Re: Brian's new record is awesome!!

Derek A. Bill wrote:

> I like the new album. I can't call it awesome, but it's pleasing,
> well-executed, and very sincere. The fact that it's getting mostly
> positive reviews is heartening, and if it keeps him busy and happy then
> its good all around. 

I concur in the sentiment, although the album is quite a disappointment. 
It's telling that it has to have the old talisman of 'Can't Wait Too 
Long' (or a smattering of it) in the middle of it all as though it's a 
reference to the times when Brian's songwriting abilities weren't 
producing the pedestrian things that are all over this album. /Anyone/ 
could have written nine tenths of the music on this album. Sure it's 
pleasant enough, but I'm glad I downloaded the torrent to realise that 
I'd never actually want to run out and buy it.

Brian has suffered in a large part from what I call the 'Diet Pepsi' 
syndrome, where the latest model is being branded as 'better than ever', 
itself a tacit admission that what preceded it was depressingly 
substandard. It's true that this album actually /is/ better than the 
likes of 'Imagination' (which was unbearable to me) but that may be down 
to the guys he has playing behind him. The Wondermints are on fine form, 
but that form is almost what makes it sound bizarre. For the most part 
it sounds like Brian Wilson singing in his own Briwn Wilson tribute 
band, which I suppose is exactly what this is.

Thing is though - as long as Brian is happy and occupied and *doing 
stuff* then I'm happy for him.

-- 
Mike Dickson, Edinburgh

Free Music Project: http://www.last.fm/music/Mike+Dickson
Or http://www.mikedickson.org.uk/