Pacific Ocean Blue

Both sad and beautiful. I can hear Brian’s influence.

Why do middle-aged men keep on making skeevy songs about high school girls? On a purely pragmatic basis, what the hell are you going to have to talk about, man? It's just not a good idea. If you have issues to work out, convince your similarly-aged sweetheart to do costume stuff, man. Just gross. There are a couple of really good tracks, but otherwise, it's your basic "this is a competent musician" kind of stuff. He shows us some vulnerability, and there's a deep melancholy that permeates the whole album. It's not perfect, and I probably won't listen to it again, but I can recommend giving it a shot.

Nice.

The Beach Boys were struggling in the late '70s. 1977 was a specific landmark year for the group as tension grew enough to warrant a split primarily driven by Mike Love's frustrations with Brian Wilson. Brian's brother Dennis was at odds with Mike Love as a result, so he would end up turning his focus back to his small collection of solo songs to pull together his first and only (non-posthumous) album Pacific Ocean Blue. Pacific Ocean Blue is a wild ride of songs that showcase Dennis Wilson's progressive side as a songwriter. While his brother Brian was certainly forward-thinking in writing songs for the Beach Boys, Dennis brought an air of darkness to his songs that is appropriately sung through his weary, drug-damaged voice. So much of Pacific Ocean Blue is tied up in Dennis Wilson's melancholic lyricism, which is heads and shoulders above the likes of Mike Love. In fact, if you compare most Beach Boys solo albums beat-for-beat, you'll find that Dennis showed the most talent after Brian Wilson. Perhaps some of Brian's approaches to songwriting rubbed off on Dennis, but his work shows a certain tenderness and soul that only Dennis could produce. Well-made songs, and shows a lot of promise for a potential solo career that unfortunately never materialized.

Endnu et virkelig godt popalbum, dem har der været mange af på det sidste

This is a 1970s California Rock album made by a part of rock royalty. Dennis had his own sound and it makes the album familiar yet an original. Another artist gone too soon.

Pretty good stuff. A little long.

Creeped up on me but I was seriously into most of the songs before I realized it.

Behemoth of an album, it really found a way into my core. I'm listening to this album on Christmas Eve 2024 and it feels like a solem, hangover where everything comes subtlely into perspective. Dennis Wilson was an icon in the beach boys, often shadowed by Brian Wilson's songwriting chops and skills. However this album really gives Dennis an avenue to show his contributions to music. I loved it. Will continue to enjoy this one as I age.

++: River Song, Friday Night, Dreamer, Thoughts of You, You and I, Pacific Ocean Blues, End of the Show +: What's Wrong, Moonshine, Time, Farewell My Friend, Rainbows 7,9/10

wow. That was like being in the mind of a crazy genius, even though this is Dennis Wilson and not Brian. Moonshine reminded me a lot of Beck (!?) and I am guessing this record influenced countless others, bc I was constantly saying, that sounds just like.. 1. Beck, 2. Roger Waters, 3. Don Henley, 4. Randy Newman??? I don't think this is a matter of whether you like the music or not, whatever he was doing / expressing caught a looot of people's attention

This a weird one. Sometimes brilliant other times mundane , experimental to middle of the road, of its time and still outside. Every time I feel it's stuck in a ditch in manages to surprise. The title track, dreamers and River song are standouts maybe more for their arrangements than pure songwriting - perhaps that taps into his Beach Boys lineage. I don't love the whole album but definitely something people should hear which had not.

The opener River Song is something I will listen to again. Track two sounds like The Beach Boys. This is a good album. Track five has a great groove. Ok, I like this album.

So Dennis Wilson is a Beach Boy. But this album isn't full of the tired harmonies and the bright melodies. This album is occasionally dark and filled with the vocals of a man who has lived a hard life. Classic 70s music. I think this might become one of my favorites. 4.5/5

Like this! Bought the album.

Incredibly musically dense record from a talented though tragic figure.

Such a great album!

я мало слушала но атмосфера понравилась

This is a great album, maybe a bit long. I can only imagine how much better it would have been if he'd taken some of Charlie Manson's advice on board.

Really enjoyed this. So much going on! Loved the beach boys vibe but a whole new twist on it. Sounded like cocaine.

So many really good songs. Loved most of this. The instrumentation was very good. The Piano Variations On Thoughts Of You, and Holy Man are particularly very beautiful. It is a bit long, but that doesn’t bother me since I liked it so much. However, if it didn't include a couple songs that were so-so, I would have rated it a 5.

Met frisse tegenzin dit album gestart. Want ik werd er even op gewezen dat dit een Beach Boy was. En die hebben bij mij een gemiddelde van 1 ster behaald. Daar zit ik niet op te wachten. Het eerste nummer laat gelijk horen dat ik niet te bevooroordeeld moet zijn. We krijgen een uitgedachte compositie, waarin elke muzikant en zanger tot hun recht komen en elkaar versterken. De klank van het nummer blijft terugkomen gedurende het hele album. Dat zegt zeker niet dat het eentonig is. Er worden nogal wat verschillende muziekstijlen gebruikt. Niet alles is mijn smaak, dat moet ik toegeven. Maar het is alleen al fijn om een album te horen, waarvan elk nummer alle aandacht heeft gekregen. Dennis doet niet aan opvulling. Het aantal sterren is voor mij een duidelijke 4. Maar in de conclusie is dat bijzaak. Het gevoel waar ik mee blijf zitten is wat een zonde het is, dat hij zijn energie aan de Beach Boys heeft verspild.

Vooraf dacht ik, dit wordt weer zo'n overbodig album. Want waarom zouden we naar een solo album moeten luisteren van een Beach Boy, die verder nooit echt bekend is geworden. Maar de muziek is echt wel heel tof. De rocky nummers zijn een soort kruising van the Eagles met JJ Cale en dan soms ook nog met een partij toeters erin om het geheel wat lichter en vrolijker te maken (zoals Dreamer). Wiki omschrijft het "rock, pop", maar dat vind ik absoluut niet de lading dekken, dat is veel te algemeen. Ik ben niet zo goed in genres, maar ik denk eerder aan California bluesrock, swamprock. Een ingetogen nummer als "Thoughts of You" of "Time" zou zo op een Ozzy Osbourne of een andere metalzanger kunnen, die een ballad wil zingen (of coveren). Het is onheilspellend en soort van depressief. Maar vol emotie. De rocky nummers kun je zo in een 70s playlistje zetten en vind ik helemaal top. De ingetogen nummers zijn niet voor alledag, maar zijn ook buitengewoon interessant. Geen niemendalletjes. Ik vind dit een aangename verrassing. Veel beter en interessanter dan de Beach Boys zelf.

Heavy Beach Boy influences. Some nice tunes, some weird and exotic like Brian Wilson. Enjoyed it.

A bit of Beach Boys without most of the Boys. Definitely not the greatest vocalist of all time, but still, Dennis had some good ideas on how to record an album. He sounds at his best in a bit quicker, more confident songs, whereas the slower, emotional tracks are really ill-fitted for Dennis talents. Overall, pretty cool record, different experience than I thought it would be.

Long double CD, but it was good music to cook to.

Im now very mellow

This album is great. Incredible melodies and production. Really enjoy this more and more with each subsequent listen.

