BRIAN WILSON
Getting’ In Over My Head
(Rhino)

Brian’s back again…this time for good. After the sterile Joe Wilson-produced Imagination (1998), it appeared that Brian musical resurgence would be put on hold again until that is, he hooked up with Beach Boy acolyte Jeffrey Foskett and Wondermints leader Darian Sahanajah and embarked upon well-received tours performing classic Beach Boys material from the mid-60s, notably the entire Pet Sounds album, culminating in the re-recording of the legendary lost classic, Smile, due for release in September.

In the midst of that renewed interest, Brian returned to the studio with his new cohorts and the result is Getting’ In Over My Head, a collection of songs that Wilson fanatics would recognize as demos from 90s bootlegs.

So how does the new album fare compared to previous affairs?

First off, the inclusion of celebrity guests like Elton John, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton does not bode well as it smacks of desperate marketing. In truth, their three guests contribute little though the songs – “How Could We Still Be Dancin’,” “A Friend Like You” and “City Blues” are poor to begin with – I mean, Brian could not write a blues song to save his life – and why should he have to?

That said, there are genuine moments of spine-tingling beauty here. “Soul Searchin’,” a collaboration with Andy Paley features late brother Carl on vocals and reminds us what an essential part he played in the classic Beach Boys sound – “God Only Knows,” “Good Vibrations,” “Darlin’” and so on; “You’ve Touched Me” and “Desert Drive” are deliberate look backs at the sunshine surf-rock of the early days; the title track is perhaps one of Brian’s most affecting tracks since “Melt Away” on the eponymous debut and “Don’t Let Her Know She’s An Angel” is a gem from the ill-fated Sweet Insanity project.

The paucity of “new” material seems to suggest that Brian finds songwriting a particular challenge and the bulk of Getting’ In Over My Head is seriously hit or miss whilst there is still a nagging suspicion that Brian is not actually in complete control but we will not go there. Strictly for fans only, I would recommend that everyone else save their pennies for Smile…B-
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