I’m sorry, I know that Brian Wilson is a pop-rock icon and is the creative genius behind Pet Sounds but Wilson’s latest release, That Lucky Old Sun is practically unlistenable. I’ve seen all the glowing reviews the past few months and I just can’t believe I’m listening to the same album fans have been raving about. Now, I realize Wilson isn’t known for thought provoking lyrics or clever word-play but hearing a 66 year old man singing “Hey, bonita muchacha, don’t you know that I want ya?” (Mexican Girl) ain’t my cup of tea, you know what I mean? As a listener, I expect more from an elder statesman of rock than simple child-like sentiment in songs like “Live Let Live” and “Forever She’ll Be My Surfer Girl”. There needs to be more depth here. Plus the spoke-word vignettes interspersed throughout the album are clunky and spread a layer of “cheese” over the whole project. The instrumentation and song arrangements specifically target the trademark Beach Boys sound but instead of enhancing the songs, it ends up sounding more like bad parody. I feel bad for Wilson, he deserves better. I’m embarrassed just by listening to this trainwreck. His handlers should have known better than release this substandard collection of tepid ditties. Obviously cashing in on his name was more important than preserving his legacy.
retroGrade: D
That Lucky Old Sun by Brian Wilson
released: September 2008
label: Capitol Records
Produced by Brian Wilson
1 That Lucky Old Sun (Gillespie, Smith) 0:56
2 Morning Beat (Bennett, Wilson) 2:54
3 Room with a View [Narrative] (Parks, Wilson) 0:45
4 Good Kind of Love (Wilson) 3:20
5 Forever She’ll Be My Surfer Girl (Bennett, Wilson) 2:52
6 Venice Beach [Narrative] (Parks, Wilson) 0:45
7 Live Let Live/That Lucky Old Sun (Reprise) (Gillespie, Parks, Smith, Wilson) 2:34
8 Mexican Girl (Bennett, Wilson) 2:42
9 Cinco de Mayo [Narrative] (Parks, Wilson) 0:46
10 California Role/That Lucky Old Sun (Reprise) (Bennett, Gillespie, Smith, Wilson) 2:40
11 Between Pictures [Narrative] (Parks, Wilson) 0:47
12 Oxygen to the Brain (Bennett, Wilson) 3:27
13 Can’t Wait Too Long (Wilson) 0:54
14 Midnight’s Another Day (Bennett, Wilson) 3:57
15 That Lucky Old Sun (Reprise) (Bennett, Gillespie, Smith, Wilson) 0:43
16 Going Home (Bennett, Wilson) 3:04
17 Southern California (Bennett, Wilson) 4:55
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