Reviews (page 2 of 10)
Beach Boys - Today So let me get this right. The UK had The Beatles, and the US had this?? Explains a lot. Just a load of, very well arranged and put together, niceness. Apart from some of the lyrics which, at times, are sinister as fuck. I mean "I'd like to marry you but you're underage" and "I know I cheat on you, and maybe knock you around a bit, but I know you'll love me and, believe it, you won't be leaving me". And what was that shit at the end??! 😵💫 Best Track - Do You Wanna Dancing Worst Track - She Knows Me Too Well. I'm sure this is an important step in the story of rock, and all that, but just meant pretty nothing to me. 3/10
i feel like the beach boys are really good at executing this style of music. like normally i might find it pretty boring but i just love the vocals especially all the different harmonies. i even liked the random conversation at the end of the album.
A fun time. Didn’t stick much more than that. Rating: 3
fun enough album. listened to it on vacation so maybe not an entirely fair review. The beach boys are very competent songwriters, and every song is pretty layered and interesting, but theyre also so 60s sounding, definitely sound aged, but still good :)
Was okay.
We’ve obviously got a bit of teenybopper here but that’s definitely not all there is. It’s not quite as fleshed out as it becomes soon, but there are some wonderful melodies and harmonies going on here that are a joy to listen to (do you wanna dance, help me rhonda)
Unbelievably pleasant if a bit unremarkable. Is there a band with a more recognizable sound than the Beach Boys?
I had always disparaged the Beach Boys as moronic surf rock (sure the harmonies are nice, but it all "sounds the same" and the lyrics are a 13 year old boys understanding of love), but I've really come to appreciate Brian Wilson's subtle genius. But man, the lyrics have aged about as well as photos of politicians in black-face.
It's not that I don't like the beach boys, it just sounds the same all the time
The Beach Boys are always a treat 😊 Three stars…
Good singing
I have this album, but hearing it today, made me realise I’ve never listened to the last track of the BBS chatting - nice surprise, great harmonies on here
Classic
(8.3)
In "The Beach Boys" vibe but nothing tickled my fancy. It's also very short (28 mins).
When listening to 'Do You Wanna Dance?' or 'Help Me Rhonda', it's hard to believe that Pet Sounds was released just over a year later. Toward the end of the album, you can already find the beginnings of the Pet Sounds soundscape.
264. nice
Can sound a little repetitive at times Fave track: Dance, Dance, Dance
Yeah it’s just a Beach Boys album. I assume Pet Sounds will be included, probably could have just kept it at that. 3/5
Se vc escutou Pet Sounds, não é indispensável escutar este disco antes de morrer.
Nije mi među boljim njihovim albumima, ali oni mi uvijek imaju posebno mjesto u glazbenom svijetu. Bili su revolucionarni i posebni. 3/5, 6/10
meh 5/10
Bon un début vers l’immortalité! Sans plus!
It's fun, it's definitely a predecessor to a heck of a lot of other music... and it's a little too pre-hippie-era squeaky clean for my filthy, filthy modern ears. I prefer their later output.
This album is a fine enough release to introduce listeners to the Beach Boys. It's probably their most stereotypical album from their early days, which plenty of doo-woop influenced melodies, lyrics about the summer and surfing, and, of course, plenty of close harmonies. There's a few small hints at the psychedelic and baroque pop sounds they would eventually transition to for the undeniably excellent Pet Sounds album just a year later, but most of the material here is played relatively straight and makes the album sound relatively plain by comparison to their most famous works. The performances themselves are acceptable, but there is a particularly... snooty attitude that transmits through the speakers. The Beach Boys were not beating the preppy snob accusations on this album. One strong point of this release is that the covers, ballads and more upbeat originals all blend in seamlessly, which I suppose speaks to the already-apparent brilliance of Brian Wilson. Yes, the arrangements are very standard, but the little details from harpsichord to sleigh bells, give them the little extra something they need. This is definitely an album to use as a jump off point to the more canonized Beach Boys albums (Pet Sounds, Surf's Up, Sunflower,) but it's pretty unremarkable as a standalone album. Key Tracks: Do You Wanna Dance? Help Me, Rhonda, Please Let Me Wonder
This is a lovely album. Listening to it felt full of love, sadness, longing and real care. At the same time it stays danceable, light and cheerful in that classic Beach Boys way. The mix of feelings works surprisingly well and never feels forced. The songs move easily between bright, upbeat moments and more reflective ones. The harmonies are beautiful as always, and the overall mood is warm and inviting. It is the kind of record that feels enjoyable and easy to listen to from start to finish without demanding too much attention. The production shows Brian Wilson starting to push the arrangements further. The sound is cleaner and more carefully layered than their earlier surf records, with more attention to detail in the instrumentation while still keeping that familiar group vocal charm. The Beach Boys Today! is a really strong and likable album. Emotional, melodic and full of the best qualities of the band at that point in their career.
Do The Beach Boys belong on this list? Absolutely. Is this the album that belongs on this list? No chance in hell. This is an album with zero hits, best summed up as the B-sides album. "Help Me Rhonda" is the only song I actually like, and it starts to drag about halfway through, but the rest are instantly forgettable. This album being used to represent The Beach Boys is straight up an insult to one of the most recognized and influential bands in American history. I wish I could rate it higher since it IS an otherwise amazing band, but I can't do it for this album.
I’ve been pretty stressed and busy with my move in stuff that’s been happening, so it was really nice to have a quick bubblegum pop album for this today. That being said, this is easily my least favorite of The Beach Boys albums I’ve listened to. It’s a little more immature than what I’ve heard from them, and it has a couple songs that are downright bad. It was still fun and relaxing though. I liked it. Favorites: Good to My Baby, Please Let Me Wonder, I’m So Young
De los álbumes más alegres que obviamente crearía el camino para lo que sería su obra maestra
The harmonies are out of this world. I love the wall of sound production.
