Shadows And Light

After a vocal prelude with "I Hear You," things kick into gear with "It's Only Life," a lively number with rock guitars and synths extolling the glories of an exciting life. However, the post-modernist lines about "there's no wrong, there's no right" does give one pause. Chynna is lead vocalist here.

They all sing lead vocals on "You Won't See Me Cry" a self-affirming ballad that later gets into higher gear with some string arrangements and drums. One of the better songs here.

The up-tempo "Give It Up" was a single. I like it, sure, from the brassy synth opening, the catchy drums and horns, and Wendy's Susanna Hoffs-ish voice, but sadly, market tastes had changed and this didn't do as well as their other singles.

Carnie sings on "This Doesn't Have To Be Love," and given her voice, she seems best suited to singing lead on ballads such as this. While Carnie sings, Wendy and Chyna do accompanying speeches reflecting her thoughts. Example: "Softly, love is standing here with demands" W and C chime in with "Tell me what you want from me" Why couldn't this have been a single?

"Where Are You" is another ballad, this time by Chynna, but tackles some abuse suffered when one was six. However, she merely asks of the perpetrator, "Where are you... who hurt you? and where are you now?"

Both Wilsons sing lead on "Flesh and Blood" on a familial conflict, trying to reach their father through his pain. I wonder if this was written in mind with the troubles Brian Wilson had during his check-in to the clinic, the death of Dennis Wilson, and legal troubles with Mike Love over the Beach Boys.

Wendy Wilson sings "Don't Take Me Down," which has shades of "Impulsive" and some Belinda Carlisle songs. Chynna sings the string-laden "All The Way From New York" denoting the separation between LA and NY and the reunion between two people.

The heavily produced piano ballad "Alone" sung lead by Wendy, is about a misunderstood woman who doesn't want to be alone but doesn't want to leave her home. Poses quite a problem doesn't it? The reprise for "I Hear You" is just a choral exercise that demonstrates their well-done harmonies.

The trio hooked with Glen Ballard once again, and his production, keyboards, and arrangements work to some extent, but the jarring high-volume of louder songs like "Fueled For Houston" or "It's Only Life" and the trio's harmonies correspond to that sound, resulting in something loud and brassy instead of soft and melodic.

One wonders what a third album would've been like, but alas, that never happened, as the Wilsons and Chynna Phillips did their own thing in years to come.

But I can't believe somebody actually wrote and sang, with a straight face, "Goodbye Carmen" - about how sad it is when the maid gets deported.

1. "I Hear You (Prelude)" (4/5)
2. "It's Only Life" (5/5)
3. "You Won't See Me Cry" (5/5)
4. "Give It Up" (5/5)
5. "This Doesn't Have To Be Love" (5/5)
6. "Where Are You" (5/5)
7. "Flesh And Blood" (5/5)
8. "Don't Take Me Down" (5/5)
9. "All The Way From New York" (5/5)
10. "Fueled For Houston" (2/5)
11. "Goodbye, Carmen" (5/5)
12. "Alone" (3/5)
13. "I Hear You (Reprise)" (5/5)

Get this you guys! It's great!