|
Post by Kapitan on Oct 13, 2019 19:13:35 GMT
Bless Al Jardine and his voice. But his solo "career" leaves something to be desired.
Finally, a dozen years after he left the Beach Boys (almost) for good and several years after leaving Brian Wilson's band to focus on his solo album, he gets the damn thing done ... only to offer up a 12-song album comprising four Beach Boys remakes, two Beach Boys outtake remakes, two non-songs, and yes, a few (four) new songs.
The sarcastic pessimist might suggest that it was a long wait for four songs.
But the more level-headed fellow might say that Jardine has never been a prolific, or even particularly exceptional, songwriter. What would a realistic person expect from a guy whose best moments have come singing leads and harmonies for other great songwriters, only occasionally adding in his own songwriting credits?
The music here is pretty good. While it might seem like a low bar to set, it avoids the common curse of the legacy artist: monkeying too much with one's own style to fit into what the inevitably out-of-touch artist thinks is currently en vogue. There are no drum machines, no autotune. While there are guest stars galore, the legendary Sebu is not among them.
Sure, the new songs are awfully Beach Boys-esque ... but isn't that what Al Jardine fans presumably would expect? The problem isn't the retro style, but that Jardine lacks the little moments of brilliance that Wilson still, even in his significantly diminished state, occasionally delivers. That said, he delivers what Wilson increasingly can't, which is strong lead vocals.
Personally I'd rather have seen these songs never come together as a solo album, and instead be in contention for That's Why God Made the Radio a couple years later. The originals would have benefitted from the arrangement and vocal inputs of the Beach Boys, and the covers could have remained where they belonged, which is to say in their original renditions. But instead they are what and where they are, and I don't mind hearing them every once in a while.
|
|
|
Post by jk on Jan 2, 2020 13:57:06 GMT
This is what I wrote elsewhere in December 2010 after a third hearing:
A Postcard from California is a very warm, intimate record, more so than I'd expected. It is full of felicitous touches and dabs of instrumental colour--the guitar on the first track, the baritone sax on "Honkin'", some great vocal harmonies around the place, Brian in there sounding happy on "Drivin'", the "downhomey" take on "Rhonda"... "DFTS" is a timeless gem and "San Simeon" is gorgeous. Unlike the pastel shades of the album's cover, the music itself is rich and colourful. The few non-musical sounds are used to great effect. All the "old" tracks sound good in their new guise, not better but different... and good. "Honkin'" sounded lewd on Love You but gets just the right tongue-in-cheek treatment this time round. Alan is in great voice, as are Steve Miller and Crosby and Young (and Glen C). The whole atmosphere is joyous. The only track I still have to come to terms with is the album's closer. Is it just too intimate for my liking? Great chords though and again, those deft instrumental touches. I shall be playing Postcard again very soon and who knows?--maybe that final track will click with me eventually.*
* It took seven months from then, but I got there in the end. (More or less--I still think it's too intimate!)
|
|
|
Post by kds on Jan 2, 2020 14:03:10 GMT
There's a solid EP buried in this album.
The title track is pretty good. I love Don't Fight the Sea. Drivin' is a fun song. And Honkin is probably the only later BB remake that I prefer to the original.
I can kinda see why Waves of Love was left off TWGMTR. Maybe it's as good as Bill & Sue or Shelter. California Feelin' is a mediocre song that keeps popping up like Jason Voorhies. The Campire thing makes the spoken word bits from TLOS sound like pure genius. Neil Young and Steve Miller deserved better than to be included on limp renditions of Beach Boys classics.
|
|
|
Post by lonelysummer on Jan 7, 2020 7:03:32 GMT
I like this album a lot. Been awhile since I've played it, though, i'd have to put it on again to give more detailed comments, other than ...yes, no autotuned! And the remakes don't bother me. Will there be a followup? Not likely.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Dec 10, 2022 13:25:52 GMT
Anybody looking for a physical copy of this album is in luck: having recently been digitally reissued, it is now being reissued on CD. Looks like it is the version with bonus tracks "Waves of Love" and "Sloop John B (Pirate's Tale)."
|
|
|
Post by kds on Dec 12, 2022 13:52:36 GMT
If you don't buy this reissue, you'll have to wait until it's reissued again in 2024 or 2025.
|
|