Documentary review/ The Beach Boys

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR

The Beach Boys/ documentary 

Directors: Frank Marshall & Thom Zimmy

Genre: Pop-rock

Platform: Disney+Hotstar

Rating: *** 1/2

For some strange reason, I have never followed the Beach Boys with much interest. The only two times I came close were when the CD of its path-breaking 1966 album Pet Sounds was released in the early 2000s, and when I saw its member Mike Love at a car dealers' private event in Mumbai around the same time.

But when I found out about the new Beach Boys documentary on Disney+Hotstar while browsing, I decided to give it a shot. After all, they were one of the most popular American bands in the 1960s, the pioneers of the California surfing sound and a bridge between old-school rock n' roll and melodious jangle-pop. They had their peak at a time when the Beatles were ruling the world and the dynamics of popular music were changing rapidly.

At slightly less than two hours, the documentary traces the formation and early vision of the band before talking of their rise to fame and subsequent challenges and lows. Directors Frank Marshall and Thom Zimmy rely mostly on interviews - fresh ones with main member Brian Wilson, his cousin Mike Love and the fifth musician Al Jardine, and archival footage of Brian's brothers Dennis and Carl, who had untimely deaths.

The band, which started releasing records in 1962 under the Capitol Records banner, used the Californian craze of beach surfing as its motif, specially on early hits like 'Surfer Girl' and 'Surfin USA'. The band was initially managed by the boys' father Murry Wilson, who was confident of Brian's songwriting skills, which employed strong use of vocal harmonies.  After a point, the dual pressure of touring and songwriting, coupled with mental health issues, began affecting Brian, and he started focusing on the latter. He even wanted a change in sound, going in for more mature themes, most conspicuous on the 1966 album Pet Sounds and the smash single 'Good Vibrations'.

The band faced a huge challenge when the Beatles stormed the US market in 1963, with Brian admitting to be jealous of their success. But they had their moment when songs like 'Sloop John B' and 'God Only Knows' from Pet Sounds hit No 2 on the UK charts and 'Good Vibrations' reached No 1 in both US and the UK. However, though Pet Sounds was critically acclaimed, its commercial performance fell short of expectations, leaving Brian confused about how to proceed.

The documentary describes the unfortunate moment when father Murry sold off the entire Beach Boys catalogue for $ 700,000, without consulting the members or crediting Mike Love. It also talks of how the media often overlooked Mike's contribution, though he co-wrote hits like 'California Girls', 'Help Me Rhonda' and 'Good Vibrations'. 

Besides interviews of the members, there are bytes from known producer Don Was, Fleetwood Mac guitarist Lindsey Buckingham, and singers Glen Campbell and Janelle Monae. Some of the later members Bruce Johnston, Blondie Chaplin and Ricky Fataar provide their inputs too.

Though their studio albums of the 1970s and beyond sold moserately or poorly, their compilations sold in large numbers, whereas shows attracted the next generation too. However, the documentary tones down on the last 50 years, focusing primarily on band's first decade in the music circuit. 

Much has been written on the cracks in the group, specially between Brian and Mike. But the reference is kept to a minimum and the ending seems more a goody-goody fairytale than it actually is. Yet, the film documents an important phase and style in popular music and is recommended not only for Beach Boys fans but also for those interested in sounds from the 1960s. A good section focuses on the group's approach and methodology of songwriting, which will be of interest to aspiring musicians.

A good addition is the soundtrack for the documentary, available on the streaming platforms. Containing 35 songs spread over 100 minutes, it includes numbers which find an important place in the film - examples being 'Don't Go Near The Water', 'Vegetables' and 'Long Promised Road'. It's a good representation of the evolution of the band, specially in the early years, and an apt introduction to those who've heard only the big hits. You needn't go surfing while listening to these songs but you can play them on a long drive.