Sony
2004
California
About This Album
The members of Wilson Phillips have been through a lot in the 12 years since their last record came out: marriages, kids, solo albums, televised operations, and talk shows. Add to that the fact that the band pretty much broke up in 1993, and it is no surprise it took so long. California is a concept album of sorts. All the songs are about California, or were recorded by quintessential California bands. The girls' voices sound better than ever, full of verve and California soul. Carnie, Wendy, and Chynna each take two leads; the rest of the songs are group vocals. Part of the fun of California is hearing the girls tackle songs that their respective parents recorded 30-plus years earlier. Chynna turns "Monday Monday" into a charging rocker with none of the introspection of the original; it sounds like a Go-Go's song if they had ever recorded with a full orchestra. The two Beach Boys songs are handled in very different ways. "Dance Dance Dance" is a tight rocker with loads of energy and some excellent farfisa work by Roger Joseph Manning Jr.; "In My Room" features Brian Wilson on piano and vocals and, unsurprisingly, has the best harmony vocals on the album. It may even bring a lump to your throat at the end when Brian exclaims loudly, "That sounds great! I love your sound!!" and Carnie and Wendy Wilson sound truly moved in response.
Track List (try tracks 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 and 8)

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