Reviews (page 5 of 8)
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
I really like the synthesizer and arrangements. Wilson's voice is great but lyrically there isn't much to recall. 2/5
I knew the name was familiar and after listening realized this was one of those Beach Boys. Pretty good listen, nothing outstanding but still good. 6/10
Its referred to as a classic.. I find it quite ordinary though
Not for me.
Not my favorite.
A double CD of this dinner music? One CD is enough I'm done.
This record was WAY better than I thought it would be. I went into it assuming I'd hear some version of what the Beach Boys became when they made "Kokomo." Instead, this was closer in sound to Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel, Harry Nilsson, and Steely Dan. I'm not sure whether to add or subtract a half-star for the Charles Manson thing. On one hand...tragic and brutal murders. On the other..."Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." Let's call that a wash.
I don’t think this would be on this list if Dennis wasn’t apart of The Beach Boys. The album isn’t bad but it’s not great.
One of those albums that I forgot immediately after listening to it
I didn’t hate it like I thought I would. It’s a decent album. Cool harmonies on The River. 1001 album worthy: yes - 81/145
Zzz
I’m a pretty big fan of The Beach Boys so I was fairly excited when I learned about this album. But the problem is that this album doesn’t really have a gem to me. I can hear the craftsmanship and talent that went into this album, however nothing really stood out as super memorable. It wasn’t bad though that’s what’s hard to get across. This album is not offensive to the ears, or patronizing, or disingenuous, it’s just completely forgettable. Not bad, nor great, not memorable. Definitely a huge disappointment though.
I read a brief overview of his life while listening to this album which made it perhaps more melancholy and sad than it really is. A few standout out tracks and a bunch that blend together.
There is probably no more tragic story in American popular music than that of the Wilsons - Brian, Carl, and Dennis. Some of the most beautiful music came from them. I'd argue that while Brian spearheaded The Beach Boys and the surf sound (Dennis was the only surfer in the band) if you give The Beach Boys catalog a listen you'll discover some massive hits and lots of filler. As Brian's creativity and mental acuity waned, Dennis stepped in. While Pacific Ocean Blue is a solo album, there's enough help from the core Beach Boys sans Brian for this to have almost been a Beach Boys album - and I'm glad it's not. This is too marvelous to be anything but a Dennis Wilson album. 4/5
Enjoyed this one. Beach Boy drummer nailed it
Enjoyable listen.
My expectations weren't exactly high for a post-'60s Beach Boys solo record, but this is truly atrocious, and not even in the way that I would have anticipated. At its most overtly soulful, it's a bad Peter Gabriel pastiche, and it's not as if Peter Gabriel — the most loathsome figure in contemporary rock — is an especially worthy figure to emulate in the first place. At its most trite, you may as well not be listening to anything at all.
Ok but felt a bit derivative of all he’d ever done with the Beach Boys.
This album is a little bit of a miracle
No strong feelings
Liked it enough to listen to the full extended edition
Relived to find out it's only the 1st 12 tracks, not the whole double album. Great set of songs overall.
Not a bad album. But wow, poor Dennis Wilson
Hopefully the 2nd disc wasn't necessary because I didn't listen to it. This was a pleasant and relaxing listen with good writing and extra instrumentation that was used subtly but well
I like the scale of it. He can pivot been a single voice with a piano, right into a huge orchestration or a chaotic synth soundscape. But ultimately the songs just don't do much for me. I'll give it another shot at some point to see if it grows on me.
Whilst nowhere near a brilliant album, it’s solidly in the ‘really good’ bracket. I’ve always thought the Beach Boys were inconsistent and over-rated - not bad, but not the musical geniuses they were lauded as. This solo effort by the other Wilson brother though is a most enjoyable listen, maybe if he’d picked his friends better, or maybe been a better swimmer, we could have had more.
Sounds like Beach Boys meets Randy Newman...
I don't get it
Great
Like a blue-eyed soul Beach Boys....it is scratching some of my itches. I bet this is Billy Joel's favorite album. What's Wrong.....that title says more than it meant to when it was written. It's better than the worst Beach Boys...but not much. This album is very uneven....even some of the songs. There's a Steely Dan feel to this album that I do not like. It just got really Steely Dan on You and I. This sounds vaguely like every 70s album rolled into one, Joe Walsh now. Pacific Ocean Blues is the best song though. The one thing I'll say is this album is very short.