I liked the album surprisingly well. I thought the first few tracks would be boring. And then the album is also so long. But the longer it went on, the better I liked it. I'll gladly listen to it again. 4/5

Ahead of his time and cool voice

Honestly, pretty fantastic! I had only listened to River Song before, which I love, but I'm happy to say that the rest of the album holds up as well. This album oozes emotional authenticity, even if it's simple. It's bluesy, it's soulful. It's got grit, it's got shine. It just feels full. Dennis only got to release one album in his lifetime. I'm glad it was this one. Fav tracks: River Song, Moonshine, Thoughts of You, You and I

I like this not-really-Beach-Boys sound a lot more than the original band, I'll admit. I know this album came out later than most of the Beach Boys' albums, but it still feels like it has more of an edge and a more instrument-focused perspective, both of which improve the listening experience (a lot). "River song" helps the album come out of the gates charging, and I also particularly enjoyed "Friday night" (especially the Pink-Floyd-esque intro) and "Pacific Ocean blues". Thankfully, there are only a few tracks too ersatz Beach-Boys for my taste; mainly "What's wrong" and "You and I". (Only a fellow Beach Boy could have listened to this album and pronounced "Dennis, that's funky! That's funky!" But I suppose Brian was right, comparatively speaking....) I'll admit to not knowing much about any of the Beach Boys, but reading about Dennis Wilson's life and early death is incredibly tragic. What a bummer that his far more interesting-sounding voice and style on this album was the product of a lot of substance abuse, exposure to messed up stuff like the Manson family, and a lot of mental health issues.

I actually really liked this album! The production was well done, and I thought the roughness of his voice worked well with the songs (this is not a common thought for me).

I really enjoyed it overall. Some songs I would’ve given a five and some a three or even a two but I think it deserves a rating of four.

Interesting - I found it a little confusing at times, like he wasn't sure what direction to go to. The parts I got I liked tho.

medio depre pero es bueno

Es realmene muy bueno el disco del amiguito de Charles Manson

Loved it

I had really low expectations, thinking it would be like late beach boys. But how wrong I was! Really enjoyable, if slightly eclectic, album! Only managed disc one so far though.

Album 537 of 1001 Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue (1977) Rating : 3.75 / 5 A pretty good album. No one song just jumps out and grabs me but overall, it is a nice listen. More than once I thought I heard a Harry Nilsson influence. This is one to come back to.

It's been spinning round these parts for 30+ years mainly in warm weather. Not keen on the inclusion of Bambu

I wish I could say that my music knowledge was as vast as I imagine it is. But it is quite rudimentary when I break it down. This may seem like blasphemy to some. But I am almost entirely unfamiliar with The Beach Boys. I say almost because, of course, I’ve heard Wouldn’t It Be Nice before. Who hasn’t? But basically nothing beyond that. So the name Dennis Wilson did not stand out to me. I saw the label of country. And after hearing this, I couldn’t disagree with that label more. It let me to expect something akin to the 70s country rock I have heard in the past. And instead I was presented with one of the most intriguing pop rock albums I’ve heard in a long time. So intriguing, in fact, that I was really questioning what I was listening to. To put it simply, I was really impressed. And I figured there must have something going on behind the scenes. Once I saw he was one of the three founding brothers of The Beach Boys, it all made sense. After having worked in that group for over 15 years, he was bound to have acquired some skills and techniques of his own, in both production and songwriting. Especially considering how lauded they were for their ingenuity and boundary pushing ideas. Brian Wilson gets credited as a genius by many, but I think this solo record is proof that Dennis had a lot of talent himself. When the group first began, he wasn’t looked to for vocals often because of how his voice was compared to the others. And the contrast between his mostly baritone range and the music here is very much felt. But there are plenty of cool ideas here, that blur the line between late 70s and early 80s progressive pop, which keeps it interesting. Again, my admiration comes mostly from what I was expecting, and what I actually got. I think the perfect song to really capture what I mean is Time. How beautiful and soft the beginning is, contrasted with how blistering the horns are in the latter half is really brilliant songwriting. So if this is the caliber that I should be expecting from The Beach Boys, maybe I should be more excited for something like Pet Sounds. Rating: 7/10

This album is quite a jewel. Or like the prism cube trinket I bought recently. When light hits it just right, it explodes and sparkles in the most beautiful colours. When.

This record really grew on me. I gave it one listen, thought it was maybe 3 1/2 stars, but I wasn't sure, and I had the time and gave it another listen. It's got some great songwriting and there are interesting musical ideas here and there as well. Definitely a four star with potential.

This album had its high points and low points, but overall, I’d say the highs outweigh the lows. Dennis Wilson, one of the founding members of The Beach Boys and their drummer, created a mix of soft rock, art rock, and singer-songwriter styles with Pacific Ocean Blue. You can tell this album is meant to be a deeper, more personal reflection of his life experiences and struggles. Unlike The Beach Boys’ daytime fun vibe, this album has a darker, nighttime approach. It’s more soulful, with a dark orchestral atmosphere. While it’s a departure from The Beach Boys in some ways, it still carries a lot of their strong characteristics—though, at times, it also reflects some of their less favorable elements. One of the biggest downfalls is that it’s a two-hour-long double album, which feels way too long. The length definitely drains you and starts to wear on you by the end. Overall, it’s a very interesting album that was worth the listen, but I’m mixed on how much I truly enjoyed it.

honestly I wasn't expecting much but this is pretty cohesive and pleasant, with some pretty beautiful portions. plus who doesn't love a Manson family connection!

Really good! I liked Dennis Wilson's voice, I thought the album was somber and authentic, the songs had variety, and it was interesting to hear some pieces of the Beach Boys' style coming through here in a new way. Another win from this 1001 albums exercise, for me. 4.5.

I've never listened to a Beach Boys album and I only know one or two of their songs from advertisement jingles so no pre-conceptions here. I genuinely really enjoyed this album. It had a lot of different elements in it and I feel like it really pulled them off. Also side note, check out Dennis Wilson's wikipedia about his interactions with Charles Manson. Crazy! Dude had a wild life and a pretty tragic end.

As a Beach Boys fan it's crazy that up until now I hadn't listened to any of the members besides Brian. Dennis Wilson does a splendid job with the creation of the record. I would have expected that most of what would have be heard was mainly the Beach Boys sound but he brings his own original flare to it. You get hints of that sound throughout the album but it really is labor of love and passion from Dennis. The songwriting is fantastic and the various sounds he draws from other genres is really something. I can safely say that if you are a fan of The Beach Boys that you will like maybe even love this record. Best - Dreamer, Thought of You (MPF), Time, Pacific Ocean Blues, and Only With You Worst - no bad songs 3.75-4.00/5

Solid solo effort by one of the original B-Boys. Bummed that 'Holy Man' was not included in the original release. Highly recommend Taylor Hawkins' version.

Stone solid record by the group’s only actual Beach Boy. The ambience is spot on and the songwriting is great, as it should be on a Wilson-record.

Gritty, funky, bluesy. Very ethereal and downtempo at times, and other moments have me rocking. Love the diversity of instrumentation used and the vocals are soothing to the ears. Don’t know who the fuck Dennis Wilson is, but I’m glad I know now.

AHAHAHGAGAGAGHG

Really enjoyed the variances in genres for the different tracks. It felt very refreshing going to the next song. Have to hand it to him just for the scope. 4/5

In a surprising turn of events Dennis Wilson turned out to be as good as his brother Brian. This os am excellent album had never hear it before so really pleased. A little too many slow songs bit thats the mood of the album whomich makes it almost perfect. The last song of the end is sad a fuck and I loved it

This was way better than expected. I don't really get the fuss about The Beach Boys, and the Brian Wilson \ Smile album I reviewed previously was fairly shite. This wasn't anything like the Beach Boys, a lot more gritty and real.

