The Beach Boys Today!

No. 140 OK I guess, very much Beach Boys sounds. Bit samey.

I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I had summer fun. I like The Beach Boys. I’m so sorry

8/10

Hit or miss on the songs. I’ll rock out to Dance, Dance, Dance but then other songs are *yawn*.

I'm picking up good vibrations...

It all feels very cheesy. It's extremely vocal-forward in the mix and all of it sounds so antiquated. Like this is "Golden oldies" music made for grandparents. Still, it sounds nice enough.

Dont hurt my Sister. I wish God would have heard this. He’s an asshole

I didn't like this album, in fact I found it rather dumb with terrible lyricism, but I just wanna address the other reviews I read here. What exactly is with GenX and hating any male vocalist who can sing higher than a Low C and doesn't sound like Eddie Vedder? You sound like the worst kind of 60-year-old manchild who still acts like they're on the playground. Castratti? Got their balls stuck in a car door? I'm sure those lines would've KILLED on the playground in 1977. 2 stars to spite the spiteful.

Brian Wilson really was a genius.

1.9

Beautifull record capturing a lot of great qualities of the early beach boys. Maybe not their best, but has a nice collection of songs. 1. Help me Rhonda 2. Do you wanna dance 3. Dance, dance, dance

This is the cleanest cut goody two shoes album imaginable. It’s like if a Ken doll were a record. It was fun to listen to a whole album of Beach Boys songs, but I much prefer the more experimental music from this era.

The harmonies are stuck in time and a bit overdone, the ballads are sickly sweet. If you like the Beach boys then it will hit the mark

Always have a good time listening to the beach boys, even if their songs sound pretty similar to me. I kept googling to see if this was before or after they collabbed with charles manson

I feel bad giving this a two. It's a vibe but it's not mine. I was relieved it was only 28 minutes. It does what it does well, but it feels very one note to me. I can appreciate the influence this band and album had on later acts and also hold the belief that the later acts improved upon it. Pros- the iconic harmonies and vocal style. You know its the Beach Boys immediately. Cons- The lyrics (very one note and surface level IMO). The repetitive instrumentals. It's a vibe that makes me harken back to a 60s soda fountain, but I don't feel like I'll ever willingly play any song off this album again. Not a single track stood out to me.

This is not the Help Me, Rhonda you know and love! Warning! It is Beach Boys-y. I dunno. To me it is all very same same after a while and I didn't super care for this album. I think there is better Beach Boys out there!

The Beach Boys' classic harmonies and swinging instrumentals are definitely here, but the basic lyricism and misogyny are here as well. You can just turn your brain off for a bit but the generic lyrics and samey short songs are still a pretty bad combo. Favorite Track: She Knows Me Too Well

Classic beach boys tones and vibes. I really don't have much for this. As expected.

I assume its good, and parts of it were good. But it was hard to hear it as its own music -- their sound is just so much a part of the zeitgeist that it was hard to hear them as anything more than "oh yeah, thats the Beach Boys".

You can tell, this is the warm-up to Pet Sounds, their best album by far. They abandoned songs about cars and surfing and started to get serious.

I feel kind of bad about not liking The Beach Boys very much. I felt obligated to give Pet Sounds 5 stars, but that was a special case.

Even Help Me Rhonda, which was the biggest hit off the record sounded like a B side. Very formulaic. All very similar.

Pure 60s joy with impeccable harmonies, what to add?

How can a band make a career out of sounding the same on every song?

146/1001 First listen. The Beach boys just sound so goofy to me. I could never take this band seriously. There’s definitely no mistaking these guys. It’s okay mixed in with other bands of the 50’s & 60’s but just a straight up album of these guys? No thank you. 4/10

Another day, another really good Beach Boys album. This one more classic than experimental but the song writing still impressive nonetheless.

Is it really 12 songs, or just one with a change in lyrics? Hearing a Beach Boys song on a warm day is fun. Hearing two is okay. An entire album? That got boring fast! Nothing is annoying, if you are doing anything else, you wont even notice its on. 2.67, rounded up since I live 3 miles from the Gulf of America

4->3 for the misogynistic lyrics (why was every song about age...?)