Interesting album and very different from beach boys. Not mind blowing but interesting change and fresh sounds
The first track was pretty good, I enjoyed the choral arrangements, everything else was just okay. There were some cool moments here and there like the digeridoo (or whatever) on Dreamer. But not too much of this was very memorable. Some of these songs just sound like generic 80's songs (Dreamer, Thoughts of You, You and I, etc.), so I guess it's cool that this was made in 77, but it still sounds a little generic. FYI: since Spotify only includes the deluxe edition, the last song on the original album is End of the Show. Mid 3.
This didn't catch me at all. I'm not sure why I find it so bland, there's a lot of the ingredients I would normally go for. The end result was just boring.
Very boring. Nothing to this at all.
Yep, this sounds like Beach Boy B sides to me. It’s not unpleasant. It has its moments. I especially liked the Pink Floyd sounding Friday Night. You can’t tell me that wasn’t the intent. Maybe Dennis should have stuck to that formula. Well, here are with Dreamer sounding very Pink Floyd as well. Maybe he’s on to something after all! Well, I guess not. Back to the b side beach boys . Pacific Ocean Blues goes back to that Pink Floyd , non beach boys sound that he really should have stuck with. A whole album of that sound could very well have been a 5 star from me…. Maybe. Choice cut: Friday Night
Wilson's Pacific Ocean Blue fell flat. Had a consistent sound but I think it really pales in comparison to his work with the Beach Boys.
Solid 70s rock album. Nothing super great but a easy listening album all the way through.
I can see how Brian Wilson needed to establish his own identity outside of the Beach Boys and this album presents not a hint of that past life. Everyone is entitled to their personal catharsis and I like to believe Wilson got his here. Whatever opinion of the music I or others express is irrelevant to that process. RIP
Enjoyable album. I was not expecting to like it as much as I did.
1. river - 1 2. uurong- 0 3. moon - 1 4. night - 1.5 5. dreamer - 1.5 6. you - 1.5 7. time - 1.5 8. i - 1.5 9. bluez - 1 10. friend - 1.5 11. rainbouuz - 1 12. zhouu - 0 13. tug - 1 14. only - 1.5 15. man - 2 16. mezico - 2 17. moonlight - 1 18. late - 1 19. zchool - 0 20. remember - 1.5 21. me - 1 22. uuild - 0 23. common - 1.5 24. real - 1 25. burn - 0 26. cocktailz - 1 27. love - 1.5 28. companion - 0 29. bed - 1 30. album - 1.5 31. alone - 1.5 32. piano - 2 33. holy man - 1
This is epically self indulgent. Choir ✅Orchestra ✅2 Hours Long ✅ You could have substituted this Spinal Tap song track and I would not have found it unreasonable.
beachy boii
I am almost halfway through listening to every entry in 1001 Albums To Listen To Before You Die and while it is an absolute slog, moments like loading up a Beach Boys solo album and finding out that actually heroin was only the second biggest influence on Spiritualized’s whole deal make it worth it. Five stars.
Cool album with an interesting ambience to it, nothing too stand out here but I enjoyed the sound overall
Beautiful. The ragged glory of his voice over such lush instrumentation provides a fascinating contrast. Often unfairly overlooked in favour of his brothers but the man is a genius. A criminally underrated album.
Adequate
This album had its highs and lows, but I’d say the highs definitely outweigh the lows. Dennis Wilson, a founding member of The Beach Boys and their drummer, took a different path with this album. It’s a mix of soft rock, art rock, and singer/songwriter vibes. You can tell this album is a more personal and introspective reflection of his life and struggles. While The Beach Boys had that bright, sunny daytime feel, this album dives into a darker, nighttime atmosphere. It’s soulful, with a dark, orchestral vibe. In some ways, it’s a departure from The Beach Boys, but it still carries a lot of their signature traits, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse. But one of the biggest downfalls is the length, it’s a two hour long double album, and that’s just way too much. It definitely drains you and starts to wear on you by the end. Overall, it’s an intriguing album that was worth the listen, but I’m still on the fence about how much I truly enjoyed it.
interesting ex beach boy. better than the other solo careers
River Song and Moonshine were the highlights. I can see this one growing on me over time.
Interesting album. There are some tracks that have that lush, orchestrated (and sometimes psychedelic) pop sound I expect from a Beach Boy. But it’s also much grittier. There are some nice 70s rock songs. Dennis Wilson’s voice definitely has grit and texture. Sometimes he even sounds a little pitchy, but the performances come off as vulnerable and raw.
