Pacific Ocean Blue

Our theme this week is “drowned singer songwriters” If you’re a big Beach Boys head like me, you know that Dennis Wilson is kind of considered the George Harrison of the group, a brilliant artist in his own right, overshadowed by titanic genius. In this analogy, Brian Wilson is both John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Carl Wilson is Ringo Starr. Al Jardine is a coat rack at Abbey Road Studios and Mike Love is Mark David Chapman. And I’m honestly tempted to just let that be because the alternative is just the factoids: he was the one who surfed! He was the one who hung out with the Manson family! He was the one who was already dead by the time the Beach Boys showed up on Full House so Uncle Jesse got to sing one of his songs! But like at the end of the day, this is one of those albums that I revisit every few years to see if I love it yet and this is the closest I’ve gotten. I think the album excels on the slower piano driven ballads but the more rock/funk/blues moments are snoozers for me. Which makes sense for the guy who wrote and sang Forever.

I feel like this is an album that was given bigger accolades because the person passed away. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't amazing. I understand the impact this individual had on the Beach Boys and I understand there is a lot of musical talent in his ability to play music, but the rest just felt okay. It is a departure from the Beach Boys and likely would have had a bigger impact in the musical world had he lived, however to me it was just kind of okay and likely would have not been revered if not for him dying tragically.

I have now gotten quite a lesson on this former Beach Boy. I don't even know where to begin in formulating my thoughts on his life as a whole, but that's not why we're here today. The anniversary album on Spotify is at least triple the length of the original released album, so I'm only reviewing the OG version, which I think is pretty fantastic. He sings with the depth of a soul well seasoned in being tortured, and builds layers of backing vocals and instrumentation that make most of these tracks feel very epic. Each song drew me a little deeper into his world and his mind and left me wanting more. Special shout-out to the Loch Lomond nod in Farewell My Friend. I also especially liked Rainbows. RIP, my new friend…

It was ok, not like the beach boys

Rainbows coming in clutch

Tough voice. Even tougher life.

Exhibit D of why 2LP albums should be excluded from this list. The best 12 songs from this collection might amount to a 3-star album. Unfortunately, the additional 21 tracks bloat this to a nearly 2 hour slog fest.

Cool kinda Beach Boys meets smooth 70s/80s yacht rock type vibes on this one. Interesting enough to listen to once, but not sure that there's a lot to make me come back a 2nd time.

At least it's not 12 songs about cars and surfing.

Other than "Smile", I haven't heard much of the Beach Boys solo work so I was excited to check this out. He may not be as talented as his brother, but Dennis can undoubtably hold his own. The last minute and a half of "Time" is phenomenal. Favorite track: Time 3.5/5

For some reason I bought the CD of this when it was reissued. I loved the River Song but never really got on with the rest of the album. Pretty much same story today. Love River Song- less keen on the rest of it - lots of ideas - just not enough joy.

Some 70s moody rock. More a rusty barge than a yacht. Vocals similar to Peter Gabriel. Some decent tunes, actually preferred the bluesy-chill of disc 2.

An inoffensive album.

Listen to again. 3 1/2 stars

There’a a lot of beautiful music on this album (which consists of only the first 12 songs). So much better than what the Beach Boys were doing at the time (15 Big Ones, The Beach Boys Love You). Unfortunately, Dennis’ voice was getting pretty trashed by this time. I would give this album 5 stars if not for the generally poor quality of his vocals.

Sorry dude, I'm sure you worked hard on these songs. I can't listen to the whole thing. 3 stars.

Theatrical, dramatic rock

Feels a lot different from the Boys' stuff but the quality is there, with Dennis Wilson's creative input taking the spotlight. There's something heavy there that isn't dramatic.

