Just up on the New York Times’ Campaign Stops blog: “Be True to Your School,” an essay that covers my conflicted feelings about Beach Boys fandom in the face of their politically rightward leanings, as well as some riffs on how the band’s mythic divisions, both personality- and music-wise, speak to America’s own divided character.
Is that a stretch when we talk about what started out as a good time surf band? I don’t think so.
Here’s a Pinterest board with some clips as I wrote the piece.
And coming up in 30 days, I’ll post some leftovers and notes, in case you just can’t get enough of this. I can’t do that now because the Times‘ contract asks me not to publish material that’s similar to what I wrote anywhere else, which makes sense. So look out for that post here in early August.
Related articles
- Beach Boys – Beach Boys Reunion In Question As Mike Love Books Show In South America (contactmusic.com)
- George F. Will: The Beach Boys: They get around (utsandiego.com)
- Q&A: Brian Wilson On Beach Boys Tour & Next Album, Possible Frank Sinatra Tribute (947thewave.cbslocal.com)
- Beach Boys epitomize baby boomer generation (boomercafe.com)
- Quote of The Day: Beach Boys Singer Bruce Johnston Disses Obama (complex.com)