Turns out you don’t have to have a mental breakdown and worry your entire family to make great music. This had some great tracks and used a ton of different instruments and even made me want to keep listening through the deluxe version.

This is a great record. Incredible instrumentation. Powerful vocals. Very pretty. I'm torn between a 4 and a 5. I think the lack of some obvious bangers (the bangers are there, they just aren't for everyone) keeps it from a 5. But that does hurt my heart to say.

I hadn’t thought about what a Dennis Wilson solo album might be. Intriguing... Any qualms I had about the album were quickly abated by “River Song”. I’m a sucker for a rock song backed by a choir. As I went through the album I mostly liked what was going on although I wasn’t in love with the sound of all the albums. Some of Dennis Wilson’s gruffer, more experimental songs (“Friday Night”, “Dreamer”) were interesting if a little less enjoyable. I listened to the last few songs on headphones, and the additional clarity made me hear the Beach Boys’ influence over this sound coming through pretty clearly. I was sort of wavering in 3/4-rating territory in parts of this album, but I really love “River Song”, “Time”, “You and I”, “Rainbows” enough to round up and songs like “Pacific Ocean Blues” seem to grow on me after repeated listens. This album is certainly an interesting listen when juxtaposed with Brian Wilson’s solo work. The shared origins are apparent but the differences are stark. Neither solo effort rises to the level of the greatest works of The Beach Boys, but they give some very interesting insight into the unique sensibilities the individual artists contributed to the endeavor.

A really fascinating album due to it's context, Dennis' issues, and the Beach Boys dark past in general. Bet Charlie loved this one.

"Pacific Ocean Blue" is the only studio album by American musician and co-founder of the Beach Boys Dennis Wilson. The album was recorded in the Beach Boys' own Brother Studios. Dennis played the majority of the instruments but also had help from a host of others including Carli Muñoz, Carl Wilson and Hal Blaine. The album was produced by Dennis and Gregg Jakobson. It didn't do well commercially hitting #96 in the US but was warmly received critically especially with legacy reviews. The album opens with the first single "River Song." Piano and drums. Vocal harmonies and a gospel-like choir giving this song a spiritual feeling. Dennis' voice is rougher as he needs to get out of LA. "Friday Night" has a dramatic open with piano and synths. An edgy guitar. "Let's rock and roll, it's good for my soul." "Thoughts of You" is a piano/synth-ballad. It's a very tender song as he misses someone. A moment of chaos with people talking and then ends with a dreamy synth fade. "Time" begins the second side with a piano and a mournful voice as Wilson needs to find love and go home. "You and I" changes the pace with a bossa nova beat and Beach Boy harmonies. A jazzy guitar. It's dreamy yet loungey. "Farewell My Friend" may be the highlight of the album. Low piano keys, synth noises. Wilson's voice sounds exhausted as he's saying goodbye to a friend. It's both dreamy and sad. This album covers a wide range of emotions from optimistic to dark to sad and mournful. Wilson's rugged voice works really well on the more mournful and sad songs. There are areas of the Beach Boys and those totally Wilson. Overall, a very good album and one I will listen to again.

Really liked it, but was sooo long and got a little repetitive but songs like river song I really enjoyed

Listened to the whole two hours twice, once it started playing it just went to the background. I will not do a third try. Only thing i can say for sure - it is not annoying and i didn't hate it. Great background music.

Beautiful in a way only the 70s could be

Lovely surf.

A bit slow in places, but also really good in others.

I didn't think I'd like it, but after learning more about him, it's alright, I guess.

This was much rockier than I was anticipating. I love how the vocals in the opening track start off very reminiscent of The Beach Boys, but then suddenly opens with more bombast with the introduction of a choir. The guitars seem much more in my face than The Beach Boys. It’s not necessarily better or worse for it, just noticeably different. The composition throughout this album is lovely and is a delight to listen to. Wikipedia seems to indicate that this album was generally underwhelming on release, but that seems unfair.

I actually really enjoyed this, more so than any of the Beach Boys music. Well composed and well delivered, I thought his voice fit very well with this style. I'd listen to this again. 4/5

Listened to the 2 hour version, the highlights for me were the instrumentals

听的好舒服的rock

A really fine rock album, very enjoyable indeed! I could listen to this a LOT!

That was great. Definitely one to add to my regulars

Finally took some time to listen to an album that I knew I should try. I love a bit of Jonathan Wilson - Fanfare in particular - and you can see where he gets some of his inspiration, this is beautiful mellow melodic magical stuff. Needs a few listens to soak in, and space to feel it wash over you

This is not what I expected: it starts off like a southern soul Beach Boys, and turns into a relatively interesting album by the end. The vibe change at the end of "Time" is really fun and changed my whole mind about this listen.

Had no expectations here and have never heard of this album. I was pleasantly surprised, I listened to the double album with Bambu, but found that Pacific Ocean Blue on its own was much better.

A really solid album highlighting the talents of Dennis Wilson. Personal favourite tracks include "You and I", "River Song", "Dreamer" and "Time".

Some good, mellow vibes. But maybe a few too many

This Beach Boy doesn’t get enough credit!

This is great. Gonna listen more I did not have time to list en to a 2 hour album.

beautiful

May 8, 2024 HL: "River Song", "Moonshine", "Time", "Rainbows", “Tug of Love” (bonus) warm summa breeze the 4 bonus tracks were nice too

Wilson knows how to jam. Even better on the second listen.

Far too long but I did enjoy it. Much more experimental and "edgy" than the Beach Boys stuff. Sad how his life ended. Thoughts of You was the standout, but I'll be revisiting.

I'm a sucker for anything Beach Boys or Beach Boys adjacent. Hadn't really listened to any of Dennis' music before this but thought some of the tracks really held their own. Sad he passed so soon. 4/5

Did not expect horns and such on here. Love it

I don’t especially like the Beach Boys, and was kinda surprised and satisfied when I heard the first song on this one and liked it significantly more than any Beach Boys I know. Whole album, more or less the same. Not an instant favourite, call it a pleasant surprise. Rounding up here on the strength of a couple songs in particular.

Charlie don't surf, but Dennis sure did. This album has the same kind of vibe as George Harrison's "All Things Must Pass" — just an explosion of music from the guy who played third and fourth fiddle to the other famous members in his band, in Dennis' case, his two brothers, and his cousin, Mike Love.

Several filler tracks interspersed with beautiful, introspective Harry Nilsson-sounding cuts.

I liked it. Very sincere and emotive.

Ganz mein Geschmack. Man hört ein wenig "Beach Boys" heraus, ist aber dann doch rockiger.

I fucking LOVE the '70s. There just seems no way around it. Had zero knowledge of or experience with this release previously. Not a big Beach Boys fan, and this really took me by surprise. Influences are ALL OVER THE PLACE, mixing rock, folk, soul, and pop. Even with all this it never sounds schizophrenic. Never feels like it jumps from style to style, more so it flows between and within them, existing comfortably in its own space. I (of course) love when this hits a good groove, but even the slower more introspective tracks (which is where an artist generally loses me) are captivating with their layered (almost psychedelic at times) instrumentation. This was a release that was difficult NOT to pay attention to throughout, and that's not something I can say about a lot of music. Disappointing to learn this would be his only solo album before his death.

I want to sound and look like this record.

