That Lucky Old Sun
by Brian Wilson
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Sep 2, 2008
User Score
8.0

Generally favorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 42
  3. Negative: 6 out of 42

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  1. BrendanD.
    Sep 13, 2008
    1
    Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful. Brian has, unfortunately, lost his ability to produce. Since his third comeback began around 1996 with the awful Don Was documentary "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times," Wilson's sound has become sanitized and boring, as if his orchestral overtones are being channeled through Oxycontin rather than LSD. The lyrics are, to be nice, tepid. The Dreadful, dreadful, dreadful. Brian has, unfortunately, lost his ability to produce. Since his third comeback began around 1996 with the awful Don Was documentary "I Just Wasn't Made For These Times," Wilson's sound has become sanitized and boring, as if his orchestral overtones are being channeled through Oxycontin rather than LSD. The lyrics are, to be nice, tepid. The spoken-word interludes are embarrassing. The music has been done better by Brian, let alone about eighty other bands currently out there trudging along every day. It is a shame that Brian and WilsonCo. continue putting out record after record of schlocky, over-produced, nostalgia-laden manure like this. I'm thrilled that Brian has been able to overcome such adversity and mental illness; he's a great guy and one of the true heroes for any modern musician. But this record is crap.… Expand
  2. MurrayP.
    Sep 15, 2008
    3
    Am I the only one here who thinks this album is a lame duck? It sounds like Beach Boys "B" sides! I mean, I'm the first guy to agree with Brian Wilson's genius, but this ain't it folks. Just the spoken word parts alone are so cheesy and infantile it's hard to believe that Van Dyke Parks penned them. It sounds like Mr. Wilson is trying to re-capture some former glory, Am I the only one here who thinks this album is a lame duck? It sounds like Beach Boys "B" sides! I mean, I'm the first guy to agree with Brian Wilson's genius, but this ain't it folks. Just the spoken word parts alone are so cheesy and infantile it's hard to believe that Van Dyke Parks penned them. It sounds like Mr. Wilson is trying to re-capture some former glory, but instead, captures (an akward) nostalgia that really shows us that there is nothing left of the creative man who gave us Pet Sounds. There's no challenge here, no inspiration, just a driver who set the controls to auto pilot.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Most Discussed Album of 2008

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 26
  3. Negative: 2 out of 26
  1. Mojo
    80
    That Lucky Old Sun is easily Brian Wilson's most consistently enjoyable, moving solo albums; indeed you have to go back to "Surf's Up" itrself to hear a Beach Boys long-player as good. [Spe 2008, p.99]
  2. Observer Music Monthly
    60
    The concept of LA as a 'Sunblessed City of Angels' is trite, co-opting another's song for the theme tune lazy, and much of what follows resembles a Beach Boys tribute band.
    Read full review
  3. Uncut
    80
    There are very few other albums this year with as much force, verve, and sheer musical imagination as That Lucky Old Sun. [Sep 2008, p.84]
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