Not hugely my thing
I'm not a Beach Boys gal. I want to have a nap
listening to this on a rainy monday is a funny juxtaposition. honestly though, this album was disappointing. maybe that's on me for only knowing the hits, but none of these songs were interesting to me! standouts: good to my baby? maybe??? to be forgotten forever: the creepy little sister song
Standouts Do You Wanna Dance Help Me Rhonda Dance, Dance, Dance
Groundbreaking at the time but the Beach Boys are known for creativity and there's not a lot here.
Det är The Beach Boys. Det låter precis som man tror att det ska göra. Det är bra men lite för gammalt för mig.
So here we have 11 songs (the last track is pointless chatter) as the 12th one was 'Guess I'm dumb' that Brian gave to Glen Campbell (nice song) after Brian had quit the touring group to focus on writing and production. Gone are songs about cars and surfing and some more mature writing (when I grow up to be a man and please let me wonder)along with some less traditional instrumentation at times. Help me Rhonda is the stand out song but needed a serious remix from this album version in order to be a worthwhile single. California girls and pets sounds were still to some. This album is ok but it's evidence that they were essentially a singles act. Not five stars.....
It's interesting that the article mentions how this albums was deeper and more sentimental because in 2026, so many of those sentiments have been musically beaten to death. This was a fine album! Nothing blew my mind, nothing offended me, it was just an album that felt predictable. However, I'm fully aware that that's because of the time and place I'm coming from. I felt like the lyrics were excessively simplistic and the beats were familiar and nostalgic. If I'd heard this album in the 60s, or even when I was younger, I bet I'd feel a lot differently. Fun to listen to but honestly the highlight for me was just hearing the band chatting to each other in the final bonus track. Having sandwiches and chit chatting. That recording could have been made today with no changes. I loved that brand of familiarity and didn't dislike this album for the same reason.
Surprisingly an album I've heard before! The pre-Pet-Sounds Beach Boys material is such a mixed bag, but this album is one of the few that I've not only heard in full, but return to every once and a while. As far as the band's surf-rock goes, this is top tier. Brian's production sounds so warm, and they pack so much sweet stuff into 29 minutes. Of course it's corny ("Don't Hurt My Little Sister"), of course it's inane ("When I Grow Up"), but I like it. Fav Tracks: Do You Wanna Dance?, Good to My Baby, Help Me, Rhonda, I'm So Young, She Knows Me Too Well Least Fav: Don't Hurt My Little Sister Score: 6
música de branco
Some very good versions of their songs here. Loved the Help Me Rhonda take. Not all the songs worked but it’s still classic beach boys
I am not old enough to be nostalgic for the Beach Boys but nevertheless it does conjure up a more innocent time, and sets one up for those sweet summer days in surf communities that never end. So yeah, it is in a way nostalgic but is also just how the Beach Boys "are." They were nostalgic from the day they recorded their first song. Aside, with all the negativity in 2026 it is really just nice to get so simple and "dreamy" as it were. Classic surf rock at its root.
"The Beach Boys Today!" is the sound of a band, and more specifically a genius, Brian Wilson, reaching a creative crossroads. Released in 1965, it's the crucial bridge between their early surf-rock persona and the groundbreaking artistry of *Pet Sounds*. It's not a perfect album, but its ambition and emotional depth are undeniable . ### A Tale of Two Sides: Music, Production, and Themes The album is famously a "split personality" record, a concept the band was very aware of . Side A is a brilliant, uptempo pop/rock side that delivers the fun, danceable hits the band was known for, featuring tracks like "Do You Wanna Dance?" (with a fantastic lead vocal from Dennis Wilson), "Dance, Dance, Dance," and the chart-topping "Help Me, Ronda" . But it's Side B that marked a true evolution. This side is a suite of introspective, melancholic ballads that delved into a new level of lyrical vulnerability. Songs like "Please Let Me Wonder," "Kiss Me, Baby," and "She Knows Me Too Well" weren't about cars or surfing, but about relationship insecurity, fear, and deep emotional confession . It was a seismic shift in lyrical content for the band. This emotional maturity was matched by the music and production. Wilson, having stopped touring, was free to explore the studio as an instrument. He utilized the legendary "Wrecking Crew" session musicians to realize complex arrangements that went far beyond rock instrumentation . You hear timpani, vibraphone, French horns, and harpsichords woven into the fabric of the music, creating a lush, orchestral "wall of sound" that was a direct precursor to *Pet Sounds* . The intricate vocal arrangements, with their complex harmonies, also reached new heights . ### Influence and Legacy *The Beach Boys Today!* was a statement of intent. It established the band as album artists capable of making a cohesive artistic statement, moving beyond the "singles band" label . The sonic and thematic blueprint laid down on Side B is a direct line to the masterpiece that followed a year later, *Pet Sounds* . This album regularly appears on lists of the greatest albums of all time, including *Rolling Stone's* 500 Greatest Albums, highlighting its enduring critical respect . It's considered a pivotal moment that challenged the conventions of what pop music could be . ### Pros and Cons **Pros:** * **A Major Artistic Leap:** This album showcases Brian Wilson's rapid maturation as a songwriter, arranger, and producer. The move from fun surf tunes to deep, introspective ballads is stunning . * **Innovative Production:** The use of complex arrangements, non-traditional instruments, and the "Wrecking Crew" created a sophisticated, lush sound that was groundbreaking for pop music at the time . * **Emotional Depth:** The lyrics on Side B, particularly "She Knows Me Too Well" and "Please Let Me Wonder," presented a new kind of vulnerability in rock music, dealing with insecurity and emotional pain with startling honesty . * **Strong Performances:** The harmonies are impeccable, with standout vocal turns from Dennis Wilson on "Do You Wanna Dance?" and Mike Love's powerful bass vocals throughout . **Cons:** * **The Infamous "Bull Session":** The album's closing track, "Bull Session with the 'Big Daddy'," is a spoken-word comedy skit. It feels completely out of place and dated, undermining the serious artistic statement of the rest of the album . * **A Slight "Rehearsal" Feel:** For some, the album feels like a stepping stone or a rehearsal for the perfection of *Pet Sounds*, which can make it sound less fully realized in comparison . * **A "Split" Identity:** The stark contrast between the upbeat, pop-oriented Side A and the introspective Side B can make the album feel like two different EPs rather than a cohesive whole, even if that was an intentional concept .
