Rarebird's Rock and Roll Nest

Brian Wilson, the brilliant but troubled co-founder of the Beach Boys, passed away on June 11, 2025, at the age of 82. During the 1960's heyday of the Beach Boys, Brian was the main creative force behind the legendary California rock band, which he co-founded with his brothers Dennis and Carl, his cousin Mike Love, and his high school friend Alan Jardine. The 1966 Beach Boys album Pet Sounds , a baroque pop masterpiece which was masterminded by Brian, is now widely considered to be one of the greatest albums ever recorded. Unfortunately, Brian was also known for his struggles with mental illness and other personal troubles ever since the 1960's. Another legend associated with Brian's name is the unfinished Beach Boys album Smile , which was intended to be the 1967 magnum opus follow-up to Pet Sounds , but was scrapped long before completion. Decades later, Wilson would eventually "finish" Smile as a solo album in 2004. Another unreleased Brian Wilson album whic...

The 63rd set of exclusive vinyl items offered to members of Third Man Records’ Vault service was mailed out to the members in the spring of 2025. For those who are unaware, Third Man Records is the label owned by Jack White, who was the leader of the White Stripes, the Raconteurs, and the Dead Weather, and is now a solo artist. The Vault service promises to deliver exclusive vinyl-only records (usually one full-length album and one 7” single) to its members every three months. The 63rd Vault package featured a 20th-anniversary companion set to the White Stripes' 2005 studio album Get Behind Me Satan , made up of two vinyl LP's and one 7-inch single, containing demos, alternate studio takes, and live recordings from the era of the album's release. One of the LP's was pressed in red vinyl, the other was pressed in white, and the 7-inch was pressed in black. The package also contained a Blu-ray disc, and a 24-page booklet with related photos and other visual content fro...