days of their 1970s work. Guitarist David Marks recalls his personal grievances with manager Murry Wilson, stating that his "arrogance" stemmed from adolescence; "Fifteen years old," Marks giggles. Mike Love, who sang on a number of tracks and was the lyricist for many of them, enjoyed the stage life, while bassist Brian Wilson felt more at ease in the studio; it was this combination of grit and journey that made them what they were. (The documentary closes in 1980, perhaps as a mark of respect to Dennis Wilson, who drowned at the desperately youthful age of 39 - not forgetting younger brother, Carl, who succumbed to cancer during the 1990s; the film ends with a dedication to the two of them.) Al Jardine comes across as the most thoughtful member of the group, while Love makes no apologies for some of the unpopular actions that made him a more questionable character in the eyes of the public. Both talk about the tribulations of the band: by the time they reached the 1970s, they were more "Beach-men" than "Beach Boys." Brian Wilson's attention to detail brought him praise from the trendy counter-cultural presses, although it caused jealousy from some of the other members."It wasn't always about the note," Love explains, "but about the blend."By singling out the precocious bassist, it took some of the members - notably drummer Dennis - longer to develop their sound. Dennis' 'Forever,’ stood as one of the highlights on Sunflower, and by the time the quintet released Surf's Up - their most mature and sophisticated effort - guitarist Carl Wilson had elevated to the rank of musical collaborator. Ballads 'Don't Go Near The Water' and 'Student Demonstration Time' demonstrated a polemical flavour that was a world apart from the jovial, sports oriented singles from the early 1960s; rawer and more holistic in their design too. The documentary momentarily sours when Love admits that he had no choice but to bring Brian Wilson to court for unpaid royalties, though he is quick to state that they were cousins and remain family to this day. Love continues to lead an iteration of the band: the brio is older, but no less impassioned than it was during their heyday. Brian Wilson's health has become a concern for many, but Beatle/fellow bassist Paul McCartney still holds his compositions with high regard. “Brian Wilson sort of proved himself to be a really amazing composer. I was into chords and harmonies and stuff at that time, and we ended up with kind of like a rivalry,” McCartney remembered in 2021. “We put a song out and Brian would hear it, and then he’d do one. Which is nice – it’s like me and John. You know, you kind of try and top each other all the time.” The Beach Boys (2024) will appeal to newcomers, but older fans might get a kick from the nostalgia, rippling through the frame. Tellingly, the film ends with a shot of the surviving members chuckling over the seaside; memories glittering behind their eyes.

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