The harmonies are amazing and the sound is legendary. It does cloy a bit and just isn’t really for me now, definitely not a whole album of it.
This is more in line with what I expect from the band than the other album on the list, lots of upbeat 60's harmonies. Second half of the album has a slower tone and it works well enough as a sort of collection of lovey dovey ballads. That doesn't particularly appeal to me so I wont be revisiting with any kind of regularity.
it was all rgiht
My favorite pre-Pet Sounds BB album.
Love some Beach Boys.
I was never a big Beach Boys fan. This album was decent though.
I know that they were masters at love songs and ballads and that's what made their fanbase (esp the girls...) so rabid for them. I just like the upbeat, more rock songs on the first "side" (half) of the record. The ballads on the second "side" start to sound the same to me really quickly. The last track, "Bull Session with the 'Big Daddy'" is about the most useless thing I've ever heard on a record... not really an interview, not them saying anything relevant and they're EATING. bleh.
3/5, easy listening and catchy.
Quaint is the only single word I can use to describe this album. Love songs for horny teenage boomers would be another possible description. All about teenagers in the 60s wanting to date and whatnot. It’s fine, but the Beach Boys have much better albums with more interesting songs.
J'dirais pas que j'haïs ça mais j'me retiens un peu de crier "Allez-vous farmer vos asties d'yeules un moment donné?" 2.49 étoiles
oh the beach boys, we're never ever going to get enough of you guys, huh... this is their eighth album release, and this album departs from their usual sound a bit, incorporating more moody and lovey-dovey material, diving into orchestral pop. like plenty of other stuff from the beach boys, this album people adore to death. you know at this rate, hearing a lot of beach boys throughout this massive list, i wonder if there are any REALLY terrible beach boys albums or releases... like bottom of the barrel stuff? as with a lot of other beach boys albums, lots of singy-songy melodies and rich harmonies, generally great pop songwriting and more than enough tunes both to jam out to and to relax to, it's equal amounts of each. as solid as this album is, i wanna say this is less of a "legendary must hear" and more of a hidden gem, it's great supplemental stuff for classic pop and beach boy fans, but compared to some of their other entries i've heard, a lot of these songs aren't as notable or as amazing to me. but it's still good!
Simply an amazing record those harmonies are top notch
Relaxing and groovy; I expect nothing less from a Beach Boys album.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘉𝘰𝘺𝘴 𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺! is clearly moving towards 𝘗𝘦𝘵 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘴, but it is not there yet. As with the Beatles, I find the earlier albums more interesting as steps in the band’s development than as records I genuinely want to revisit. There are some lovely melodies here, and Brian Wilson’s growing ambition is easy to hear. Unfortunately, his falsetto also wears me down after a while. I know it is one of the Beach Boys’ defining sounds, but that does not mean I have to enjoy it for an entire album. A decent transitional record, but the best was still to come.
beach boys!
Quick and easy but nothing interesting about it. Early Beach Boys are like early Beatles, only interesting because of what they became. 6/10
A bit of a departure from the Beach Boys tunes I know. More introspective and not as sunny or bouncy, although it still has the oo-oo harmonies. Pretty good, though. I didn't understand why they added the Bull Session with "Big Daddy" track that ended the Spotify version. Of course, Help Me, Rhonda sounded better in its later version.
Pffffff ha marcado el viaje.
Do I wanna dance? Yes I wanna dance … and reader, I did 😀
Freud would have a field day with some of these songs. Bull Session with Big Daddy is an insane name for a track Jesus and it’s just them talking.
This record starts strong and tapers to spoken word. I'm not sure if this is good or bad.
Great OG rock!
You know, I'm not a huge fan of the Beach Boys. I understand how important they are in music history, but I just don't care for their signature sound. And exactly as I expected, this is a pop album heavily reliant on vocal harmonies. While said harmonies are pleasing to the ear, they are the only thing making these otherwise mediocre songs worth listening to. The songs are two-minute pop ditties with generic lyrics about girls and mediocre hooks. Much of the sound of this album sounds incredibly dated in a way that only pop albums(including ones mixing pop with rap or rock) really do, and therefore hinders the album from truly being great. While some songs are catchy, this is an album mostly reliant on harmonics to provide the listener with something to latch onto. This album has done absolutely nothing to change my opinion of the Beach Boys. This album is ranked #8 of 12 albums for 1965. Other 1965 albums rated by me: Otis Blue/Otis Redding Sings Soul(2/12)-5 Highway 61 Revisited(3/12)-4 A Love Supreme(5/12)-5
I cant keep doing this. Someone get these boys off of the beach.
I bet this was the bee's knees to teenagers in 1965....but for the rest of us? 🤷♂️
Why are there so many Beach Boys albums on this list? Did you not have an editor?
This was damn good. Super pleasant listen, and I suppose I can see how this would be influential -- dipping toes into the world of concept albums. I don't think it's drop dead incredible, and certainly some of the lyrics are suspect, but overall this is a fantastic half-hour.
I’m not a Beach Boys fan. Their sound is monotonous and treakly. Individual songs are fine, but a whole album of the carnival sound is too much. At the same time, their influence is undeniable. I’ll give this one Beach Boys album a 3, but the next one gets scored on merit alone.
