The Smiley Smile Message Board

Has this been posted?

Sorry if it's not news.

But Uncut have reviewd TLOS

4 Stars

http://brianwilson.com/uncut.jpg (http://brianwilson.com/uncut.jpg)

"being first rehearsed and performed in toto before being recorded"

What does that mean? Is that Latin or something or did the writer spell "total" really wrong?

I was wondering about that as well.

I just assumed that this might be an Early draft of the review, Pre-spell check or something? 

It's Latin. Means 'in full', more or less. The scribe is showing he's gotta bitta kultchur.  ;D

Lot of back-handed compliments in there, which I fully expected. I think this reviewer tried to be as honest and mecriless as he could be in his writing, which made for a well-rounded review.

"But it's the final third that will make the Wilson massive go ape,"   ?   Huh?

Is "Wilson massive" Latin for "masses of Wilson fans"?

Over here, it means, loosely, a gang, e.g. Ali G's Staines Massive.

Wilson massive. I like it.  ;D

A guy tries to show off his writing and gets criticized for typos and nonsense. Tough crowd.

Well it is a great review.

And man, Brian is still the critics golden child.

Roll On TLOS

The review doesn't mention that some of the songs are extended (or, better, restored to original length) compared to the live versions.
E.g. "Morning Beat" has at least an extra verse (...driving through the Hollywood hills...), "Southern California" has an extra verse (...warmth of the rays, music in the air and in the waves...) , and a bridge (...it's magical living the dream...woke up in history...).

And yeah, the live experience is probably more rewarding, also because of the visual aspect,  but I personally like how the final album sounds, except maybe "Mexican Girl". One minor note, I wish Jimmy Hines was on drums...

AWESOME...Thanks for posting the review..I suspect one of many more good ones...Rock On Brian..!

Fantastic news, STE. Nice to hear that there will be some surprises.

It's obvious...

...TLOS was performed in toto... Jimmy Hines isn't on the record...

...welcome Jeff Porcaro!

Interesting review, I look forward to hearing it!
I have a review that the same reviewer did of the first four 70s reissues and Dennis' album from the NME or Melody Maker from back in 1991, from what I remember it was amusing though he wasn't that impressed. Generally though he knows what he's talking about, he appears a lot on the telly on those 'list' shows.

...by people who've not heard the phrase 'in toto'...

Actually I thought Brian was going to deliver a rendition of the Grammy-winning 'Africa'...  (oops, Loaf beat me to it)

David Quantick has been writing reviews in the UK for years and has a great respect for the musicians he writes about - as evidenced here. Equally obvious is his ability to out-smart other critics, as in his reference to the 'much-quoted' lyrics of one song. Obviously ad infinitum and inter alia.

I like the review. It looks as though he's spending the first half of it making his mind up about the album - which is a reasonable reflection of the way we listen to records.

i think David Quantick also worked withh Chris Morris on The Day Today, unless i am mistaken.

A smart man with a West Country burr who actually appears on TV (being from the West Country, you appreciate the few times this happens without references to cider and farming).

Love and Mercy from the 90s?

Mind you, he's spot on about VDP's 'poetry'.  I think 'bad beatnik' might be biggin' it up (as they say in Staines) too much.

Thanks for the extra information, STE.

I think it won't be quite Smile, but it could be his best since the first maybe better.

It's too bad Brian wasn't at this point in his regeneration when he teamed with Van Dyke to do Orange Crate Art - a real collaborative (rather than parallel) effort between the two of them, an Orange Crate Art/TLOS hybrid tribute to California, would have given Smile a run for its' money as their pinnacle.

Another nitpick.

The lyrics in "Goin' Home" is: "At 25 I turned out the lights / Cause I couldn't handle the GLARE in my tired eyes." It has the benefit of making more sense, too.

I really like the last Van Dyke Parks spoken section of this suite. There's a broken-hearted facetiousness that is totally L.A.

Link seems to be dead right now.

Nope, it's there.

As for song extensions, I really hope they make the orchestra part (coda) of 'Live Let Live' longer, man that section is beautiful.

Lucky dog, how were you able to hear the final product before the rest of us?!?    I am sooooooo jealous...

Bring on August 19th and the vinyl edition!!

I agree that "Live let live" is too short on TLOS, although the arrangement fits its context. Any opinions on which is the better version?

Soundtrack Live Let Live:

Better lyrics (unarguably by Van Dyke)
Interesting cello introduction
Longer -- the "heart beat" bridge section repeats

TLOS Live Let Live

Awkward lyrics (trying to sound like Van Dyke?)
Neat harmonic twists on the backing vox
A bit short -- but with gorgeous end orchestration

Why Brian not just use Van Dyke's Live Let Live for TLOS?

Mojo have also reviewed TLOS in the latest issue. It's a fairly glowing review I would say and they give it 4 stars. If I get a moment I'll try and scan it, although maybe this is against site/copyright rules?

What's the story with the deluxe edition?  What's on the DVD?  Amazon only has the LP and single CD.  I just gots to know!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazon has the CD/DVD set here
http://www.amazon.com/That-Lucky-Old-Sun-DVD/dp/B001BN7328/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1217365284&sr=8-2

As for the content of the DVD, I think it's safe to assume that it will include a "making of" and the private Capitol Studios performance of the album.  Perhaps also the animations that were part of the live show?

