How is this album different from other rockers (Rod Stewart, Robbie Williams) who violated the American Songbook? First, the original point of view: Brian Wilson added polyphonic vocals in the style of The Beach Boys to the jazzy parts of the legendary songwriter George Gershwin. This offers a completely new perspective on this well-known repertoire and resulted in a beautiful synthesis between two
… typically American music forms. Secondly, the fact that Wilson got permission from Gershwin's heirs to work out two unfinished compositions, The Like In I Love You and Nothing But Love, both of which are among the highlights of the record. Contrary to some colleagues, opportunism cannot be blamed for the ex-Beach Boy. In the late 1960s he already experimented with editing standards such as Ol 'Man River and Walk On By, and his penultimate album That Lucky Old Sun (2008) also had the same starting point. But no matter how beautiful and sometimes innovative the arrangements are, Wilson's flat vocals eventually take the shine off what could have been a flawless piece of work. (MS)more