A beautiful and at times sprawling and big album that offers a wide range of instrument / layer ideas and an edgier singing voice than his brothers Brian and Carl. To me he's kind of like the John Lennon to Brian Wilson's Paul McCartney. I really enjoyed this and will definitely give it more listens soon.
I only listened to the original 37 minute album but it’s a sweet one. Very few bad things came from The Beach Boys :)
Maybe too long, but I liked it. PS after reading wikipedia: I've never heard about him before, now I know why. Damn, they really thought Manson was a great guy? I mean, WTF. But still, a good album.
Cool, fun, 70s rock
First reaction; Is this the guy from Beac boys? (Yes it is.) I'm not really getting beach boys vibes though. Which I suppose isn't all that odd. Decent flow and feeling. But at the same time, kinda meh. 3/5
Hell yeah, Dennis Wilson. These are just good jams.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz
I liked this far more than I've ever liked a Beach Boys album. This was good as hell. Soulful in the ways I like, with a good range of songs to make the album dynamic. Excellent stuff.
A pretty little record that's neither amazing nor boring.
One of my all time favorites I own the record
I was a bit terrified by the cover, expecting an utter MOR snooze-fest. Then I realised it was a Beach Boy, and what's more, probably the most "troubled" of an undoubtedly troubled family. Saying that, I didn't have huge expectations, as I'm not a fan. But this did give me a sense of an artist; I'd describe him as a "sensitive rocker" at this point. There's sleaze and drama: several tracks, including Friday Night, would have sounded perfect in a Miami Vice episode. It has some enjoyable moments of guitar, synth and lazily-paced piano, all wrapped up in that marvellous late-70s production. There's truth, sensitivity and vulnerability. I ended up feeling very sad that his life went the way it did.
Seems okay based on one listen, could be a grower.
просто без понятия.....ни хорошо, ни плохо нет слов, пацифик оушен блюз
Very 70s
I'm not into this style of 70's pop rock. I can't call it bad, but it isn't for me.
I think it was maybe more interesting at the beginning and then the quality slowly dropped off. I couldn't tell if it was 70s cool or 70s lame. It was like the Beach Boys without being catchy.
барабанщик бич бойс, ваще фирмово звучит. околопинкфлойдовские баллады с хорошими партиями и приятными тембрами. просто медленно созерцает реальность
Wowie 4.5/5
George Harrison energy. Similar standing in the pecking order of his old band.
This is a phenomenal album. It reminded me of Dion a bit. Pretty much the entire second side of the album consists of ballads. This album is deeply reflective and it’s a shame Wilson didn’t make another one.
Not sure why this album is in the list. But oh well. Harmless.
I never really got this album. It's not as good as a real beach boys but sounds like it but is just kinda there. Eh not for me
Dennis’s killer one and only album stands up with what the best of what The Beach Boys were putting out around that time
3 estrelas
Much better than I expected, Brian could learn something from this adventurous album.
Pretty chill, pretty smooth. I thought Time was the standout track
Here’s the thing about this one. Is he of the beach boy lineage? Yes. BUT I think he busts through that ruler which may have been holding him back. Not every song was a hit. All kind of a 70’s ballad style in their own way. Stand outs were: Love remember me and moonshine.
Another album that was not bad, but did not need to be so long. There were some uptempo songs cushioned by ballads and instrumental pieces. Not objectionable, but not thrilling.
This record is thoroughly cool & impressive. I appreciate the murkier, bluesier surf rock sound with a little sprinkling of Charles Manson. Very re-listenable. Standout tracks are “Dreamer”, the title track, and “You and I” Standout
Interesting album, the writing was very good and some of the songs had a nice sound although a little dated. Standout song for me was “Dreamer” “Pacific Ocean Blues” “Under the Moonlight” .
Pleasantly surprised!
Not bad.
Overlong? Indulgent? Sure. But Wilson has a gift for creating songs that reflect his dreamy yearning as an artist. Some beautiful melodies here; it reminds me a little bit of Brian’s work.
It’s fine. Less surprising or engaging than the ambient sounds of the overground I’ve heard for the last 3 and a half years though. Dennis Wilson said this album had no substance and who am I to disagree with a beach boy
This has crazy high production value
If this is the only album of note of post- Beach Boys solo work I’d to hear what the rest of them came up with
Listened to the whole two-hour deluxe, though the rating is only for the actual album, which is decent.
