Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Momentami klawisze są wręcz rażące, a maniera śpiewania męcząca, ale ogólnie bardzo przyjemny, leśny, lekko psychodeliczny, bardzo melodyjny album, który słucha się jak ścieżkę dźwiękową jakiegoś alternatywnego filmu. 6.5/10 równane w górę.
No need for this to be 2 hours long
nichht ganz gehört, aber finds gut bisher
Overall: 8/10 Oh Dennis, I didn't know you had it in you. This is a fantastic collection of rock songs and pretty ballads, with a little bit of funk in there as well! As a minor Beach Boys fan (I like maybe 4 of their albums in total), I never had much thought about Dennis. Seems he lived a very interesting but rough life. None of that really shows in this album though. It sounds like it was made by somebody optimistic and kind. Good stuff, Mr. Wilson. Fav Song: You and I
Wanted to sound like Tom waits, but came off more like Randy Newman. Some good musical ideas tho
Fantastic
I was not raised, nor on my own volition, could get into the Beach Boys. Nothing against their work as musicians or their influence, it's weird optimism young boy harmonizing sound is something I just don't want to hear. Dennis is the drummer of the Beach Boys (I don't care about the band's history after he died or kokomo; it's cringe) and here was the one album he did finish in his lifetime. And it's okay. Noteworthy in the sense that his fellow band members thought it would be one of the better Beach Boys albums (I can see that) and that it was pretty much the only thing he could finish in his wild and chaotic lifestyle. Most of this album isn't my thing: bunch of soft stuff. I'm sure it's really good for certain kinds of people, but I'm a music weirdo and this one just doesn't cut it for me.
I'd never heard (or even heard of) this one before! It was a pleasant surprise. The vocals are much more gruff than anything in the Beach Boys but I feel that it really works for the songs which seem much more personal. Great production and a really nice sonic palette all around, with some shades of George Harrison thrown in there. The tracks are maybe a little uneven, but the standouts are great.
A great album an under appreciated member of The Beach Boys. It’s a shame we didn’t get more solo music before his death.
found myself really wanting to get into it - but it was so long and all over the place that it didn't really stick with me.
Really beautiful. I didn't know Dennis did anything solo, so this was a nice surprise to see, but then the quality exceeded my expectations. There's some fantastic songwriting and so much more of that Wilson arranging magic than I thought existed outside of a couple of beach boys records. 'Time' and 'end of the show' are both particularly beautiful, but the whole thing flows really nicely. The style feels quite ambitious and so it feels slightly strange that most of the songs are quite short. His voice is definitely not in it's best ever condition but I think it's handled beautifully in the context to be really effective. I'll be coming back here.
Dennis Wilson's expression mirrors how I looked while listening to the album. Nah, I'm just joking: this one was a good-enough listen but nothing to write home about. Lots of production talent and I liked the varied soundscapes between the tracks. I'm not super well-read on the Beach Boys discography though so I'm probably the wrong person to ask. fac tracks: Dreamer, You and I
I remember when Ken Chutney found out Dennis Wilson couldn’t actually surf! It was during a Houmous & Chutney tour. Ken almost got eaten by a shark. Dennis just watched from the beach and cried! No help at all! To think he used that experience to write his most popular solo song 3.6 9/12 Pacific Ocean Blues
This was an hour & 25 minutes too long, there was no need for a double album. The music itself was alright, nothing exciting, although I did appreciate his Don Henley-esque voice. Look, I’m rounding this down to a 2 because of the extreme length. If not for that it would probably have made the 3.
Ik heb dit iets liever dan de Beach Boys of dat Brian Wilson album, maar zo gruwelijk veel scheelt het nou ook weer niet. Het is best een aardig album maar ik verveel me gewoon wat. De koperen blazers maken me niet extra enthousiast en het is niet zo mooi dat het prachtig te noemen is. Het zit er allemaal een beetje tussenin. De kwaliteit staat buiten kijf maar qua luistergenot blijft het steken op een 3 voor mij.
Not what I expected from a beach boy
I haven’t liked the Beach Boys, but this guy is a good songwriter. Several really catchy tunes in here.
This is very solid
I liked it then I didn’t then I did again now I’m like ok
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. It is very listenable. It provided a nice background while I did my thing.
No thanks
Boring
Some fine moments
Didn't finish, but I really liked what I did listen to. So breezy and easy!
Didgeridoos and horns and songs about rivers, Whimsy guitars that give you the shivers, Heavenly harmonies over ethereal strings, These are a few of my tolerable things...
Not so memorable imo
Decent album. Very interesting WIKI read - especially Dennis' personal one. I'll say 3.5 round down.
Pretty nice. Good music, some of it got real melancholy which I don't mind.
It was good but kinda sad and weird.
This was ok
Pff no se ni que decir, cada tema es un poco de su madre y de su padre, he escuchado los dos mas recomendados que son "river song" y "You and I" y la verdad que tienen algo, pero cuando intenta hacer rock and roll... Por mi parte "Moonshine" tambien la recomendaria.
Наверно рискну и поставлю пять. Братец из бич бой выдал Магнум опус ( в виде единственного альбома ) и умер. Похвально.
I kinda fuck with his raw vocals as described. I kinda wish they came out more in the album Also 2 big artists from this list drowning so far? Weird
Better than anything the Beach Boys ever did but still very dull. It kind of just happens in the background.
Sounds ok
Pre: like pacific ocean blue Post: decent but meh
The solo album from co-founder of the Beach Boys Dennis Wilson. Another tragic story with a tragic end. It was interesting reading about Dennis' life, connection with Charles Manson, and downward spiral. The album seems to switch between very emotional melodic pieces and upbeat funk. The drop in Time really caught me offguard. The song is two minutes of emotional wailing and then there's this really funky beat drop for the final minute with no vocals. Overall, I can't help but think this album was "critically acclaimed" because of his tragic death. If Dennis Wilson's death wasn't so tragic, how would this album be seen? While it is beautifully composed, there's almost this "cry for help i'm literally drowning" feel; which is almost ironic since he died after diving in the ocean in December while completely drunk and drowning.
Interesting backstory doesn't make a boring album more listenable.
neat but way too long
This is an odd one. Might need another listen to really get ahold of it. Lots of variation in the sounds of the individual songs, but most songs themselves feel a little directionless. Maybe just needs another listen.
Pretty easy listening but this is in one ear and out the other for me.
He may not be the same caliber of musician as his brother, but this was a damn good album
Sounded like the lesser talented Wilson brother for sure. Weak light rock
Of the thousands of hours I've spent flipping through record bins I've seen this one a lot. Never picked one up though. My loss, this album is outstanding. I'm only listening to the 12 tracks of the original lp. The layering of everything is really masterpiece level, I've listened through 5 times and I keep hearing new things. This is one of the best finds from the list so far.
Day651 - the lore of dennis wilson just leveled up. beach boy adjacent in the best way possible
Legend.
Singer's voice wasn't great. Pretty awful lyrics. At the very least the songs were usually unique enough to remain interesting, even if they weren't all good.
