Dave's Den

Being a Brian Wilson fan can sometimes be an exercise in frustration. While he has few equals at producing beautiful music that touches you at an emotional level, he's also capable of churning out embarrassing clunkers as well. His last album of new material, 2004's Gettin' In Over My Head, was entirely forgettable. His soon-to-follow reconstruction of Smile, however, was a triumph at every level. So it was with some trepidation that I approached his new release, That Lucky Old Sun. Would some of the Smile magic linger, or would this be a return to mediocrity?

After spending a couple of days with it, I'd say the result is a mixed bag- mostly satisfying with moments of greatness. The first 20 minutes or so are enjoyable enough, but rather pedestrian in comparison to his better work. The first 3 tracks, That Lucky Old Sun, Morning Beat and Good Kind of Love are poppy and upbeat, but seem a little light and don't hold up much to repeated listenings. Forever She'll Be My Surfer Girl fares better, with a catchy melody and some nice harmonies. Live Let Live, Mexican Girl and California Role chug along in a workmanlike way, but never quite get to that next level.

At this point I should mention the spoken narratives interspersed between some of the songs. Written by Van Dyke Parks, they attempt to sprinkle a little Los Angeles atmosphere throughout the proceedings. They're not bad, but Brian's vocal delivery leaves something to be desired. At least each one is short and they don't overstay their welcome. The 1940's song That Lucky Old Sun has also been reworked and given the Wilson treatment. Pieces of it are repeated as the recurring theme of the album.

When Oxygen To The Brain kicks in at around the 21 minute mark, things start to get interesting, and definitely more autobiographical. While the verses recall Brian's dark times ("I laid around this old place, I hardly ever washed my face"), the chorus is full of hope and happiness ("I'm filling up my lungs again and breathing life"). Can't Wait Too Long is the old Beach Boys song, but the harmonies are absolutely beautiful, and it fits in well here.

Midnight's Another Day is a stunner and undisputed centerpiece of the album. It's piano driven, full of heartbreak, but with a glimpse of the light at the end of the tunnel. For those familiar with Brian's past, lines like "Took the dive but couldn't swim", "Took the diamond from by soul and turned it back into coal" and "All these people make me feel so alone" need no further explanation. This song is a tour-de-force and is among the most touching things he's ever written.

Going Home is a bluesy stomp touting the virtues of home after spending a lot of time on the road. "At 25 I turned out the light, because I couldn't handle the glare in my tired eyes" is another not-so-subtle reference to Brians's 1967 breakdown.

Southern California is a wistful look back at the California of the 1960s that the Beach Boys made so popular all those years ago. In a reference to the passing of time, Brian sings "Nodded off in the band room, woke up in history". Tinged with sadness for a world long gone, it comes off as a final goodbye to those heady days. Great stuff, and a beautiful song.

Even though most of the lyrics of That Lucky Old Sun were written by Scott Bennett, a member of his band, Brian has not produced an album this personal since Pet Sounds. While it never reaches those lofty heights or those of Smile, this is arguably the most satisfying solo work Brian has ever released. Yes, it starts out slow, but it gains momentum in the second half with some truly memorable songs. One can only hope that Brian can remain inspired to create music at this level for many years to come.

Rating: 7/10

UPDATE 9/23/2008: I've had a couple of weeks to let this sink in a bit more, and I have to say it gets better with each listen, even some of the early songs I'd earlier dismissed as "pedestrian". Mexican Girl, however, still stands out as the lone clunker in the bunch. Midnight's Another Day and Southern California are classics. Sure, Brian's voice is shot, but I think it actually helps give the songs additional emotional resonance, especially considering the mileage on the man. I'm bumping my rating from 7 to 8. It's great stuff, and my favorite of the year so far.

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