On his first live solo album, recorded at Hollywood's famed Sunset Strip club, the Roxy, the great California pop composer is generous with the spotlight: He praises his ten-piece band, which re-creates classic Beach Boys instrumentals such as "Let's Go Away for Awhile" and "Pet Sounds," and honors Phil Spector, the creator of Wilson's "favorite record in the universe," "Be My Baby," which is covered here. Wilson also lets some of his singers take his falsetto parts, which is probably a consequence of the years of wear on his voice. Still, there's a refreshing lack of hubris and real sense of fun here, from faithful takes of "Good Vibrations" and "God Only Knows" to latter-day gems like "Lay Down Burden." We should all be grateful that Brian Wilson is even functioning, much less enjoying this late-career high.

“Youth Knows No Pain”

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”