Alright, not my vibe
Saw Dennis Wilson and expected the cheesy Beach Boy sound. I am very happy to say this was from from that sound. This may be my shocker album of 2025. I was blown away. I've listened to this every day for last 6-7 days and it just seems to get better and better for me. I'm talking about all the bonus tracks as well. And then to see Taylor Hawkins. Holy shit my mind has been blown. I was trying to download songs here and there and finally said screw it and downloaded the entire album. This is going to perfect for redneck pool day. This album was beautiful in so many ways. The music, his voice, the entire vibe just hit with this listener. I couldn't name my favorite song or lyrics right now if I tried. Always great if you can make me think of Mindy (well, think about her all the time anyway). Thoughts of You, Time, You and I and Only with You come to mind. And just when I thought I couldn't be more blown away, to to end the album with Taylor, just fuggen wow. A wonderful album I will revisit quite often. I think I gotta go with my heart here and give this a 5. Great album. Side note - this reminds of when I saw a George Harrison album and thought, shit, more stupid Beatles crap. Turns out George Harrison is the best of the Beatles. I'm thinking Dennis Wilson is the best Beach Boy. 5
3 I always mix these brothers up. Is this Wilson the godfather of emo, Charlie Manson’s bestie, or the one that was just kind of there? Ah, the Manson Beach Boy. Cool, cool. Anyways, I feel like I wrote off The Beach Boys for a good chunk of my life as this goofy, gimmicky pop rock group that made a living writing songs about surfing, and it’s really only been in my more recent years that I’ve learned the group grew to have a lot more complexity to them than I had previously given them credit for. I’m sure I’ll get into that more later on with this list, but that’s to say, for an album that’s titled “Pacific Ocean Blue” and written by a Beach Boy, there wasn’t a hint of surfing or even beach vibes at all to be found. In fact, this album was borderline haunting at times, especially on tracks like Thoughts of You… and it mostly worked for me. The production on this is fantastic and comes across as very grandiose and theatrical without ever really feeling overdramatic, almost like it’s surrounding you at times. If I didn’t know any better, I would have guessed this came from the emo Beach Boy (though that’s not to say Dennis didn’t have his own fair share of problems). And just as importantly, his voice pairs incredibly well with the music - it has this unique sort of gravely sound to it that I really liked, though something about it kept reminding of another vocalist I couldn’t quite put my finger on. After a few listens, I’m thinking Peter Criss of KISS? Though, if you listen to the full 2 CD Deluxe Legacy Edition of this on Spotify (which features an entire separate album of his that I’m not factoring into my review), you’re greeted with a version of Holy Man as performed by Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters (and Alanis Morrissette) fame, and there are some striking similarities between the two of their voices as well. Guess it’s just something about rock drummers ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Regardless, I thought this album was pretty good overall, and I can’t say I thought it was lacking in any way, but I also didn’t really feel like it needed to keep going or that I needed to pay any one song an immediate revisit. While very nice-sounding, there aren’t really a ton of highlights, so this album is just kind of vibes at best. That said, I’ll take this over Surfin’ USA any day, and I definitely feel more compelled to check out the Boys’ later work than I was previously. This also sent me down a deep dive into the Dennis Wilson/Charles Manson saga, so it has that going for it too. Did you know that Dennis inadvertently introduced Manson to the Tate home? I didn’t. RIP bud, it wasn’t your fault - hope you found peace.
The beach boys but worse
Nice
this will be minecraft steve in 2016
Very mediocre
Good
3.0 - Ok
Echt nette Songs, etwas Beach Boys aber dann doch nicht. Relativ abwechslungsreich unf funktioniert irgendwie für mich.
Fellow Beach Boy Al Jardine once said the this was “better than anything we've ever done” and having never been a huge Beach Boys fans, I’m inclined to agree with him! You can still hear them in this, in fact I didn’t know who he was when I put the record on but I instinctively guessed during opener _River Song_. That distinctive California sound is in there but this is moodier, at times funkier and certainly has much more levels to it than the music he was involved in with in his day job. In the right mood, probably a summer one, I’d probably revisit this for the vibe.
I didn't know who Dennis Wilson was when this album came up. As I listened I started to put together little bits of knowledge and then confirmed that yes, this is a Beach Boy, brother of Brian Wilson. Despite or maybe because of his troubled life, he made a pretty well put together album here. I like the idea of a troubled and weathered man, momentarily escaping or harnessing his past to put all of this energy into the album. Not sure if that's necessarily the truth, but it's how I imagined the album from the cover, tracks, and a bit of back story after the fact. With that in mind, I think it's no wonder the songs that seemed to strike me the most were the emotional songs; "Thoughts of you", "Time", and "Farewell my friend". I really enjoyed this one. Not quite a 5, but I would say it's closer than most 4's.
I actually really liked a lot of stuff on here despite the absurd length of this. Would have been much more enjoyable without like 70% of the songs...
Wilson who???? there are some real gems in here from the lesser known wilson. I had no idea Dennis was quite the talent! this is fun, experimental, groovy, and cleary shows where some of the beach boys got their mojo. I enjoyed growing through this. Pacifc Ocean Blues is a jam
Ehhhhn there isn't really anything I'd come back for. It has just enough flavor for me to keep it above a 2, though.
A delightful collection of soulful and melancholic tunes from one of the finest songwriters in The Beach Boys.
This had some pretty cool stuff on it, from the very first song! Worked really well as plane listening!
This one took me a few listens to truly warm up to it, but it somehow kept me coming back each time. The arrangements are honestly gorgeous and set a very uniquely melancholic mood -- one that reminds me a lot of Beck's Sea Change album we got earlier in the list (one that I also loved!) One special mention to Holy Man, which despite being a bonus track is one of the most beautiful instrumentals we've had on this list. Go listen to it if you stopped at End of the Show! Standouts: Friday Night • Dreamer • Time • Pacific Ocean Blues • Holy Man
This was a little bit of a letdown because there were ideas I liked within songs, but at no point did I feel like the album was winning me over or had a consistent theme that I could appreciate. It felt very messy and scattered.
The chorus work is quite nice. Overall quite decent! 4/5
This was fun, I'll have to check it out again!
Not my style but very chill summer vibes
I like this better than Beach Boys.
Mostly fine-minus, a few moments of fine-plus. There's a musician in there, with a low ceiling set by circumstance and what seems like a lot of personal trouble. Obviously nothing remotely Must about it.
That was okay.
nice enough. way too long
It doesn’t have the baroque pop feel that Brian Wilson mastered but it’s got soul. A lot of good tunes by a guy with excellent ear for harmony.
