That Lucky Old Sun
by Brian Wilson
  • Record Label: Capitol
  • Release Date: Sep 2, 2008
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. 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.
  2. AllMusic
    60
    That Lucky Old Sun rarely approaches the subtleties of the classic Beach Boys sound. What it evokes instead is the driving '70s productions on latter-day Beach Boys albums like "15 Big Ones" and "Love You."
  3. The New York Times
    60
    For all its determined optimism That Lucky Old Sun ends up as more an affirmation of Mr. Wilson’s legacy than an expansion of it.
  5. musicOMH.com
    60
    That Lucky Old Sun is a brave but failed attempt to add a new chapter to the ongoing story of a pop legend.
  6. Hot Press
    60
    This album leaves no doubt that the former Beach Boy is now fully recovered from the 1967 nervous breakdown that effectively stalled his career for decades.
  7. Blender
    50
    Sadly it's undercut by music that tirns Brian Wilson into merely another Brian Wilson imitator. [Sep 2008, p.85]
  8. The Boston Phoenix
    50
    Brian Wilson and his karaoke-smooth backing band the Wondermints have instead given us something on par with 1970s Beach Boys--kinda bloated, kinda silly, mostly out of date, but with enough earnestness and pop intuition to be so, so, so puerile that hating it would be like hating Raffi.
  9. NOW Magazine
    40
    It appears that Wilson came up with a couple of tunes about his own troubled life but realized it might be too much of a bummer, so he tacked on a few happy-sappy Beach Boys throwbacks to make for a sunny little song cycle about a magical place filled with sun, sand and surfer girls.
  10. Prefix Magazine
    40
    Some of it works--'Southern California' 's honey-harmony’d and piano-led wistful look at the history of the Beach Boys in specific and SoCal in general is rather touching. But the rest of the album, especially the overwrought spoken-word interludes, remains a series of harmonized thuds and (however pretty) blank-eyed lobotomy-pop.

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Most Discussed Album of 2008

User Reviews

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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
  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 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.… Full Review »
  2. Bill107
    Mar 6, 2013
    10
    This is possibly Brian's best work. As always, it takes a number of listens. Why? Anything that simple is not. It is a simple lyric line.This is possibly Brian's best work. As always, it takes a number of listens. Why? Anything that simple is not. It is a simple lyric line. However, the melody is rich and complex. Just try to follow the chord progressions. They are more that great. They are spiritual. Additionally, there is a story line that loosely puts it the concept album category. Honestly, I like the album, but hate California.… Full Review »
  3. KentG.
    Sep 19, 2008
    10
    Easy to listen to........updated, reflective semi beach boy sound...........real nice to hear new stuff from Brian Wilsin.
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