That's Why God Made the Radio

The Beach Boys' harmonies and Brian Wilson's melodic sense are together again on record for the first time in 16 years. The band are no longer 'boys' by any definition, but they sound refreshingly high-spirited, with those sweet falsetto notes still capable of breaking even a cynic's heart. "Think About The Days" introduces the collection with a wordless vocal ensemble and a delicate piano. The album plays into the band's unique strengths, with sounds only modernized in the sense that they are recorded as well as 2012 allows. The title track, a catchy pop song with an intense vocal weave, retains its roots in the golden age of 1960s pop. "The Private Life of Bill and Sue" skewers reality-shows, but it's the gorgeous harmonies that guide the tune to the light. "Shelter" defies gravity and time. "Strange World" and "Pacific Coast Highway" express Brian Wilson's alienation with the world around him in the most beauteous of ways. The album is a major event for fans: A satisfyingly complete selection of tunes done as only the Beach Boys can.