Remember that scene in Boogie Nights when dirk diggler was making an album? Now imagine that album has a little production value and is 2 hours long
Não sabia muito bem o que esperar do disco, então foi uma surpresa agradável. Quando comecei o disco, achei que seria só mais um álbum de singer-songwriter típico, como qualquer outro dessa época, e que sua inclusão nessa lista foi mais pelo fato de Dennis Wilson ser um beach boy. Mas conforme fui progredindo pelas faixas percebi que estava enganado, e que havia aqui uma sensibilidade e uma palheta musical bem mais minuciosa do que eu achei em primeiro lugar. Este disco possui hoje um cult status, e eu até consigo ver o porquê. Mas nem toda faixa é sensacional e progressiva. Algumas das canções aqui são um tanto quanto esquecíveis, mas outras são verdadeiramente ótimas. Não é o disco mais consistente da lista, mas pra mim, o bom ultrapassa o mediano, e nada é ruim. Uma pena que Dennis Wilson não tenha lançado outro álbum além desse, seria interessante ver as suas próximas direções artísticas. Mas por ora, este é um ótimo álbum, e sua inclusão na lista faz todo sentido. 4/5
A very 70s sounding album with a bit of experimentation. I don't think this would be terribly notable if it wasn't a Beach Boy or if he hadn't died young. But it was OK.
There's a lurching swagger running through this record that makes it feel almost impossibly cool. Probably cooler than it actually is, but you can already tell just from looking at the cover art that that sums Dennis up perfectly. When it's good, it's fantastic. The rich vocal harmonies (he was paying attention in all those Beach Boys recording sessions), the confident bursts of brass and Brian-esque piano chords, the brooding, breathy lead vocals and blues licks are all hugely enjoyable. Thoughts Of You has a bombastic, almost Pink Floyd-esque dynamic, shifting from vast instrumental walls of sound to a delicate piano backdrop for the ending refrain. For me, it doesn't quite maintain that throughout, though, and it feels a bit phoned-in in places. Reading around the background of this project and Dennis more generally is fascinating. He was clearly quite the character and a victim of the wild LA scene of the time, making some highly questionable choices of who he hung around with but seemingly a guy who was often at the heart of the party. He apparently proudly embodied the adage of 'live fast, die young' but I'm glad he at least had a shot at getting his own solo work out there before his tragic death. This is a great little album that I am glad to have discovered.
Highlight: Dreamer. In a nutshell: Dennis- all grown up. Did Dennis listen to a lot of Fleetwood Mac, The Band, Lindsey Buckingham songs and all of Dark Side of the Moon before recording this album? Cos that's what it sounds like. And it's good. Perhaps better than his brother Brian's solo album, Smile. Dennis created a good mix of the pop melodies we know from The Beach Boys with yacht rock, a choir backing, horn arrangements and more. Very 70s. No wonder it's a cult hit. Overall: 5/10
It's fine, smooth listening but nothing that really stuck with me.
1,6/5
River Song is a masterpiece The rest: pretty meh. Some cool compositions, very beautiful and moving at times. Just couldn’t keep my attention or interest.
Never heard of this album or the music on it. It feels like a cross between Beach Boys and Pink Floyd. A very classic 70s sound.
That version of Fever was anemic lol
Beach boys vibes but gets kinda weird. I liked it
A good listen, some real quality tunes and arrangements - if seventies California singer-singerwriter was more my bag I would even consider a purchase. As it's not, 3.5 rounded down.
Sounds like someone who left either The Beach Boys or The Eagles, or both, and couldn't decide what to do. Soft rock, not particularly inspiring. Didn't hate it. Didn't love it.
Easy listen, nothing to write home about
2/3
great vibe!
Nup. Boring and formulaic. Next!
not really my thing can't explain why
Ok
Pacific Ocean Blue is the first and only solo album by Dennis Wilson, and one I’ve often heard mentioned but never actually sat down with—until now. The version on iTunes runs close to two hours, so I braced myself for a long listen. Thankfully, it was time very well spent. This is exactly why I’m doing this challenge: to uncover hidden gems I might have otherwise missed. To my surprise, I enjoyed this album far more than most of the Beach Boys’ catalogue. It has a warmth and depth that feels more personal and soulful. The two singles, “River Song” and “You and I”, somehow failed to chart on release, which baffles me—they’re superb. The use of brass and instrumental flourishes throughout the record is a real highlight, adding richness and character to the sound. Overall, it’s a beautiful and rewarding listen that deserves far more recognition. Favourite track: River Song and You and I Least favourite track: Honestly, every song here feels worth the time. Album artwork: A great cover—simple but striking. Wilson even looks a little like an American George Harrison.
Dennis was underrated. Great listen!
nah
Fav: River Song Least Fav: Friday Night Surprising lack of Beach Boys vibes to it which I appreciate (makes it feel more unique), but most importantly some nice jazz in there. Solid 4/5 for me
I really feel like I should give it more of a chance but it fell so damn flat for me
If I had been fucked by this album my summary would be something like “It wasn’t bad … just the kind of casual experience that fades from memory almost as soon as it’s over. All that I remember now is that he looked a bit like Robert Redford as Jeremiah Johnson.”
Bra röst men sångerna e lite tråkiga
This record was maybe one of the more interesting listens. Never heard of this guy before. Perhaps he’s one of the Beach Boys? I don’t know. Never looked into it. The reason why I think that he might be…. Is that this record is kind of all over the place in regards to style. It sounds nothing like the Beach Boys. But instead sounds more like Randy Newman ripping off other artists. At one point there was a song that sounded like King Crimson. The next was a ballad. Then another that could have been an Elton John song. Then a Pink Floyd song…. There is a song on this deluxe edition that had the late Taylor Hawkins covering one of the songs. But honestly… it adds no substance to the song. It’s him on drums..:. But it showcasing his skill. Maybe his singing and playing drumming? But I doubt it’s recorded that way. Cash grab if anything.
Álbum bem variado musicalmente. Rock melódico muito bom. QoA Vesper.
It’s just the beach boys but worse
Wasn’t expecting much going into this one, but it was decent, and a lot better than the beach boys of its time
Meh, I prefer the river
8.30, työmatka, koss, qobuz on hyvä! ehkä paras tähänastisista
If this is your thing, then it will be fine. Not my thing not really interested in it. I only think this album is on here because it's Dennis Wilson if it was anyone else, this would be classified as a typical basic rock album. As I listen to more and more of this I start to wonder is this Dennis Wilson trying to be John Lennon or was John Lennon trying to be Dennis Wilson on his solo work.
Amazing album. I didn’t know what to expect but his voice doesn’t sound like The Beach Boys at all. And I mean that in the best way. It’s very unique and gritty. The whole album is really well written and executed, big fan.
Not bad but way too long.
Epic and delicate at the same time. Beautiful.
Not for me, couldn’t get into any songs
Album 6/1001 Was really pleasantly surprised by this. I mainly just knew Dennis as Charles Manson's best mate (and tbh I think that will still be the case) but he was clearly quite the musician too. Could have seen him going on to have had a very successful solo career if he hadn't sadly lost his battle with addiction only a few years later. Favourite song: Rainbows 🌈 Honourable mention: Moonshine 🌙 River Song 🏞🎵 Pacific Ocean Blues 🌊 Time ⏳️
There were some really cool instrumental moments in the blues-inspired tracks like "Dreamer" and "Time," but I found most of this album boring.
I have no words for how boring this is.
