Heaven: Repromotion

Forget PET SOUNDS worshippers like Eric Matthews and the High Llamas, history will show that instead it's guys like DJ Sammy who are the real inheritors of the Beach Boys mantle. Remember that back in the '60s, it was John and Jane Doe, not just the hipsters, who got down to Brian Wilson's summer-fun sound. And in 2002 it's those jocks and jockettes on the beach who are tossing the volleyball around to the sunny sounds of HEAVEN, which in turn draws on '60s California pop (the Mamas and the Papa's "California Dreamin'") as well as more contemporary fare (Bryan Adams's pop hit "Heaven," Don Henley's signature tune "Boys of Summer"). All the songs are redone with a prominent dance beat, hook-laden synthesizers, and a chirpy female singer for maximum summertime get-down factor. You can almost smell the sunblock; it's just the way Brian would want it.