By Barry Gilbert
Of the Post-Dispatch
July 29, 2004
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Brian Wilson |
The
Critic: For his first CD of new material in six years, the resurgent Brian Wilson
has produced a collection that die-hard Wilson and Beach Boys fans will
embrace. For more casual fans, the magnificent music will be marred somewhat by
Wilson's career-long Achilles' heel: trite, wince-inducing lyrics.
The Fan:
C'mon! At this point, any new Brian Wilson music is welcome. After all of his
emotional and physical trials, he still writes with a childlike innocence.
That's not trite.
The
Critic: Sorry, but in "City Blues" he sings: "In the city/The
sirens are hummin', everything's so gritty/It's a pity, it's a pity." It
isn't just childlike, it's been done before. And even some of the music is a
rerun. "Desert Drive" is a melding of "Catch a Wave" and
"409" . . . or is it "Shut Down." Maybe both.
The Fan:
And I'll bet you were slapping the dash and yelping out those falsetto choruses
right along with him, too!
The
Critic: Well, uh, you got me there. Anyway, Wilson has a little help on this
CD, including Elton John's lead vocal on "How Could We Still be
Dancin'" -- how, indeed -- to ex-Beatle Paul McCartney on -- wince again
-- "A Friend Like You" to Eric Clapton's scorching guitar solos on
"City Blues."
The Fan:
Isn't it great that Brian and McCartney, two old rivals and friends and the
bass players of the two best bands of the '60s, finally got to work together?
The
Critic: Yes, it's nice for them, just wish it had turned out nicer for us. Paul
could have contributed to some of the better songs, such as the title song, or
"Rainbow Eyes," or "Don't Let Her Know She's an Angel."
The Fan:
But, look, this CD is the work of a great artist. Brian's gift of beautiful
melody, genius for harmony and layered production, his sense of nuance and
dynamics -- it's all here. Much of this CD is . . . I'll just say it: It's
thrilling.
The
Critic: Well, nothing is more thrilling than "Soul Searchin'," which
features Brian's late brother Carl Wilson on vocals. Carl's vocal was cut
initially in the mid-'90s and intended as a new Beach Boys song. Hearing Brian
and Carl sing such a strong song together again is truly emotional. And just
imagine what might have been: If Carl, who held the Beach Boys together, had
lived, we might be debating the merits of one of the most incredible comeback
albums in rock history. God only knows . . .
The Fan:
Amen to that.