Al Jardine's "A Postcard From California"

[Matt H]

On Al's page there is a short video of Al with Alec Baldwin during the "Tidepool Interlude" recording.

http://www.aljardine.com/video.html

With Baldwin wearing a suit, it seems even more like Jack Donague from 30 Rock.  I hope he posts more videos on the site.

[Wirestone]

Can we just all agree, by the way, that the Alec Baldwin thing is ridiculous?

It's the one (to my mind) serious misstep on the album. It is the kind of thing that goes viral on the web -- because it's so laughably bad.

"Waves of majesty move through me majestically" indeed.

[Sam_BFC]

I kind of agree but he does have a very warm voice though. 'California...California; you are everything to me'.

[Wirestone]

I think the phrase that comes to mind is "Shatner-esque."

It's better than that, of course, and if Baldwin hadn't been in a sitcom for the last four years that makes great fun of his portentousness, the piece might have just been mildly annoying.

But instead, it's funny.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Can we just all agree, by the way, that the Alec Baldwin thing is ridiculous?

It's the one (to my mind) serious misstep on the album. It is the kind of thing that goes viral on the web -- because it's so laughably bad.

"Waves of majesty move through me majestically" indeed.

On the surface, yes, and there was a time when I would have agreed, but as with anyone who gets to know Stevie Kalinich, once you realise that the sentiment in the words comes straight from his heart & soul (not unlike Dennis), then you look at it differently.

That said, I defy anyone who's seen Team America to ever take Alec seriously again. 

[Loaf]

Alec Baldwin does a great job as the narrator to The Royal Tenenbaums.

[Aegir]

I've never seen 30 Rock. The only thing I associate Alec Baldwin's voice is when he introduces the New York Philharmonic on the radio. I don't really have a problem with the track.

Keep in mind, my favorite song on Holland is Beaks of Eagles.

[phirnis]

I like the Baldwin track. It's sort of cheesy (I don't mind), but otherwise it's not that different from the TLOS narratives.

[Andrew G. Doe]

The thing I love about the TLOS is that, no matter how many times you play them, you still get the feeling that Brian's gonna go off-script. Just something in his inflection and cadence. 

[TdHabib]

The plan originally was to have VDP recite the narrations---and that would've been mighty cool. Oh well, still a great album.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Overall, I like the album. The one big problem I have is with some of the lyrics. Example:

"And out at the rock
There came such a sight
A lighthouse keeper's house
And lighthouse light"

The song was originally written in 1978 - after 32 years, I can't believe no-one could come up with something less clunky.

[TdHabib]

The plan originally was to have VDP recite the narrations---and that would've been mighty cool. Oh well, still a great album.

In case there was any confusion, I was referring to the TLOS narratives and album. I think that album is great. Postcard is very good.

[Wirestone]

My husband is making incessant fun of "it's been so long / since I've had a woman's breast / To lay my head on."

Head or hand, Al?

[Wirestone]

Also, for such a pretty tune, the words to "And I always will" are painfully trite.

[TdHabib]

Also, for such a pretty tune, the words to "And I always will" are painfully trite.

That song actually does nothing for me. Reminds me too much of "Winds of Change" in it's overall characteristic.

[donald]

just got al's cd from amazon. it came with the booklet. in fact, the cd looks like any cd one would bring home from the store.
now to give it a listen.....

So.  How are the graphics?  Does it have the cool stuff of Phifer Beach and such as was on the website a few months back?

[tpesky]

I'm sure the song was written about Al's wife, but I don't know why  the whole song to me gives me the vibe about Al's experience with the Beach Boys and the idea that he always will be a Beach Boy, especially that middle verse: "We gave our all, there are times I don't care to recall.  It reaches me way more as someone looking back on doing something they loved and being a part of, as opposed to a love song.

[Eric Aniversario]

The plan originally was to have VDP recite the narrations---and that would've been mighty cool. Oh well, still a great album.

I had never thought of that before, but that would have made the album even better than it already is.  (Talking about TLOS)

[Smilin Ed H]

"The plan originally was to have VDP recite the narrations---and that would've been mighty cool."  Oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, dunno about that.

[Loaf]

How about if TLOS has featured dialogue between BW and VDP...say along the lines of the Smile-era Psychedelic talk, "Smog" etc...

"Hey you, get off my property!"

[Jason]

I'm sure the song was written about Al's wife, but I don't know why  the whole song to me gives me the vibe about Al's experience with the Beach Boys and the idea that he always will be a Beach Boy, especially that middle verse: "We gave our all, there are times I don't care to recall.  It reaches me way more as someone looking back on doing something they loved and being a part of, as opposed to a love song.

If it's about Al's wife...he must have been pretty sure of his committment to her in 1985 when he wrote the song! They had been married, what, like two years at that point? Unless he rewrote the lyrics for Postcard.

[Peadar 'Big Dinner' O'Driscoll]

This guys review sums up how I feel about this album - http://andrewhickey.info/2010/07/03/al-jardine-a-postcard-from-california/

Though I think Glen Campbell and Stevel Milllers voices sound pretty pretty good.

[Smilin Ed H]

Dr Who fan , uh?

[The Shift]

Dr Who fan , uh?

There's a few of us here!

[Aegir]

I'm sure the song was written about Al's wife, but I don't know why  the whole song to me gives me the vibe about Al's experience with the Beach Boys and the idea that he always will be a Beach Boy, especially that middle verse: "We gave our all, there are times I don't care to recall.  It reaches me way more as someone looking back on doing something they loved and being a part of, as opposed to a love song.

If it's about Al's wife...he must have been pretty sure of his committment to her in 1985 when he wrote the song! They had been married, what, like two years at that point? Unless he rewrote the lyrics for Postcard.

Theoretically, he should've been sure before they got married...