This one of the best album ever made and under my personal top 10! It's gospel rock in the perfect sense. Like the ocean it is mysterious, the music comes and goes and brings you to the next step. Wilson worked ages on this and it all worked out in the end.
it’s a decent album. It’s just not something I would seek out regularly to Again
I accidentally listened to this monster of an album 1 and a half times. It was really good, though, and I think I’d be willing to listen to the whole thing again. Not a common occurrence for such a long album.
по ощущению альбом всеми силами пытался обогнать свое время, но не задалось, 4/5
Beautiful album - that I had never heard before. Great stuff.
Outstanding album. I only knew of Brain Wilsons solo stuff but in my opinion this is better than anything Brian did as a solo.
This album starts off incredibly strong with River Song. Thoughts of You and Time are two awesome songs. At times, however, the songs become a bit repetitive. His voice here is quite raspy and raw, very different than what I have heard on the Beach Boys' records. This is something I would return to on a warm summer evening, maybe with a beer and some friends, to put on as background music. If I had listened to it on such a day, it might have gotten a perfect score. Of the “bonus” tracks (which make up the majority of the album), I liked the first 4 the most. Wild Situation was a fun listen as well and Are You Real almost sounded like prog at times.
Oh yikes. Feels like The Beach Boys Bible Revival Revue. It’s nice that they know how to play their instruments. But that’s it for me.
this to me was a bit of a let down with how much I love The Beach Boys. It was alright but nothing special.
Pretty good. Not as good as The beach Boys or Brian Wilson's stuff but still
Definitely influenced Peter Gabriel. Not sure I'll be coming back to this much, though.
Just couldn't get into this at all.
Enjoyed this a lot and will definitely listen again. It may well become a 4.
joa, insgesamt etwas ruhig; technisch/musikalisch ganz schön
3.3
Just excellent. As a big Beach Boys fan I completely forgot how good this record was. I love the piano work which is super energic and progressions are near perfect. The mix of genres is also just done very well, we get to enjoy some jazzy elements alongside the rock apeal of the record. There's also a clear identity and flow throughout the album which is great, the intro is powerful and the closer is more down tempo, which in my opinion is the best way to go about. I really just overall enjoyed the production and insturmentals on the record along-side Dennis' raspy and raw vocals, just great. Overall score: 9.0/10
This is the soundtrack for the hippy commune’s last group sex session because they had to split up because gas prices got too high.
The 70s was just a supremely good decade for albums and this feels accomplished and satisfying if a little long - although the "deluxe" version is the only one available on spotify at the moment. This one seems like it couldndo with a few listens. Maybe I'll find one a little tighter.
It's got a little bit of everything in here. Starts off with an absolute ripper in River Song. Pacific Ocean Blues is the first track I ever heard off of this - probably about 5-10 years ago at this point. Its a little all over the place - but then you peel it back and realize this is his only album....of course you're gonna have a little bit of everything in there. Some ballads, some bops, some jams. Overall definitely into it - but i wish it were a little tighter and more succinct
Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Artwork: 🧔🏻♀️🌊🔤 Production: 🧈😊👌 Music: 🎻🎺🎤🦣🌅🍃 Rating: 🧭🧭🧭/5
Too pop, kinda pink Floyd. Cool orchestral. Too long and mismatched.
The problem with these long double albums is it’s hard to keep the interest going, especially when a lot of the songs sound very similar. However this was interesting in places and not the worst listen. Was expecting it to be more like the Beach Boys than it was. Certain songs felt a bit bland but some were ok.
Never heard of this one, and on the surface it is a fairly run of the mill, uninspiring, uninteresting meander of an album. However, there is some good variation of style and solid songwriting.
And the award for album I least expected to and still don’t understand why I really like it goes to….this cheeky little Wilson number. Never heard of it before, but the production, subtlety varied styles and sort of chilled funky melancholy vibe grabbed me. Might be the fact it’s a miserable winter’s day effect again. [PS. Who knew The Charlatans ‘Blind stagger’ so blatantly borrowed the melody off ‘Rainbows’]
Another example of why punk happened. This is a bloated mess of classic middle of the road rawk, lots of studio time devoted to fleshing out tired songs.
4/10
p386. 1977. 2.5 stars. 70s Beach Boys, but with rough vocals and no standout tunes. Fabulous production though.
