Carl Wilson - Carl Wilson
#102
By Jon Rosenberg
March 27 1981
Carl Wilson
Carl Wilson
Genre: Yacht Rock?
Allen’s Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Jon’s Rating: 2 out of 5
Highlights:
Hold Me
The Right Lane
Heaven
The Grammy
Despite the high regard in which they are held by lots of folks I love and respect (including members of The Beatles), I have never been a fan of The Beach Boys. Yeah, yeah, I know, Brian Wilson is a genius who wrote some great songs and did innovative things in the studio that influenced many for years to come. But their sound never appealed to me, and their songs about surfing and cars left me cold.
That said, this solo album by Carl Wilson sounds nothing like The Beach Boys. Which is a positive as far as I’m concerned. Carl was the youngest of the three Wilson brothers who co-founded The Beach Boys with a cousin and friend. He was the lead guitarist and often lead singer on some of their biggest hits. He’s also the one who didn’t suffer from mental illness or hang out with Charles Manson. Carl was clearly a talented musician, and by the end of the 70’s was looking to break out of the surf-rock prison he was trapped in.
Carl Wilson by Carl Wilson is a pleasant enough album. Wilson’s voice is actually quite soothing. The songs are all played with the laid-back late-70’s/early 80’s slickness that launched a thousand yachts. Upon first listening, I immediately thought, “This sounds like Chicago!” And lo and behold, it turns out that producer James William Guercio had also produced several of Chicago’s biggest albums.
The opener “Hold Me” has a decent groove and almost rocks. “The Right Lane” feels like an Eagles reject. “Heaven” is reminiscent of those Peter Cetera-sung Chicago ballads you never wanted hear again, but you put it on because it might just get you laid. And “The Grammy,” is a song about – wait for it - winning a Grammy. Amusing, but truly a WTF moment.
I can’t imagine this album will appeal to Beach Boys fans, let alone hard rockers, but if Christopher Cross is your jam, blend up a Pina Colada, climb into your hammock and give it a listen. Worst case scenario, you’ll have a nice nap.
https://open.spotify.com/album/5883M46j7r0r5tWRg0BVUj?si=zVckf8y2S-Su9_txiiUJMw
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