1. okay i'm in a better mood today, even though the existential dread of my future chronically hangs over me, but i'm feeling a little less feral about it today. I like the beach boys, at least the few songs that i've heard from pet sounds. This first song is not really wowing me though. 2. It's a shame cuz this is also my kind of music and a genre i like, but.............a little trite. Obviously they pretty much invented this kind of sound, but it's trite now IM SORRY. 3. Never heard a song about grown men defending their little sister. 4. I literally have absolutely nothing to say about this song. In one ear and out the other. 5. Catchy, i guess. 6. Alright folks, I think this is the last one for me today. Sorry y'all. Nothing for me here.

I had high hopes for this album, but every song sounded so similar, and the lyrics were very cliche and tired.

Why did it recomended??

The only distinguishing thing I could say about this album is that it was unmistakeably the Beach Boys. Nothing grabbed my ear.

their harmony is indisputable, as is Brian Wilson's genius, but 2 consecutive songs of this sound/genre for me is impossible to listen to, so dated.

I'm reminded of college days walking in the winter morning sun. It's always so bright, casting bold shadows on the trees when angled that early in the day. There's a space it creates. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's this album.

This feels like Rubber Soul. Top of their game before things got weird. The harmonies on Do you Wanna Dance? - are you kidding me? And then after 28 minutes of high school hymns... you're done. And so's the album. 3.5 stars.

ну это база это знать надо

I love the Beach Boys, but their beach/surf/cars shtick gets a bit tiresome, so this is great. Definitely sounds like a stepping stone for what was to come with the fantastic Pet Sounds

this was fine, i liked other beach boys albums much more

Classic beach boys, Help Me, Rhonda always fills me with good feelings. I love their vocal harmonies. They may not be the Beatles but they’re pretty damn good. Im doing /10 ratings now btw. 7.5/10

Up there for me because I consider this the start of the beach boys breaking out of their cheesy surf/car era and moving toward their best work.

1965. I was 10, too young for the 'love' songs, but cool with the simplesh melodies and harmonies and instrumentation. Didn't sound like it was playing in stereo, so sounded a little tinny through my headphones. Best of all, this has no effing synthesizer or Britpop angst. Thanks for the break. ⭐⭐⭐

All Beach Boys songs sound the same to me. Now that I actually pay attention to the lyrics...ick. At least it was short?

always fun

"Bull Session with the Big Daddy" AYOOOOOOOOOOOOOO which one of the beach boys is the bull 👀👀👀

Nice

7/10 Favorite: I’m So Young

Ok

Surprisingly short, though it had some decent songs on it.

It was a solid enough album, only a couple of tracks really got me singing along. A lot of their "hits" weren't on it which is fair enough, but they started to sound the same after a while. Nothing wrong with it, sure it was great at the time, but doesn't set my world on fire!

It’s ok but not essential .

Solid surf album with sweeping harmonies and light-heartedness.

Not bad, certainly not great. Innocuous pop. I've never understood what the fuss with The Beach Boys was all about.

This was painful to listen to. I gave it one more star than I probably should have.

Very classic Beach Boys Surf Sound.

Fine

Decent.

This album enforces my dislike of the Beach Boys. Just not that interesting for me.

Without Brian Wilson it sounds like AI

Songzeile: They say our love is (So young) Just a teenage affection But no one knows (So young) Our hearts' direction Musste einmal nachschauen wie jung sie wirklich sind, weil sie so drauf rumreiten. Sie sind 24, 23, 23, 21, und 19. Fazit: sie übertreiben.

Incredible vocal harmonies and melodies. Clear influences from The Ronettes and other groups of the time. Some classic songs. Very reminiscent of their Christmas album. This version of Help Me Rhonda has fantastic depth and natural quality. Such a fun listen, but missing that unique and interesting character that set Pet Sounds apart from the rest. Too much Mike Love on this!

The Beach Boys are so fun. The music is clearly from the '60s and makes me feel nostalgic for those days. Imagine being offended by being called a square. haha! I have never jammed a whole album by them and really enjoyed all the songs.

I struggle to enjoy the sound of the Beach Boys, I think mainly because I grew up in 1980s So Cal and this type of music to young me was "old". Now many years later I can appreciate the vibe and nostalgia - it evokes cravings for milkshakes and burgers at some roadside joint - but it doesn't mean I want to listen to it. Sorry, not sorry.

Good ole beach boys

Not so much for me but giving it 4. This gives you exactly what you expect when you put on the beach boys.

Fun, great songs, perfect harmonies, all in 29 minutes. I loved all of it.