Hit and miss but the hits are PERFECT
I don’t really care for it, all their music is kinda samey. It wasn’t offensive to the ears though
It sounds like the Beach Boys. It’s nice enough. Three stars.
Harmony Par Excellence.
Obviously some absolute bangers on there and the Beach Boys at their worst are still amazing, but it's not top tier.
Perfectly fine 60s pop but it all sounds the game. Like Bob Dylan a band I am actively going off as I listen more.
would be a 2 if not for please let me wonder and in the back of my mind.... they charmed me with those
As good as Pet Sounds
Fair enough on this one lads, you're still overrated but this one slapped!
Beachy and Boys-y.
78/100
I love the vibes :D
Couldn't even make it through one song. Quite possibly the worst kind of Beach Boys, and that's the schmaltzy Hallmark "Wish you were here" kind. Yuck.
Bit boring
Dated
not old enougy to appreciate or enjoy this, saved 0/12
Generally pleasant ha! I should learn more about them. Bad timing because horrific heat wave and wildfire smoke so I couldn’t even enjoy this at the beach. I’ve never felt terribly drawn to them and find them to have a vibe of like… white men bopping on a stage in a Dirty Dancing set on the beach instead of the Catskills or something. But the Robbie kind of white man not Johnny, obviously.
The Beach Boys 60 Years Ago! Same as it ever was. What I mean by that is, I've heard from these guys twice already, and I take exception with how globular and ignorant this list has proven 409 albums on. If you've heard any Beach Boys at all, this is just as kitschy and gimmicky as any of their others. You probably need to hear Beach Boys before you die, but certainly not three separate releases, and certainly not one with none of their hits. Fuck, this is their eighth album? Nothing about it stands out, so wtf is it doing here. Ugh.
Well it SURE is The Beach Boys…
Oh yeah these vibes are immaculate
Undeniably a brilliant pop/rock record with smart yet catchy songwriting and lovely harmonies. But it's unclear whether this album needed to be on the list in a universe where Pet Sounds also exists
Do ya do ya do ya wanna listen?
Æi ég veit ekki, Brian Wilson gerði mjög margt flott og þessi plata er vissulega stökk framávið í útsetningum og efnistökum, en mér finnst þessi lög bara hvorki skemmtileg né heillandi. Ég myndi vilja gefa þessu þrist, en þar sem ég nennti ekki þriðja rennslinu þa segjum við 2,4.
3/5
Nothing wrong with the album, but I don't think this is a must listen to album. They have great voices, but there's nothing really special about the album to me.
2.5 - Meh
That was pretty cute. Beach Boys harmonies are always nice. I just don't get the inclusion of Bull Session With "Big Daddy." It's already a short album, so that feels like a waste.
honestly just classic 60s beach boys but not pet sounds? why did i get this and not pet sounds like cmon
I don't think their music is bad, but no, Beach Boys never were and never will be one of my favourites
Not for me
Bit samey, really enjoyed the half interview at the end 3.0/5.0 Best Song: bull session
Beach Boys at their best are incredible, this unfortunately is very middle of the road and not their best.
I dislike Mike Love a whole lot
surprisingly ok
Highlights: Do You Wanna Dance, Help Me Rhonda, Dance Dance Dance. 3.3
The book claims the worst song in the entire list is in this record. Until this mystery track is revealed to me, in which case it would serve as a testament of my bad taste, I will be leaving this solid, satisfying record with a 5.
RATING: 8/10 HIGHLIGHT: When I Grow Up LOWLIGHT: Bull Session with the "Big Daddy"
Strandjongens
Dit was gezellig. Sprong er niet negatief of positief enorm uit voor mij, ben normaal best een beach boys fan maar gewoon niet te veel bijzonders
Dit klinkt voor mij echt als het meest generieke Beach Boys album mogelijk. Een soort AI-samenvatting van wat ze allemaal maken. Beach Boys zijn uiteraard gewoon okee, dus dat is dit ook.
If I never had to listen to another Beach Boys record, I think I would be okay. To me, this style of music is as vanilla as it comes; just flour and tap water, told in musical binary. I will say, Do You Wanna Dance? is a very enjoyable listen, landing almost immediately in my liked songs playlist, and I massively prefer when Dennis Wilson does the lead vocals. But otherwise, this is a very whatever-and-whathaveyou album.
Hanno una sonorità pazzesca e delle voci che sembrano angeli che ti sussurrano la felicità alle orecchie
Hadn't heard this one, sounds sort of halfway between the early surf tunes and the big Pet Sounds production. Good stuff.
Heartbreak in harmony
Very nice
Well, at least it was a merciful quick listen (28 mins). I despise The Beach Boys, and this album just reinforced that stance. I legitimately do not understand how anyone under the age of 70 can enjoy this music. The Beatles I get, their music is timeless, but this group of doo-wop losers bring nothing to the table. There wasn’t even a hit single on this album! People who like them always point to the harmonies, “Oh, the harmonies are so beautiful!” They’re not beautiful when they’re crooning about creepy stuff like having vague romantic feelings for their sister (an actual song on this album). This album and band both suck ass; they will rightfully join the Hall of Shame as my eighteenth 1/5
If these Boys are from the beach, why are they wearing knit sweaters and sitting by a pool on the album cover?
“When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)” was used over the opening credits for a really terrific, short-lived (only two seasons) TV show called MEN OF A CERTAIN AGE, starring Ray Romano, the late great Andre Braugher and a surprisingly good (given how hammy QUANTUM LEAP was) Scott Bakula. Ok, that’s it. Ive all out of positive things to say about having to listen to another Beach Boys album. 1.5 stars
No nostalgia for me here. I feel both my parents skipped the 60s. Not my jam.
The Beach Boys Today! by The Beach Boys ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This album is a short but wonderful reminder that music can be FUN if the artists are interested in that. This is not the strongest collection from The Beach Boys, but it is vastly superior to most everything else that this project has spawned for me. I’m very happy that I got to spend some time at the Beach!