Not familiar with the singer, so this is my first time listening to the album. Here’s my live commentary: River Song — Starts the album with a bang. I like it. The vocal production is just marvelous with those huge background choir vocals. Great opening! What's Wrong — I dig this. Love the use of instruments here—you’ve got this bouncy piano, deep harmonica, and punchy horns playing together. Very nostalgic. Moonshine — Started a bit rough but got interesting in the middle to the end. I like the repeated "Gone, Gone away"—very good outro with those moody synth waves underneath. Friday Night — All right, loving the long intro—very eerie with that heavy, chugging guitar and bass drive. Love his vocals here. Great job. Wish it could be longer though. This feels like an interlude of some sort, it's too short. Dreamer — Great starting, love the sound effects. But it got really interesting when that funky keyboard and deep saxophone come in. Ohh... it changed pace in the bridge, that was a surprise! Yes, love that brass section part. Thoughts of You — Love the simplicity here on the first half with just the quiet piano. Loving the transitions on the second part, but it gets so loud when the big strings and drums swell, and then it returns to the basic piano on the third part. This one deserves to be longer. I want more. Time — We're getting the same moody, eerie vibe here. Oh! Another surprise change here with those jazzy horns kicking in! You and I — Love it. Love the subtle percussion, light acoustic guitar, and soft bass. Just chill all throughout. My favorite track so far. Pacific Ocean Blue — I'm enjoying this. The background vocals were just heavenly over that steady beat and floating synth sound. Farewell My Friend — Another short track. Why? I want it longer. Where are the extended outros when you need one? (Though that warm organ sound in the back is gorgeous). Rainbows — Great song, but not as impactful as the previous one. Love that faint country-style folk picking on the stringed instruments in the background. End of the Show — Another short song? Why? This is the ending track. Should have been an explosive closing, but this feels like a letdown for an ending. Not gonna review the other additional tracks. This right here is enough. I'm sure the bonus tracks are great. First-Listen Verdict: Oh, I'm speechless after having to experience all that. This deserves a couple of re-listens. Just so many things happening in a song. Man, the transitions were so unexpected! Despite the many short tracks (why does he have to be such a tease?), this clearly is a 5-star album on first listen. What a great bunch of carefully crafted songs! Favorite Song: It's hard to choose. I don't want to think about it. So I'm choosing the simplest song on the album, and that's saying something: "You and I." Will I listen to the album again? Definitely! I'm excited to discover details that I've missed. Will I recommend this album? Undoubtedly, yes.

it’s probably the opus of the second best Beach Boy. much more of a logical conclusion from what they were doing for the rest of the 70s than Love You (granted i like Love You more than this). the one with the didgeridoo is a real gem. deserves to be one of the 1001? i mean it's a cult classic among Beach Boys fans, but it really isn't that relevant on a macro scale. so no, but i do love it anyways.

Gotta be honest, disc 2 lost me. Good stuff nonetheless. Can't be easy trying to write songs when your older brother is Brian Wilson. 3.76

glaub en unglückliche mensch gsi aber halt en beach boy. s isch huere moody aver no guet? de schluss vo time gfallt mer mega.

What if Randy Newman and Joe Walsh jammed with Spiritualized? Ladies and Gentlemen We're Floating

Meh. Some cool moments but nothing special to me. Favorite Tracks: River Song Moonshine Thoughts of You Time

It's No Wonder The Pacific Ocean Is Blue 1001 Albums Generator 365 (10/6/2026) An album that proves that Brian Wilson wasn't the only good songwriter in the Beach Boys, but he sure was the best one. 3/5. Favs: River Song Moonshine Thoughts of You Least Fav: What's Wrong

Relentlessly bland, intensely boring. No way am I listening to two hours of this shit

I can't help think that this is on the list simply because of the overblown hype associated with the Beach Boys. This is dull at best, and far too long, which is why I skipped each track and didn't linger. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ in part Revisit ❌️ ★★☆☆☆(4/10) Default Total reviewed : 444 Already owned : 99 Purchased : 25 To buy : 1 Nope : 319

Это было очень долго, но слушать было действительно приятно на всем протяжении

it was ok. I am unlikely going to listen to this again. If it was not Dennis Wilson would it have got the same respect?. That said, it was an enjoyable enough listen, but nothing to write home about. Standout song was Time. 3 stars

I'm much less famliar with the solo work of any of the Beach Boys compared to the band's work. This though was pretty neat. Much different from the Beach Boys so its pretty understandable that he would release this solo.

