ALBUM REVIEW: The Beach Boys find beauty in ‘That’s Why God Made the Radio’

With Brian Wilson producing and Mike Love executive producing, The Beach Boys are back in fine form with their first original album in years. That’s Why God Made the Radio is one of the strongest releases in the band’s prolific resume and certainly the musical highlight of the summer. It’s a distinct pleasure that the surviving members of this influential group have let bygones be bygones; their combined effort, including Al Jardine, Bruce Johnston and David Marks, has created 12 songs worthy of remembrance.

Kicking off what feels like a concept album, “Think About the Days” leads us into the dream with some simple harmonizing. It’s almost like we’re traveling back in time to a faraway locale, a beach town where the streets are lined with bungalows and surf boards clutter the driveways next to parked Studebakers. We’ve entered a different and welcoming world.

The album continues with “That’s Why God Made the Radio,” the deserving title track that proves to be an ode to the wonders of the AM/FM dial. There are many images that jump out from Wilson’s lyrics. Everything from “push button heaven” to “the soundtrack of falling in love,” the song is sweet and nostalgic, two words that sum up The Beach Boys almost perfectly. There’s also a sense of the goodbyes that are forever tied with this type of music. Summer doesn’t last for 12 months. There’s always a need to pass the baton.

The first highlight of the record comes in the one-two punch of “Isn’t It Time” and “Spring Vacation.” Together these two songs seem to bring the disparate directions of The Beach Boys into one combined statement. With “Isn’t It Time,” you have brilliant harmonies, repeating lyrics and a slight nod to the past. The song continues the memory-laced words of the previous song. Then there’s a beautiful, almost wavy repetition of “Isn’t it time,” which sits perfectly in the middle of the song, connecting the verses and serving as a unique transition.

“Spring Vacation” is the other side of The Beach Boys: much more dependent on simplicity, beaches, the sun. Some fans will typify this song as a “Mike Love” tune, while Wilson sticks to the more complicated, musical fare. Throughout the song, there’s a great refrain that’s as basic and thoughtful as they come, drawing pictures of summer weather and good vibrations.

Although no liner notes are included with the album, it feels like this ditty is explaining the band’s 50th anniversary reunion. How else to describe lyrics about cherishing the power of harmonies and saying goodbye to the past?

Other songs on the album are impressive. “Shelter” is a nice addition, while “The Private Life of Bill and Sue” feels a little out of place. Telling the story of two reality TV stars named Bill and Sue, the song seems to break from the album’s story and go off in its own direction. A nice single, but one that doesn’t further the imagery of That’s Why God Made the Radio.

“Daybreak Over the Ocean,” written by Love, and “Beaches in Mind” get the album back on track, continuing with the concept of enjoying one summer before it’s all done. There’s also a great picture achieved in “Strange World,” a somber song of acceptance.

The final three songs feel eternally connected, intended to be a musical suite, as if we were listening to an orchestra working through the movements of a symphony. “From There to Back Again” and “Summer’s Gone” bookend the piece, while “Pacific Coast Highway” connects the two. All three illustrate the realization that summer’s now over, that the sun is about to set, that today will soon become yesterday. If the earlier part of the album deals with introductions, joy and sunshine, the final part reaches darkness and finality. For a group that’s recorded for 50 years, this final stage of the album is the most poignant and telling. They’ve been there and done that so many times they’ve earned the knowledge of expectation. They collectively understand the season will end, but as the final sounds on “Summer’s Gone” reminds us, there’s always the promise of next year.

Click here for our review of The Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Tour.

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

• The Beach Boys

• That’s Why God Made the Radio

• 12 tracks

• Produced by Brian Wilson

• Executive produced by Mike Love

• Capitol Records

• Rating: