Grammys 2012: More Beach Boys, less Maroon 5, Foster the People

The surviving members of the Beach Boys, who will tour this year in honor of the band's 50th anniversary, gave fans a sneak preview at the 54th Grammy Awards. Though the lead-in with Foster the People and Maroon 5 was puzzling at best and cringe-inducing at worst, the Beach Boys' run-through of "Good Vibrations," while not an exalting return to the stage, was borderline heartwarming.

It brought Glen Campbell, who once performed with the Beach Boys, to his feet, and seeing Brian Wilson, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston, Al Jardine and David Marks perform together was something of a refreshing relief. The song's sonic explorations are as refreshing as ever, and though Wilson isn't all that mobile these days, there's no denying the look of sheer joy on his face every time he gets to perform.

It doesn't say much when "Good Vibrations" was far more experimental and out of this world than the numbers by many of the acts that had already appeared. The Beach Boys, in fact, showed the limitations of the acts they performed with. Maroon 5's take on "Surfer Girl" was far more serious than need be, and the band's slick electro-pop has nothing in common with the Beach Boys' studio-enhanced musical journeys.Wilco. The rock album contenders are quite possibly the most versatile act nominated this year. Songs such as "Sunloathe" on new album "The Whole Love" reach for a "Pet Sounds"-like grandeur, creating an orchestra of sounds based around the guitar.