Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)I am a big fan of the music of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys. I had listened to Peter Carlin discuss the book with Bob Edwards on XMPR radio and thought it sounded really interesting (particularly his discussion of his meetings with The Wondermints and the creation of the Smile CD two years ago) despite the fact that so much has already been written about Brian.
On the pro side, I thought this was a very well-written book that carries the reader along quickly and enjoyably. Carlin has taken a clear-headed approach and avoids getting mired in the grotesque stories of Murray Wilson's alleged abuse (though he doesn't stray from discussions of Murray either). Further, although I suspect Mike Love might disagree, I think he gives the reader a fair amount of insight in to the frustrations that the other members of the band may have experienced in dealing with Brian after he stopped touring (and especially from Pet Sounds on) and how that impacted their relationships.
However, on the con side: I think the book really doesn't spend nearly enough time detailing the "Fall, and Redemption" of Brian. Though he mentions some incidents on airplanes in the early/mid 1960s, the bizarre behavior in the decades thereafter, and some of the behavior of "Dr." Landy, I don't feel like it was detailed enough for me to get much insight into what caused the breakdowns and fall (and what the fall really entailed) and whether the redemption was truly a redemption (his descriptions of a waxy Brian performing make me question whether he has returned to health).
Further, although I appreciate Carlin's skeptical eye regarding past Beach Boys biographies, interviews and other writings, I feel like the book is somewhat too reliant on them and that there are too few new revelations in the reporting.
I recognize that it is difficult to encapsulate an approximately 45 year career and 60 year life into 300 pages, but I feel like the net result was less meaty than I had hoped.
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