REVIEW: SHE & HIM - MELT AWAY: A TRIBUTE TO BRIAN WILSON

4/5

Beach Boys and Girls.

Wouldn't it be nice if this Summer could feel like the California dreamin' of The Beach Boys again, for all you Mamas and Papas? Well, before all the leaves turn brown for grey skies this fall, 'New Girl' Zooey Deschanel and guitarist M. Ward, AKA, She & Him have done exactly that. Melting away with a tribute to the one and only Brian Wilson. Yes, man. This is exactly what we need. And after volume after volume of the perfect pair's work, including many a festive yuletide for 'A She & Him Christmas' (on turntable record repeat in time with ever years advent calendar), the duo give us their first long-awaited and eagerly anticipated album since 2016 (another 'Christmas Party' nonetheless). All for one of the biggest new music Fridays for your NPR this year in a scorching Summer. Joined by second albums of the year from White Stripe Jack White ('Entering Heaven Alive') and the Wu-Tang Clan's RZA ('Bobby Digital and the Pit of Snakes'). A new one from underrated great of our generation in Ben Harper's 'Bloodline Maintenance' for the family. And the best of the week in 'The Last Goodbye' from ODESZA. After a trilogy of 'Volume', She & Him lay down a beach towel, taking it back to the 'Classics' Once more for you boys and girls. 

'Foreverly' like Norah Jones and Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong paying tribute to The Everly Brothers, forever, this is beautiful in She & Him signature style. Floating instruments and delicate vocals with the strength of timeless vintage. The best band since Munchausen By Proxy with their City of Roses, Portlandia, Oregon roots. From the forest to the sand, 'Darlin'' 'Melt Away: A Tribute To Brian Wilson', begins with the beauty of dear devotion to their muse on the surf. Their eighth wonder of an album on Fantasy Records is exactly that with love for the Beach Boys like Weezer studio sounds in all their recordings. Wilson is one of the greatest and still somewhat underrated songwriters in the history of all music and She & Him give him his due, like you and me should. I mean what other song do you instantly all sing along to in unison as soon as it sings through your speakers like 'Wouldn't It Be Nice'? Instantly recognisable even more so than the motor of Springsteen's breakout 'Born To Run' or the first chords strum of a 'Purple Rain' for Prince. Lovely and richly reminding you of a better time. Just so blissfully carefree as it washes you away like the tide at your grainy feet. Swirling like sticks in the sand or the amazing artwork that could curve 'round the photo frames of a roadside diner on your way to Route 66. But this one keeps its kicks on Santa Monica pier, by way of Rip City to the P on the peak of your cap, shaded from the sun. Dedicated like 'Deirdre', 'Til I Die.' Alive like entering Jack White's heaven with no fear of the dawn on these Summer nights longer than that song from 'Grease'. This is the one you want as you 'Melt Away' to the title track. 

Melting melancholy malaise of these frightful days are lulled away like an Eddie Vedder (get well soon) yukele 'Into The Wild'. 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow' like a late, great Israel Kamakawiwo'ole redefintion of Judy Garland's Dorothy in 'The Wizard Of OZ'. Between classic standards, covers and Christmas, you may be yearning for some original her and he. It's been almost a decade since 2013's 'Volume 3' and we can't wait to go forth for more. But why rush one of the acts who will be around for a long time with their music living forever just like the beach? From the iconic 'Good To My Baby' in harmony, to the reassuring 'Don't Worry Baby', they make all these songs their own (like the flipping, undeniable vocals of 'Heads You Win-Tails I Lose') without disrespecting the originator. Creating moving music with the great Brian Wilson himself who appears on 'Do It Again' one more time for this sets sensational highlight. Hallmark like 'Kiss Me Baby' this touch of the cheek was 'Meant For You'. So 'Don't Talk'. Just 'Put Your Head On My Shoulder' with headphones on and listen. Like 'This Whole World' who know California, even if they haven't seen sand in their lives, thanks to Brian. But what about the lyrics, you wonder? Don't worry, baby. You know Brian's belong in the great Californian songbook like Bob's American one. But 'Please Let Me Wonder' says it all. "Now here we are together/This would've been worth waiting forever/I always It'd feel this way." That's songwriting. That's love. For two things that are one on the same. By the beach She & Him give you some real pet sounds for your boy or girl. Good for your baby. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Playlist Picks: 'Darlin'', 'Do It Again (Feat. Brian Wilson)', 'Heads You Win-Tails I Lose'.