Standard Beach Boys fare. Other than Pet Sounds, I was never really a fan.

Its... Beach Boys. I assume more is coming on this list from them as this really is pretty standard fare. Help Me Rhonda was the single, and if that is the strongest track...

Love the Beach Boys!!

The Beach Boys are fun but I can only take so much of them before I go crazy….like one or two songs, I guess I just have to be in the correct mood

This album is good, very 60's actually. But, even though I get the relevance of The Beach Boys in music and enjoy their stuff (don't get me wrong, it's an album I enjoyed listening to), I can't get to like them more than just saying "it's pretty nice". Their music is very enjoyable, but there is something that I still don't love. Well, maybe there's an album of them I haven't listened yet that will make me appreciate them. For now, as for this album, I enjoyed the listen, and it's good, really, it's good.

After the nearly 80 minute slog of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill yesterday, this was a breezy delight. I prefer the upbeat stuff to the ballads, but even the lesser songs are enjoyable to listen to. The wonderfully lush vocal harmonies outweigh the trite lyrics.

shut up im so excited a lot of these songs kinda sounded the same but it was still a vibe favorite song: bull session with "big daddy"

The building blocks for Pet Sounds are definitely there, but never reaches those heights. Help Me, Ronda is catchy as hell.

Do You Wanna Dance?: 7/10 MBPW Good To My Baby: 7/10 Don’t Hurt My Little Sister: 6/10 When I Grow Up (To Be A Man): 7/10 MBPW Help Me, Rhonda: 7/10 MBPW? Dance, Dance, Dance: 6/10 Please Let Me Wonder: 6/10 I’m So Young: 6.8/10 Kiss Me, Baby: 6/10 She Knows Me Too Well: 5.8/10 In The Back Of My Mind: 6/10 Bull Session With “Big Daddy”: Nothing To Rate, it’s just them talking

It has always been hard to take the Beach Boys seriously, especially as a lifelong Beatles and Dylan fan. By the time this album of teenage love songs was released, “Beatles for Sale” had already found the Beatles in far deeper waters. “Bringing it All Back Home” and “Highway 61 Revisited” by Dylan were both released within months of this Beach Boys album. By year’s end “Rubber Soul” would be in record stores. But the Beach Boys were good hit makers. And Brian Wilson tried to keep pace with innovation as well: They found their way to “Pet Sounds” eventually. But I think it was just hard for them to dig deep, talented as they were. It’s interesting that at the end of the year the Beach Boys would release (same time as Rubber Soul) an album that included three covers of songs by the Beatles and one by Bob Dylan. Anyway, I’m talking more about the Beatles and Dylan than today’s album.

I enjoy the Beach Boys, but at this point, they evoke feelings of nostalgia and romantic sentimentalism rather than brilliant musicianship. The music is well composed and produced, and the lyrics speak of a more innocent time. It is a testament to the music that it doesn't come across as irrelevant, however, I do think they struggled to grow at the incredible pace of many of their musical peers.

Eins von vier(?) Beach Boys Alben in dem Jahr oder so. Junkfood von Sterneköchen. Kann mich an keinen Song erinnern, kein Bock mich damit zu beschäftigen, würde ich genau so wiederhören

Genial wurd's leider erst später. Plätschernder 60s-Gitarren-Pop der gute Laune macht.

la la lee la

Pretty inoffensive. All very samey.

Favorite tracks: Do You Wanna Dance? It's the beach boys

Do I have to listen to the Beach Boys? They are incessantly chipper and unrepentantly so, which is just about the opposite of the music I like. Part of that is just because, I think, life is fundamentally sad, in a happy heartbroken alone kinda way. And so music that speaks to that feels more honest to me. But, by the same token, I think it's much easier to write sad music. Genuinely good happy music is hard--and rare. And I'd be happy to never hear "Do you wanna dance" which seems to me to embody the worst of the beach boys instincts. But there's other tracks on here that I actually kinda like.

It probably deserves a much better objective rating, but I’ve never liked Beach Boys. This record doesn’t make me feel anything. I don’t even like Pet Sounds very much. The fault is mine, not theirs.

The Beach Boys always take me back to summers in Wimberley at my Uncle's house. He had a Rock-Ola jukebox in his pool house and the Beach Boys, Beatles, or Marty Robbins were always on. Fantastic stuff.

