That Lucky Old Sun
September 23, 2008 by Ailbhe Malone
Filed under Anablog
I’m excited and worried about the new Brian Wilson record- ‘That Lucky Old Sun’- in equal parts. I can’t really listen to to Wilson’s newer stuff it without getting a little upset about all that Wilson was, and the Hal-esque singing monkey he now is. [For more, read Darragh's piece on Mental Illness in Rock]. The new record, by all accounts, is quite introspective, and a return to ‘Smile‘, rather than ‘Pet Sounds‘. Van Dyke Parks is back on board, and the record has a imagistic story arc. However, Wilson’s so bloody detached about the whole thing:
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PA3KxFgqs4E&feature=related]
In a slightly fan-girlish interview, Zooey Deschanel chats to Wilson about the new record, and life in general. Except he calls her ‘Joey Deschanel’:
Brian Wilson and Zooey on Myspace Tv
Ending on a positive note, though, here’s a live performance of ‘Southern California’. If you listen to it carefully, you’ll pick up on a reference Wilson makes in the above Deschanel interview- about singing with his brothers at home. Wilson’s never lived anywhere apart from Southern California his whole life. It seems, and sounds like, he’s headed home for good.
[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnXNagv-mGA]
I work with a bloke who is a Brian Wilson obsessive. He made me listen to this album the other morning on his I-Pod. It sounds like all the other stuff he’s done but I suppose that’s to be expected. The lyrics seemed to be pretty upbeat for a bloke who is quite obviously off his rocker with dementia or something similar. Brian Wilson is the Mark E Smith of the pop world – loads of albums that all sound the same.
There. I’ve got that off my chest. Thank jaysus for the internet.
I bought the record the other day, actually, and I have to agree with you. What really annoyes me is his backing band- The Wondermints. Supposedly the ‘tightest backing band ever’, it just seems like they’re either hero-worshipping his past, or leeching off what little genius he’s got left. Especially if you watch live performances of ‘Good Vibrations’,it’s painful to see. I actually can’t watch it. I get too upset and have to turn it off. Which is a little lame on my part, I’ll admit.
However, I would recommend the album, if only for the last 10 seconds or so of ‘Southern California’. It’s the last glimmer in a mined seam of wasted talent.
I’m like a guilt ridden army general. As soon as i unleash the first volley I inevitably read back on what I’ve written and feel I should temper it somewhat.
You’re bang on about the band. It’s as if they’re keeping Wilson going to keep themselves in a job. That bloke Darian from The Wondermints is suffering from some serious hero worship. I saw them on the TV recently and Wilson was just sitting behind the keyboard waving his hands and singing out of tune. That said he was always more of a producer than live performer.
Something similar has happened with the Human League. In their case they have a young long-haired bloke who singlehandedly whips the band into shape. You can see he’s much more into the whole thing than Phil Oakley is.