I’m familiar with some of the Beach Boys’ catalog (I’ve reviewed Surf’s Up and Brian Wilson’s Smile), but I’ve never listened to this album before. Overall, I thought it was a really good album, and it was really unique. “River Song” was absolutely fantastic, and it immediately drew me in with its beautiful harmonies and excellent piano playing. Dennis’s raspy voice was a fantastic contrast to the bright sound and light harmonies. The theatrical nature of the song reminded me of Elton John, and I loved it. The rest of the album was really good, but it never quite hit that high point of “River Song” again. Musically, this album felt like it drew inspiration from a host of sources: The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, David Bowie, and the aforementioned Elton John. Dennis’s vocals reminded me a lot of Billy Gibbons’s singing for ZZ Top, and I loved how the beautiful melodies of the album really softened his gravely tone. “Friday Night” and “Dreamer” were some of my other favorite songs, and musically, they really reminded me of Pink Floyd’s The Wall at times. I loved the guitar playing on “Friday Night” and the saxophone on “Dreamer.” Overall, this was a great album, and I loved that it seemed to draw on so many different influences. It’s a shame that this was the only album that Dennis ever put out, because it seems like he had plenty of creative juice to make more music on his own.

Long, but pretty enjoyable! 7.5/10

It was pleasant but almost (almost!) forgettable at times. Rounding up to a 4 because the soundscapes were really nice for some tracks.

Never knew of Dennis Wilson, or his part in founding the beach boys. Think this is a strong album, some good build ups and intense tracks, as well as some more mellow tunes. His voice sounds good throughout and has more emotion in my opinion than the lead beach boys singer.

Percebe-se a melodia, harmonia marcantes dos Beach Boys, mas sem ser espetacular.

Dennis Wilson traspasa la barreras estilísticas de los Beach Boys en un disco con contenido ácido y malhumorado, muy personal y alejado de las disquisiciones filosóficas de cantautores contemporáneos. Me gusta "Dreamer", rock clásico de los 70 influido por el R&B emergente de la época y la música funky. También la corta pero intensa "Friday Night" con un sonido que tiende a la épica, y "Time" y su arrebatador sonido final entre piano y trompeta.

Classic '70s maximalism, with choirs, string sections and lotsa brass, and excessive production too. It comes off only intermittently -- opener gets to something like liftoff but the warmed-over '50s vibes of "What's Wrong" feels well past the expiry date and mighta been on original release date, too. And does DW sound just a touch like Randy Newman? "Moonshine" offers a stoned sort of grandeur, but it seems to have taken on orchestra to deliver it, and it feels a bit muddy besides. The Little Feat-esque "Dreamer" is kinda groovy, but only kinda, and then has an interval that sounds like a self-help hymn. "Thoughts of You" is sweet, but the vocals fall short of what effective ballads, which may be why they layered still more strings and high-tech (even Space Age, seemingly) production effects. (Anybody else here the Eels on this cut?) "You & I" is legit lovely, vintage '70s soft rock, and sounds maybe more like one would expect the rather too swampy title cut to sound. "Farewell" is scruffy and "Rainbows" and "End of the Show" make for a nice finish, and just barely over the line to a 4 (because God loves a drunk, one supposes) but did it really need seven years to complete?

I like this album a lot. Dennis voice had roughen a bit so it has a mature beach boys vibe to some tracks, other tracks just go in new directions. This was the first time I listen to the 30th anniversary which is what only version on my streaming platform, the additional album worth of tracks are not nearly as good, so I"m not reviewing based on those tracks.

There was much to like about this and I wasn’t expecting that. I started off with a dismissive attitude toward the record, but found myself actually paying attention and enjoying it quite a bit. A bit cheesy, but the music is rich and nicely produced. And it’s always a question of how much of this could have been left on the cutting room floor to be boiled down to one record. Yeah, probably in this case. For example, School Girl feels a bit creepy and there were others that didn’t warrant filling out a double album. Overall, a pretty strong record.

I was surprised by how much I liked this album. Well, at least the first half of what I started listening to. I didn't realize I had the 2008 Deluxe edition, which is WAY WAY too long, BUT, the original 12 songs on 1977 edition are pretty good. You can hear The Beach Boys on this, of course, but there's other influences and directions it takes. It's good, I'll listen to this one again.

I can't believe I've never heard of this album, it's great! Reminds me of solo McCartney. Very ecclectic and changes from song to song.

Found this album late in life after reading about Dennis Wilson. Proud to own it, think it’s better than anything the beach boys did. And yes that’s controversial

There are some really great moments in this.

Вроде ничего особенного, но приятное звучание

Very peaceful and interesting; surprisingly, not at all similar to the beach boys

Interesting album that is only half as interesting as Dennis Wilson's Wikipedia page. I did enjoy the listen, particularly the songs You and I, End of the Show, and Tug of Love. I think this album kept growing on me as I listened. I still haven't really listened to a lot of the Beach Boys, but I am looking forward to it.

Such a great album. Melodic, dark, edgy, and entirely not what one would expect from a Beach Boys bro. Love it.

A delightful collection of solo music from a key Beach Boys member.

I had never listened to the 2LP Deluxe Legacy Edition of this album. This one is great. River Song and Pacific Ocean Blues are incredible. Such a good album. Sad to know what happened with Dennis Wilson but I'm happy he could get this record out. This is an easy listening pop album with catchy melodies and some more introspective songs.

Fantastic. I like how thoughtful and soulful the sounds and lyrics are. The music is reflective and strays away from the lighthearted nature of The Beach Boys. The music is really "big." A lot of instruments, synths, horns, big drums. Some songs almost feel psychedelic. If I had one knock, it would be that I want more of it. The songs are kind of short, some extended jams would really let the listener immerse into the songs and sit with it longer.

Nice easy listening yacht rock with a bit of a darker side.

Sounds far more modern than his contemporaries, including his brothers in the Beach Boys were doing. Brilliant album

Very good!

Obviously strong Beach Boy vibes, a very strong album (first 12 songs if you can only find the 30th anniversary 2CD edition) that gently breezes along without too much effort for the listener, it goes from soulful pop to dirty funk with amazing ease.

This is a nice little album right here. I'm kind of surprised that I haven't gotten more solo albums from former members of huge bands. The only one I can think of off the top of my head until now was Imagine by John Lennon, so getting an album from a former Beach Boy was a pleasant surprise for today. And you know what? I really liked Pet Sounds when I listened to it, and I liked Pacific Ocean Blue as well. The album definitely has some common elements in its sound with what I know of the Beach Boys, but it also stands out pretty well. The sound has quite a bit of variety throughout the album. Each song sounds different and has a different theme to it. The singing is great. Did you really expect it not to be? There isn't much more to say. This is just a very solid album. Light 4/5.

4+ First time hearing this album and really like DW’s singing style and the different music notes on this Album.

Traurig und wunderschön

Surprisingly good. Very Nilssonesc.

River Song is perfect and the rest of the album never quite hits that same high

A fresh, very pretty sound with some funky instruments. In my eyes, none of the tracks are standout classics, but you can see the heart in Wilson's compositions, as well as the inspiration from the Beach Boys.

The 1970s Beach Boys, but with a hangover. I liked the vibe a lot though.

Had a good time with this one mostly, I really like his voice and it's completely unrelated to the fact that he was a total hottie

first listen this is a really great album

Pretty cool. Had some great moments, and some that dragged. Somehow felt longer than 40 mins

I think I enjoyed this more than a Beach Boys album. Really good sound, some nice songs and a very pleasant listen.