A short and sweet album with fun songs. The harmonies are absolutely beautiful. While some of these songs feel a bit juvenile, there are moments throughout where Brian Wilson shows what a brilliant songwriter he was. Favourite tracks: Do You Wanna Dance, Good To My Baby, Help Me Rhonda, Dance Dance Dance, Please Let Me Wonder

Good compact album, just a level below their classics

I like it but I would say it’s my least favourite beach boys album

They did me dirty to give me this in January.

Thoroughly enjoyable.

they rock

8/10

Huh. This project has certainly changed how I feel about The Beach Boys. As a kid I remember listening to what must have been a greatest hits album of their surfer songs and really enjoying it. A few tracks from this album are all we got from that era of the band on the entire 1,001 list; no Kokomo or Surfin USA or I Get Around or Barbara Ann. This album at least has Help Me Rhonda (although even that was apparently a re-release). Maybe the problem is they just released a ton of short albums in the early 60's every time they hit 10 songs rather than waiting until they had 10 good ones, so their hits were spread too thin. Just another weird choice by the author on what to include or not. I get that some people are really into their later stuff and apparently Pet Sounds is a seminal album, but much like Radiohead or The Beatles the later BB stuff doesn't work for me personally. Different strokes for different folks. Honestly I don't think this album holds up terribly well, but the harmonies and "Rhonda" are enough to get it to a 3 for me. I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed. 2.7

Interesting how they put the album together with side 1 being all more up-tempo songs and side 2 being all ballads. Definitely more mature both musically and lyrically than their earlier stuff. I enjoyed listening to it.

Still not Pet Sounds but a beautiful record in its own right.

just plain good stuff, innit?

hebben die mannen ooit een slecht album gemaakt?

Good but aren’t most of these covers??

I just find this stuff deeply boring. There are great albums by The Beach Boys but this one is all nursery rhymes

Not for me

I realize what the Beach Boys mean to music (well Brian Wilson for sure). However it is music I just can't get my head around too much. It is a lovely sound for sure but not my vibe as much as I can get into it. This record has some songs on the recording that I can get behind but not enough to earn more than average.

I like the style. Very different than other music I have heard.

Solid album. Nothing stands out too much tho.

Classic album, Back of My Mind is really good though kinda sad. Help me Rhonda is a certified banger 9/10

Fun Beach Boys Album! Love the harmonies!

I guess surf bros had good times in the 60's.

No thank you!

OK I guess, very much Beach Boys sounds. Bit samey, not my cup of tea

On this album, beach boys transition from surfer rock to arguably the greatest pop/rock album in pet sounds is on full display. The harmonies and arrangements are great, but there is some depth and introspection missing from this record that makes it just shy of 5/5

Not my favorite Beach Boys album, but you can't deny how catchy their songs are

<hitting the Beach Boys snooze button> no! not today! first two tracks are ok, as far as this kind of pop goes. you need to have a clearly audible cool guitar sound. lost the plot by song 3. perfectly fine to soundtrack scenes in the 1950s when you want to make the 1950s look stupid. music: hated. (⌐■_■)

A guy can appreciate that even this early, Beach Boys did neat stuff production-wise. But it doesn’t necessarily help a guy get over the sickly sweet my-best-gal Americanness of the whole thing. At least me.

Joy and fun with harmonies dripping in nostalgia

7.5/10

****a good, fun, easy listening album

The first half of the album was exactly what I expected of the Beach Boys. The second half of the album did pick-up exploring themes that weren't just saccharine pop. The Bull Session track was a mystery to me though. It didn't add anything at all, but did detract.

What a wholesome album. I wish music was innocent again like this, I feel like no one makes music that just asks a girl to dance anymore. When I think of The Beach Boys, I think of my mom because she loved them.

Lyrically another monothematic album, which unfortunately sounds pretty samey.

Quintessential Surf Rock Not Brian Wilson coded for sure but there are plenty of hints of baroque, barbershop quartet, Pop all blended in that special west coast way. Saving the 5 for Pet Sounds but wowie

Another Beach Boys album! Waow!