Fun, short & sweet
I'm more of a Beatles girl myself. But there are some Beach Boys track that I really do like. But not too many of them on this album though.
this should probably rate higher, but other than one song I would never listen to it by choice
A all time classic
Тоооп
Снова мимо и необязательно
не лучший альбом beach boys - 3
Really interesting, half the old Surf rock classics and half the orchestral baroque stuff that was on Pet Sounds.
No
I feel if you weren't there when this was big - the album doesn't sit right. Musically impressive but I didn't get much from it
Help Me Rhonda, Do You Wanna Dance, Dance Dance Dance, When I Grow Up. This is a 5. Obligatory Mike Love is a douche bag.
Do you wanna dance??
This Beach Boys album had a few of what I would call classic BB songs, Do You Wanna Dance, Help Me Rhonda etc but unfortunately the rest of it is just a bit mediocre, tuneful yes but not stand out. I think I like their later experimental stuff a bit better.
⭐⭐⭐ Krävs två takter för varje Beach Boys spår för att man ska höra att det är dem. Tycker inte illa om dem men det blir lätt tjatigt att lyssna på ett helt album med dem då varje spår låter på samma sätt, samma produktion, samma stämsång, samma textinnehåll. Blir en 3a. Bäst är Do you wanna dance, Help me Rhonda och Please let me wonder.
Well done album and not too long. 3.0/5.0: Good
was surprised how much i enjoyed this. the dichotomy of the fun upbeat songs on the first half vs the more melancholy songs on the second make for an interesting listen.
A couple of good songs, a lot of filler.
rip beach boys you would have loved pitch perfect
Pretty average for the beach boys which is pretty good
perdão, não sou fã dos beach boys....
Always a pleasure to listen to The Beach Boys
Comparably to its other albums, not a fan. Iconic voices but just nothing special from here
Really easy listen and some great classics from the boys!
This is a step in the direction they would go on later releases. I liked it. The first half are upbeat and fun songs with great melodies and the second half, while slower, shows off some great vocals and we get to hear them eat lunch. Favorites were Do You Wanna Dance, Help Me Rhonda, Dance, Dance, Dance, and She Knows Me Too Well.
Omw to surround a woman in a bar and not leave until she gives in
Pleasant, clearly something unique for its time, but it doesn't save the album from also lacking a little excitement. It's very one-note and mushy even with its fresh, one-of-a-kind ingredients
Cloying lyrics and harmonies with a couple of decent tracks.
Beach
I love The Beach Boys. Listening to this album reminds me of riding in the station wagon with my dad going to Sears or Sunday mornings when he would put on a Beach Boys album and make pancakes. It was always playing in the background. These songs are the soundtrack to some of my favorite memories.
Not as deep as Pet Sounds, but it's fun
I like the Beach Boys but this album was just a bit too squeaky clean for me.
I remember when I was a kid, a friend of mine who was a couple years older burned me a CD for my birthday. He knew my parents were pretty strict about what I listened to, so it wound up being a lot of Beach Boys songs. Spent a lot of long car rides listening to them on my Discman player.
Man, surf rock. I have a soft spot for the Beach Boys in particular because I grew up listening to them. At the same time it's so... Boring? I think that's the word. Very little interesting or complex or even unique happening. But I can't pretend I didn't really enjoy it.
The Beach Boys Today! is considered by most to be the turning point for this part Surf Rock part Baroque Pop band into the defining group we all know and love thanks to some lovely melodies. Just when I thought this project would have some misfires, as a lot of the 60s albums in the 1001 albums to hear before you die, there were none to be seen and honestly a lot of hidden gems on this very simple yet beautiful project. The writing may be super basic but unalike some peoples' opinions, I think the harmonies really elevate what would be a super basic song into something so much more serene. Brian Wilson had finally had enough of the formulaic sound The Beach Boys had gotten famous for and decided to make the music he wanted and I think that radical shift couldn't have gone any better because this new era is spectacular. Yeah the last track isn't needed whatsoever but also shows a much more personal side to the band I did enjoy despite thinking it was quite underwhelming. The Beach Boys Today! feels like a revival, or even the start of a new band under the Beach Boys name and I absolutely adore that. Truly a turning point for song compositions and the whole wave of 60s music as a whole. Thank you Brian Wilson for all you did for music.
A solid album that needs more production help. I've heard this version of Help Me Rhonda, but the volume control reminds me of what I did as a schoolboy. Sure, you want to get married, but Wouldnt it be Nice is so much more charming. Some of these songs are on my BB playlist, but the album as a whole isn't great. 2.5/5
I have no doubt that when this was released it was seen as either extremely ground breaking or a perfection of craft, but to me this sounds very nostalgic. Unfortunately it’s a throwback to an era where music is slightly more simple. Not that that’s bad but it makes it hard for me to rank. Given my modern sensibilities it sounds nice but quaint. But in a different age or perhaps mood I feel like I would be rating this higher. I’ve opted for a medium between.
The beach boys spend this entire album thoughtedging you; that is to say, they consistently begin each song with the pretense that it will have a fully formed idea underpinning it, and then BAM they hit you with the fourth chorus in a two minute track. Pretty groovy tho I’ll give them that
Like the songs, like the vibe, though one needs to be in the mood, but the production is DOGSHIT. Three flat.
You can skip this one. There's at most 45 seconds of engaging music in it.
harmony into my veins
Um… I like the Beach Boys here? But… I just can’t go 4. It’s just to treble in its harmonies. It’s too… sanitary. I would never listen to this. I mean I would never want to. It’s fun for a moment. Then I start wanting to stab something. 3 Boolean: yes, I suppose it is important to know
60s pop is MY BEST FRIEND.
