3/5 stars
From teenage symphonies to the sandbox years, few figures in the history of pop can match the legacy of Brian Wilson. A songwriter responsible for some of the greatest music ever written, it’s admittedly easy to be forgiving of any missteps the troubled Beach Boy makes in his twilight years.
The Beach Boys’ 2012 cash-in reunion album? Fine. His Disney and Gershwin cover albums? Why not? After all, it’s not as if he’s put out an AutoTune-riddled EDM track or anything like that… oh, what’s that? He has? Ah. Well, that’s alright. He wrote Pet Sounds, dude. Pet Sounds!
Despite containing one of the worst songs he has ever done – the aforementioned Sebu Simonian collaboration ‘Runaway Dancer’ – No Pier Pressure still charms, particularly when it puts Wilson in touch with contemporary voices. Nate Ruess is right at home on the wonderful California dreaming ‘Saturday Night’, while Kacey Musgraves saccharinely croons through the cute ‘Guess You Had to Be There’.
Poor production choices and an inconsistent tracklisting drag the album down. It’s when No Pier Pressure shines, however, that it serves a timely reminder of the greatness of the man who just wasn’t made for these times.
Brian Wilson’sNo Pier Pressureis out now through EMI/Universal.
