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Overall the CD has a stripped down, basic feel to it. No high tech synthesizers and efffects, just pure voices and instruments (quite a bit of strings). What a relief WP didn't feel the need to 'update' these songs with sonic acrobatics. Their interpretations however are startling and catchy. "California", "Go Your Own Way", "Already Gone" and "Doctor My Eyes" are the standouts in my opinion.

If you're looking to hear tight harmoniesa and stripped down honest to goodness music then you should pick up California right away!


Harmonic Perfection!   May 27, 2004
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

It's not amazing to see a group from either the 1980's or early 1990's making a musical comeback, reunion or new push.

What's amazing is how bad some of them sound.

Not Wilson Phillips. The group conquers the skeptics by delivering vocal masterpieces. On California the harmonies are as good if not better than most of the groups from the 1960's and 1970's who inspired the California sound.

Standouts on the disc include "You're No Good" where Chynna Phillips delivers a soulful performance second to none, the pop-rock treatment of "Monday, Monday" along with the title track "California" where Wendy Wilson actually outdoes Joni Mitchell, and "Already Gone," "Go Your Own Way," and "Dance Dance Dance" where the girls' three part harmonies shine.

Carnie Wilson shows great vocal improvement from the earlier days of Wilson Phillips... Old Man and Get Together feature a nice smooth and pretty vocal brush which is a good omen for her upcoming solo album.

Some songs take some getting used to. When I had first heard "Go Your Own Way" on radio I was disappointed... I wanted the Wilson Phillips sound of "Hold On," "Release Me" and "Impulsive" and I found the song too mellow.

With a few listens I was hooked. The mood change by Wilson Phillips was deliberate (taking out Lindsey Buckingham's screaming and reinterpreting the song). Similar tweaking occurs on some other tracks including "Monday, Monday" - where the vibe is different from the original.

The effect of such vocal arrangements is to enhance the quality of the album and its depth. Listening to this album allows you the listener a chance to re-explore these classics, just as these three beautiful singers did when they selected them.

A welcome return to the music scene by Wilson Phillips. Next time, girls, do us the favor and record your own stuff. It's the best follow up to this great cover album.


Pretty fantastic   June 2, 2004
 7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I had no idea that Wilson Phillips had decided to record again. When I saw CALIFORNIA in the record store, I was hesitant to buy it -- after all, what cover version of a song like "Turn! Turn! Turn!" could ever be as meaningful as the original? A few days later, I broke down and bought a copy. While my suspicions about cover versions were often correct, the trio's gorgeous harmonies, which "bloom forth" to stunning effect, make up for my reservations. In fact, Wilson Phillips' version of "Go Your Own Way," "Old Man," and "Doctor My Eyes" are pretty fantastic in their own right. In this era of trash pop (think Christina Aguilera) and ugly,inner-city-inspired hip-hop, Wilson Phillips and CALIFORNIA are a breath of fresh air.


Waited for this???   June 24, 2004
 7 out of 17 found this review helpful

I'm definitely a big fan of their earlier work, but I can't believe they let their fans wait ten years for THIS. An overproduced covers album? You've gotta be kidding me. Coming back to sing songs that you didn't even write is not exactly the best way to re-establish your musical relevance and artistic credibility. These three need to get back to the studio and actually CREATE an album, show they have something new to say, and then I'll consider it a comeback. This... this generic offering just shows that the girls can sing, which, thank you very much, I already knew. Very disappointed.