Note for posterity: I listened to the stereo mixes of these songs. It’s catchy ear candy all the way down. Pleasant, sunny 60s surf pop that holds up from sheer quality of melody and the stacked, tight harmonies. It’s also less than half an hour long, wrapping up before I could get annoyed with the brightness. Beach Boys (Brian Wilson in particular) will go on to make actually transcendent work, however, so I feel like I have to rate this accordingly. Fun to listen to, but nothing that stuck to my ribs. And the cutesy writing about love from this era sometimes rubs me the wrong way. There’s sweet, and then there’s condescension.
Harmonies are gorgeous but the songs were very uneven. 3/5
Never saw the attraction to the beach boys.
Classic Beach Boys—again, much like you’d expect.
Gave me pretty nice vibes, I danced to the first few songs.
Already done with The Beach Boys on this list, just under a year in. Mostly wonderful chud harmonies
I’ve never been a fan. It’s just too bubblegum for me. I do respect Brian Wilson and for that I give this album a 2.
Let the boys play
Not for me. The style of singing was super grating and didn’t help that every single song sounded the same. The last song on the album actually did something different, but was the shortest. Favorite song: bull session (didn’t have to listen to them sing anymore, and then it was over)
Man I love the Beach Boys. The production and mixing of vocal harmonies is unmatched. This isn't my favorite album of theirs, but it still hits. I think this is the album where you can really start to hear the next level of Brian's production take off which later culminates in Pet Sounds.
Great album. Some dead spots, but mostly good early work from the boys. Four stars.
If there is anything that has been totally reinforced by this project, it's that I do not like The Beach Boys. I never have, and apparently I never will. I have always found their vocals to be grating and whiny sounding. Musically they're fine, and without vocals I'd likely find them to be more pleasant to listen to. But that's not the case. Lastly, In The Back of My Mind is one of the worst songs I've ever heard. To my ear they are off key the entire track. I assume that was intentional, and could have been interesting if it were a good song. Or if I had cared enough by then that it would matter. Thankfully less than 30 minutes long.
Favorite Track: Good to my Baby
I truly don't get the beach boys. How can some people call this snoozefest the American Beatles?
sonido muy característico, pero todo suena igual, más aún en sus voces. no es mí agradado, lo respeto
Yeah. Not my thing, glorious and needs to be there, but never again
Fett! Tenk at jeg ikke har hørt denne plata før. Den skal jeg "sette i hylla".
Still can't get into the beach boys
I don't think I'll ever relate to the obsessive love some folk have for the Beach Boys. I like the ones with the most memorable melodies and while I can appreciate the cleverness and ingenuity of some of the arrangements it just doesn't excite me. Nice to be prompted to think of The Ramones.
Yawn
Some good songs on here and then a few that were just okay to me.
Classic beach boys sound
Я поважаю Біч Бойз, але в них не дуже стабільна і трохи дивна дискографія. Цей альбом загалом вважається першим їхнім хорошим альбомом. Тут вже є й вокал фірмовий Уілсона та гармонії. Але мені просто не подобаються пісні. Дуже середнячкові. Мабуть, окрім She Knows Me Too Well нічого не хочеться послухати ще раз.
З часом я здається все краще і краще розумію цей гурт, але мабуть все ж їхні більш пізні альбоми. Цей якось ніяк. 2.5
I love listening to the Beach Boys eating burgers
Nah
6/10 Buen album, no me volvió loco pero no es malo, al ser corto no se hizo denso pero tampoco nada me llamó la atencion
i do like the beached boys
Aburrido, no es el mejor disco de Beach Boys, muy monótono.
white boy slop
Great album but pales a little in comparison to Pet Sounds. All in all a keeper.
As I approach the last quarter of this list, one of the many discoveries I’ve made is that understanding The Beach Boys in full is to understand the broader sounds of the 60’s at the time. Ive slogged through so many ultra-macho psychedelic records. The way The Beach Boys used their voices as harmonic instruments as truly unique. The way Brian Wilson wrote music and challenged the framework of pop/rock music was truly unique. Much of that uniqueness can be heard here. Some really good ideas flower in between some less memorable songs. I’m not sure if it’s just the means of recording, or if it was intentionally performed in such a way, but the ending chorus of “Do You Wanna Dance” is both harmonic and slightly discordant to my ears. Did they mean this? Was this a reflection of some of the anxiety Brian Wilson was feeling at the time? Or am I just hearing things. “Help Me Rhonda” is the other hit that deserves the attention it got. The “help me rhonda help help me rhonda” is sung in such a way that it could become a verbal tick. Most everything else is alright. What’s noticeable is a few funny instrumentation choices. A lot of lines about hoping a girl they like will sleep with them. Standard 60’s rock sentiments. 3/5
Pet Sounds wasn't a sudden spike in talent and songcraft for the Beach Boys, it was a gradual improvement over previous albums. This already has the rich textures of Pet Sounds present on some of the songs. It still has the simpler songwriting about cars and girls and surfing present though and a number of the songs here don't feel all that worthwile. The fucking bull session with daddy bonus track was really wack and out of place too.
This needs some help from musical prodigy Charles Manson
All the Harmonies! Seems to be the album where they stopped singing about surfing all the time, and moved towards the grown up pop of pet sounds. Not quite as good as that (nothing is) but I really like it. If anything it’s too short! Favourite track: Help me Rhonda
These guys had a unique sound
301/1001 The Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Today! Heard before? ❎ Revisit? ❓ It's without a doubt that the Beach Boys know their way around a melodic hook and harmonisation, however this record lacks the emotional heft or the experimentation of the more well known records. It's a fun 30 minutes, but nothing more than that.
