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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brian's 1988 comeback recording of his personal insights, 17 Sep 2000
By A Customer
We have long waited for the master to reappear in in recorded form - given his still continuing feud with other Beach Boy members, that wrecked the best band in the world. With the assistance of his guru/psychiatrist, Dr Eugene E Landy(described by Brian on the sleeve notes as his 'life saver')Brian created an eleven-track walk through new material that has many echoes of what might have been. Much of the material is melancholy and introspective and you can hear the soul-searching and tormented genius at work - the words and music wrenched achingly from his mind. The album opens with a strong work alluding to Brian being in a cinema watching the deteriorating world. The hook 'the loneliness of this world it's just not fair' calling to mind the 'Caroline No!' yearning that Brian introduces into so many of his personal songs. The voice is not so pure now, but he still hits the high notes. All the lead and backing vocals are Brian's - harking back to the Pet Sounds tour de force. The highlights of the album: Melt Away - Brian saying he is a secret guy, but when he is with this girl he feels his heart 'unlocking'. Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long - A staccato track - again echoing 'Caroline No' with the 'where did your long hair go'questioning the changing status of relationships. Little Children - a simple, short song - interesting for naming Wendy and Carnie, his children, and how they acted as kids. Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight - another one of Brian's dream allegories - put to a rousing rhythm but this time it has the hopeful end 'there's a wonderland waiting for you and I'. One For The Boys - an a capella virtuoso performance from Brian. He does hit all the high notes here; just as if he had never been away. Finally - a magnum opus, reminiscent of what one imagines 'Smile' might have included, 'Rio Grande'. It's a long track in three parts and reminds me somewhat of Heroes & Villains crossed with say, California Saga on Holland. a sweeping track to a cowboy ryhthm. It has rain drops, a key-change; all the Brian 'tricks'of his grand works. The lyrics (not so hot), like many on the album, were penned by Andy Paley, who plays guitars, drums, keyboards throughout. In summary, a good, not great, album reminding us what might have been, if Brian had had more support after the breakdown in the sixties. Buy it and listen to the master studio craftsman at work.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Brian's best since Sunflower, 2 Oct 2003
The best thing Brian Wilson has turned out since "Sunflower" (1970). You hold your breath for the first few seconds but when the chorus of "Love and Mercy" kicks in you know you're in for a treat. The album is really Brian with helpers; most of the songs are co-written with others and/or co-produced as well. Needless to say, some combinations work better than others. One of the best is with Jeff Lynne (ELO, Travelling Wilburys) on "Let it shine", which combines the best elements of both men's song-writing and producing talents - curiously it's instantly recognisable as a Wilson song and a Lynne song. There are no dud tracks on this album although the eight minute opus "Rio Grande" may not be to everyone's taste as it is a little self-indulgent. The album has a strong 80s feel about in places where it is synthesiser heavy. Having said that, this album has a number of treats on it that make it worth buying - "Night Time", "Meet Me In My Dreams Tonight", "Love and Mercy", "Melt Away" would all grace any album, and the a capella fun of "One for the Boys" might just remind you of a certain Californian group! There are a good number of better Brian Wilson efforts that you ought to have before this (Pet Sounds, Friends, Today!, All Summer Long) but it is a good solid album and definitely worth the cash.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Your blues will melt away , 12 Jul 2008
Having recently purchased and thoroughly loved the overdue re-issue of Dennis Wilson's "Pacific Ocean Blue" I felt compelled to revisit Brian Wilson ,s 1988 solo album . Released after a period with notorious therapist Eugene Landy who on the album's release was given several song co-writing credits( Removed after Landy,s ejection from Wilson's life in 1991 ) the album was critically lauded but didn't do that well on the sales front. Why the hell not I feel duty bound to ask ? For while this album doesn't have the depth and wracked majesty of Dennis's album ( not that comparisons are that valid) it has a lavish pop splendour of it's own. It has tunes that would make an extremely irate scorpion sheathe its sting.
From the first glistening notes of the fantastic "Love And Mercy" the listener is sucked into a billowing comfort blanket of melody , colourful chimes , stratospheric harmony and sheer musical indulgence. But no guilty pleasure this. Sumptuously co- produced by veteran producers Russ Titelman and Lenny Waronker ,along with Andy Paley ( who also co-writes three tracks) Brian Wilson is opulently embellished by flutes, saxophones, accordion , violin, flute , piccolo trumpet , banjo and more keyboard variants than you could shake a giant tambourine at.
The songs are just terrific. "Walkin The Line" co-written with Nick Laird-Clowes of tasteful English popsters The Dream Academy has a doo-wop edge while "Melt Away" is a gorgeous cascade of harmonies and Christmassy jangles and is described by Brian in the superb liner notes as a philosophical sing , along with "Love And Mercy". I just love "Baby Let Your Hair Grow Long" -described in the notes as s sequel to "Caroline No " it has a truly ecstatic melody and always , always make me feel better than I was before playing it, even if I felt great anyway. " Little Children " is a touch twee with some rather cringe worthy lyrics ( " If it's gets too floody they get in their boats") but is still a skipping joy of a song. The acappella "One For The Boys" leads into the twinkling ballad "There's So Many" before the swinging "Night Time"." Let It Shine" is written with Jeff Lynne and is yet another stunning stack of harmonies before a song about a dream lover set rather aptly to a dream effervescent melody. "Rio Grande" is the most ambitious track on the album and a concerted effort to ignite the same artistic fire that infused "Pet Sounds" and "Smile" .Clocking in at over eight minutes it's a rock opera that veers from twanging good old boy country , to woozy choral overload via warped pop/rock doo -wop . Its an extraordinary piece of music.
The extra tracks on this CD version constitute Brian Wilson talking about a track on the album "Love And Mercy" which is interesting but kind of ruins the flow .That would have been better left till the end of the album I feel. Plus there are other previously unavailable tracks as well as demo and instrumental versions of many album tracks. "He Couldn't Get His Poor Old Body To Move" written with Lindsey Buckingham was the b-side for "Love And Mercy" and is jolly though predictable romp , while another b-side "Being With The One You Love" is a comparatively stale pop song .However its better than Let's Go To Heaven In My Car" a dreadful song redolent of the eighties with horrendous guitar solo's and an overproduced glossy sound. "Too Much Sugar" is about healthy eating so is way ahead of it's time though it's ironically way too sugary for my palette. "Night Bloomin Jasmine" sounds like a song in transition which is what it was- as the hook was transfused into "Rio Grande".
Brian Wilson stands alone as a great solo album -the extras are nice as curio's but have little intrinsic value unless you are a real Wilson completist. I'm more interested in hearing great music who ever it's by. This just happens to a true musical legend at the top of his game after many years in the wilderness. Fair to say it,s an unmitigated triumph all around...unless your name is Eugene Landy .
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