Thought the album was awful. Awesome instrumental song though!!
Never listened to him before. Very good. Lots of styles and sounds. Song writing is solid. Why are there so many songs on this double album!?! 33!? It started to drag the overall rating down the more I listened.
It wasn't bad, I would put this on in the background if I had guests over.
was not expecting to like this album that much, but it’s genuinely such a good time. definitely a few songs that could be cut, though i appreciate the try. didn’t know the beach boys lore went crazy like that though, so this album really took me on several different journeys and i am a changed person. in the end, i suppose that’s what an album is meant to do.
An easy listening album worth listening to. I was pleasantly surprised by the eclectic nature of these tracks. My Aunt Anna was his kindergarten teacher in Hawthorne, CA. She would be proud.
This was a pretty good album, technically a two for one but I enjoyed it, didn't sound much like the beach boys but it was good!
3.5/5
(4.5) i didn’t know what to expect from the album cover but i properly loved this one
5/10 - ok but waaaay too long, some decent songs but it draaags at times
This is nice.
Wow, that man has a really hairy neck!
I have been curious about this album, so I was glad to see this one appear on this list. I had no expectations and had no idea what was coming. Well, I loved most of these songs! In reading about the album, it sounds like Dennis Wilson’s voice was pretty well trashed by this point. It’s too bad, because with decent vocals, this would have been a 5 star album for me. And as much as I like these songs and album, it’s sad to think of how much potential and talent wasn’t realized by Dennis Wilson due to self-abuse. Still, I will save and listen to this one some more, despite my issues with the vocals.
I think this guy listened to the Eagles alot. Which is cool, I like the Eagles too. Way more than I like The Beach Boys. So, I ended up liking this album much more than I expected! But it is pretty derivative. It brought me right back to the 70s stylistically (yep I was alive then), so it does represent an era in that sense. But none of the tracks charted. I had never heard any of these songs before, and yet they all felt familiar because they sounded so much like other songs. Not convinced it belongs on this list.
Mejor de lo que yo pensaba
A decent escape from his Beach Boy roots, with some stuff that shows a clear influence from all that early-70s Topanga Canyon renaissance. Kind of surprising that he never really followed this up.
Dennis Wilson always seemed like the second coolest Wilson. He surfed, he was meant to be the actual link to the California scene. Yeah, really cool. Not hard when you're with Brian Wilson (clever, very clever, but not cool) and Mike Love (villianously uncool!). Brian Wilson said some nice things about Dennis in his book (and some very unpleasant things about Mike Love. Ha! Ha! Ha!) in his book. But, apart from being a Wilson, he leaves no impact to me as a Beach Boy. He started writing songs post Pet Sounds, so I'm out. The album is inoffensive, over produced and his crooning comes across as an old uncle who has got his hands on the mic. There's nothing pretty here. Yes, a few melodies are nice. On my first listen of the first two songs, I said aloud that I'd had enough and put on some 2000s pop punk to clean out my ears. I'd like to point out that I did this while walking, so anyone nearby would have heard me talking to myself. The Farewell song was quite sweet. I didn't hate it. But I won't be listening to this album anytime soon. Welcome to the 2 club. Keep Purple Rain company! 2 Stars.
This is like a guy in his early 40s taking his wife and two young children on a holiday to Fiji. There is a group of 20-somethings staying at the same resort, and they are getting stuck into the rum most days. The man’s children long to join in on the fun, but the wife doesn’t let them as they are still too young. The man smiles to himself at the whole situation. Instead of being angry at the rowdy group, he fondly remembers the times where he was getting drunk with his friends. He also smiles knowing the fun times that his children will experience in a few years time. As well as all of that, he is filled with a sense of accomplishment, knowing he has been through those times and come out the other side. He looks at his wife and his children, and takes a moment to appreciate everything that he has.
Was alright. Started strong but like many, dragged a bit.
Best Song: Time. I really liked the brass section, and the way the song built to a satisfying conclusion. Worst Song: School Girl. I don't need this grown man to be longingly singing about school girls. Nobody needs that. Overall: The despair I felt when I saw that this album was two hours long. It had well made its point by the 30 minute mark, yet for some godforsaken reason felt the need to repeat itself with minor variations for another 90. There's a song called "End of the Show" that takes place fully before the halfway point. There's a whole song about how love "remembers" him, which is then immediately followed by a song about how love also "surrounds" him. When paired with the album art, this feels like an album which the artist forces you to listen to in its entirety without comment, after which he gently kills you in cold blood. It doesn't even raise his blood pressure.
Very wide range of sounds and genres.
This was an adventure. Not what I expected from a solo BeachBoys-album, but it was actually kinda nice. It also was forgettable, it doesn't have the magic of any good Beach Boys song or album.
Dit is de tweede solo plaat van één van de Beach Boys en de vorige was 'm niet. Dit is echt iets unieks, iets los staands, terwijl de soloplaat van Brian Wilson een kopie was van de stijl die de Beach Boys hadden. Cool 70s album dus! 'T was dus een beetje de George van de Beach Boys. 4.3
Visst finns det lite Beach Boys, och det är inte dumt. Några fina melodier.
Very much not a Beach Boys sounding record. You actually get more Elton John vibes from the opening track River Song. Other songs I really liked were Dreamer, Time, You And I, and Pacific Ocean Blues. I probably land at a Low 4 here. Really cool listen on a summer day.
Well this was a supremely enjoyable listen. For the most part calm and spacious with a few more upbeat jams tucked in. Dennis Wilson's vocals and supporting harmonies are soothing to the soul, and the songs themselves are very enjoyable. I was happy to let this play out into the deluxe legacy edition b-sides. For me this comes in at a very high 4. River Song twinkles with piano similar to Tiny Dancer and melodies calling to his Beach Boy days. Really enjoy the ethereal vibes of Moonshine. Friday Night is similarly spacey, but has almost a ZZ-Top like twang about it. Absolutely love Dreamer. Pacific Ocean Blues plays like a mashup between Elvis Costello and ZZ Top and is far better than that combination has any right to suggest.
Time ruled. Wasn't blown away by much else. Just a quick folky, singer-songwriter album. Didn't realize he was in the Beach Boys. Didn't ever get a hint of that.
I liked that album way more than I thought I was going to. Just a really nice listen on a surprisingly chilly morning in August. Just some simple nice strings and piano which hit very nicely. The ending horns in Time were my favorite part. Lower 4 but still gets a good nod
This is a weird layout. The streaming button seems to bring me to some double album. I'm going to just listen to the original if I can find it. I am 1000% convinced King Gizz was listening to this album (or at least River Song) while making Phantom Island. Catching so many similarities. The end of River Song is so similar to Eternal Return. Dreamer is so much fun. I don't even know what instrument is making that constant sound but I love it. Badass when the horns come in. Drop during Time is awesome. I like that End of the Show it seems like he's thanking an audience as one would do during the last song during a show. I don't know what it is about this album exactly but I had so much fun with that. Shit was an experience. Even though his voice gets Randy Newmanish at times that was an experience. Not the highest of 5's, but I loved it and will be back.
