No Pier Pressure — Brian Wilson

Album: No Pier Pressure — Brian WilsonLabel: CapitolRating: 3Brian Wilson’s story has got to be among the most colourful in popular music history.A founding member of the Beach Boys (remember Surfin’ USA?), he was behind some of that group’s most memorable and influential work. Pet Sounds for example, was among the many influences behind The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Drugs and a mental breakdown (apparently, he was devastated by the sheer brilliance of the Beatles’ classic) and he completed the follow-up SMiLE album decades later in 2004. Wilson’s star has waned though, and on this album, he sounds like a spent force, creatively with only flashes of his former brilliance. While the album is by no means bad, it is probably not something you’d expect from an artiste of his calibre.This Beautiful Day is full of promise but loses its direction halfway into the song. While Runaway Dancer can be skipped, it is Sail Away that is probably the standout track on the album.The album also sees him tap into a throng of collaborators. This is something that could have been avoidable, as perhaps the best thing any dyed-in-the-wool Beach Boys fan would like to hear is them performing as a solid band again. It’ll be interesting to see what he offers fans in his next album.For the latest in Bollywood news, like us on Facebook >>>TOIEntertainFor latest Bollywood updates, follow us on Twitter >>>@TOIEntertainFor latest Bollywood updates, follow us on G+ >>> The Times of India Entertainment