Great 70s pop rock, but it did sound a bit same-y

idk id rather listen to all of the beach boys together and not jus one of them. its alr tho

Ein schönes, salzig‑melancholisches Strandalbum, das mehr Atmosphäre als Substanz liefert. Wilsons raues Timbre trägt die Songs warm durchs Rauschen, doch oft bleibt es beim Mood statt beim Moment.

Недооцененный альбом 70х с красивыми и не скучными аранжировками и неожиданными музыкальными ходами. У Денниса есть схожесть по вайбу с иихим и гениальным Битлом - Джорджем Харрисоном. К этому альбому хочется вернуться.

Mwah, few good songs

Not sure about this. I didn't manage to listen to it all but it felt a bit all over the place, like he was trying to find somthing but couldn't pin it down.

Opener is epic as hell. The album peters out from there into meh Joe Walsh sound-alike rock with better-than-average production, save for "Thoughts of You," a really heartfelt love song. It was a good record overall, however.

Some interesting and varied songs here. Quite enjoyable.

Not my thing.

Ses fréquentations de la famille Manson me glacent le sang. Musicalement, c'est vraiment novateur pour l'époque je dirais, on entend une influence prog rock et quelque chose de proto 80s. J'entends beaucoup le Waters de Final Cut et Peter Gabriel solo! C'est vraiment curieux, j'avais recommencé à écouter Pet Sounds en boucle et j'ai commencé le documentaire The Beach Boys cette semaine, drôle de coincidence!

J’adore Dennis. Le wilson avec la vie la plus rock n roll

Honestly not a bad album. Takes elements from the Beach Boys but you can see where he veers off and does his own thing. After River Song it drags for like 4 songs before getting back on track. After that, I realy fw it! A deeply sad sad dude. Highlights: River Song, Time

Solid, well-produced, lush 70s pop-rock. Some lovely parts, just yearned for a few more hooks.

i think this is an interesting one, it can be groovy, it can be atmospheric and pretty emotional at times. the piano sounds beautifull. the build up in "time" is striking and catching. "you and i" is very soothing, but things lose me from the title track, although still groovy and then the little bobbly sounds and almost tropical pacificness of the next song regains me. overall, i think i appreaciate a lot of it but don't totally vibe with its identity

boring

Could have been good edited down to 12 tracks

Schlocky and uninteresting

Not bad. If a coworker was playing this at work I mostly wouldn’t mind. Some pretty cool parts. 6/10

Only reviewing the original track listing and not the anniversary edition. I really enjoyed this. Nice and varied, a lot of fun instrumentation. I especially liked the brass sections and the use of the choir in the first song. There were some songs that didn’t work for me as well, but overall I really liked it and could see myself listening again. Fav song: Dreamer Least fav: Thoughts of You

I really enjoyed this album- a lot more than I expected too, it's like a calmer more mature beach boys album. I think I felt for the belief that Brian Wilson alone was the creative "genius" of the band but this album clearly demonstrates otherwise, it's gorgeous and just the right balance of beachy-boyey to feel distinct but not disappointing. Favourite song: Pacific Ocean Blues Least: Thoughts of You

I really enjoyed a few of these tracks like Dreamer and the title track. The slower ones didn’t really work for me.

I have never been a fan of the Beach Boys. I like some of their songs but not so much to put on an album. And this album by Dennis Wilson is similar.It's not that his songwriting or performance is bad. But it's simply not my music.

I didn't necessarily have high expectations for this... Dennis Wilson? The Wilson brother who couldn't even play his instrument? The surfer bro? Charles Manson's buddy? And since the Beach Boys were well past their prime at this point, I didn't see much reason to listen... But there was something about the imaginative harmonies, his unpolished Joe-Cocker-esque vocals, and the sense that he was really trying something new here that won me over. I'll definitely be adding this to the rotation, and I'm glad it's on the list.

Considering that he was a Beach Boy, I wasn't sure quite what to expect coming in, but this felt genuine and soulful. River Song, Dreamer and You And I are all surprisingly good.

Not the best singer. I think he wouldn't have gotten a shot with his vocals if not for his past with the Beach Boys.

Ser jeg har gitt denne 3/5 på RYM. Den smaksdommen står seg. Er Friday Night et feilsortert Pink Floyd-spor?

