Posted on the
by Lissie on September 14, 1997 at 20:51:44:
WOW. Put simply, those were my first impressions of the new album. This has got to be the best album yet. The Wilsons is actually the album I was hoping Shadows & Light would be. Not that S&L was bad, of course. But I was hoping WP would explore a harder-edged sound on their follow-up album. We kinda got that in S&L with "It's Only Life" and "Fueled for Houston," but it was still the sugar-sweet, harmony-rich sound we had come to know from them. I guess what I was expecting, was for them to broaden their musical horizens.... to grow musically and lyrically. And while Chynna's Naked and Sacred definitely was quite a departure from the WP sound, it didn't have the maturity that this one does. Anyway, to the songs themselves...
Monday Without You--At first I was a little disappointed by this track. It begins rather plainly, without much excitement. But then it builds into a great chorus, which is so completely singable and catchy, it put a smile on my face. Certain parts also remind me of the Bangles.
Good About You--One of my favorite songs. Starts off with a hip-hop beat, then comes in these fun jangly guitar chords which makes you just want to dance. This is a very Hanson-ish track and ends very WP-ish with those harmonies. (I swear to God it sounds like Chynna's in there somewhere.--sidenote... I've often noticed that Carnie singing in her higher register often sounds like Chynna)
Miracle--Sounds very WP-ish, until Brian's backing vocal comes in, making the whole song sound very surrealistic. The end kinda of drags a little; a little overly long. But it's still a good track.
Goddess' Revival--Perhaps my favorite on the entire album. Love the acoustic guitar in the beginning--gives it a very down-to-earth feel. Love Wendy's laid-back vocal.
Candy--This track freaked me out at first listen. (What were all those scary sci-fi sounds doing in this song?) But when the chorus begins ("in the dark, in the dusk, in the dawning...") it took me in, and those weird sounds somehow made sense in the song. My favorite passage in this song is the bridge, the "Renaissance section," with those wonderful harmonies. The ending is strange, too, with the music building faster and faster, eventually outpacing Wendy's vocal. But it makes sense... Kinda like representing "Candy" not being able to keep-up with life in the fast lane....
'Til I Die--a classic Brian Wilson track against a techno-beat? Didn't think it was possible, but it works.
St. Joan--another good track. lots of surprises in this one.... the mood of the song keeps changing, thanks to Wendy's great vocal, shifting from soft to indifferent to ironic to other moods (is it because of the "voices in [her] head"? ;-) Really like this one.
Open Door--finally, a track where Carnie's vocal is center stage. Need I say more?
I Hate Your Face--someone mentioned that this song reminded them of "Fueled for Houston." At first, I couldn't hear it, but I think the common denominator is the fun aspect put into this song. Plus, the choruses are very similar... Carnie's powerful vocal, the chord progression, how the music just drives the chorus.....
Everything--another good one (are there bad ones?) The one thing that strikes me most about this song is when Wendy sings the line "I don't want to like you" with a nice little acoustic guitar playing gently in the background; then when she says "but I love your thoughts" how that guitar chord hits and the percussion starts. Quite jolting, especially if played really loud, but real coooool.
Not Your Average Girl--sweet little song. Just real pretty. Kinda reminds me of Simon & Garfunkel for some reason.
Everything I Need--some vintage Brian Wilson touches, and great silky-smooth vocal by Carnie.
I really love this album. I've already listened to it several times already, and I don't see myself removing it from my CD player anytime soon. I just wish, like everyone else, that this gets the promotion it deserves. It's really a keeper. Everything I expected and more.
Also, I just want to point out how wonderfully Wendy has improved vocally. Before, she was a little timid. But now, she has such confidence in her delivery. Also, the songs themselves are a lot stronger, largely I believe, due to Wendy's greater influence in the songwriting process. At first, I had thought Carnie was the major talent, arranging all those gorgeous harmonies on all the albums, but Wendy has finally come into her own, and I've a new respect for her.
Send reviews to wilphil@one.net