Surf guitar riffs and doowop vocal harmonies and some jangly chords - it's sunny and bright, deeply corny and exuding a backwards looking dinners and maltshops 50s nostalgia sexuality.
delightful
pretty good as far as beach boys goes. definetly not on the level of pet sounds or surfs up. dont know wht theres 2 minutes of the band just talking about nothing at the end 6/10 Favourite: Do You Wanna Dance Least Favourite: Bull Session With 'Big Daddy'
This is way too clean to enjoy. 2.8/5
Always been a big fan of the Beach Boys. 'When I Grow Up' and 'Help Me Ronda' are two classics, but the rest are so-so
Perfect
Decent 3,5
Really enjoyed this album! The best of theirs so far 4 ⭐️
So nostalgic. Love the vocals, and the general vibe is so chill. Fav song is ‘Dance, Dance, Dance’.
music is love
Not only is this album a wonderful representation of youth before the coming summer of love, it is also an album that has some of the best American pop that was coming out at the time. I am a huge fan of the production on this album and although the lyrics can be simple at times that aids to more of the songs rather than detracts for me. It’s a genius record. Fav tracks: all of them
Good
A decent album, more doo-wop sounding than their later stuff. It’s not quite Pet Sounds, but I still liked it.
да сколько можно
Boring as fuck. By no means bad but by no means good
4 de 5 Disco catalogado como el que preparó el camino para Pet Sounds, Brian Wilson abandona las letras sencillas y apuesta por un pop orquestal más maduro y complejo, mostrando una gran madurez con armonías vocales impecables y arreglos muy sofisticados para la época. A destacar: Track 1 - Do You Wanna Dance? Track 5 - Help Me, Rhonda Track 6 - Dance Dance Dance Track 8 - I’m So Young
Pleasant listen. They pioneered many things that are commonplace now in pop music. Unfortunately, the lyrics are kind of lame and overly straightforward by today's standards. A piece of history for sure, but not something I would listen to on a regular basis in 2026.
I have an online friend who owns like 50,000 albums and this is his favorite album of all time. So I listened to both the mono and the stereo just to give it a solid chance. I have The Beach Boys on my list for a full catalog listen. There's a lot of other recordings by them I like better but I really did enjoy this and I'm sure I'll put it on again. I feel like every BB record is a treasure chest containing secret magic, I used to only like the hits, but there's so much great stuff in the albums, even so-called throwaway tracks.
The third Beach Boys album I've listened to in full. I prefer this to Pet Sounds but Surf's Up still takes the cake for me.
Very Easy listening, but not as substantial as their best work.
Too pleasant not to like
Rock clássico dos anos 60 somado a uma sequência dos melhores rock ballads que eu já ouvi, tudo no mesmo álbum. Sem uma música ruim.
My rating 3.0 Moving on from the surf life but not that impressive.
The Beach Boys doing Beach Boy things, sounding like the normally do.
Firstly terrible name. Secondly I really did not enjoy listening to this. In fact I hope I never have to listen to to it again. Sounded pretty much the same every track.
Niet veel speciaals maar toch een beetje nostalgie door mijn moeder die ze wel eens speelde
Just hasn’t aged well
Pet Sounds is an amazing album. Everything else I've heard from the Beach Boys is not that great, to be honest.
dude like i just got pet sounds yesterday and i dotn udnerstand this. and its just so uncomparable with pet sounds. 3/5
Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? Somewhat familiar, I know a lot of the songs How do I feel about this artist? I like The Beach Boys Favorite song(s)? Help Me Rhonda Overall Thoughts: As far as Beach Boys go it was pretty mid. Sort of curious as to why this is the early Beach Boys album on this list. That being said, it’s never a bad listen with The Beach Boys, I just know they’re capable of so much more
Estuvo mono para escucharlo de fondo, pero este estilo de música me suena a una larga canción; pero creo que con escucharla una vez tuve tbh. Pero pues no lo odie así que mínimo supongo que se merece las 3 estrellas; no tengo tanto conocimiento para darle menos o mas tbh hahaa
A pretty happy, poppy album.
Early beach boys. You can picture wide smiles on their mouths as the sang each and every line. Sunny days of California. What the future would bring for those white boys? Don’t know… guess their fan club will be surprised when they hear how this story will go in the next 2 - 3 years
3.5 stars. Lots of quick hitters on sub-half hour record. Standouts are "Help Me, Rhonda" and "Please Let Me Wonder"
es litera loq uno se imagina cuando ve la portada
From this album I liked the song called She knows me too well! They have a vibey and old fashioned sound to them!
It all really sounds the same. Heard way too much of this as a child.
Hard to dislike this album. Also really hard to love it.
pffff ouais c’est pas ouf hein
One might think I would hate this kind of thing, which makes me feel like the world doesn't really know me at all. Also did you know only the drummer in the Beach Boys actually surfed? I just got back from Hawaii where I bought a souvenir toy truck with a surfboard on top and this is how I justified it.
Christ, I do not care for this band. Two stars because I recognize the artistic merit.
The more I hear of the Beach Boys, the more I hear of the Beach Boys. I actually liked "Do You Wanna Dance?" but it's one of only a couple bright spots before it all tanks. I was actively hostile to "I'm So Young" and "She Knows Me Too Well," and perplexed by the "bull session" at the end. Our journey with the Beach Boys has now concluded, not a moment too soon.
I don’t know if this was a must listen over other Beach Boys albums, but I did like it. Many of the songs on here I was familiar with, such as Dance, Dance, Dance, Help Me Rhonda! and Do You Want To Dance. There were a few on here I that were new to me, such as the somewhat hypocritical but honest She Knows Me Too Well, and I’m So Young. I think my favorite track was Bull Session because it felt the most authentically Beach Boys, minus the behind the scenes drama. Please Let Me Wonder was also a good newbie that, with its harmonies and easy flow, I am surprised never became a bigger hit. Overall, good but it feels like a transitional album between their classic surf and their psychedelic stage. Is this album the Rubber Soul? Hmmmm…🤔
Random thoughts: * solid transition Beach Boys from surf music to more mature music, not quite to Pet Sounds. This is their Rubber Soul * Do You Wanna Dance was my favorite on this one. * help Me Rhonda is also a nice hit. I did like some of the others especially Don’t Hurt My Little Sister and when I grow up to be a man. There was definitely an emotional maturity coming through. * I enjoyed the chatting on the Bull Session. Hearing them chat about Europe. Also, hearing them tease Brian Wilson that he’s never made a mistake. lol * Solid listening but not a classic.
