Disco de Brian Wilson: “Imagination”

Descripción (en inglés) :

Personnel: Brian Wilson (vocals, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Brent Rowan (acoustic, nylon string & electric guitars, sitar, mandolin); Jim Peterik, Greg Leisz, Tom Chaffee (acoustic & electric guitars); Scott Bennett (guitar); Larry Franklin (violin, viola); Paul Mertens (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto & baritone saxophones); Richie Cannata (saxophone); Chuck Soumar (trumpet, piccolo trumpet); John Larson (trumpet); Jason Trtan (French horn, bass); Joe Thomas (accordion, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, vibraphone, tympani, keyboard programming); Bob Lizik, Michael Rhodes (bass); Eddie Bayers, Tom Suchermann (drums); Jackie Bertone (percussion); Jimmy Buffett (background vocals). Contains interviews with Jimmy Buffett, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Elvis Costello, Glen Campbell, Peter Buck, Sean Lennon, Barenaked ladies, Paul Shaffer, Diane Warren, and Melinda Wilson as well as concert footage. Personnel includes: Brian Wilson; Timothy B. Schmit, Christopher Cross, Bruce Johnston, Joe Thomas, Jim Peterik. This is a DTS CD, which features DTS 5.1 Surround Sound technology and is playable on a DTS-capable 5.1 Surround Sound system. Personnel: Brian Wilson (vocals, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards); Brent Rowan (acoustic, nylon string & electric guitars, sitar, mandolin); Jim Peterik, Greg Leisz, Tom Chaffee (acoustic & electric guitars); Scott Bennett (guitar); Larry Franklin (violin, viola); Paul Mertens (flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, alto & baritone saxophones); Richie Cannata (saxophone); Chuck Soumar (trumpet, piccolo trumpet); John Larson (trumpet); Jason Trtan (French horn, bass); Joe Thomas (accordion, piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, vibraphone, tympani, keyboard programming); Bob Lizik, Michael Rhodes (bass); Eddie Bayers, Tom Suchermann (drums); Jackie Bertone (percussion); Jimmy Buffett (background vocals). IMAGINATION includes a remake of the Beach Boys' "Let Him Run Wild" and a Jimmy Buffett collaboration, "South American," that gives "Kokomo" a run for its money. It's only the second album of new material Wilson has made in the 25 or so years he's spent lolling around his swimming pool, and it's a damn shame because at its best, which those two songs aren't, it flirts with perfection. Beyond the three- and four-part harmonies (handled mostly by Wilson himself) and the dense beds of saxes, trumpets, clarinets and percussion--all of which Wilson fans have long been able to count on--are those classic Wilson melodies. He thrives on little complexities, like the strange modulations in the doo-woppy "Keep An Eye On Summer" and the extra chords in "Lay Down Burden" over which he stretches a stock pop melody. And he can still turn out a deceptively simple pop hook, as on "Your Imagination," and surprise you with his voice, like when he reaches for the lower depths of his range on "Cry." IMAGINATION includes a remake of the Beach Boys' "Let Him Run Wild" and a Jimmy Buffett collaboration, "South American," that gives "Kokomo" a run for its money. It's only the second album of new material Wilson has made in the 25 or so years he's spent lolling around his swimming pool, and it's a damn shame because at its best, which those two songs aren't, it flirts with perfection. Beyond the three- and four-part harmonies (handled mostly by Wilson himself) and the dense beds of saxes, trumpets, clarinets and percussion--all of which Wilson fans have long been able to count on--are those classic Wilson melodies. He thrives on little complexities, like the strange modulations in the doo-woppy "Keep An Eye On Summer" and the extra chords in "Lay Down Burden" over which he stretches a stock pop melody. And he can still turn out a deceptively simple pop hook, as on "Your Imagination," and surprise you with his voice, like when he reaches for the lower depths of his range on "Cry."

I could not disagree more with the one-star review below. I have been a Brian Wilson/Beach Boys fan for more than 25 years and, in my humble opinion, Imagination is a great album. It is pointless to argue that Imagination doesn't have songs which compare to other, particular, Brian Wilson masterpieces. This record is what it is. It is what Brian wanted to give us and what he was able to give us and I am thankful that it exists.

Further, I suspect South American would have been a substantial hit if Giant had promoted it as a single.

Give Brian a break. He's not 25 anymore, this isn't the mid-60's, and the Beach Boys are history. He has money and time and very likely can do anything he wishes to do. I'm awfully glad he decided to do Imagination, and I very much hope that he decides to do another album soon.

If he does, we will be very fortunated, indeed.

It goes without saying that IMAGINATION is the best Brian Wilson release in at least twenty years. (I'd say even longer, but man, there's just something about THE BEACH BOYS LOVE YOU.) It has everything going for it that you'd expect from a Beach Boy, fast fun songs, references to cars and Summer and girls a-plenty, and of course those trademark harmonies (even some very impressive falsetto, given his past history and the self-inflicted damage he did to his throat). You listen to it, and you get the impression that finally, after years of turmoil and retreat, Brian Wilson is back, only this time, it's the truth and he's enjoying every minute of it. As he himself says on the record, "Happy days are here again. . . everybody I talk to says 'Man, you're looking cool.'"

But. . . it's not a brilliant album. It's serviceable, and certainly would have been very appreciated had it been a Beach Boy record released any time after 1971, but you have to realize it's coming from the man who single-handedly created PET SOUNDS twenty years before. And whether you like it or not, anything he's done since will be compared to it.

IMAGINATION's strengths lie in the few moments when Wilson really lets his talent shine through, such as "Cry" and "Lay Down Burden" (written for his late brother Carl), and also in the album's vocals. They are nothing short of amazing. The harmonies very strongly recall Pet Sounds, and the most astounding thing of all is that Wilson sang nearly every vocal on the record (the exception being Jimmy Buffet's co-lead on "South American"). "She Says That She Needs Me" is quite pretty, and "Your Imagination" is the best Beach Boy-esque single since "Darlin." Just the same, this one is a drag.

The instrumental side, which was largely produced by Brian's wrestling buddy Joe Thomas, is bland, and reeks of 80's pop. The use of clarinets throughout is a nice touch, and on the first two songs especially it adds a certain charm and eloquence that's almost haunting. But usually, there's too much reliance on keyboards, and the whole sound is very watered down. "Sunshine" sounds like an outtake from Nintendo 64's Mario Party, and I highly suspect "Where Has Love Been" was actually written by Mike Love (the title another self-indulgent reference he's prone to). Only "Happy Days" hints at the ambition and brilliance Wilson was and perhaps still is capable of.

Also disappointing is word that prior to this collaboration, Brian had spent much of the early 90's working with Andy Paley on a set of songs that was reportedly nothing short of spectacular. Either way, it does have its moments, the vocals are wonderful, and it's a step in the right direction for Wilson. It launched a full-scale comeback that continues to grow, and for that we're all grateful. Still. . . listen to this one with a napkin, it gets a bit syrupy.