Wilson Phillips Album: “California”

In an age of Lipsynching Pop Princesses and foul-mouthed rappers masquerading as musicians, WILSON PHILLIPS' "California" is a breathless, effortless gem, as cool as an ocean breeze off the Santa Monica Pier.

First and foremost, Wendy Wilson, Carnie Wilson and Chynna Phillips can SING. How strange and sad a notion that one has to emphasize what should be a requirement: Singers that actually sing. (One only wishes the folks at American Idol would follow that lead.) For it is a real shame that artists such as

"California" reunites 3 talented women and showcases their incredible talent for harmony and phrasing that we have come to love (and miss) since their big splash 12 years ago with "Hold On" and "Release Me." The wait has been well worth it, as there is a richness and maturity to their tight sound that serves this cover album quite well. Stand-out takes on "Doctor My Eyes," "In My Room" (a nod to the Wilson music legacy) and "Go Your Own Way" bridge generation gaps and meld musical memories to maximum effect.

This is a CD worth your time and your heart, for it conjours up the warmest thoughts of the best of the past and the sweetest hope for the future. Share the love with family and friends, and remind yourself and them just what real singing is.

A grand return for a great group: Welcome home WILSON PHILLIPS!

I like this CD a lot. It's been awhile and I very much welcome their return. I listened to the whole album with a stereo system and a personal CD player. The validation is that the album's strength are the ladies ability to sing and those heavy harmonies. Let's not forget that this is not only a cover, but also a concept album. It seems that some dislike their selection of songs, but I'm indifferent because it's not original material. What I love is their tremendous talent for those signature harmonies. That's simply amazing.

About the album's content--the first single "Go Your Own Way"--when I first heard this I was comparing it to Lindsey Buckingham's. It was lacking the bitterness and candor. I gave it another listen and I understood that they made this version their own. I respected that. I mean previous remakes of this song is similar to the original. Wilson Phillips stepped out of the box per say and gave it their own vibe. The hook is the intro and choir. Besides, Lindsey's version was personal and understandably his voice and lyrics reflected that. The ladies are paying homage (as with every song in this CD)... With the rest... "Monday, Monday" and "Dance, Dance, Dance" have those 60's funk and with the latter combines a groovy Go-go's style-esque and intricate harmony arrangement while the former rocks with Chynna as lead. "Already Gone" personally, I feel is an upgrade of the Eagles classic, and Carnie's verse (voice) is uncanny to Ann Wilson of Heart. "In My Room" has that heavy and dark sound. And Brian praising the ladies will be a classic. That was just the sweetest thing. The harmonic arrangement is to be praised for "Turn, Turn, Turn" and Wendy's great in "California". She's grown so much vocally. And gotta love the chorus in "Old Man". Hey, Linda Rondstadt said that "She loved WP's version of "You're No Good" and it was the best version yet". If it was good for her, then it's good for me. Much respect to Peter Asher, but I personally think that the album did not need the highly polished and modernization of the tracks. The Wilson Phillips signature harmonies and voices (organic) combined with simple acoustics; as heard on the hidden track of "Already Gone" proves this. The album's purpose is to showcase the ladies talent which they very much proudly have, and that they're back!

We can always ask for more, but this is a solid effort. The vocals are nice and crisp. The harmonies are excellent and we already know the lyrics to these standards. Peter Asher's arrangements are not quite up to par. Brian Wilson would have probably been a good choice to produce this one, but the vocals are what we came for and they are very good. This one is better than their last effort and not as strong as the first one. The one thing that is for sure, while we are fighting senseless wars and facing record gas prices, this is something very familiar that we can enjoy and the girls sound like they had a blast putting California together. Start the car, pop in the CD and go back in time. You'll be glad you did!

I have been a Wilson Phillips fan since I was a kid, so I have waited 12 years for this new album! I'm happy to say that it's everything I thought it would be and more! The girls sound better than I remember them, and the song choices are perfect. I still have to get used to hearing an updated version of "Monday Monday" because I'd never heard a cover of that song before, but their version is beautiful and of course who better to do a cover of that song than Wilson Phillips? John Phillips would be proud. And "Turn Turn Turn (To Everything There Is A Season)" has always been a favorite of mine, and the girls definitely do it justice. Overall I am proud of their effort and give this album an enthusiastic two thumbs up!

It's not amazing to see a group from either the 1980's or early 1990's making a musical comeback, reunion or new push.

What's amazing is how bad some of them sound.

Not Wilson Phillips. The group conquers the skeptics by delivering vocal masterpieces. On California the harmonies are as good if not better than most of the groups from the 1960's and 1970's who inspired the California sound.

Standouts on the disc include "You're No Good" where Chynna Phillips delivers a soulful performance second to none, the pop-rock treatment of "Monday, Monday" along with the title track "California" where Wendy Wilson actually outdoes Joni Mitchell, and "Already Gone," "Go Your Own Way," and "Dance Dance Dance" where the girls' three part harmonies shine.

Carnie Wilson shows great vocal improvement from the earlier days of Wilson Phillips... Old Man and Get Together feature a nice smooth and pretty vocal brush which is a good omen for her upcoming solo album.

Some songs take some getting used to. When I had first heard "Go Your Own Way" on radio I was disappointed... I wanted the Wilson Phillips sound of "Hold On," "Release Me" and "Impulsive" and I found the song too mellow.

With a few listens I was hooked. The mood change by Wilson Phillips was deliberate (taking out Lindsey Buckingham's screaming and reinterpreting the song). Similar tweaking occurs on some other tracks including "Monday, Monday" - where the vibe is different from the original.

The effect of such vocal arrangements is to enhance the quality of the album and its depth. Listening to this album allows you the listener a chance to re-explore these classics, just as these three beautiful singers did when they selected them.

A welcome return to the music scene by Wilson Phillips. Next time, girls, do us the favor and record your own stuff. It's the best follow up to this great cover album.