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The music that is widely regarded as Brian Wilson’s best since his Beach Boys heyday gets the deluxe treatment in
That Lucky Old Sun, a 2008 live-in-studio performance of the record that’s bolstered by a wealth of bonus features. Those waiting for Wilson to revisit the genius of
Pet Sounds and "Good Vibrations" had best not hold their breath. And no, he’ll never regain that angelic falsetto voice, either. But the aging Brian is disarming and appealing in his own right, and he and his collaborators have concocted a song cycle that can at least be mentioned in the same breath, with gorgeous harmonies, rich melodies, and a warmly nostalgic, autobiographical tone (the 60-year-old title tune was recorded by Louis Armstrong, Frankie Laine, and many, many others). Wilson and his brilliant band offer up an inspired, joyous performance for a small invited audience, with highlights including the "Forever She’ll Be My Surfer Girl," "Can’t Wait Too Long," and "Midnight’s Another Day," all of them among his best tunes in ages. The several narrative interludes, written by longtime co-conspirator Van Dyke Parks, are accompanied by a clever mélange of film, photos (including many of Brian with his late brothers, Carl and Dennis), animation, and other media, making for a really memorable home viewing experience. Prominent among the extra material is "Going Home," a documentary (at 68 minutes, it’s almost twice as long as the concert) that celebrates Wilson’s astonishingly fertile past and chronicles the making of
That Lucky Old Sun. Also included are a separate live set (with some Beach Boys oldies); a charming "artist on artist" interview with Brian and actress-singer Zooey Deschanel; commentary by Wilson and co-composer Scott Bennett, and more.
--Sam Graham
