Brian Wilson – Imagination (A PopEntertainment.com Music Review)

PopEntertainment
Jul 21, 1998
1 min read

Brian Wilson – Imagination (Giant)

It's kind of sad that after decades of being an acknowledged pop musical genius, former Beach Boys front man Brian Wilson is probably best known now by kids as the guy that Barenaked Ladies sang about.

On Wilson's first solo album in nearly a decade, he sets about straightening that out.

Musically, he doesn't sell out completely and try to pretend he's something he's not. Most of these songs would have been perfectly good outtakes on classic Beach Boys albums Pet Sounds or Smile.

His sound still feels sturdy, though, and the multi-tracked vocals of the classic pop feel of "South American" and "Your Imagination" and the Beach Boys remake "Let Him Run Wild" are pure pop nirvana.

While he makes a few moves that don't become a legend, (he has former Survivor guitarist Jim Peterik playing on a few songs!) overall Imagination is a nice update of Wilson's signature sound. (7/98)

Jay S. Jacobs