High 3. The highs were great but the lows were meh
This was an ok album but an extremely interesting story to read about. Hard to rank it’s the highest of 2s and lowest of 3s.
A Seventies Beach Boys copy without the tunes, you say..?
This sounds more like early Dire Strait rather than the surf sound. It's quite heavy in places. There was a lot going off in 1977 away from punk. Not all of it can be dismissed. Pacific Ocean Blue sits well alongside the likes of John Martyn and Genesis at the time. Quality.
This was an alright album that didn't really impress much - but I am not sure it needed to. It is competent and listenable.
Late 1970s singer-songwriter cult solo album from Beach Boys' drummer, Dennis Wilson, the only surfer in the band who best exemplified the California Dream and has a nightmarish association with the Manson Family. River Song has a well-produced chorus of many to flesh out his ravaged by his vices voice. What's Wrong is a limping boogie rock and roll, Moonshine is unexpected soaring and electronic with strings, synths and piano. Friday Night starts like Pink Floyd and continues to sound like it, but Wilson's voice sounds strained when it comes in. Dreamer is delta funk from a tormented soul who witnessed the price of fame, it shifts to a redemptive piano and bells interlude before the bass harmonica, tuba and saxophone returns. Thoughts of You, is a piano ballad about the impermanence of nature and love, It becomes a more menacingly morose affair with echo-laden vocals and strings. Time begins with Wilson repeated "home" a destination where "she waits to share love" but he admits that he is the kind of guy to mess around because he knows lots of women, impressive tempo shift! Obviously this album would produce an elite, word of mouth, influence. You and I has a Yacht Rock sound but the opening line "I've never seen the light that people talk about" is the most heart-breaking pronouncement I have ever heard in a love song by an alcoholic heroin addict burning out. Pacific Ocean Blue is a bluesy rock adjacent jam "We live on the edge of a body of water/ Warmed by the blood of the cold hearted slaughter of otter/Wonder how she feels mother seal/It's no wonder the Pacific Ocean is blue" with a gospel quality. This song could have been a minor hit. Farewell My Friend is beautiful but these melancholy songs about estrangement, longing and disillusionment will always be limited in their interpretation due to the nature of his death. Rainbows is a life affirming and upbeat song. End of the Show is quite somber. We are in bonus track territory because Legacy records gathered and remastered Pacific Ocean Blue, recordings intended for his unreleased follow-up album Bambu and various outtakes. Not certain that I am in the mood to give another CD full of material, let alone four bonus track, a listen. Tug of Love was not that compelling, Only with You is better in fact the vocal melody is a bit more dynamic than everything on the official album and the piano playing is more assured. Holy Man, an instrumental whose Wilson rejected vocal take is forever lost to the world, on the second CD is a reconstructed version with recalled melody and lyrics performed by Foo Fighters Taylor Hawkins, but I am not likely to explore that. Mexico, not labelled an instrumental, but it is and it sounds like the saddest ode to a country known for bright colors and festive music.
The Pink Floyd influence is obvious. It’s an interesting album, but Dennis’s voice isn’t strong enough to carry it. Ironically, I think this would have worked well as Beach Boys material, and makes for an interesting “what if”.
Solid 3.5/5
Mye pen musikk her, åpenbart veldig flinke folk. Men det sier meg lite.
Both sad and beautiful. I can hear Brian’s influence.
Zu schwermütig, irgendwie überproduziert.
This was ok. Enjoying mellow
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.
Good 3.5
a long album that spans a number of genres that all are tastefully done and show the wide range of musical interests that this former beach boy likes.
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.
It was Ok
Ok but didn't capture my attention enough
I kept asking myself, "when is this album going to end?!" Couldn't tell you a single track that stood out or interested me.
Endnu et virkelig godt popalbum, dem har der været mange af på det sidste
Rigtig god produktion! Stor 3er!
Kind of blends into the background. Kinda Jesus heavy...
I like this. It's really melancholy. But it's WAY too long, even without the bonus album content. It sometimes has some Pink Floyd vibes to it.
WTF was that
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.
This album is undeniably pleasant, showcasing Dennis Wilson’s impressive talent as a multi-instrumentalist and his ability to craft heartfelt, atmospheric songs. However, while it has moments of beauty, I found it lacking the spark that would make it truly memorable. The songs are solid, and you can feel the passion Wilson poured into this solo effort, but none really stood out enough for me to consider it a must-listen. It’s an album I respect more than I love—worth exploring for fans of The Beach Boys or anyone curious about Wilson’s solo work, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression. Standout Song: None particularly stood out for me. Score: 3/5
Creeped up on me but I was seriously into most of the songs before I realized it.
liked it more than my first listen, but not by much
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.
