Cabin Essence Blog

In the next 48 hours, Brian Wilson’s new album will be released all over the world. That Lucky Old Sun will be available as a plain CD, CD/DVD combo , vinyl and digital download. North American users of ITunes can get bonus tracks, and purchasers at Best Buy can get a different set of bonus music. The official site is selling cool T-shirts, key rings and other goodies alongside the album, including a bonus vinyl single. So find yourself a copy somehow, get one for your friends and family, because Brian Wilson and his band have delivered the goods.

In a time of international, national and personal turmoils, Brian Wilson has shown that his greatest gift of soaring melody is still intact. Supported by his superlative band and great friend, Van Dyke Parks, a work has been created that pays homage to the Californian dream of the Beach Boys youth, but also to life itself…love, joys, family, hope, despair, loss and redemption. It’s one of the good news stories of 2008, and the world needs this album now. Surf’s up, and time to ride the wave of That Lucky Old Sun.

(my full review still to come!)

Excellent and insightful review of That Lucky Old Sun in Slant Magazine with the important comment that “Wilson’s greatest strength has always been his ability to express grief in the almost excruciating beauties of harmony.” Another good review can be found at Consequence of Sound.

Yes, there are some bad and average reviews too. But you’ll have to find them for yourself, while I’m going to believe that those poor reviews are from those addled from too much turgid modern rock or those who didn’t really listen to the music. Yes, I’m biased like that.

Quite a lot of promotional activity for the impending Lucky Old Sun release -this info was collected by David Berger for his Facebook Brian Wilson group.

Brian Wilson on K-EARTH Radio!
On Tuesday, September 2, That Lucky Old Sun’s release date, K-EARTH 101 FM in Los Angeles will broadcast its “Morning Show with Gary Bryan” live from Capitol Studios in Hollywood with Brian Wilson as special guest. The show will also be streamed live on www.kearth101.com.
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Brian Wilson CD signing at Amoeba Music in Hollywood
Brian Wilson will be signing copies of his new CD, “That Lucky Old Sun” (Capitol Records) from 10am to Noon on September 2nd. One additional item may also be autographed, with purchase of the new CD. First come first served – ends precisely at noon.

Amoeba Music
6400 Sunset Blvd. (@ Cahuenga), Hollywood CA 90028
323-245-6400
amoeba.com
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Brian Wilson Television Performances:
“The Tonight Show,” “VH1 Classic” and “Live from Abbey Road”
On Tuesday, September 2, VH1 Classic and VH1Classic.com will exclusively premiere Brian Wilson’s new music video for “Going Home.” VH1 Classic will also premiere a new 30-minute program titled “Brian Wilson: That Lucky Old Sun,” which shows Brian Wilson at work and in performance with his band at Capitol Studios and explores Wilson’s creative inspirations and the development of That Lucky Old Sun (8pm ET/5pm PT). For more info go to vh1classic.com.
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On Wednesday, September 3, Wilson and his band will perform “Going Home” from That Lucky Old Sun on NBC’s “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” (11:34pm ET/PT). A performance on The Sundance Channel’s “Live From Abbey Road” follows on Thursday, September 4 (10pm ET/PT)
www.sundancechannel.com/livefromabbeyroad
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Brian Wilson eBay Giving Works Auction!
Brian Wilson has partnered with eBay Giving Works for a charitable auction benefiting The Surfrider Foundation, launching Tuesday, September 2 at 8pm ET/ 5pm PT on eBay. The auction lot includes a custom, one-of-a-kind That Lucky Old Sun surfboard, designed under Wilson’s creative direction and shaped by legendary surfboard shaper Robert August, and Brian Wilson’s handwritten lyrics to “Forever She’ll Be My Surfer Girl” from That Lucky Old Sun. The auction will be active until 8pm ET/ 5pm PT on Friday, September 12, when the listing ends. All bidders will be pre-qualified through Kompolt Online Auction Agency. Visit www.ebay.com/brianwilson for more information or to place a bid. For more information about the Surfrider Foundation, visit www.surfrider.org.

And finally, something from this website..don’t forget our scheduled chat on Sunday! Come and celebrate the new album in our chatroom.

The show dates seem to be coming out in dribs and drabs, but there are now a number of dates in the west USA around the release of That Lucky Old Sun that will represent the first performances of the work in America. Still a bit odd that these dates will be followed by the Hollywood Bowl shows in the city to which Lucky Old Sun pays homage to,  and yet the HB shows are only going to feature some songs from the new work.

For the record, the new dates which will feature the full Lucky Old Sun are

September 5, 2008
Paramount Theatre
Oakland, CA
September 6, 2008
Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort and Casino
Reno, NV
September 7, 2008
Roseland Theatre
Portland, OR
September 9, 2008
Star of the Desert Arena
Primm, NV
September 10, 2008
Lobero Theatre
Santa Barbara, CA

There are a few interesting goodies on the Lucky Old Sun webpage on Amazon; firstly a video for Forever She’ll Be My Surfer Girl, as well as a competition to win tickets to one of Brian’s September LA shows (only open to USA residents). Also a good review from MOJO can be found on the official website.