Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue

my favorite song is on the bambu sessions (it's not too late) and i adore POB.

"It's Not Too Late" is gutting. the desperation just drips from his voice on that one.

Returning to this reissue this week as my car can only play CDs for the moment and I pulled this out.

There are really only a few songs in POB proper that sound purely 70s MOR – "What's Wrong," "You and I" and maybe one or two others. The rest tend toward really plodding, heavy orchestration, peculiar textural choices (such as the bass harmonicas and blaring brass on "Dreamer") and modal chord voicings that create something that is both bombastic and delicate – often at the same time. There is also an undeniable alcoholic sentimentality slathering almost everything here.

So I understand if this record isn't for everyone. Some may find it scattered or unremarkable. But for my part, I love its singularity and shamelessly big hearted and ramshackle nature – qualities I think aren't so much enhanced by the Bambu stuff as underscored.