BRIAN WILSON
That Lucky Old Sun
Capitol Records 2008
www.brianwilson.com

Genre
Pop-rock / classic pop

The Good
The legendary Beach Boys songwriter is back after the success of his comeback (and long-lost) album Smile. Wilson continues his flair for conceptual albums with his 2008 release That Lucky Old Sun. "Morning Beat" is an upbeat track that praises life in Los Angeles and how lucky it is to be in the middle of it. "Good Kind of Love" evokes a lot of the peace, love, and harmony that late 60s and early 70s music put forth. "Surfer Girl" seems a little out of place today, but captures the classic Beach Boys sound perfectly. "California Role" has a new wave feel as it tells the story of trying to find out your place in the vast fish bowl that is California. "Midnight's Another Day" is a piano heavy ballad in which Wilson pours out his heart and soul. "Going Home" has a great rock edge to it.

The Bad
Nothing notable

The Verdict
I thought Smile was a one-shot deal for Wilson, but he's surprised me that he still has more music in him. There's no doubt that the songs that make up That Lucky Old Sun were taken right out of the pages of Brian Wilson's life. Wilson delivers ten short tales of his life on the West Coast set to some of the catchiest, emotional, and fun musical backgrounds. Even the narratives that connect one story to the next are interesting. Wilson has another masterpiece on his hands with That Lucky Old Sun, and we are all lucky to be able experience new and fresh music from a musical legend.

Rating: out of 5

Related Reviews:
Brian Wilson presents...Smile DVD
Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue

--George Dionne