That Lucky Old Sun, Brian Wilson's second major thematic work, isn't quite the third coming of SMiLE. Instead, it's an ode to the Southern California of the '50s and '60s that the Beach Boys constantly evoked, and although it's polished with the peak-era production style that Wilson made famous, most of the songs are wrapped around the overwrought pop/rock he's revisited again and again since his first major return to form, back in 1976. As a thematic topic, "That Lucky Old Sun" is ripe for integration into Brian Wilson's California myth-making. A Tin Pan Alley chestnut from the '40s, it contrasts the ease of the sun's transit each day with the hardship of human toil on earth, a sort of "Ol' Man River" set in the sky. (Even better is the fact that it's a professional songwriter's account of working-class life, which dovetails perfectly with the Beach Boys' mythic vision of Southern California and the illusionary aspects of Hollywood's brand of reality.) That Lucky Old Sun begins with Wilson briefly stating the theme and the intonation of a heavenly choir, but then barrels into the first song, "Morning Beat," a rocker with a set of adolescent rhymes (one example: "The sun burns a hole through the 6 a.m. haze/Turns up the volume and shows off its rays"). But wasn't this is supposed to be a collaboration with the great lyricist Van Dyke Parks? Actually, Parks contributes only to a set of spoken narratives, delivered emphatically by Wilson himself, that are interspersed throughout the album and attempt to advance the California panorama from Venice Beach to East L.A. to Hollywood -- as well as frequent stops along Brian Wilson's personal time line. ("How could I have got so low, I'm embarrassed to tell you so/I laid around this old place, I hardly ever washed my face.")
That Lucky Old Sun rarely evokes the classic Beach Boys sound, but instead the driving '70s productions on latter-day Beach Boys albums like 15 Big Ones and Love You -- granted, with innumerable production touches that could only have come from the mind of Brian Wilson (ah, the clip-clop of wood blocks!). It's obvious that Wilson was at the center of some of the best and brightest productions of the '60s, but the added assumption about being at the center is that there are integral parts radiating outward. (In Wilson's case, those parts consisted of a superb harmony group with several great lead voices and the on-demand talents of an array of excellent musicians, plus copious engineers and studio technology.) Naturally, his solo career has positioned him at the forefront, which is a very different place than the center and one he's proved himself unwilling and unable to embrace fully. He needs not only talented collaborators but strong lead voices to place alongside his own; an apt comparison at Wilson's age is Burt Bacharach, who would hardly consider writing lyrics as well as music and singing every song on one of his albums. The lack of colleagues who could inform the result of this album -- the lack of Van Dyke Parks in a prominent role or a Carl Wilson or even a Mike Love -- is what makes That Lucky Old Sun assume a place below SMiLE in the pantheon of Brian Wilson's achievements.
The relationship of Brian Wilson to punk rock is referenced in my post today in the MMN... but I just wanted to say that I returned from the "Brunch With Brian Wilson" in-store at Grimeys in Nashville.In line, I met people who came from as far aways as CALIFORNIA just to get Wilson's autograph. There were people from Missouri, Illinois and other states.... wow. That's dedication.Brian Wilson ...
More >
--- - |- - MUSIC REVIEWS please click the link to read review ~~- Brian Wilson
More >
Way back last September fellow "Mogger JohnUncut was lucky enough to catch Brian Wilson's premier of That Lucky Old Sun,":http://mog.com/JohnUncut/blog_post/111062 the Beach Boys' first album of new material since the revamped SMiLE, at London's Royal Festival Hall. For the album, Wilson worked again with SMiLE lyricist Van Dyke Parks and band member Scott Bennett. The album will be released ...
More >
The relationship of Brian Wilson to punk rock is referenced in my post today in the MMN... but I just wanted to say that I returned from the "Brunch With Brian Wilson" in-store at Grimeys in Nashville.In line, I met people who came from as far aways as CALIFORNIA just to get Wilson's autograph. There were people from Missouri, Illinois and other states.... wow. That's dedication.Brian Wilson ...
More >
Brian Wilson will be on Live From Abbey Road this Thursday on the Sundance Channel , and MOKB is giving away some related items. One winner will receive: 1) A copy of Brian Wilson's new album That Lucky Old Sun DVD with a signed booklet. 2) A Vy & Elle messenger bag filled with Sundance Channel merch "valued" at $180. - Sigg Water Bottle: $21.00 - Vy & Elle Bag: $70.00 - Speakers: $45...
More >
--- - |- Brian Wilson is one of music's most revered figures as a legendary writer, producer, arranger and performer of some of the most cherished music in rock history. He is set to release his new recording, "That Lucky Old Sun". The new album will be released on CD, CD/DVD, and digitally on September 2 (September 1 internationally). On [...] ~~- Brian Wilson
More >
Our mates over at Black Cab Sessions have had some pretty impressive guests of late. Beach House, Bon Iver, My Morning Jacket, Fleet Foxes, Death Cab For Cutie, Seasick Steve and Lykke Li to name just a few (there are currently 59 sessions and counting) - but probably their biggest draw to date comes from the latest session. Yes, it's none other than Mr Brian Wilson. Holy shit! And the kicker i...
More >
--- - |- These free, full album streams are available from AOL and Spinner through Sunday, September 7, so listen while you can. Try before you buy. • Brian Wilson, 'That Lucky Old Sun' • David Byrne, 'Big Love Hymnal' • Birdmonster, 'From... ~~- Brian Wilson
More >
Mumps Kevin Kiely and Paul Rutner in Brother Studios, 1978 Back in 1978, the NYC punk/glam/pop band Mumps settled into Los Angeles for a spell to record some songs, play some shows and try to get a record deal. They recorded those songs in the hallowed halls of pop music's most brilliant purveyors, The Beach Boys. Brother Studios, in Santa Monica, was ground zero for Mumps, Pleasant and ...
More >
MUSIC NEWS - A new DVD entitled That Lucky Old Sun from from Beach Boy, Brian Wilson will be released on January 27, 2009 from Capitol Records. The new dvd is the companion piece to Wilson's critically-acclaimed That Lucky Old Sun album , released September 2, 2008 on CD, vinyl and digitally. The DVD is to feature more than two and a half hours of material, including a full-length live p...
More >
Capitol/EMI have announced a January 27 release date for Brian Wilson 's new DVD, That Lucky Old Sun . The companion to his critically acclaimed album from earlier this year will contain a full live performance of the work along with a feature length documentary and other extras. The album has been given rave review by magazine like Rolling Stone, which called it "Brian's strongest new work...
More >
--- - |- - MUSIC REVIEWS please click the link to read review ~~- Brian Wilson
More >
Click to purchase…
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "That Lucky Old Sun")