As a rock/pop album, it didn't stand out to me as rock nor pop. It kind of felt like the only reason he's on this list is because he was in the Beach Boys. Side note: Pretty crazy how he was entangled with the Manson family like that...

Not sure why the Spotify album had 33 tracks vs the actual albums' 12. Rating the first 12 of the original release. Would be lower if I had to include a nearly 2 hour slog. I'd call this a perfectly adequate 70's rock crooner album. The guy likes is bass saxophone a lot. Some nice bits but didn't really grab me much. Don't see myself going back to it. Debating 2 or 3, but since it didn't offend at any point, pushing it to the high side.

This comes across as just another mid-70s AOR rock album.

I thought this album was absolutely beautiful. I'm as shocked as you are that I loved a Beach Boys-adjacent project, but deep down I think I knew at least one of these guys might make something I like (once they got away from the barbershop quartet crap, that is). This toes a lot of lines: jazz, classic rock, funk, and singer-songwriter, and they all flow together seamlessly. Awesome instrumental sections, especially the guitars, and the vocal harmonies were great (unsurprising). 'River Song' and the title track were my two favorites. Brian Wilson's stuff is too experimental for me, but this was perfect. Can't believe I'm saying it: Dennis Wilson earns my respect with a fantastic album and will be my twenty-eighth 5/5.

No idea why this was released. Completely forgettable.

6/10… yacht rock / 70s pop / *1977

It is true that PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE was better than I expected, but it seems a bit much to call it great or essential. It never really made a mark critically or commercially in the music world. After all, how many Dennis Wilson covers are there, even to this day? And while the production is top notch, it is fairly standard late 70s heartland rock. If Dennis had not died tragically in 1983, I'm convinced that the critics would not have placed this album on the list. So, what do we have? We have mostly standard fare mid 70s rock, with perhaps the exception of the R&B inspired "You and I". PACFIFIC OCEAN BLUE doesn't really portend a sub-genre or musical movement, except maybe that both Bob Seger, Bryan Adams, Tom Petty, and John Mellencamp would do much more engaging albums in this heartland rock sub-genre.

this was quite different to what i expected based off of the cover. probably won’t come back to it, but enjoyed most of it nonetheless.

This was not what I expected from a beach boy. I really, really like this. I'm on my second time through already, just so much texture and interest to all the tracks. The style switch around through lots of things that I guess were popular in the 70s, I can hear prog influences like Barclay James harvest in there, the swampy blues stuff grooves so hard too and of course when he wants to the harmonies are great. Each song is a little journey, this might be one of my favourite things I've found with this project. The beautiful piano part in thoughts of you is glorious, but then it goes off on some Pink Floyd style adventure of phased vocals and strings. It keeps on pleasing me. I haven't listened to the 4 million extra tracks on the special edition version but considering how much I'm enjoying this I might actually put the effort in, however I am currently about 10 albums behind, so it may have to be saved for a rainy day. Fantastic album though.

Sterk treer.

Amazing

🏄‍♂️⛱️🌊🌨️🐟

Pa obzirom na sva druga razočaravajuća sranja, nije ni toliko loše. 2/5, 4/10

This was low key beautiful

A really good album - enjoyable listen - would definitely revisit

Enjoyed pretty much the whole time but when else will I ever think about Pacific Ocean Blue by Dennis Wilson

I was definitely not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. This is a much better album than anything that the Beach Boys put out.

This was different than I had expected. Quite cool songs with interesting arrangements. Will listen more to this one! Favourites: River Song, Rainbows, Pacific Ocean Blues