I love The Beach Boys but how do they evolve and can they stay relevant in the late 70s? Didn’t Surfs Up kind of wrap this all up? Yeh, this is still a good listen, enough talent and interesting experimental stuff to deserve a spot on this list.

4.75

Rock, pop, muy agradable. No tiene nada que ver con el estilo conocido de The Beach Boys.

Cool! Pretty good ballads on this one. I Mike the closer particularly. Fun to listen to!

You know what? Liked this better than Brian Wilson’s Smile

Vraiment bien fait, super bon a écouté. mais 1h35 c'est long donc sa dilue le style. Je metterais nimporte quand pour une journée tranquillo . 4

Rock, pop, muy agradable. No tiene nada que ver con el estilo conocido de The Beach Boys.

i wasn't expecting much from a solo album from a beach boys member that was not brian wilson. i assure you, i didn't. i'm thrilled my misgivings were absolutely wrong. and i sure am glad dennis got a chance to create his own music and shine by himself on pacific ocean blues. while this is a solo album, the album's title track and album title are reminiscent of the beach boys! this album was varied! i don't think it's fair to consider this album only part of rock and pop history, because oh my gosh so much of this album was full of delightful funk. the song "time" began using some sort of jazz/funk combination halfway through that was absolutely astonishing. the uses of orchestral music were so well placed; the tuba on "dreamer" and the piano on "moonshine" were creative, inspired choices. his voice is utilized well, in particular on the softer songs where his voice comes across so tender. as the main singer of this album (with carl joining at times), wilson was able to showcase his voice so well. "you and i" might be the best example of that. or sometimes his voice is grittier, rougher on a harder rock song like "friday night." i appreciate the range he had on this album, which depended on the song's genre. the beach boys' early music can be described as bubble pop, like almost mindless pop without much substance. i think those vibes are on this album in some ways. i wouldn't describe these lyrics as beautifully written, or wilson and gregg jakobson as brilliant songwriters, but there's an art to creating lyrics that are easy to digest. the duo hit the nail on the head. "rainbows" is a good example--because it's rather simple but remains enjoyable. that being said, pacific ocean blue, like many beach boys' albums, is incredibly easy to listen to.

It's pretty hard to evaluate this. It's a strong album with a recognizable quality while still sounding like a Beach Boys B-Side, which is definitely something good, but it also takes off one star from my evaluation for the lack of personality (I'm afraid to be very unfair in this last sentence).

A more soulful, slightly rougher Beach Boys. This is better than anything The Beach Boys did from '72 onward. Though I adore Brian, it kinda makes you wish Dennis could've taken the reins around that point in their career and moved the group in a more compelling direction than where they ended up going.

Never heard of him, but quite a good album. Worth a 2nd listen

I've always meant to try this one. It's really nice. The height of sophisticated cocaine rock. Part beach boys, part Nillson, part something of its own. Will buy this I think.

Herbeluisteren toch 3?

Sad he only got to finish this one album. Would love to have heard what would come later. Nice listen.

Genuinely good. Had that warm and full production that I always appreciate and just enough variety to stay pretty fresh but consistent. 8/10

This album started very generic, and I was ready to just put it in the background as just another 70s rock album, but the more you listen the more it gets interesting. I ended up enjoying the entire thing. Some songs are really good, others are just OK but it's worth a listen.

Really enjoyed this, wasn’t aware of Denis solo work, the extended CD was too long but will add the original album to my permanent rotation

Rock, pop, muy agradable. No tiene nada que ver con el estilo conocido de The Beach Boys.

Wow, very pleasantly surprised by this album. Kind of thought it would be something silly coming from a former Beach Boy but I hear his influence in so many future artists here. Very enjoyable

Supposedly the least musically gifted Wilson brother, Dennis nevertheless recorded an excellent collection of ballads and interesting pop songs. Every track is drenched in sound, which combined with his tormented sounding vocal, lends the record an emotionally vulnerable and sad air. In places it is extremely raw and touching. It's tragic that 'Farewell My Friend' was played at Dennis' funeral before he had the chance to record a follow up. Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: River Song Date listened: 06/06/23

Now this is the kind of thing I was expecting to get from this list. Relatively obscure album that I never would have heard of otherwise (as have most of the population judging by the fact his 5th most listened song has less than 750,000 listens). Started off slow but really peaks in the middle. Can hear the Beach Boys elements but some of it so dark and heavy. Reading up on him afterwards...Jesus. Crazy life. Interesting and enjoyable album anyway. 3.5*

Kind of a sorrowful and nostalgic album, reminded me a bit of If I Could Only Remember My Name

This is definitely not a Beach Boys album! Thankfully! It is FAN-FUCKING-TASTIC! My third Listen. This is one that definitely has gotten better each time. I went from a 3/5 to 3.5/5 and now I think I am easily ready to give this a 4/5. I would have never heard this if it wasn't for this crazy list. It has become a favorite of mine. I'll keep it in my playlist in the future. Standouts: Thoughts of You, Farewell My Friend, Time, You and I, River Song, Friday Night, End of the Show I LOVE the songs: Thoughts of You, Farewell My Friend, Time and You and I. There are also several others that I think are better than average as well. 4/5

Very cool record! Dennis has some rocking tunes on here as well as nice slower ones. Will be revisiting.

Really good soft rock album. No tracks stand out as being below average. Highlights for me were definitely "Dreamer", "River Song", "Pacific Ocean Blues", "Time" and "Moonshine". The instrumentation on a bunch of these song were really great and that is what really made this album for me. I think though that is was really good but nothing stands out to make it great. 8.5/10

Knew next to nothing about the middle Wilson other than that he had a tough time and he drowned before he hit 40. I dig the edgier, horn-heavy sound, mixing in the softness of Brian with stuff that reminded me of Elton John and Ry Cooder at times even. I don't know that any of these songs particularly stand out but its listenable and enjoyable and different from my expectations for a Beach Boy. Appreciated the exposure, though I'm finding this list overall is pretty subjective to a particular guy's kind of taste haha. Would love to see more diversity to justify these being albums we need to hear before we kick the bucket. This is really a 3.5 for me in terms of impact, but I'll go 4.

This is a very good, but not great album. It is miraculous that Dennis Wilson was able to get this completed at all, given his drug abuse and ravaged voice. But, similar to Marianne Faithful, he uses it to his advantage, a grizzled croon that sounds beyond his years. This is honest music and remarkable under the circumstances. Thoughts of You and Friday Night were standouts for me. It is a shame this is the only solo album Dennis released.

This sounds like what would result if you googled “70s beach boys album”. Those albums had fewer harmonies anyway. Really beautiful and interesting record. I think if o had more time with it it could get to a 5, but it doesn’t have the same magic of The Beach Boys at their peak in my limited listening today.

Why are all The Beach Boys so good?

I was aware of this record before, but I had not taken the necessary amount of time to delve into it. That stretch of songs between "Friday Night" to "Pacific Ocean Blues' is just perfect.  It's arresting in the way Gene Clark's *No Other* is. So many evocative moods, sweeping through a vast array of styles. And the bonus CD displaying the unfortunately aborted sessions for "Banbu" has gems too. 4 stars. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: less than 700, I've temporarily lost count here Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens:  approximately a half so far (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: a quarter Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important): the last quarter

The expanded double version of this album is even better than just the original. This album is a must-listen because it shows what a talented and varied artist Dennis Wilson was. It gets a bit dreary towards the end but overall this is the diary of an artist who probably was never going to be able to pump out an album every other year. It's clear he put a lot into this record.

