Micro-post #39: Brian Wilson (1942-2025)

I grew up with The Beach Boys on the radio during car rides to Virginia Beach in the 1990s, so finding out about Brian Wilson's death is giving me feelings. I also, like most white guy former-hipsters, had a Pet Sounds phase in their life (album's still amazing). So to honor his passing, I want to post my favorite interconnected non-Pet Sounds albums by him: the infamous unfinished Smile. These include the original Smiley Smile by The Beach Boys (1967), the remaster Smile Sessions (2011) and his 2004 Smile revamp. I'm also posting a video of the Barenaked Ladies's "Brian Wilson", since it's also a personal favorite of mine and very indebted to the man himself.

RIP to another pop music pioneer this week.