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Brian Wilson is no stranger to building entire albums around
a theme. But I don't recall him ever putting the entire production
together with narrative, weaving a strange story in an almost pidgin
Broadway fashion. That Lucky Old Sun is bookended with short
variations on the old folk song "Lucky Old Sun", but in
true Wilson-esque fashion, the tracks are filled with Pet Sounds-style
harmonies and lush orchestrations. Immediately after the introduction
track, Wilson launches into a grooving, rock solid California vibe
that is immediately reminiscent of his Beach Boys days. "Morning
Beat" gives the listener an introduction to the landscape of
the story, the Santa Monica pier, the streets of Los Angeles in the
warm summertime, the characters who populate the landscape and their
cars and their party habits. Then an odd thing happens… Wilson
launches into a spoken word narrative about the characters and places
in the story. This narrative voice exists throughout the album, helping
to flesh out the stories told in the songs. "Forever My Surfer
Girl" sounds as if it was lifted directly off of Pet Sounds,
as do many of the tracks. Wilson's penchant for creating complex,
rich harmonies is still evident, as is his brilliant knack for telling
a story in three minutes. The lyrics found on That Lucky Old Sun
are filled with allusion and literate splendiferousness as they roll
through their simple everyday stories. Wilson's stories illuminate
his belief that rock'n'roll music still has the ability to change
the world, and not just the world of his sunshiny California, but
also the world. With Rodgers & Hammerstein-style adeptness,
Wilson drops the occasional reminder into the lyrics that "That
lucky old sun has got nothing to do but roll around in heaven all
day." Wilson's voice is aged and rougher than it has ever sounded,
but his singing is as clear and beautiful as it was when he first
began in the 1960s, and his masterful songwriting has obviously not
diminished over the decades. These tunes are bouncing affairs,
complete with the aforementioned harmonic content, but also with liberal
strings and horns added to the basic rock ensemble of guitar, bass,
drums and keyboards.
The songs on That Lucky Old Sun are brilliant, both in form
and in their ability to transport the listener to their own special
locale. Brian Wilson's magical touch for creating a landscape that
moves the listener out of their own life, even if only temporarily,
remains in force, possibly more so now than ever before. If you've
been a follower of Wilson over the years or simply long for that simplicity
and beauty that was abundant on Beach Boys records, than That Lucky
Old Sun is for you. If you just need to feel good, or maybe need
some relaxation time away from the hustle and bustle of the modern
world and all of its troubles, than this record can transport you
to a much happier place. Indeed, that lucky old sun has got nothing
to do but roll around heaven all day, and Wilson makes it possible
for everyone to feel like that is perhaps the most worthy goal of
all.
-David DeVoe
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