Cute and easy listening. Help Me, Rhonda is probably my favorite but other than that there were no real standouts

Not a massive fan of the beach boys and this one is definitely not the best thing ever but there is some somewhat solid songs here

I love the Beach Boys so this was a nice Christmas Day album! Love the whole tone of the album, the laidback guitar with surf vibes, the killer harmonised vocals. The songwriting is evocative of a time of innocence in life and in American culture. Its carefully designed to evoke that, so it's kind of a trick, but I don't mind. I like their more "ambitious" albums a little more, but this one is immensely listenable and enjoyable. I love the confident concision of doing 11 great songs in under 30 mins. The final track of random chatter is pointless, which is only a minor inconvenience. 4.5*

3.5/5

*1965. *A little Beach Boys normally goes a long way, but this is much mellower than their normal stuff, and I really dig it. *Started off strong with Baby Do You Want To Dance. Help Me Rhonda is also on here. *I actually really liked this. RATING - 7.5/10

Beach boys.

Good ol iconic Beach Boys... but that's about it. Lyrics aged a little poorly and did not take the risks that would produce something like Pet Sounds.

2,5

Fine harmonies. Some catchy songs. Just never my thing. 3/5

is this just an album of re-recorded songs?

Lame as hell but you simply can't hate it

The Beach Boys are overrated in my opinion. Not terrible, but it’s such early 60s pop. Very perky and most of the songs are about girls. A big shrug for me

The Beach Boys always sounded “old” to be - even listening to them just 10 years after the album was released. A couple of songs were good but the rest was just forgettable to outright bad.

I'm not a fan of the Beach Boys. They seem fake and creepy, and I have a hard time listening to this falsetto pop crap. If I want good surf music I'll listen to Dick Dale.

Cool

If you ever wanted to know what a 60's school dance actually sounded like, I guess this is the album.

Hints of Pet Sounds creeping in. You can feel a shift in this album. Slighter Beach Boys as they build to something bigger.

Good

Iconic 60s Americana, but every song is so cheesy and sounds the same.

This album, in isolation, is fine. Nothing too special. But listening to it after Pet Sounds is actually quite cool. You can hear the pull of Brian Wilson towards the experimental, deeply emotional writing. But the majority of the band and the songs remain in the early Beach Boys sound. A very fascinating transition from old to new. 3.5/5.

Unlike beatles fans, beach boys fans can recognize when they make a stinker of an album. There are highlights which show how great brian wilson is and his genius (When i grow up, help me rhonda) but as a whole, this feels more like a warm up or practice session for brian wilson’s song writing chops.

easy one. this horrible wooing will haunt me in my sleep.

I was not in the mood for this saccharine stuff today. Beach Boys were so prolific back in the day and you gotta sift through a mountain of stuff that hasn't aged well to find the gems. Stick to the greatest hits albums!

Side A of this is too chirpy and upbeat and harmonic for me to hate it completely despite the shallow, misogynistic, repetitive lyrics. Side B, however, has the same kind of material set to ballads and it's so unforgivably bad that it cancels out any kind of merit that album might otherwise muster.

Crazy to me that by 1965, the BBs were putting out their 8th studio album. This is significant as a stepping stone, a precursor to the world altering Pet Sounds. You can begin to hear the shift away from the car/surf sound into a more lush, emotional tone. None of the songs really stick out to me but as a whole it is an enjoyable listen. Not going to be top five BBs albums for me but Brian Wilson is such a weird, alchemical songwriter that it compels the listener no matter what and obviously the players are top tier.

Damon Albarn

Help me Rhonda gets this 2 stars.

Na dan pereza Los Playus

hui das isch viel hall. es isch soooo happyclappy mann. lyrics sind scho recht basic aber d vocal harmonies sind cuuute. help me rhonda baaaanger. he herzigi songs aber eis vode beste albe ever? nai. ich check beach boys liebi glaub nöd ganz.

"one of the greatest albums of all time"🤨🤨🤨 do you wanna dance kenni glaub nur e langsameri version? funny WHEN I GROW UP OMGG HAN DAS LIED MEGA VERGESSE HELP ME RHONDA HELP JELP ME RHONDA ahh daa kenni au e anderi version mit meh hindergrundgsang..die version würkt weg dem chlii leer? ich bruch de ÄBAUBAUBAUBAUBAUUU dance dance dance halt au en banger, wenn au sehr simpel, eifach chli gitarre und de zug wos lied druff het machts sehr churzeillig (vlt au wills 2 min gaht aber egal) I'm so young isch na easy cute in the back of my mind iwie en komische song. han ich en gern? weissnö bull session with big daddy vlt s beste lied?? nei hans sicher v.a. us nostalgie ultraa gnosse. die lieder woni nöd kennt han sind bi mier chli undergange aber sind easy gsi don't hurt my sister hani na spannend gfunde, iwie untypisch? aber coolio guets 4i

I did the remastered and it's low-key bomb.com 😼 I just love how the beach boys sound in general tho #D1 yearners (idk if they abused woman yet I'm scared to check)

Ok

Lovely early Beach Boys album.