Proof that while a little acid is good for creativity, a lot of acid is not. The backing tracks are groovy; early 70s LA studios produced some of my favorite sounds. The problem is that this sounds less like a collection of songs than the ramblings of a whacked-out-junky-busker.
Solid, very interesting composition.
Chill rock ig
The first few tracks were pretty fun - very much vintage Beach Boys stuff. This one lost me about halfway through when it went to mostly ballads and more experimental stuff.
There was some good stuff here. Not really what I was expecting. I feel like I could use another listen.
No está mal, pero no es comparable a los Beach boys.
Dennis Wilson’s lone solo effort is revered as a lost 70s classic, but it wasn’t for me. I enjoyed the brassy, gospel swell of “River Song” and the wistful title track “Pacific Ocean Blues,” but the rest drifted too far into slow, murky waters. I can respect the ambition and ragged soul, but in the end it just dragged too much to hold my attention.
Music from before music got good. Fortunately not too painful!
Best Song: Pacific Ocean Blues This was ok, not bad but also not great. It is kind of reminds me of the sound that would be made if ZZ Top sang Beach Boys songs. I enjoyed it overall but don't see myself throwing it on often or picking it up on vinyl or anything. 4/5.
Warm and dreamy mix of soft rock and surprisingly heavy bluesy soul tracks. A great album for when you have it all but are miserable anyway, for staring at the sea and thinking it sucks, for the self-indulgent depressive pleasure of knowing you're missing out, for listening to when you've pushed people away and are mad they're not around.
Great surprise seeing this on my list today :) there's so much soul/life in this record
Love this album. I could imagine listening to this in 1977, just on repeat on the turntable, blissed out after smoking a joint, and loving every minute of it. It has that beautiful, late 70s Steely Dan vibe, but also moments of greater intensity (like the horns coming in at the end of “Time”). There are also some beautiful, truly haunting moments. It’s just a gorgeous collection of songs.
Too Floydish but not in the good way :(
Really nice listen!
Didn't expect to like this going into it. Actually delighted by it. Who knew, more than one Wilson brother had the gift for emotive songwriting.
Lots of soul, beautiful arrangements
I really enjoyed the instrumentals at the end
A very nice album, I'll be playing it again. This was Dennis Wilson's only studio album, he makes up for the dearth here with a recording the length of three ordinary albums. And it's an eclectic mix of styles and genres even dipping into prog rock at times. A little bonkes but a decent album to review for a change....
4.5 - Really loved listening to this
In some ways I like this record much more than any Beach Boys one, but its too gosh darn long. Fave Tracks: Dreamer, Time, Common 3.7/5
Boring. 2 might be harsh
2 stars For some reason this one didn’t do it for me. It seemed like a simple record of rock songs that I could just absorb, but none of it would stick. It was like trying to hold onto a lump of sand, it kept slipping through. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t stick.
I have no strong feelings, good or bad, about this album. River Song is pretty good, Thoughts of You has a Pink Floydish feel, and Pacific Ocean Blues sounds like it could have been sung by Joe Walsh. Otherwise, there were times where I would have sworn Randy Newman was singing, weird. This is not bad album, but it's not great either. If you're listening to this on Spotify, the original album is just the first 12 tracks.
Honestly pretty impressed. Loved the vibes and melodies and atmosphere with this album, good way to be a touch experimental for its time and lean into different genres while staying cohesive. Low 4 but will revisit
An underlying, if not slowly obvious, storyline amongst the bonkers tale of The Beach Boys was the increasing creativity of Dennis Wilson, the middle sibling of Brian and Carl both of whom bookended the sprawling erstwhile/eternal surfers. From album to album after the 60s as Brian slipped into the failures of giant expectations, Dennis stepped up to the plate and made the listening public bare witness to his developing talents. It all culminated in Pacific Ocean Blue, arguably the most soulful and exuberant release in all of the Beach Boys oeuvre. Pacific Ocean Blue's very existence is proof that there is more than what meets the eye in regards to what's been pigeonholed and disregarded; the fact that it still gets appraisals from like-minded listeners up close and afar to this day is testament to Dennis' endeavors, which would have gotten or could have gotten more sophisticated had he not passed on. A beacon of light in darkened times.
For some reason, I’m surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I don’t know what I expected but it wasn’t this. It’s definitely one I need to listen to again to really get under its skin - there seems to be a lot here to unpack. There’s a curious, awkward, inventiveness lurking under its surface - it really feels like it’s holding something back. This is an album I’d like to get to know.
Off the cuff remark: clearly expensive big production but pretty uninspiring. Have to confess I had no idea who this was til I looked it up. All the more disappointing for that. No standout tracks and I don't plan on listening to this again
Han kunde inte bestämma vilken genre han ville köra och allt var generiskt
Interesting album, has a couple of highs and a lot of lows for me, wouldn't go out of my way to listen to it again. Highlights: Rainbows, Pacific Ocean Blues
River Song
I cannot comprehend that this man is a member of the Beach Boys. Went down a Brian Wilson wiki rabbit hole, made me sad but was VERY interesting I only listened up to the song Mexico as this was where the original recording ended (and how the 1001 book was intended) Fav songs: Time, Pacific Ocean Blues, Rainbows
Very good. A bit long.
