By Mike Love
New York : Blue Rider Press, 2016. 436 pages. Biography
Mike Love tells the story of his legendary, raucous, and ultimately triumphant five-decade career as the front man of The Beach Boys, the most popular American band in history -- timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of "Good Vibrations." Love describes the stories behind his lyrics for pop classics such as "Good Vibrations," "California Girls," "Surfin' USA," and "Kokomo," while providing vivid portraits of the turbulent lives of his three gifted cousins, Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson. His partnership with Brian has few equals in American pop music, though Mike has carved out a legacy of his own -- he co-wrote the lyrics to eleven of the twelve original Beach Boy songs that were top 10 hits while providing the lead vocals on ten of them.
This book is a raw, intimate read that left me with a lot to think about. Mike Love provides an up-close and personal perspective into his own life, the lives of his cousins (other Beach Boy band mates Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson), and the evolution of rock & roll music. He is honest about his own flaws and the flaws of others, and he doesn't beat around the bush when discussing the many controversies which surrounded him and his family, which allowed me to feel a connection with some of my favorite artists. I listened to Mike Love narrate his memoir by listening to the audiobook on the Libby app and highly recommend it. His narration is truly a heartfelt approach at sharing the highs and lows he has experienced throughout his lifetime.
NS
No comments:
Post a Comment