All I know for certain is I'm excited to hear it!!!

There's a full-page review in the new Mojo (September edition with the White Album cover story). Four stars (out of five). I won't reprint the complete review here, but the final paragraph states:
"While it would be wrong to claim that any music here boasts the exquisite beauty of Surf's Up or Til I Die, That Lucky Old Sun is easily Brian's most consistently enjoyable, moving solo album; indeed, you have to go back to Surf's Up itself to hear a Beach Boys long-player as good." (Mat Snow)
He quotes the line about turning out the light at 25 too.
Gosh, I'm so excited about this record.

The pre-order sales on amazon sure have been impressive.

I agree it's beautiful but I believe it's as long as on the live version.

Niiice.  So...is everyone getting the CD/DVD version then?  I assume that's a given.

I had some recent correspondence with VDP and I mentioned the changed lyrics to LLL.  His reaction was one of surprise and he asked me if I could send him a copy of the new lyrics, which I hand typed after a quick re-listen. These lyrics are even more awkward when you look at them typed out.

 I won't mention how he responded, but I will say he probably still isn't given enough credit for his contributions to the most creative of BW's work.  BW would do good employing VDP services for another full on collaboration.

Mojo review link to Brian's site: http://www.brianwilson.com/mojo.jpg

"While it would be wrong to claim that any music here boasts the exquisite beauty of Surf's Up or Til I Die, That Lucky Old Sun is easily Brian's most consistently enjoyable, moving solo album; indeed, you have to go back to Surf's Up itself to hear a Beach Boys long-player as good." (Mat Snow)

Too bad this guy missed Pacific Ocean Blue.

But that's neither Brian or the Beach Boys.

I like Surf's Up a lot more than POB anyway.

Yeah, I think I do too, especially Side Two.

But I like Holland more than Surf's Up.

Must be hard to compare though,

There two totally different albums!

Actually it's easy to compare, in that regardless of the style of album, I don't like POB much at all. Anyway, that's pretty off topic, and I'm ducking from the rotten tomatoes being thrown my way, so that's all I'll say about that.

Brian should work with VDP much more in the future I think, but regarding those LLL lyrics, they're a bit political and Brian's never been very political.  New lyrics = not political.  Isn't that hard to figure out to me!

 ... And Holland, and Love You for that matter. In fact, although I like parts of TLOS and think MAD is a great BW song I have to say I find it a stretch to say that it's even better than Carl & the Passions in terms of songwriting. I wonder sometimes if, overwhelmed by a sense of relief that BW is still making competent records, some critics' impartiality goes out the window - I mean, really, surely C & the P is a better listen isn't it?!! Love You is for sure! Of course, to be fair I haven't heard the finished album but going on quality of songwriting, I even prefer BW88 at the moment.

Edit: Actually I think I was a bit harsh in criticising TLOS here. I like it - it has a warmth and optimism to it that makes it a fun listen, but if the songs were separated out I don't think, with the exception of maybe MAD and Going Home, they would stand up too well on their own. Above I say even BW88 is better, as if BW88 is not that good, but listening again to BW88 in the last few days it's actually extremely good, much better than TLOS, and on a par I'd say with Love You. Don't know why I needed to get this point across but there you go. I've hit that sad point where I'm actually posting with myself - gah, I've got to start listening to music other than the Beach Boys!

I like the live rendition of TLOS, but it's a pretty bad recording, so it does not quite 'gel' on my stereo. I guess I'll have to wait for the CD to form a definitive opinion. I hope it's as good as the reviews say it is.
David Quantick and Mat Snow are excellent, mature reviewers. Both are from the New Musical Express, from way back when the mag was the best in the U.K. (and before all those luxury magazines appeared). Snow talked me into buying Hüsker Dü's 'Warehouse', and I haven't regretted that one day in those 22 years.
I don't think 'Surf's Up' is as good as many other people think it is. The segue of the last three songs is wonderful (of course) but 'Student's Demonstration Time', 'Take A Load', 'Lookin' At Tomorrow', 'Feel Flows', and 'Long Promised Road'? Good, but not that great.
'Love You' is a one-of-a-kind album. To me it's a collection of demos, but a great collection of demos. Take 'The Night Was So Young'... Carl's too closely miked, and his pronunciation certainly is not a definite one. Brian bends a couple of strange notes in 'Let's Put...'. 'Johnny Carson' is exotic, wonderful, but does not come over as a final draft.
Perhaps my criticism is wrong, in that it emphasizes what makes the album great at the same time. 'Love You' also sounds like you're a guest at a private rehearsal at Brian's house, with simple but strong synth work filling in for what will later be washes of string sections, horns, and choir work.
Still, it's a pretty unique effort. Great album, as is POB.

Love You is one of those rare times when Brian's half-assed quirks made the album work.  It's very listenable in my opinon.  Unfortunately later in his career when he did the same type of things (Sweet Insanity, etc.) and made just crazy music it didn't work, it just sounded overdone or too shrill or whatever.  On Love You though even the bum notes and strange arrangements sound warm and thick, really has a kind of relaxed sound. 

And why do you think that is? Maybe it's not WHAT is the reason, but WHO is the reason. Love You has five (almost six) different lead vocalists, all contributing to the different styes of Brian's music. Love You wouldn't be the same without any of them. Now, divide up those Sweet Insanity songs five different ways, and you have an entirely different album, a much better one IMO.