What if Harry Nilsson was a Beach Boy?

Excellent work.

Fort heureusement et contrairement à ce qui a pu être annoncé, cet album n'a aucune accointance avec cet horrible genre musical qu'est la country.

This was a nice surprise. I listened twice b/c it's short and will have to revisit the deluxe+Bambu version later. Appreciated the Steely Dan-ish dad rock vibe after having hit a bunch of their albums on this list already. I'm not one who pays attention to lyrics and I think that helps this album out.

very good, could be a 5 with more listens.

its groovin

Loved it, will give another listen and probably add to rotation. Crazy sound for the year it came out, good psych whatever

Decent album, with some really nice elements. I did enjoy this one.

Honestly, this fucks.

It's a long one, but has a lot of heart. Raw and meandering, it's a bit of a journey, but one I'm glad I've taken.

This album reminds me of an old sweater that’s falling apart. Barely held together by a couple loose strings. None of the musicians sound like they’re really into it which is a shame considering the lyrics, chord progressions, and structuring all sound like they’d be great if they were played tighter. Poor execution, but great theory. Makes me sad to think that they were so close to such an incredible album. 4/5

Starting this album, I really didn't get it, as it just seemed like Pacific Rock from the era, and not much more, but the second half of the album, starting with Thoughts of You, really changed the album into something that felt a lot more impactful. His voice seemed like it genuinely meant what it was singing, and the musicality really showed through from that forward. It felt like the first part was like "Yeah, I was the Beach Boys, but these are my true musical abilities. It's a shame that he died so young and couldn't have a flourishing career, I truly think it would've only gotten better.

A hidden gem in Beach Boys canon

A really interesting and varied album. Definitely glad I got to hear this & I think I'll play it again.

This starts off sounding fairly Beach Boys-like, but then it gradually morphs into something more interesting. Some of it reminds me of Wilco, some of Randy Newman, but overall it's really nice. 4 stars.

Some decent singer songwriting here, a nice vibe.

Great to listen to but as a huge Brian Wilson fan comes off as derivative

Listened to the deluxe edition which was very good

This is quite a departure from the Beach Boys sound. Dennis Wilson was a great songwriter; after Brian Wilson, his songs have the best reputation amongst fans. But by 1977 his voice was reduced to a rasp, which is a real shame as he previously had a decent singing voice. Compare the vocals on this album to tracks like Little Bird or Be Still from a decade earlier, the difference is astonishing. But taken on its own terms, this is a good album with a mature sound, and it's certainly got a lot of soul and emotion.

Rather a nice surprise. Hadn't realised that Dennis Wilson had done a solo album, and it wasn't bad at all

I approve this album

Amazing album.

Epic ocean blues

Sometimes leaning towards overproduced, while at others having some very inspired production choices. Overall? Cool album

Banger

Good album. Hidden gem.

Solid

4/5

I didn't know what to expect. This album is full of all kinds of different genres I feel. There's some songs I really liked and some I didn't vibe with at all. All in all, solid 4.

Dennis was the most soulful and moodiest of the Beach Boys. His compositions and voice are hard and feely, sensitive things. The songs on this album are dramatic and expressive and bound to stir your emotions up at least once. To my ears, 'Farewell My Friend' is the most moving.

Yes, that Wilson family and it more or less shows that those Beach Boys documentaries where Brian Wilson is the only true musician is inaccurate.

Really enjoyed it! Awesome horns, typical 70s beach.

This was a surprisingly cool album, saved one song from it.

This is no formulaic Kokomo designed for adult contemporary radio. An interesting, melancholic country blues album that is much better than I expected.

Jg gillade detta! hade ingen aning om att det var strandpojkarna-killen.

Wilsonnn

Did not know about this album, quite liked it and will be giving it a second listen. A little darker, Beach Boys comes through a little bit at parts but a good listen.

like this a lot all sorted of different genres and sounds coming out here.

Sometimes the day makes the album- and I had a Long Beach run and this was the perfect accompaniment

Good music for chillin

I never heard anything from him or from The Beach Boys before, but I really enjoyed this album! Was expecting something totally different judging from the cover. Favorite tracks: * River Song * Friday Night * Time

Although Mexico is not on the original album, I'd add a star for it. What brilliant and warm music!

Very good, very chill album. It's very easygoing but that doesn't mean it's poorly made or anything like that. There is certain art to making an album this seamless.

This is a hidden gem of an album. Sure, there are some corny parts, but I just kept getting caught in the hooks. This whole album just sounds like someone who is genuinely having a great time making music, and that makes me happy.

This was a great surprise…. The beach boys drummer pulls out the best beach boys solo effort I’ve heard!

Love the lush arrangements on some of these songs

Easy and really chill

I enjoyed this album a lot. I'd revisit most of these tracks again.

Este disco me sorprendió, me gustó más de lo que esperaba, para ser un artista y un género con el que normalmente no estoy en contacto ni escucho muy seguido. Escuché la "versión ultra-extendida", lo cual fue un poco tedioso, pero encontré un par de canciones agradables que no venían en el disco original, como "It's not too late". Mi calificación sería 3.5, pero redondearé hacia arriba.

Yea, pretty good

Lovely stuff, would listen again.

Look what happens when unencumbered. A strong set of songs.

Great jams. Long-ass album.

This definitely doesn't sound like a Beach Boys record. I liked this a lot. Highlights were Pacific Ocean Blues and What's Wrong

It's very long but good songs.

really great album from the former beach boy, very enjoyable and would listen again

It's not going into my rotation or anything, but I quite liked this. Reminded me of Eels in places.

There’s a lot of interesting ideas goin on within this album, especially within the instrument choices. Some you don’t hear in many albums of the era, makes the listening experience so much better since you keep anticipating what could be next. I strongly recommend listening to this album. Favorite Tracks: River Song, Dreamer, Rainbows.

Some pretty cool melancholy jams, some beach-boy-esque vibes at times. Would listen again

heck yes!

An extremely poignant record, as Dennis Wilson, the blueprints used by the Beach Boys to bring their California sound to the 60s. The strain and melancholy in his voice combined with its richness is really something to behold. The highs of this record are undeniable, and seem like a mix of Beach Boys harmonies, with a little of Big Star's Third and a lot of heart. I can forgive the overly blues-y parts. Fav Tracks: Thoughts of You, End of The Show, Pacific Ocean Blues, River Song and Moonshine

This album is something really special. Dennis Wilson's incredible voice and rough-hewn surfer soul conveys so much pathos. I don't know who would have realized the depths of feeling he would be able to convey with this record. There are a few songs where he veers a little too close to easy listening, but never over the brink. And the incredible highs more than make up for these moments. I feel like this record highlights how he was only starting to come into his own as an artist before his tragic death. Favourite tracks: River Song, Thoughts of You, Pacific Ocean Blues, End of the Show, Farewell My Friend

I love this album but two deluxe albums combined together is waaaaaay too long for me to actually appreciate it properly. I've listened three times and I'm like what. But. It's rock n roll, it's jazzy, it's moving, it's pretty excellent.

Mooi album van de drummer van de Beach Boys. Doorstaat de tand des tijds goed.

Tämä oli omaan korvaan sopivaa rokkia. Vähän teatraalistakin jopa taustalauluineen. Merellisyyttä löytyi.

