Brian Wilson
Los Angeles, CA : Warner Archives/Rhino, [2000]
Format: Music CD
Description: 1 sound disc (76 min.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in.
Brian Wilson's first solo album created a good share of media hoopla upon its release. This was not necessarily because of the music, but simply because his very existence -- or, at least, proof of his existence via his first fully engaged recording project in about a decade -- was greeted as a cause for celebration. Although it did not shift tons of units, it did spark a landslide of ecstatic-to-charitable reviews, largely because so many critics were eager to latch on to any evidence that Wilson's musical genius was still intact. Viewed more coldly after the hype faded, this self-titled release is an odd, flawed creation, certainly leagues above the Beach Boys' post-'70s output, yet certainly leagues below Wilson's best work with that group in the '60s. While he retained his gift for catchy melodies and dense, symphonic production, there was a forced stiffness to both the songwriting and execution. Much of the blame for the album's mixed success can be laid upon its sterile, synthesizer-laden arrangements and echoing percussion, which epitomized some of the less attractive aspects of late-'80s production. However, the songs were not among Wilson's best, either, their hooks pleasant but easily fading from memory, the lyrics full of ambiguous romantic optimism completely belied by the nervous, mannered vocals. The concluding eight-minute suite, "Rio Grande," was a self-conscious and, again, only partially successful attempt to match the grandeur of the miniature conceptual pieces Wilson was penning in the Smile era. For all that, it remains the best album of Wilson's solo career, principally because he has recorded so little material since then, and written even less. ~ Richie Unterberger
Contents:
Love and mercy -- Walkin' the line -- Melt away -- Baby let your hair grow long -- Little children -- One for the boys -- There's so many -- Night time -- Meet me in my dreams tonight -- Rio Grande -- Brian on "Love and mercy" -- He couldn't get his poor old body to move -- Being with the one you love -- Let's go to heaven in my car -- Too much sugar -- There's so many (demo) -- Walkin' the line (demo) -- Melt away (early version--alternate vocal) -- Night time (instrumental track) -- Little children (demo) -- Night bloomin' jasmine (demo) -- Rio Grande (early version--compiled into rough mixes) -- Brian on "Rio Grande" -- Brian on "The source."
UPC: 081227996024
Availability | |||
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Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
CD POPULAR Wil | Ballentine Indoors | Music CD | In |
Selections previously released 1979-1989; bonus tracks 17-25 previously unreleased.
Compact disc.
Program notes, including quotes by the songwriter, and lyrics (23 pages) inserted in container.
Sound recording.
Reissue produced for release by Mark Linett, David Leaf, and Gary Stewart.
Brian Wilson, vocals, keyboards, various other instruments ; assisting vocalists and instrumentalists.
Recorded 1979-1988.
Compact disc.
Program notes, including quotes by the songwriter, and lyrics (23 pages) inserted in container.
Sound recording.
Reissue produced for release by Mark Linett, David Leaf, and Gary Stewart.
Brian Wilson, vocals, keyboards, various other instruments ; assisting vocalists and instrumentalists.
Recorded 1979-1988.