For The Record- 14. June. 2025

Brian Wilson, Sunflowers, and the swift passing of time.

We lost Brian Wilson this week.

What an indictment of the times we're in that the death of an icon is seen almost as a welcome distraction! It's nice to quibble about things like the best track on Pet Sounds or whether or not Holland is a good record as opposed to (waves hands at all of this).

FWIW, the answer to the first question is, "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times."

Earlier this week, we discussed records and the legacy they leave behind when their owner passes away. Looking at my own inherited discs, there is no Pet Sounds, nor Holland. There's no Sunflower, either.

By the time Sunflower came out, my mom¹ was long past being a Beach Boys fan. She was out as soon as the surfboards were. Once the hair went below the ears, that was it for her. By the time I showed up, the only vices she had left were a weapons-grade addiction to Tab and chain smoking Merits (always a soft pack, never a box. God help you if you forgot that).

Speaking of eras past, remember when you could go buy cigarettes for your parents with just a note? Yeah, me too.

As for my dad, I’m not sure if he ever really liked the band or not. His vice was a nice glass of wine and jogging. He picked the latter up the same way everyone else had in the late 70s and early 80s. He also went out in the most boomer style possible by having a massive heart attack right after one of his runs, Jim Fixx-style. If that’s not peak early 80s, I don’t know what is.

At any rate, much like the Beach Boys in their Sunflower era, neither of my parents was particularly made for those times. And now, in 2025, I wonder if I am becoming an anachronism, or more importantly, how to avoid becoming one. I turned 50 this week this past week, and I’ve spent much of the time trying to figure out what the next half of this all is gonna look like. My only remaining vices are capsaicin and caffeine. If I’m honest, I miss rippin’ heaters (Parliaments - always in a box, never a soft pack. Take that, Mom!).

Like the characters in Mad Men, I feel a bit out of step. I work with people just starting their careers; mine is winding down. One of my former coworkers passed away this week. Once you log enough time at a place, these are the sorts of updates you get—birth, school, work, death.

Meanwhile, my kids are starting their next phases, it’s peak wedding season for younger millennials, and people my age are starting statins. Still, there’s an excitement there. I don’t know what’s next— and I know it doesn’t involve LSD- but I’m stoked to find out.

Thanks for being here,

KA—

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Topics this week include:

• A deep dive into the Beach Boys’ Sunflower album, where I draw a line between Charles Manson, Mad Men, and the back half of the band’s discography.

• News from around the music world you might’ve missed

• A long read on Prefab Sprout’s Steve McQueen record

• Our weekly crowdsourced playlist