nah

I was liking this but disc two lost me

I know it's struggle being a fan of something, endless minting new shibboleths: the unreleased album is the secret masterpiece; the second-tier band member is a hidden genius. If you are deeply caught in a band's story, this is pretty much the only thing you have to keep that active. There are other things to discover. Otherwise, you find yourself stuck with the mainstream narrative of the act and the mainstream narrative can do without all the detritus. It only needs the hits, the obvious genius, and so forth. It must be really hard to be a Beach Boys fan. Brian Wilson's unquestionable brilliance must get exhausting after a while. But his brilliance was heavily compromised for much of the band's career. It is tempting to believe that there were other geniuses in that group and in their circle. Indeed, it is almost necessary to think of it like that. Genius is pretty rare though. And it can fall in a pretty narrow field. Beach Boys associate, Van Dyke Parks, is an incredible arranger, a fair lyricist, and a loveable character, but these talents do not conspire to make him a great songwriter, sadly. The expectation placed on an actual Beach Boy solo album is considerable. For no one moreso than Dennis Wilson himself, who chose to play these recordings to Brian first. What a psychodrama that must have been. How could anyone deliver a genuine, unbiased, helpful opinion under such circumstances? How could anyone believe them? What a mess. It is only with that understanding that I feel like my opinion on Pacific Ocean Blue can be comparatively objective. No pressure as a Beach Boys fan. And certainly no pressure as an actual Beach Boy. Although I heard the record when it was reissued in the 00s, its status as hidden masterpieces wasn't deeply engraved on my consciousness. There is, in fact, plenty to enjoy here. The production soundscapes are expansive: the start of Friday Night is particularly enjoyable. The horn parts on Dreamer and Time are great. And Thoughts of You is genuinely psychedelic. The only trouble is when these studio tricks and rich arrangements try to give way to actual songs. Dreamer is a blues-funk slog, when the brass isn't enlivening it. The lyrics are weak. Wilson's voice has not become characterful through his hard-living, but is rather a caricature of rock singing. On River Song, Wilson repeats the word rolling and I was reminded of a similar phrasing on Van Dyke Park's joyous On the Rolling Sea with Jesus and Me. Neither song, for all their efforts, for all their bells and whistles, matches the simple, emotional honesty of the best Brian Wilson songs. What we're left with are the studio opportunities and expectations that Brian's achievements afforded those in his circle. No one can match them. And, with those elements removed, there isn't much to talk about. 2.5 This is, in a word, Rare. A Beach Boy doing a sort of tribute to 70s decadence - taking in the Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, John Lennon, possibly even bits of Led Zeppelin, maybe some Glam Rock - in 3 minute segments, everything overproduced into a pleasantly velveteen texture. It has a somnolent quality - not in the sense of boring, but rather inviting; It’s 1977 and the party is over. In fact the 70s is over. Let’s reflect and then sleep. This is only what it sounds like, probably not what it is. There isn’t any sense of knowing irony about Dennis Wilson and if we were in any doubt of this we could just look at the cover, which in a post-Castaway world is very difficult to take seriously anyway. I imagine the album mixed and ready to go and the label calling Dennis and saying „So! Pacific Blue Ocean. Great title. Shall we give Hipgnosis a call for the artwork?“ Dennis pauses for a moment wondering if he knows who hipgnosis is. „Nah,“ he says finally, „sure just stick my big hairy bake on the front cover.“ 2.5/5

Okay okay music

Mostly boring. I had never heard one song on this album. Not really seeing how this was legendary or must listen

Didn't finish

I think there is a lot here to parse through, the thickly produced solo effort by Mr. Wilson. You have some Beach Boys moves in there, clearly inspired by his brother's emotionality and compositional structures - but there is no innocence. Dennis was a man who had seen, done and felt too much. Sometimes he goes into sincere love ballad heavily, which is not my favorite but I am sure this album overall would reward repeat listens. I listened to the deluxe edition with the Bambu session stuff that was added posthumously - there is a bit more fun injected on some of those songs, more of what I expected from the wild party animal of the group.

4/5

😊

American music from the '70s. Tries to be Pink Floyd with no success. No, thanks.

I thought it had a good couple of songs on there some nice melodies and a rocky song I was into similar to the blues rock rhythm. Something I probably wouldn't come back to but I wouldn't skip if it came on.

For some reason I bought the CD of this when it was reissued. I loved the River Song but never really got on with the rest of the album. Pretty much same story today. Love River Song- less keen on the rest of it - lots of ideas - just not enough joy.