Tällä levyllä oli tuttuja biisejä kokoelmilta. Bändillä on aina ollut hyviä harmonioita. Levyllä oli kuitenkin huonompia, ”täyte” biisejä. Tämä stereomiksaus oli vähän hassu, ainakin ”Help me, Rhonda” osalta, kun äänenvoimakkuus vaihteli. Näin lienee tarkoituskin, kun en laittanut tätä merkille muissa biiseissä.
pretty standard Beach Boys. Pet Sounds was recorded a few months after this came out, so it definitely seems that this was an afterthought, or an obligation to a label.
Beautiful harmonies, but bit dated
Couple big hits and the harmonies are great. Not yet Pet Sounds but they are going from simple to more complex music
Pleasant enough but a little one dimensional. Favorite song: Help Me Ronda
A step towards Pet Sounds. Now, the step from this to Pet Sounds is more like a leap into orbit assisted by a rocket, but this step from their previous records at least put their foot into the spaceship.
Kinda wild that they would start recording “Pet Sounds” four months after this was released.
Interesting at first, but got annoyingly repetitive.
I recognize a few of these songs by title, but haven't ever listened to this album start-to-finish. This was alright, but a bunch of the songs really blur together.
Not a big fan of The beach boys, but I do see the influence they had for their time. I have a feeling this album isn’t their best one so i’m looking forward to receiving something else of theirs.
Love it
This album sounds exactly like you'd think it would! Beach boys in full swing, high harmonies, I can picture the guitars
So nice.
Not too shabby.
Great album. Iconic songs. I enjoyed the first half more but it was great overall. A real changing point for the Beach boys and ones that seemingly changed the direction of pop music from very simple to more complex music. Even if the lyrics weren’t quite there yet.
funny and sunny. i feel a lot of these albums are "remarkable" to someone that never heard much music before. But if you have listened to some Beach Boys, it's somewhat redundant to listen to this and not Pet Sounds. At least that one has some technical importance
I don't have a particularly nuanced take on the (relatively) early Beach Boys albums. To me they're enjoyable, summer pop music, made special largely by their incredible harmonies. And, while I thoroughly enjoyed The Beach Boys Today! It doesn't do a whole ton to challenge this perception. The biggest surprise is really just in how consistent it is, The Beach Boys deliver 11 consecutive, pleasant pop songs, and one behind the curtain field recording of the band and their team chatting. Anyhow, I don't want to downplay the songwriting here, it is honestly among thd best I've heard from this era, and there were a couple of moments that sounded sharply modern in a way that reminded me that thd Beach Boys are nearly as lodged into the DNA of modern pop music as The Beatles. If you like the Beach Boys' hits or consider yourself an aficionado of well-written harmonies, this is worth your time.
Brilliant vocals/harmonies, exceptional writing talent, they didn’t ever miss. The second half of this album is a little sleepy but overall it’s still great.
Some songs sound a lot like punk rock song, but singed with a coir. True there's a lot of choir, but each song are quite different from each other. Not a lot of special songs for me, but probably this is can be truly a comfort album.
Sabrosito, sabrosito.
me gustó bastante, la vibra me hizo acordar mucho a los beatles, si no se inspiraron en esta banda le pega al palo
Best song: Do you wanna dance
☆☆☆☆☆
5 - AVERAGE
sounds like brandy melville music
short nice pop album. only real stand out is Help Me Rhonda
This was…ok! Nothing grabbed me too much, though I like the sounds and harmonies. Help me Rhonda is the only one I had heard on this album.
Every time I visit the Rhondda Valley in Wales, I sing Help Me, Rhonda to myself. Even though they're spelt differently. Interesting fact. This Beach Boys album was pleasant enough. I appreciated the wall of sound and the harmonies, etc. It also had a few toetappers. Nice!
Pet Sounds it ain't.
Respect and all that, but not my thing at all
I never understood the appeal of the Beach boys
This one is great!!! What do you want me to say!!! They get fully dreamy here.
Love this album? Then you’re probably John Stamos.
This album made me wonder how many times the Ramones listened to it.
3.75
Very good, but not among the greatest Beach Boys albums
an album you enjoy without remembering a single track
60s rock
Mid-60s Beach Boys is my favorite Beach Boys era. Truly, a standout in their discography. Sadly, the second half of the album is not nearly as memorable as the first one.
l f g
RIP Brian you were a real one
Meh it all sounds the same
I like the beach boys
Just not pet sounds
Lyrically this record has not aged well. Thankfully, Brian Wilson’s melodies are timeless.
It's a classic, was probably revolutionary at the time, but it sounds really dated, unfortunately. Doesn't even have Surfin USA on it.
Legendary.
I love the beach boys
The second half is like Pet Sounds-lite, which means it is still absolutely incredible. First half isn't too shabby either. 4.5/5
Good
Such a fun/great album. So much fun to listen to. This is right on the border between a 4 or 5 for me. 7.5/10 Top song Help me Rhonda
The BBs ticking all the boxes. Tight little album.
Next to the Association you will not find better harmonies, and the song construction and chord movements keep things interesting. Lovely, not the best album, but close.
Gran álbum, me hace sentir muy bien Gracias chicos de playa
I mean, I appreciate the Beach Boys for what they were... fun pop stylized to appeal to the masses. I'd take the more experimentation in Pet Sounds any day, but this is still worthy of a 3.
da beac boys