Busy Doin' Nothin'

That Lucky Old Sun

Being a Brian Wilson tragic, I  advance ordered That Lucky Old Sun a couple of months ago.  The Cd Dvd combo, and the Vinyl version.  Of course, i’m still waiting.  I lingered too long around the torrent sites as the September 2nd date came ever closer, only finding false torrents that led to nothing.

And so, on the 2nd, I (after quickly checking my post box and torrent sites again) dowloaded the album from itunes.  I should also mention that I have long been in possesion of about 6 different versions of the London concerts, and the leaked demos.  Even after being so familiar with the material, I’ve still gotta say (in a Larry David voice no less) “Thats pretty good.  PRETTY GOOD”.

This isn’t a review.  I’ve read a lot of those, too, and I’d probably just plaigerise subconsciously those I agreed with.  However, there is a lot to like about the album from my point of view.  A groovy little song cycle about a day in the life of the sun as he “rolls around heaven all day”.  Of course, for Brian, heaven is directly above Southern Califonia.

For those seeking the follow up to Smile, however take heed.  Nowhere near as amazing.  Its not a follow up, Smile was recorded in 2004, but mostly written and arranged in 1966 and 67 when Brian was at the peak of his creative powers, just before he “nodded off in the band room and woke up in history”.  It would be totally unfair to look down upon That Lucky Old Sun because its no Smile, however.  Its got Smile inspirations, sure.

What it does have are two or three truly great Brian Wilson compositions.  Midnights Another Day, of course is the albums standout, beautiful and tragic, like ‘Til I Die with a happier ending.  If all the songs on the album were this good, it might have been another Pet Sounds or Smile.  Then there’s Southern California, the subdued melancholy look back that closes the album, where Brian tells us that it was all worth it.  If you know anything about his life, you know that the fact that this man can keep giving us such uplifting insights is nothing short of, well amazing.  Not many songs can reduce me to tears (in a good way), but these two can.

Maybe this album is more structurally like Beach Boys Today, with its commercial side ‘A’ and its more meaningful and connected side ‘B’.  Whatever.  It sure wasn’t concieved with any target market in mind, its just the kind of an album that you could imagine your hip grandad listening to in the early 60′s.  Anyway I have to go, I’m running outta change, and there’s a lotta things, if I could I’d rearrange.  I’m glad it happened to you too Brian.