Across the history of popular music, few minds have created music as beautiful, infectious, and moving as that of Brian Wilson. But that mind was also intensely fragile, leading to bouts with mental illness that were so serious he had to withdraw from the creative process, often for years at a time.
During one such stint, Brian’s psychiatrist encouraged him to combat his idleness by working on new music. The resulting project (originally intended to be a solo record) is one of the strangest entries in the Beach Boys’ extensive canon. But for all of its absurdity, it is incredibly rewarding for anyone who accepts it on its own terms.
By the beginning of the 80s, David Bowie had been through enough career turns to make the most accomplished musicians dizzy. He had cut his teeth with