Hay calidad pero tampoco me volvió loco. Todo lo que es Beach Boys me aburre un poco, pero hay buenos arreglos.
The lost album of Dennis Wilson which was better than that eras BB stuff. It's good but not great.
Nothing bad about it but nothing memorable either. A couple of toe-tappers but not one ear-worm. A bit cookie-cutter. A totally forgettable album.
It’s fine. Just fine.
This was a nice listen, but really not that different from other 70s rock. Which, in my opinion, this list has too much of.
Enjoyed this one. Deserves another listen.
++: 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
I can see how this was an influential album. That said. It's too long, and I lost interest along the way. If edited down, I think I would have appreciated it more.
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.
Dad rock
My initial thought when seeing this cover pop up was, man, Robin Williams (RIP) totally could've played him in a biopic (they definitely both had the same epic chest-hair sweater haha). It didn't immediately dawn on me that this was one of the Beach Boys. Then I pressed play on the album, and 10 seconds into the first song I was like, wait a minute. This album felt like a pretty ambitious project. The first couple songs are very in line with the Beach Boys' style — lots of 60s bluesy surf-pop riffs, lots of harmonies, the same kind of airy lyrical themes. The opening track, "River Song" has a very cinematic scope like some of the stuff off of Pet Sounds. But around "Moonshine," the album takes a turn toward weightier songs with a bit more gravitas. The lyrics and the music get darker and heavier. "Friday Night" is something I'd more expect to hear from a band like Dire Straits than the Beach Boys. "Dreamer" has a Parliament-Funkadelic vibe to it. Parts of the album are definitely a little overwrought — the bridge with the Christmas bells on "Dreamer" is a bit much. "Thoughts of You" starts as a stripped-down piano ballad and builds into a melodramatic Pink Floyd-esque piece that doesn't quite work. There's a lot of brass on "Time," though I kind of dig the banger it turns into on the way out. "You and I" is a cheesy mid-tempo soft-rock ballad that has echoes of "Kokomo" — the Beach Boys at their worst, in my opinion. "Pacific Ocean Blues," is reminiscent of a bluesy Bill Withers bop that teeters right on the edge of going over into cheesy territory. I liked "Rainbows" more than I was expecting to. It's another song that hovers right on the line of cheesy, but I'm a sucker for jangly guitars and harmonies. This album was a mixed bag. I think on balance I liked it more than I disliked it, though there are definitely some misses. But I respect the swing he took on it, and it shows that Brian Wilson wasn't the only talented member of the Beach Boys. I only listened through "End of the Show" as that's where the original tracklist ends. But I might come back and finish out the bonus tracks and Bambu at some point. Highlights: Moonshine, Dreamer, Time, Pacific Ocean Blues, Rainbows 3.5/5
3.5 stars-pretty enjoyable-yacht rocky
Love the album art. Twinkly piano, harmonies. Chill and happy. 70s pop. Some songs sound like Peter Gabriel. Some really interesting songs. Very vibey. Very chill California. I want to put this on in Malibu, sitting on a terrasse, watching the sunset over the Pacific, nice drink in hand. A Beach Boy and I prefer this solo record. Sounds like Eric Clapton. Sadly passed 6 years later at 39. Beautiful instrumentals. Bluesy.
This was a weird album for me. I though it had really solid and compelling songs with a lot of unique elements, but also a lot of what felt like filler tracks that didn't do anything. Would have been much better as an EP, too much fat on an already shorter album. Top tracks: River Song, Dreamer, Farewell My Friend
One good song
Second favourite B Boy. This gets better every listen. Not every track is a winner but the winners win by miles.
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
I kept waiting for that one standout song, turns out they all stood out equally, by being forgettable.
Like this! Bought the album.
Incredibly musically dense record from a talented though tragic figure.
This blew me away. Listened to it twice. His voice reminds me of Roger Waters. It’s trippy and airy and dirty and dreamy and gnarly all at the same time.