First impression pre listen: It's kinda difficult getting into a solo project from a member of the Beach Boys without being much into the band in the first place. Maybe that's why I've never heard of this album. This seems like the exact kind of album I'd expect to be on this list. For the sake of time I'll be sticking to the original 37 minute release version, though depending on if I like it or not I'll give the 2 hour version a go. Hoping for a new discovery. Individual track notes: River Song Was not expecting it to have such a large and developed sound. The almost spiritual choir elements are very pleasant. I like the additional deep background vocals. I'm not exactly impressed by the lyrics here, feels very basal and shallow for such an expressive sound. It has potential based on the way the song is arranged, however I feel the final product falls a bit flat. It's almost as if its two different songs mashed together. Fine. 3/5 What's Wrong Kinda obnoxious with the tooting horns. Very generic writing style, with very little to set it apart from similar songs. Fades into the background. Almost offensively average. Dislike. 2/5 Moonshine I think it opens up quite strangely. Not much a fan of his voice here, feels very forced and choked. I find the production to be quite montonous, the mix is especially disagreeable as it sounds very compressed. The track does rise in quality nearing the end, the harmonies and melodic movements of the closing segment is really satisfying. A bit of a mixed bag. Average. 2.5/5 Friday Night Quite cinematic and present sounding opening. Hate his voice. Terrible lyrics. Parts or the instrumental really drown out the vocals. I enjoyed the large opening and closing segments of the instrumental a bit. Dislike. 2/5 Dreamer An absolute mess of a track. The mix sounds like absolute shit. Everything is at a weird volume and it keeps shifting. Horrible horns. Sleazy and unlikeable vocals, luckily they're barely in focus. Awful. 1/5 Thoughts of You He sounds drunk or half asleep. The piano is kinda pleasant. Awful vocal effect. I like the contrast between the somber and quiet piano and the very abrasive synth heavy segment. Sure makes the track interesting at least. Fine. 3/5 Time Unconvincing vocals, his voice is still not something I think I'll ever be able to enjoy. He oversells it which I think makes it sound very goofy. The instrumental section is very cool. Love the interplay between the horns and guitar. The jankiness is really charming. Fine. 3/5 You and I Just kinda underwhelming. It's slow and has an okay atmosphere to its instrumental, but the vocals sort of take you out of it. Sounds rambly and overdone. Dislike. 2/5 Pacific Ocean Blues A bit of a generic blues rock song if not for some help from the additional vocals to give it a hint of originality. Not terrible, just sort of alright. Average. 2.5/5 Farewell My Friend Nice sentiment. The vocals have a decent amount of emotion behind them. The harmonies give it a contemplative atmosphere. Don't mind the simple piano. Decent. 3.5/5 Rainbows Has a good vibe to it. His vocals are still not it and the instrumental has its irritating moments. At least it sounds warm and positive. Average. 2.5/5 End of the Show He sounds like he's one foot in the grave... Aimless and boring. Beyond that not terrible. Dislike. 2/5 Final review: I struggle to see the point of it to be honest. It has the occasional impressive backing harmony and sometimes a pleasant instrumental section. Bar that the album is awfully generic, finding it lacking when it comes to original ideas. The songwriting is mostly boring and predictable, and when it isn't its aimless and all over the place. Wilson's vocals range from constipated rock and roller to deranged hollering homeless man, and on the occasional moment where they're fine they lack any presence or impact. The mixing is genuinely puzzling at times and has certain songs sound so compressed they're barely discernable as consisting of varying elements. Yes the album has moments where it's passable, however it far too often slides into mediocracy for it to be much more than a forgetable slog. I could see it having additional appeal if you're nostalgic about 1970's California, but if you're not your're likely to just be bored and confused. I'd also like to add that the album does in general sound quite personal, having moments of solid reflection. The spiritual sounding choir elements work decently well at conveying some emotions Wilson's own performance can't always produce. In conclusion: a bit unremarkable. 2/5
An album by Beach Boys co-founder. This is a Pop / Rock album, not a Surf album, although occasioinally there are hints of the Beach Boys, and sometimes it gets a bit Funky. It's OK, but not great.
Alright music. Nothing I didn't like, but nothing stood out or stayed with me
*1977 album. Mix of singer-songer with some extra production. *2 discs - 1:52 total run time. *I thought this would totally be in my wheelhouse, but I just wasn't digging it. Mostly boring and a bit self-indulgent. *Didn't realize this was Dennis Wilson of Beach Boys fame. Died at 39 y.o. in 1983 from drowning/drinking accident. RATING - 6/10 RATING - 6/10
Interesting album. Can definitely tell that it's from one of the Beach Boys, but much like the Beach Boys it didn't do a whole lot for me. 2.5/5
I read up on this album and was excited. However, I think I'd take basically any Beach Boys release (barring Smile) over this. I found this very boring and I don't like it. 1.5/5
River Song // Moonshine // Time //
I have no thoughts about this album. River Song, Dreamer, and Time are kinda good, I guess, but the rest is very bland and forgettable. Not a bad album, but it literally doesn't do anything interesting.
Didn’t realise this was beach boys brother, sounds ahead of its time. Decent
- I'm torn with regards to this one: there's a lot of interesting things happening here but then I think about the other releases just before, during or just after this one, I put it in the context of the times and it loses some of it's luster for me. Worth hearing for sure, I'm not convinced it's the lost masterpiece that some are trying to make it out to be. It is art so, 3.5 ........
Die Hälfte der Titel hätte auch gereicht.
Not my jam.
What a great album. I even listened to the reissue and all the extra songs that went with it. I had no idea he was that prolific and talented as a song writer.
No Dennis, you can't be the Beach Boys all by yourself.
Meh. 2/5
Boring. Two hours of absolute nothingness.
I was blown away by this album and it's honesty, technical ability, variety, everything
Very interesting album. Really enjoyed some songs. Standout songs: River Song Time Pacific Ocean Blues
This is rated highly by fans and critics. And it’s great. It shows all three Wilson’s were prodigious talents.
I am highly sceptical of "lost masterpieces"; albums whose rarity is fetishized by white male rock snobs. The "well, actually, have you heard of this?" is a form of cultural gatekeeping. The quality of the record is usually inversely correlated to the advocate's lustful frothing. That effect is amplified by Dennis' tragic accidental death before he completed a follow-up album -- rock snobs get even more tumescent if the artist suffered and/or died. It's can get pretty gross. But I have to admit, Pacific Ocean Blue is a pretty good piece of late 70s yacht rock. The gritty burr on Dennis Wilson's voice adds soul to the schmick production, the playing is solid, and the tunes are harmonies are excellent. It's a good example of yacht rock, if you like that sort of thing.
Parlant de long album, 2h c’est toujours chaud, par contre celui-là s’écoute très bien en petites périodes d’écoutes, dût aux moult changements de styles exploré a travers les chansons. Sa feel très Pet Sound à plusieurs instances, ce que je suis jamais contre, ça reste le frère de Brian après tout.
Enjoyable and surprisingly experimental album. I love when the horns randomly hit and bump up the song, a bit.
Okay, first album that’s two hours long, let’s see how we go… I have to say that I didn’t give this the full attention of the other albums as it’s 2 hours and was often on in the background. But I loved the variety of styles throughout, never good boring, had some great grooves and arrangement and will likely go back and give it a proper listen again (3.5)
I could see this one growing on me, there were elements of most songs I liked. For whatever reason most of them didn't connect with me today. Rating: 3.0
A very big undertaking. Some interesting tracks. Probably needs more listens.
Once again, this is another album with relatively high ratings that I cannot comprehend. The production is mediocre at best, and his voice drowns most of the time in the wall of sound. The music is not bad, but nothing outstanding. It's just another '70s rock album like a thousand others released in that decade.
Favorites: River Song, Dreamer, Thoughts of You Dennis Wilson, perhaps my favorite Beach Boys member (though it is hard to pit any of them against Brian), has a fantastic solo record that I feel is completely overlooked when discussing the amount of influence The Beach Boys have had over music as a whole. This record is lovely, full of some of the most lush and beautiful songs you'll ever hear. I highly recommend this one!
Sometimes, I wish Dennis Wilson wasn't just remembered as the Beach Boy who hung out with Charlie Manson. I didn't really enter this album with the highest expectations but it actually sounds really nice and soothing record. Dennis was sort of the Beach Boy who didn't really sing at all but this record really showed the untapped genius that was in that band. Even though it is easy to not stand out when someone like Brian Wilson is not only in that band but also your brother too. He is sort of like how George Harrison was with the Beatles except he wasn't as overshadowed as he was. But I really liked this record and would actually listen to it again. This record just feels like you're on a boat on the coast of California in the summer watching a beautiful sunset with your love next to you. Overall, while not as impressive as Pet Sounds or even Smile, it is a very underrated album and would absolutely listen to it again if I ever get a chance. RIP Dennis, Carl, and Brian Wilson; they were true geniuses of rock and roll. Favorite Tracks: River Song, Dreamer, Thoughts of You, You and I, Farewell My Friend Rating: 3.5/5
Dennis Wilson's music is almost as interesting as the person himself. Pacific Ocean is an album that feels much more like a singer-songwriter album than a beach boys album, although the influence of that group is felt. It's pretty interesting, has its moments, but also some flat out misses and as whole probably isn't as profound as Dennis Wilson thought it was.
