Search - The Wilsons :: Wilson

They should've stuck as Wilson Phillips

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 12/04/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"In the wake of Wilson Phillip's dissolution, the first post-breakup salvo came from Chynna Phillips when she released Naked And Sacred in 1995, which, alas, yielded average results. In 1997, it was the Wilsons' turn, with a little help from their father, Brian Wilson-hence The Wilsons as opposed to The Wilson Sisters. Hearing this album, it's clear the Wilsons had more vocal oomph than their erstwhile bandmate both before and after the breakup. However, like Chynna's album, the Wilsons own CD does not have the magic of WP.On songs like upbeat pop-rock of "Monday Without You", the benefit of having the harmonies are clearly seen. However, Brian's vocals seem a bit out of place and actually disjointing. This song was co-written by Carole King.The one significant change between the Wilsons and Wilson Phillips is their dip into the alternative ocean, with Breeders-sort guitars. "Good About You" has a bassline and a guitar that tries at being "Cannonball" and that clanging sound gives this song an early alternative feel. Ditto "Goddess' Revival" with the semi-industrial drums and guitars, more of what Nina Gordon would do on her solo album, and the drug-like madness of "St. Joan." And "I Hate Your Face" sounds like something Juliana Hatfield would've done on Become What You Are.The downbeat ballad with its soaring airy synths, "Miracle" seems to incorporate hard luck of life and even some Biblical references: "Life has no alibis/for all its crimes/this I can testify", and "Once we were innocent/but all our lives/we've been taught to repent" The point seems to be that yes, we are fools to expect miracles.The portrait of a lost girl, "Candy" has a social blame thing going on: "I'm Candy, and you're all to blame/your American daughter, one more for the slaughter." The organ-like synthesizer slows down towards the end, with Wendy's refrain "She don't understand...she's goin' under" over it.Their cover of "Til I Die" incorporates light industrial drum loops and a violin, but despite guest artists like Timothy B Schmit and Waddy Wachtel, nothing remarkable."Open Door" starts as a comforting morale-boosting ballad, with the refrain "Come around when you're lonely." There is a burst in sound towards the midsection. Lyrically, a triumph, but nothing catchy or singleworthy."Not Your Average Girl" is a light pop number about a girl wanting to find her own world, being unable to live in someone else's.Chynna may have struck out with her solo offering, and her Wilson bandmates, well, only connect occasionally, but a lack of outstanding songwriting and rhythms give evidence that despite their superior vocals, say more than anything that they were better off as Wilson Phillips."

Good comeback

cyered6 | Abilene, TX USA | 04/15/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"OK, in, I think it was, 1994 The Wilsons were dropped from the EMI label and picked up by Mercury later. It's a shame that Mercury was who picked them up and not someone else. Mercury gave little to no attention to this CD, I think because they were too busy with their current cash cow Hanson. In any event, it was not promoted, and that is a shame because it was in all likelihood the best album of 1997, it is that good with only minor flaws which lowered it's rating 1 star. The album starts off with the wonderful, light and happy "Monday Without You". The first single off the album, VERY catchy and fun song that was completely ignored for seemingly no good reason. It was not the hit it should have been. What really peeved me was this saw no commercial single release so I had to import it to get the bonus tracks. You can really heart Wendy's much improved vocal strength here. Then moves into the second track, Good About You, a personal favorite and what should have been the lead off single. Then Miracle it lags a little toward the end but is a very neatly composed song with a great unique sound. Then into the seond single, which again saw no commercial release, it too was ignored, that should have been expected, as good as this is you know when you hear this could not be a hit. Then Candy, a kind of freaky song that remains cool the ending is my only gripe with it. The the cover of Til I Die which I could have passed on, it's ok but I just don't really like it. Then into St. Joan which sounds pretty alternative pop/roc to me. Cool song I love the flute in it. Open door comes in next a very sweert Ballad perfect for carnies voice, this one should have been a single as well. The I hate your face another alternative rock type sound followed by everything ehich is catchy and very good but just doesn't seem to carry much weight. Followed by Not Your Average Girl which is about the same then finally Everything I need, anpther I could've have passed om. The only one major problem I have here is that the two european only tracks "Pretty Poison" and "All This Madness", two very noteworthy tracks are absent and they are two of the Wilsons best songs. So this is a good purchase when looking for good music."