Decent classic rock, with the addition of horns here and there. His voice is nice, and the instrumentation is interesting. Nothing grabbed my attention though.
background music
Never heard of Dennis Wilson before. You can hear a little bit of Beach Boys influence, but its not enough to give this album much of a boost. Not bad really, but nothing great either. Best song: Pacific Ocean Blues
Like the Peter Gabriel album this week, I gave this a couple of listens because I wasn't really getting it, but in this case, I still don't really get it. Mark says it's really good so I feel I must be missing something. It sounds... fine. A bit middle of the road. But there's some interesting instrumentation and the songs seem.. fine. It's fine. I don't know what I need from it to like it more. Maybe it's just the turnover of 1001 albums that means I don't have time to develop a relationship with the music. Maybe it's just a bit ballad-y for me. I don't hate it. Maybe I'll come back to it. I don't know. Oh, I have to point out that there's a chord change in "Mexico" that sounds just like a King Crimson song, "The Court of the Crimson King" from their first album in 1969.
Such a great album!
This was fine, but I wouldn't listen to it again.
There are some good songs here but it all sounds s bit derivitive. The opening song; The River,probably the catchiest on the album, sounds enough like Tiny Dancer at the opening that I found myself singing; Blue Jeans baby.... but if you're going to rip off a piano riff you could definitely do worse. It it's a good song. The next song sounds like a generic honky tonk bar band doing their best song and that theme of songs that lack a personality of their own continues throughout. So it's a pleasant album with good if unoriginal songs that does not beat repeated listens. 2.5 stars
2.5 it was alright
я мало слушала но атмосфера понравилась
Difficult to rate, as I’d never heard of him or known any of these songs. Epic yet failing. Maximum studio production meets minimal lyrical talent. Overindulgent yet pretty.
Not for me. It seemed self indulgent and dull. Sorry
Post Beach Boys Dennis Wilson reminds me of pot Beatles Paul McCartney. You can hear where he’s coming from, but he tries to incorporate some more modern influences. As far as an almost 50 year old record can be modern. Favorite song: thoughts of you
229/1001
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.
3☆/5 11.20.2024
Not for me sorry!
Why?
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.
Beachboy Dennis Wilson sluit zich op in het oude strandhuis en komt naar buiten met een enorme baard en een soloplaat. In alle eerlijkheid vind ik het niet spectaculair. Als je ziet wat er in de jaren zeventig op het gebied van rock en singersongwriter is gepresteerd, en wat de Boys eerder zelf hebben neergezet, steekt dit maar bleek af. Hij probeert wat, maar gaat er nooit echt voor. Da's nou net niks.
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.
I feel like I should have enjoyed this more but it didn't speak to me.
Heavy Beach Boy influences. Some nice tunes, some weird and exotic like Brian Wilson. Enjoyed it.
There was an expectation of more Beach Boys sound. Seemed strong enough to stand on its own
Why is this two discs? It’s fine and the lyrics are nice but…. 2.5
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.
a couple of songs were good but the rest were bad bordering on cringe.
Took a look at this and thought "HOW long??" - but actually it worked really well as a whole experience. The Dark Beach Boys continues to be one of the main new discoveries from albumfest. Really well-structured, a rewarding listen
Long double CD, but it was good music to cook to.
Being in the music genre I like, it was easy listening for me. Also being a fan of The Beach Boys, and this being his solo album, made it a special thrill to listen to. One note. There are so many tracks on this album that it reminded me of the old K-Tel albums I used to buy.
It wasn't awful but not really my cup of tea
Started slow and then got great and then got boring again. However, the original.track list ends right where I started to lose interest!
Im now very mellow
This album is great. Incredible melodies and production. Really enjoy this more and more with each subsequent listen.
a reasonably beachy boy
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
I have mixed feelings about this album. I’m sorry he passed away. Dennis Wilson cannot sing very well. +1 because… The Beach Boys
Classic 70's
Ahead of his time and cool voice
Really great— who’s the better Wilson?
Dennis needed to pick a lane. It was enjoyable enough, but a pretty disjointed listening experience.
Really nice album. I didn’t realize he had a solo album. Kind of has a Harry Nilsson vibe.
Not bad, but a little long for no reason. 3
this was a nice album, i enjoyed some tracks, i learned that this was the drummer of the beach boys and he died at 39 which is really sad, he could’ve made more music as a solo artist it would’ve been great
My god this was torture. So boring, so long.
Wilson’s vocals are fantastic and the instrumentals only match them. It’s such a varied album that has a lot of different yet interesting sounds. He deserves to plaster his name on the album cover.
3.75 really, very gentle and relaxing!