Meh
The Wilson brothers were an amazing force, but never really held my attention. This is right on par with their stuff.
Moist boot energy all the way through.
Interesting rock and roll project, very different from the beach boys work and not really comparable. Didn't grab my interest the whole time, it felt quite long the first time, but not on the second listen. Some songs were very catchy. Not my thing usually but it was a solid 7.5/10
Kind of a cross between beach boys & bruce springsteen…….interesting
Just a touch away from perfection.
4/10
an unexpected surprise that I enjoyed
One of the greatest and best albums ever recorded by humans.
A very well crafted pop-rock album with lot of layers and details with great execution and production. If this is sound as one of the most generic reviews ever, is because I don't really have anything to say about how this record affected me emotionally. It is good but didn't do anything special for me.
You could cross the Pacific Ocean in the time it takes to finish this album.
I really liked the variety in this album.
Wow, I wish The Beach Boys took a note from their former member & sounded more like this in the late 70s.
Very neutral on this, as three as they come
Struggle to get through this
Little brother going for the big sound! I enjoyed the big sound songs on this album like the song "Time". Overall, it felt like he couldn't really pin down a specific style, vacillating between honky tonk blues, funk jams, and orchestral ballads. They're all very interesting but felt sort of, desperate? Like this was his one shot to stand out from the Beach Boy brothers so he had to throw everything at the wall and hope sumething sticks.
I'm one of those Beach Boys junkies, and I love this one! But such a different vibe from the BB albums - if those are fun times on the beach, this one is a nighttime campfire in the swamp. Touches of The Band, JJ Cale, early Springsteen, and Waits, with the horns really shining through. Probably a top 5 BB or related album for me, so it gets a 5.
Liked the sound and style.
WIIIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLLSOOOOOOONNNNNNN!! This guy is great.
I like to read the Spotify bios and he definitely has an interesting one that added to the experience. I would say most of the songs were good but nothing special, but I loved "Time", especially the intensity near the end. "Under The Moonlight" also had some good riffs. "Are You Real" got me bobbing my head. My personal scale 1 - would not listen to again 2 - if some one played it, I'd probably just zone it out 3 - didn't hate it, didn't love it 4 - saved some songs from the album 5 - would buy the album or already own it
Sounds like a 70s album but definitely a lot better than the average 70s album.
It had moments
big sounds. i dig it.
Album had a nice flow. I enjoyed how it made me feel. There were several nice and unexpected moments. I was inspired to listen to it again immediately after finishing it.
This one was a 3 last time and started as a 3 on first relisten. I listened to it a few more times today and it grew on me and really there is some great stuff from the solo outing. Some of it reminded me of Pink Floyd's work. One I could easily see myself coming back to again in the future. Not sure why this one didnt really strike me on the first attempt but there is some really strong songwriting here
A beautiful album. Full of some really surprising pop all the way to somber and melodic pieces. A real shame there aren't any more, but you can absolutely see the influences of other singer songwriters of the time on the work. Some hints of Leonard Cohen, touches of Henry Nilsson. Just a real pleasure to listen to.
I had a feeling I was going to dig this. I love the lore that Dennis Wilson was the ONLY Beach Boy™ who actually lived the lifestyle they sang about lmao. He was the only actual surfer, and he would go out and surf and bang chicks in the sand and come home and tell his brothers Brian and Carl and his dumb cousin Mike Love all about it, and they romanticized it into their whole band identity. Which maybe contributes to how surprising and impressive a record this is. Dennis was always just the surfing drummer to me but this absolutely solidified him as his own dense and potently creative artist. This single album might rival the entire output of The Beach Boys™
4 stars. Definitely expected to not care for this, as The Beach Boys haven’t aged great in my taste. Just my personal opinion. But this was interesting, and had some good melodies.
This was very enjoyably melancholic, and I liked Dennis's slightly ravaged voice. A pretty solid four.
Pretty long with 2 hours. Pretty chill album that can run in the background.
It’s a bit long but it’s still alright
Some really interesting stuff here, just a bit much by the end
I somehow kept forgetting this was playing while it was playing. It was basically white noise to me, no pun intended.
La voix me fait penser à quelque chose entre Elvis Costello et Randy Newman. J’ai trouvé ça un peu long, pour être honnête
J - 2/5 Best Track - "River Song" F - DNL
Increíble. El único disco como solista lanzado por Dennis Wilson, y me pareció una absoluta obra maestra. 33 tracks que me hicieron repensar mucho de cómo estaba repartido el talento entre los Beach Boys. Todos son geniales, claro, pero Dennis fue una verdadera revelación.
Boomer critic bait. Is it just me, or does everything of this generation that puts in modicum of effort get blown out of proportion as a masterpiece?
Give me this over the beach boys any day. There's some crazy good songs on this album, well written and performed. Really enjoy the vocal style.
If this album was 50% shorted it would have stood a chance. Such long albums just dilute anything that has any substance. Not even his excessively thick facial hair could save this one.
This listen was overshadowed by the knowledge of how intimidatingly long it was going to be - at nearly 2 hours long it really put me off getting into it and through it. There were some tracks that were ok (Mexico was a fave) but I was just frustrated the entire time. I would probably have enjoyed it much more if it was 2/3rds less long. Wilson is an excellent name, I enjoyed seeing it emblazoned across the album cover plus a somewhat distracting amount of hair.
Oh gosh, this is so very 70s. I can't decide if that's the good or the bad part about it. At times it's proto-yacht rock, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. It's a bit long for my liking, but I might just not be in the mood for this sort of music right now. Overall: Mid.
sad. innit
Dark beach music. Good stuff. Need to spend more time with it.
Just a beautiful man and an incredible record. So direct, pure and full of emotions.
Great album, I especially liked the mellower, melancholic songs on this one
Very nice! I'm happy to get a chance to listen to this one, it's been on my list for a while.
Pacific Ocean Blue is an album that I carried with me for at least 10 years now. I found this record for 1$ and listened to it every year since. It's beautifully melancholic and spiritual. It feels like having an existential crisis while looking at a very blue and wavy sea. Dennis Wilson really did a tour de force here.
Another Beach Boys timely dominate performance by an overshadowed brother finding his own tune.
How have I never heard anything from this album? It's a bit uneven thematically, but it's a really good listen.
affecting. simple lyrics trying to express big ideas, beautiful instrumentation.
