Beach Boys drop first new reunion song 'That's Why God Made The Radio'

Entertainment Weekly ^ | 4/25/2012 | Kyle Anderson

[JennysCool]

“That’s Why God Made the Radio” certainly has everything a vintage Beach Boys tune needs: Breezy harmonies, references to cars, and an almost exhausting sense of sweetness.

There is something profoundly bizarre about the Beach Boys putting out new music in 2012, especially considering how many artists (especially in the indie world) have exploited the sound they helped invent. Their influence is everywhere, from Bon Iver’s lovely layers to Katy Perry’s beach-friendly youth anthems.

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

LOVE the Beach Boys, they still sound great, but the song itself is...kinda lame. IMHO

Oh well, glad they’re back. Brian Wilson is a genius.

[WashingtonSource]

The little old lady from Pasadena would be 112, if she was 65 in 1965.

[nascarnation]

She moved to Chicago, passed away in 1993, but still votes Democrat every two years....

[muir_redwoods]

It’s probably just me but I find that about 85% of Beach Boy songs are indistinguishable from each other. Good Vibrations and The Sloop John B are exceptions but much of the rest is all the same.

[Turbopilot]

Going to see them on Saturday. Can’t wait. And I was born in 1982.

[TChad]

A few weeks ago, a cute ~20 year old college coed bounced into the local coffee shop waving something in one hand, and with a big smile announced to her friends, "Guess what I've got? BEACH BOYS TICKETS!

Time-warp city.

[TChad]

I find that about 85% of Beach Boy songs are indistinguishable from each other.

"Feel Flows" is different. More than a little psychedelic, but still my favorite Beach Boys song.

[Freedom_Is_Not_Free]

One of my more cherished pleasures is to play the Beach Boys songs at very loud volume while driving with my windows open in the pouring rain. People look at me like I am insane. I’ll say this much... Nobody wants to risk an accident with an insane guy driving with the windows down during a rainstorm and blaring “Catch a Wave” or “Surfing USA”.

I may be weird but I get some terrific looks of stupefaction. It just has to be sufficiently LOOOUUUD.

[JennysCool]

It’s the Sound of Freedom, for sure! Cruise on!

[Kickass Conservative]

My Ex B-I-L and his Brother went to High School with those guys. His Brother was one of their buddies growing up.

It is a small world.

[a fool in paradise]

Wish I was there. Instead I’ll be seeing some of the Louisiana talent when they pass through here.

[a fool in paradise]

Is this a song about the awesomeness of Rush Limbaugh?

[a fool in paradise]

The little old lady from Pasadena must be pushing 100 today.

She should ease up on the gas pedal while city driving.

[SamAdams76]

There are a few exceptions but almost without fail, pop recording acts are unable to match the vitality of their first few albums. I think that once a recording act becomes commercially successful, they become more concerned about generating that next "hit record" instead of making great music.

Yet all it takes is one smash hit to make a career. We still have Bobby Boris Pickett touring the nation with "Monster Mash" and Terry Jacks continues to sing "Seasons In The Sun" at a nightclub near you.

[jiggyboy]

Nobody’s singing baritone, I think that’s the problem.

[jiggyboy]

Also, there’s no “wall of sound” like in the old days when Phil Spector was involved. Take away the vocals here and you’ll hear some pretty thin instrumentals producing no discernable melody.

I think even the keyboard makes itself known only in the first few opening bars. And if you’re going to have a saxophone, give it more of a role than it had in the “theme song” of “The People’s Court”.

[TwoSue]

We saw them last night.