This guy is hard to get a read on. Sounds like Pink Floyd, Chicago, and what I imagine Randy Newman thinks he sounds like.

Definitely better than the last two albums

Sorprendentemente maravilloso. Una delicia para escuchar mientras te tomas una buena copa

Easy to enjoy. River Song and Pacific Ocean Blues stand out for me, though there is little to not like. Cool soft rock vibe with a light Beach Boys influence.

Sensitive beard dudes shall endure.

Surprisingly diverse collection of songs for what was expected from a former beach boy. Very good production throughout. Has a concept-album type feel to the music. Highlights: -River Song -You and I -Rainbows -Only with You -Holy Man -Common -

who is this guy?!?!

Interesting, soft or energic songs

Pretty great

Off to a great start, has me interested. Super chill listen, like it a lot. Will look up more by this dude.

oh wow yeah, very nice. no prior experience with dennis wilson or the beach boys etc but this is great

Peculiarly refreshing. 7-7.5/18 FT: Thoughts of you

Very interesting hitting this album today. Over the years, have encountered many vinyl collections but have never had one myself. My dad had one. My brother now has one so large he has had to build walls of special shelving and his wife has forced him to move it out of the living room and into… it’s own room. Some men have a man cave. My brother has an album cavern. My nephews both have begun their own collections. Some choice selections pilfered from their father (he’ll never miss them… or) and prized additions added as gifts and from their own allowances. People who are into vinyl have a special reverence for the object itself AND a collector’s sensibility. When my brother meets someone else’s collection he can’t help but start to look through it, both to gauge its owner’s taste and to see if they have something “special.” I am struck that over the years I have seen this album wherever there was an album collection to be seen. Its ubiquity is impressive. It’s almost like all collectors of vinyl, of a certain era (my nephews probably could care less about Dennis Wilson) agreed that one was not a REAL collector unless they possessed Pacific Ocean Blue. I am also struck by the fact that I did not, until today (!) know it was named Pacific Ocean Blue. I mean look at it. It’s just that close up photo and Wilson. Everything else is dwarfed. Needless to say, I have never listened to it, though I am plenty familiar with Time and a few other selections from it. I did NOT try to listen to Bambu as well. One album was enough. And that’s the thing. The album is, imo, very uneven. What it is, is a historical document. It’s a collector’s item. But those vinyl collectors who possess this treasure rarely put it on. It’s a document of Dennis the freaky beach boy, the “real” surfer, the one time friend of Charles Manson. His experimentation and pounding delivery can be quite affective. But it also veers into maudlin orchestrations that detract massively from its good. So… 3 Boolean: true - glad to actually listen to it, and know that it’s called Pacific Ocean Blue

You really thought we wouldn’t notice school girl if you hid it in the middle of a 2 hour long album?

This is FAR too long, but there's a good album buried somewhere in here, and it's easily the most 'beachy' of any of the Beach Boys' output. Missed out on a 4 because of the length.

This was interesting. Dennis Wilson was one of the Beach Boys and apparently he was the most talented one (IMHO). This does not sound like Beach Boys at all. Mostly melancholic. There are some great songs here, although mostly I would just say good and worth spending some time with. My favorite is Holy Man.

Yeah pretty nice. Didn't evoke many strong feelings but I enjoyed it

Can hear some of the Beach Boys DNA in here, but with the gravelly sound of age and hard living. A great many 4 and 5 star reviews by the critics, but I just don't hear it. Maybe it is more a piece of that era and the connection to the Beach Boys that are at play.

Interesting album, and certainly a very interesting person. I liked a couple of the songs, but over all it was all just kind of “ok”.

Meh it’s alright

Wasn't feeling it at first and then it really grew on me and some songs were really good. Very interesting vibe, kind of psychedelic but also has a solid classic American rock sound

The beach boys were never really my jam, but I really enjoyed this album. Artistically interesting, loved the vocals, and strong range. It’s always interesting seeing what off ramps people take in solo projects from larger bands, and this was much more reflective than I was anticipating.

Can we all agree that the Beach Boys were massively overrated? Pacific Ocean Blue is better than most Beach Boys albums and, thankfully, doesn't Share their irritating tweeness, but it still didn't really do much or go anywhere. Fine but no more than that.

Pretty solid album. No doubt that Dennis Wilson can write some really beautiful stuff. It just didn’t seem super cohesive to me.

Not something I would have expected to come from a former member of The Beach Boys, it’s nowhere near a surf rock album. Otherwise, it was decent, the moodier sound kept me listening. Not really a whole lot that stood out besides the title track.

Really good sounding album. Just way too long. I definitely like Dennis Wilson's solo work more than Brian Wilson's. Not something I thought I would say prior to this list.

Another solid 3. There’s some good highs here, not many lows, but overall, I feel just… whelmed. A lot of these tracks feel like they’re missing one extra thing in them that would really fill out each song and make them feel more complete. It’s not a disappointing album per se, it’s just dripping with some unmet potential, I think. It’s not a bad album, but it’s not one where I’d go back to too many tracks. I think it’s certainly worth a listen, there’s good stuff in here, namely the stretch of tracks 5 through 9, and I’m sure there’s some of the other tracks that would hit better to my ears if I listen even more, but... I think I’m just gonna stick to a 3.

This is a fine record with multiple solid songs and nothing cringy or terribly dated. One of those revisionists rediscoveries like Skip Spence and David Crosby’s solo albums that people have heavily praised due to the person as much as the actual record. Dennis Wilson benefits from his reputation as the best looking, only surfer of The Beach Boys, since it was assumed he offered little musically to the group. The kid brother who turns out to be pretty good in the driveway basketball games. Wilson avoided most of the dreadful qualities of yacht rock while showing flashes of brother Brian’s instrumental arrangements on “River Song” and the opening sounds of “Rainbows.” Wilson adds a touch of Paul McCartney earliest solo records. The title track has some of the low-fi funk heard on Macca’s debut album. The artist he most reminded me of is Jeff Tweedy. On the slower songs, his singing nearly matches Tweedy’s limited, but effective, voice. The arrangements also had the stripped down Americana vibe of Wilco, especially on “Farewell My Friend” and “Time.” It’s a sound record, but there must be three dozen guys who sold 298 copies of their record who were just as worthy of rediscovery.

If you read the short biography of Dennis Wilson, drummer and one of the founding brothers of The Beach Boys, who eventually abandoned him for a drum machine, a jokester who drank and snorted absolutely everything, and a friend of Charles Manson, it's hard to believe he recorded such an album. It's a calm, melancholy record that seems to drift along (Dennis, surprisingly, was the only one in the band who actually surfed). There are some Pink Floyd-esque experiments, Phil Collins-like drums, and vocal harmonies, all of which culminate in emotionally relieving music from a tired man. An extended version of 33 tracks is available for streaming, most of which are demos from the unreleased second album. Listening to them isn't essential, but it's worth checking out the last song, featuring vocals by Taylor Hawkins, a man with a very similar fate.

i don't know what i was expecting from this album but it definitely wasn't this. from the very first track i was pretty pleasantly surprised; river song sounds like when the gospel choir starts singing in church, and you're not even religious but the good vibes still punch you in the face. in general i really enjoyed the gospel influence in a lot of these songs. i can't say i'll come back much to re-listen to this record because most of the songs weren't a huge hit for me, but for a first-time listen it was pretty great. favorite tracks: river song, love remember me, common

This was pretty good, although it definitely gets pretty bland at times. I liked some of the synth sounds that embellish some of these tracks, and there are definitely a few highlights here. Favorites: River Song, You and I, Farewell My Friend

River Song is so good that I was shocked I somehow had missed out on this record my entire life, but then it kinda sinks into agreeable 70s soft rock for a bit. Nice sounding, but a little bland. Picks back up near the end, with "You and I" and "Rainbows" as highlights. Don't quite think it is a hidden masterpiece, but still tragic that he wasn't able to do much more as a solo artist.