Everything i love about 70's music
Epic and emotional, with a real sense of weight behind it. You can feel the haunted history in every note
This was better than I expected, all the Charles Manson stuff was a wild read while I listened. Overall, I enjoyed this, but not enough to go searching for it again.
6/10/25. Solid album, somewhat deep in The Beach Boys anthology. The second half stands out a lot more than the first, and the songs are more straight up pop vs. progressive. Decent listen.
Some very nice songs there by this Beach Boy, but unfortunately some average ones too (incl. the opener) and the 2nd song (What's Wrong) showcases why I'm not a fan of (this kind of) Rock and Roll. But overall, a nice feel, but not fabulous and not "must hear" material I'd see. All in all, the Beach Boys have the better songs but you can't really compare.
This is one of my favourite albums of all time. It is beautiful, sad, overwrought, joyous, painful. Dennis' songwriting and arrangements rival that of his older brother. The partiest member of the Beach Boys, the one who was friendly with Charles Manson, the one who never tired of chasing women, booze and drugs, was also one of its most sensitive and talented. A very easy 5/5. Not much comes close to this one, in my personal opinion.
Rubbish
Very generic
Not great. Did I NEED to hear this before I died? No. Dennis probably should have stuck with the Beach Boys. Some of the choices on this album were strange. Is that a didgeridoo on the song "Dreamer"? IDK, but it's weird. There's just no soul to this album. Nothing that sets it apart from better works. Anyway, I don't recommend this album. The song that will make the 1001 playlist will be the title track, "Pacific Ocean Blues". That one is at least a bit bluesy. ~ 1.2 Stars
Mid.
Enjoyable. Starting to realise that I might be a blues fan.
It was good but a bit boring. A few too many slow ballads for my liking. River Song is pretty good though.
Fantastic album and production. Would consider revising to 5 star in time
great
Bustam aaaaa
It's got that lush 70s production style but I always want the songs to be more impressive.
Decent singer songwriter album from the 70s. Harmonies sound beautiful (obviously) and some interesting instrumental arrangements here and there. I don't think this would be as well regarded as it seems if a beach boy wasn't involved but it was a nice rainy day driving around album.
This has a good few decent songs but it's almost 2 hours long. That's too long for an album
Album messed up on iTunes after the first few songs. Thought the first song was really good, next two were meh.
Very forgettable
4/5
For a guy associated with two of the craziest families ever (Wilson, Manson), Dennis made some nice-sounding rock music
Tedious and aggressively average. 1.5 stars.
Ok album, don’t see why it needed inclusion
Most of this is amazing, setting the template for post-prog electro-tinged 80s rock. A little bit of it sucks, but let's not talk about that.
very long album. i liked the vibe for the most part tho. would probably have given it a 4 if i listened to the whole thing.
Moody but bright, perhaps reflective of the musician. Or the location and time?
Bit of a selection box here. Guy seems like he was having fun (between all the divorces and being a mad drunk).
I thought it was brilliant. 5 stars for me. It was lush and cosy but still varied and interesting. I'll come back to this a lot
More like 2002 albums, amirite? Because of all of the double albums. This one is ok as a double, there enough variety to almost sustain it but there's still a lot of filler that drags things down. The good stuff is really good stuff tho. Just weird enough to be interesting, just pop enough to be catchy.
Looking at this on Spotify, I saw it was almost 2 hours. I then realized the second disc was just sessions. I am not going to really review it here, but it WAS very demo-y. As for the album ITSELF, I was quite surprised. I was expecting something a bit more like the Beach Boys, and instead is has a very 70s classic rock vibe. Dennis Wilson's vocals can get a little muppet-y at times, but otherwise there are some pretty good tunes on this. One of the songs I liked was "Dreamer", which was very funky. I was a little bothered that when the horns came in and the whole band was starting to rock out, the song faded out. The album really reminded me, for some reason, of Harry Nillsson, although Nillsson was a bit more 70s pop and this is more of a 70s rock album. I would probably give this a 3.5, which does round up, so 4 it is. Top tracks: "Dreamer," "Pacific Ocean Blues," "River Song", "You And I", "Rainbows"
I didn't expect his Joe Cocker-like vocals, but I kind of dug it. It was a pretty slick production; had a bit of Beach Boys feel but also it's own flavor. That flavor was a bit like Steely Dan at times. Back then it might have been innovative but now it just feels like yacht rock, which seems fitting for a Beach Boy. It was better than I thought it might be but I was still ready to listen to something else after a couple plays of the album. I'll give a shout out to River Song, Friday Night, Thoughts of You, and the title track.
Didn't know what to expect based on a) the cover showing a sad and very 70s looking guy and b) learning that he was the founding drummer of the Beach Boys and brother of Brian and Carl Wilson, and he drowned in 1983. Ok, figuring I'm going to hear some variation of the Beach Boys, who I'm not really a huge fan of (I appreciate them, but never really got into them). Well, I ended up really liking this album. VERY different from the Beach Boys. A lot of the songs have a dark edge, no Beach Boys harmonies (although the chorus singing in River Song is outstanding). Many songs sounded like they were going to be Yacht Rock and then opened up into genuinely rocking tunes. The lyrics are so-so, but the underlying sadness comes through. Wilson's singing is so-so, but authentic. A very good album, and a nice discovery on the 1001. Favorite tracks: I liked pretty much all of them (and also enjoyed the tracks from the unreleased follow-up, Bambu). If I had to pick standouts, I'll go with River Song, Dreamer, Thoughts of You, Time (particularly the end), Farewell My Friend, End of the Show.
Takes his beach boys influences, but then makes a very individual record, it’s beautiful in places in its own way. I have listened to this probably more than any of the beach boys album since it became available on reissue. His voice at this point is rough, but that just adds to the texture it has so much heart and soul. 5 Stars. Like others have pointed out the streaming version is the release extra tracks from an unreleased follow up, 1st time listen you should always just listen to the album as it was, like all albums on the list.
some nice tunes
Started quite well with a piano that could have been played by an early Elton John, but went a bit downhill from there. The album is not bad per se, but it rambles too much in 60s and 70s Rock tropes, without too much original ideas. 3/5
The production was great. Interesting sonically. Too many boring songs.
If I wanted to listen to Joe Walsh, I'd listen to Joe Walsh. This is some terrible shit. The critics were right to hate this when it came out. It's only with a softened lense that this even looks halfway decent. I just get pissed when I think of the bands that get omitted for this middling bullshit.
A nice enough album but I just couldn't get into it The songs just left me feeling depressed if I'm being honest 2 ⭐️
I really liked this album! There were a lot of good tracks and I was pleasantly surprised by the piano instrumentals at the end.
GoTG vibe
Nothing about this album is appealing.
When she gives you a 30th Anniversary Edition Disc one: Pacific Ocean Blue (bonus tracks) first track 😳
Don’t really know what I think of this one. It’s definitely underrated. There is a good variety of tracks, some chill, some melancholy. Not all songs are for me, still very Beach Boys (naturally) and it’s a bit long.
Started well but I soon lost interest.
Great... easy listening. Pass for me.
Beautiful ass album holy shit