Pacific Ocean Blue I love this album, it reminds me very much of 2007 and 2008 in Japan when I first heard it, I think when it got re-issued and became well known as a great lost/cult album. I definitely wouldn’t have been clued up enough to have found it independently The reverb heavy and thick sound is fantastic, especially with Dennis’ worn and raspy vocals. A pristine Beach Boys sound just wouldn’t suit the songs, his voice and the overall vibe. And it has loads of brilliant songs. River Song is superb, Moonshine’s leap at around 30 seconds into an orchestral melodrama is excellent. I love Friday Night’s psychedelic orchestral opening leading into the soulful main part of the song. I love the middle 8 breakdown of Dreamer, just a great moment on an album full of great moments. Thoughts of You combines excellent strings, piano and vocal reverb with a lovely tenderness, tenderness that continues with Time, a very nice ballad. You and I is excellent, a soulful jazzy west coast feel to it. Pacific Ocean Blues is a great groove and an excellent production, the choral vocals and burbling Moog really are great. Farewell My Friend is another tenderly beautiful song, I love his rough voice on it. Rainbows is just a great melody, a lovely tune and End of the Show leaves the album on a suitably dramatic and melancholic tone. Sometimes cult albums aren’t actually that great when separated from the legend and the myth, but some are just outright brilliant, and this is one of those. Easy five for me. 🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊 Playlist submission: River Song

This was a breath of fresh sea air. 'The River' starts like Elton John before introducing Beach Boys vocals, courtesy of Carl Wilson, and a huge choir. It's a heady mix. It nicely treads the subtle line between atmosphere, orchestration and melody without sounding hackneyed in the slightest. Excellent melodies like this feature throughout: 'The Rainbow' and 'Moonshine' more glorious highlights. Fortunately the core of the album is so good - personal yet epic, individual yet with glorious harmonies - that Den gets away with a few mediocre numbers. In the same way I thought Gene Clarke's White Light towered over Byrds albums, I feel the same about this vs The Beach Boys.

another horrendous addition to the list. yay

I only listened to the original 37min release, not the 2hr deluxe release on Spotify. But even that was enough. It wasn't bad. It was just quite dull. Not something I'd go back to. But would be fine if it came on a playlist. 2.75* rounded up to 3*

A mix of styles. His voice ain’t great.

This album didn't land for me either. I wanted to like it, Beach Boys and all, but this album further cements that I like the Beach Boys only for Brian Wilson. The sounds were fine, but nothing stuck in memory.

damn not me being like "wait why do i know this guy's name" LMAO well it makes sense because this is a forgettable album

wow that was pleasant

One of those albums that just isn’t for me. I could see the appeal in a few songs (Moonshine, Dreamer, etc) so I would never claim it is objectively bad, but I just couldn’t hit any sort of stride with it.

I've never heard of this before, but enjoyed it quite a lot. I'm excited to return to it soon!

I don't think I've come across this one before. Surprisingly, it's really good - even better than most of the Beach Boys albums I've heard. Really well written melodies and nice instrumentation and production. Only thing is that the lyrics don't seem particularly deep, but I can forgive that. Sounds like he had a tough time of it and made some pretty questionable decisions. Celebrity life is rough, so few are cut out for it.

Sometimes people think that they’re a dreamer or a mystic or a holy man when really they’re just suffering from undiagnosed mental illness exacerbated by substance abuse. But sometimes those people can record decent albums. And this album was totally decent, but mostly sounded like other artists from the time period run through a beach boys filter. I heard some Nilsson, some Loggins & Messina, and I thought “What’s Wrong” was a cover of “Telegraph Sam” by T Rex when it first came on. In addition to sounding kind of derivative, this album was pretty lyrically unimpressive. I think this is one of those times where music critics think they’ve uncovered a hidden gem that the listening public has overlooked, but really the listening public gave it a try and just said “eh, it’s aiight.”

El CD 1 está más o menos pero el CD ya está malo…que necesidad? Sabia el que moriría pronto y por eso puso todas sus rolas de una?

I found myself a little annoyed at first. But as I listened to the record I started reading Dennis Wilson’s Wikipedia page, and for some reason the record started to really resonate with me. The struggles with drugs and alcohol, the infamous run in with a serial killer cult. All that anxiety and pain do seem to be there in the music. I think the second half of the originally released material really has a charm to it. I think it’s a high 3/5, and I’m intrigued enough to listen again.