Brian Wilson is widely considered one of the most important and influential artist of pop music, but his contribution has been widely ignored for a long time. Luckily that’s been changing, though.
I watched the new movie Love & Mercy last night and it truly made me see the Beach Boys’ musical genius in a whole new light. Although Brian Wilson was mostly deaf in one ear as a result of an abusive father, and he suffered from a mental illness for much of his career, he was creating some of the most inventive and imaginative music of his day (or any day). In the video above, he’s the most visible, behind the booth window and next to the drummer.
I highly recommend the movie, as the performances of John Cusack and Paul Dano, both playing Brian Wilson, are staggering. It’s a beautiful break from the usual blockbuster movies we get accustomed to watching, with some considering the movie to be Oscar caliber.
I haven’t listened to the Beach Boys for a long time, but now I suddenly find myself quite enjoying them again. I hope you do too.
From Love and Mercy, a new movie about the life of Beach Boys musical genius Brian Wilson.