I saw the cover and the genres and winced. But, this was actually pretty good. Then I realised where I knew him from. Hah.

really nice harmonies. But it is way too frickin long. Did not need to be two discs long. Its a real mixed bag here, some of these tracks are real toe-tappers and some are just long and drawn out experiments. I appreciate just saying fuck it and throwing it on the album. I get strong Peter Gabriel vibes from this at different points.

dennis, conhecido como o beach boy que era brother do charles manson eh decente, até. nada demais, bem normalzim, não fede nem cheira

Does show that Brian Wilson wasn’t the only person with some talent. The opening track is pretty good. There are a couple other good songs. But this isn’t exactly George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass. Way too long with too many filler songs

Despite how famous Dennis Wilson is this is a new one for me. An album which wouldn’t have interested me when released but was prepared now to perhaps find a hidden gem. Bit disappointed that I didn’t. An inoffensive album with one or two nice melodic songs but not much else to shout about. 3/5 30/5/26

Some quite 70s sounds and production at times but I enjoyed this much more than I was expecting to. A lot better than the Beach Boys, some great sounds and feelings on some tracks, big sounds which are moderately thrilling, although later tracks were less interesting to me, and overall the album was too Jesus-y.

Not bad

Love River Song! … wow Manson Family spiral. Devastating. “when I met [Charlie] I found he had great musical ideas. We're writing together now. He's dumb, in some ways, but I accept his approach and have [learned] from him“ Update: the day after getting this album, I rewatched project Hail Mary, which features Rainbows. Timing!

This album is filled with powerful moments, probably a fair chunk of it comes from Dennis' voice; who knew that the guy behind the drum kit was hiding something away great for so long. The songs here are like songs to end all songs, kind of like Echo & The Bunnymen and 80s and 90s U2, except this was before all that. There's a nice mix of styles, from power ballads to bluesy-rock to art pop reminiscent of the Beach Boys. This was a lot better than I was expecting; I'm a bit apprehensive of solo albums by musicians apart (or formerly) of famous bands. It's a high 3 from me. Highlight Song/s: "Dreamer"

From listening to Dennis Wilson, I can kind of understand the weirder Beach Boys releases like Surf's Up (if he had any input). Dennis isn't afraid to experiment with harder, meaner, or more aggressive sounds and textures, compared to the Beach Boys' rich pop. No, Pacific Ocean Blue, at times, reminds me of The Walker Brothers' Nite Flights. It's a record that begs for relistens, not due to the memorability of Wilson's songwriting , but the depth and richness of it; each new listen reveals something new. This is not my style, but I'm warming up to it.

Good - nothing crazy. Long

Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 2/5

Some of the songs seem ahead of their time, toying with modulation, pressing the boundaries of rock. Sad, crooning, different than the Beach Boys signature sound.

Favorite Track: Pacific Ocean Blues

Liked it, but didn’t make an imprint on me.

Never heard of this man before today, at least I don't think I have. Good background music, gives me folk/praise/hippie vibes. Again, not my normal genre, but still good. It's just a bit hard to understand the lyrics further into the album. Almost makes you think he was high when he recorded some of the songs (but then again, it was probably the norm for his time period).

Solid album but with the double cd it was way too long.

rarely bad but not often good.

Pleasant enough stuff

I’m fairly sure I’ve never heard this before. I don’t really know its history but it sounds like it would fit right alongside the other classic rock artists. It sounds a little southern fried, like Little Feat. Not my favourite thing but I appreciate the talent. This will land right in the middle for me. 2.5 rounds up to 3.

How do I rate this? This man has seen some things. The conventional songs like What's Wrong are blah. But some of the other music (Time in particular) is kind of frightening, even though I'm not sure what's frightening me. An Elton John piano. Eaglesish melodies. Stiff production. Dennis' vocal timbre sounds almost Peter Gabriel-ish at times (surely a coincidence, but buoyed by the background swell in Moonshine and the opening of Thoughts of You). The bonus Bambu tracks are a mess but a lot spookier, and I liked them more than the actual album. I wish he'd lived long enough to develop all of these great ideas.

A damned good album, and unfairly forgotten

3/5

War mir völlig unbekannt, schöne Entdeckung

An eclectic mix of rock music.

This was good but not very interesting. 3.0/5.0: Good

well written and well performed if pretty boring at times

Nice collection of rejected beach boys songs

I thought it was just fine, but I might need to give this another listen.

I liked this more than I thought I would! my man needs a better album cover. hilariously was listening to Farewell My Friend and thinking “wow this would be great for a project hail mary amv” SURPRISE THE NEXT SONG ON THE ALBUM WAS IN THE MOVIE LMAO also this was hella long so I admittedly only got through disc 1, but will probably come back for disc 2 at some point

Thought it was gonna be like the Beach Boys. It wasn't like the Beach Boys. Kinda liked this!

might be a 4 with more listens

Some interesting parts rear their head occasionally like when it sounds like a New Orleans funeral band enters during Time accompanied by a ripping guitar solo. Otherwise, not really for me.

Some songs sound like they have an Elton John influence. Mostly it sounds like a late 70s record, early synths and Rhodes, horns, strings, funky drums, maybe some Nilsson flavor. There are a lot of ambitious ideas here, but they have only a fleeting grip - it's clearly heartfelt and has some soul, but it's hard to pick something that stands out. "You and I" has a hint of the Beach Boys harmonizing accompanied by typical 70s soft rock Rhodes piano and bongos.

"She said you're just like Mike Love but you wanna be Brian Wilson, Brian Wilson Said you're just like Mike Love but you'll never be Brian Wilson"

Pretty good.

It was alright. Good background music while pricing transfers.

I actually quite liked this, but it just went on a bit too long

A bit too middle of the road for me, but it's well constructed and has some cool ideas throughout.

Catchy pop rock that really only picks up steam toward the end.

Melodramatic as hell, but damn it this is cool! Probably best listened to while standing over the Grand Canyon or something. Not every song works, but the ones that do, sure hit. Fave tracks: - River Song - What's Wrong - Moonshine - Dreamer - Time - Pacific Ocean Blues - Rainbows

Good but too long

My Mum has always loved the Beach Boys, but I could never tell you much about them. I can name a handful of songs, give a general timeline, maybe link the Wilson surname with the band, and name one or two albums, but no more than that. I couldn't have said with confidence that Dennis Wilson was one of their members. I have one song from this album (Friday Night) in my huge playlist, so I encountered it quite frequently, but I never knew it was from the solo work of a Beach Boy. I always appreciated Friday Night in my playlist as a good balancer in a playlist of mostly very energetic songs as something more chill, and this album is like that to the last song. Nothing here will rock your world, but everything here is very tightly constructed, very relaxing music that straddles the line between letting that Beach Boys history shine through and carving a path of its own. A relatively short album (if you actually research what the album's runtime should be and don't bundle it in with Bambu), which is a help when this album doesn't excel in any area. A pleasant listen that might not stick with me for long as music, but as a mood I can't fault the tranquillity it provides.

Rv