Carefully crafted. Insipid. 5/10
I was pleasantly surprised by this one! I wasn't really aware that Dennis Wilson was one of the Beach Boys or that any of them had solo careers other than Brian Wilson. I'm quite pleased with this selection.
Enjoyed!
Loved every bit.
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
Yeah whatever. It's fine. It's not terrible. It's short but it's just another forgettable bit of 70s boomer rock that just exists.
Pink Floyd vibes.
It's Dennis Wilson, but it's definitely not The Beach Boys' sound. Sometimes dreamy, sometimes trippy, always interesting. Not bad at all.
3.5/5. Not bad, although it was pretty average. I am a fan of the Wilsons, but this one did not really grab me. Although I was not paying super close attention to this.
Waaaay better than I remembered. Goes to show how hard it can be for me to listen to something with an open mind.
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.
This was a little disappointing. I'd assumed it was on the list for some good reason--not sure what that is right now.
I kind of had some high hopes based on the intro to the first song but it settled into an album I found grating to listen to. Not sure if it was his vocals or just the blend of 70s rock stylistic element . Or both. 2.5.
haunting, interesting, mostly fun
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).
enjoyed this more than anticipated, but there were some hard misses in there
This is very not what I expected, and kind of reminded me of yesterday's Nick Cave. Except, like, slower and more 70's in sound and instrumentation.
Enjoyed the vibe of this however it was perhaps a little too long.
Meh. Nice but unmemorable
the history on this album is the most interesting part
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.
Geht so
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.
About what I expected from a lone Beach Boy. Some good lake music, nothing outstanding though. I only listened to the original version, maybe someday I'll give the whole deluxe a listen.
medio depre pero es bueno
Desconocía las turbulebtas vida y obra de este genio detrás de los beach boys. Grata sorpresa.
Es realmene muy bueno el disco del amiguito de Charles Manson
This really feels like a parent saying "Brian! Let Dennis play with the guitar!". It's not a bad album but it's a bit far from what made some of the Beach Boys have a lasting impression. This album has some strength but doesn't feel like it's treading into especially new territory vs trying to recreate a solo version of what worked for the band. I do like some of the instrumental choices and this is worth a listen, but it didn't blow me away.
This has some interesting bits. Not a fan of most of the synth stuff. The tracks Thoughts of You and Time, do seem to tap into some real emotion. Time is probably the coolest track. I do like the use of trumpet. The fact that the album was recorded over a span of seven years seems to make it less sonically cohesive.
First of all, I love the name of this album. However, that was the best thing about the album for me. It's not bad and I didn't hate it, but I found it a bit dull and bland. I felt like most of the songs just didn't go anywhere. I did like the last part of "Time" and how upbeat "Pacific Ocean Blues" was. The rest, though, was perhaps a bit too chill for my liking.
Loved it
the beach boys this was not. I can see why he only made one record. He probably single handedly put Messina out of business.
This album may have gotten a 3 if it was a normal length, but the fact that it's 33 songs and nearly 2 hours long just makes it annoying.
I didn't dislike it, but there is just something heavy and belabored about it that keeps it from grabbing me.
Can only imagine this guy had the chance to make an album because he was the drummer for the Beach Boys. Otherwise, this sounds like it could be any other mid-to-late 70s asshat, throwing spaghetti at the wall (Soulful? Sure. Honky tonk? I guess. Bluesy funk and some balladeering? Why not!) Bonus - it's with a less than stellar voice. But props to anyone whose wiki mentions having to buy rafts of penicillin for Manson family cult members due to the persistent gonorrhoea. Way to shoot for the moon, I guess.
I tried like four different times to finish the entire thing but it's just so boring to me. Doesn't make me feel anything.
Good smooth rock n roll
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.
Um, not a great voice. Music was fine, but not very inspired. A bit boring tbh.
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 a singer-songwriter album adapted obviously from Wilson’s Beach Boys experience - something that I’m sure is loved primarily because of this link. It’s another one of those albums that would seriously grow on me if it was, eg. one of a few CDs in my car, or if it was on heavy rotation in my house. There’s some genuinely amazing stuff here, see Dreamer, Time and the short and snappy title track. But, apart from possible personal connection to it, why would you choose this over plenty of other great singer-songwriter albums?
It's ok but I can't help thinking of Brian Wilson's solo work in comparison and this doesn't hold up well. Low 2.
It's been spinning round these parts for 30+ years mainly in warm weather. Not keen on the inclusion of Bambu