3.8 2x short sweet and a few bangers

Beach Boys write a song about something other than "girls" or cars challenge: IMPOSSIBLE The Beach Boys always make me wonder what was going through everyone's minds in the 50s and 60s (other than lead paint, because that is obvious). Was this really the pinnacle? The best that America had to offer? It's crazy too, because the album after this was one of the best-selling of all time. This album was, apparently, NOT ENOUGH about cars and girls and love (even though that's literally all it's about), so the record company told them they had to make more overtly surfing-in-California-with-cars-and-girls music, and they did, and it sold like fucking CRAZY. Which is like...WHAT??? People's minds are so feeble that any level of metaphor or symbolism confounds them. If it's not literally saying "Girls in California, drivin' my car, down to the beach where we party some more!", they're like, "WAIT, this isn't about girls or cars at all!! I want my money back!" And it's not like this album ISN'T about all of that, it literally is just the same shit. People are so shallow that this is somehow a "progressive" album by the day's standards, which is crazy to me, because it's literally...not. Adding Harpsichord does not make something groundbreaking. It's still just dance dance dance, girls girls girls; it's still just trite, shallow, surface-level pap, but because there is a half layer of descriptive language, nobody was able to realize that or something, which is fucking scary. Side note: Mike Love is such a piece of shit, it's actually incredible. He literally only thinks about women and cars, spinning around in his shriveled brain like a carousel 24/7. "No, I do not like Mike Love at all". Me either, Brian. I am so glad that our brains are mostly past this garbage. I would never in a million years call this groundbreaking or visionary, and it's nuts that at some point people did not realize that you COULD INDEED make music that wasn't just about cars and girls and California. Their brains must have all been mush, never having thought outside of a single box in their entire straight, obedient, boot-licking, boring lives. It's fucking crazy that the Beach Boys are one of the highest-selling bands of all time - it will never cease to amaze me and also make me wonder, with great fear and worry, who exactly is walking around the same Earth as me. Absolutely horrifying thought. 2/5, "Please Let Me Wonder" is alright, "She Knows Me Too Well" is also alright. Brian Wilson was the only good thing about the Beach Boys. If you need evidence of that, just listen to...literally any of their albums without him. Actually, don't. That would probably physically harm you.

This isn't the Beach Boys of yesterday, no sir.

wonderful

The Beach Boys have always sounded pretty dated to me, but I was surprised with just how good Pet Sounds was. I was hoping this album would continue to change my mind about their music, but no.

B side is much better, anything that got us to the point of pet sounds I can’t be too down on

I always thought The Beach Boys were gonna be hotter tb h

when I say I love listening to the beach boys, this is not the album I mean Also, "you stepped on my french fries :( " 3.25

2nd best Beach boys album, basically Pet Sounds before Pet Sounds. It has the same pessimistic sensitive love songs, especially on the second side, which are countered by light orchestration and gorgeous vocals. Please Let Me Wonder is a top 4 Beach Boys song of all time imo. 5/5

Hm, I was excited when I saw Beach Boys but this album was just ok. Pet Sounds is so much better and introspective in my opinion. And I was surprised to learn this is their 8th album because it still sounds sophomoric. I guess it was their kickstart to making albums with more depth but I wouldn’t consider this a top album.

I think I'm just not a Beach Boys guy.

This album was shit

Dont hurt my little sister....when I grow up to be a man...I'm so Young, come on! this is next level cheese. Ironically, I prefer this version of Help me Rhonda. I found the album pretty mid. Nothing really stood out. 3 stars

De Beach Boys, ik trek het allemaal niet fantastisch. Voor mij voelt het grotendeels als vibes en verder niets. De lyrics zijn nou niet bepaald om over naar huis te schrijven ofzoiets. Niet dat ik altijd lyrics het allerbelangrijkste vind ofzo, maar dit album specifiek voelt zo ontzettend mierzoet dat ik er een beetje een nare smaak van in mijn mond krijg... Ehh, het is allemaal mierzoete poprock slop. Beetje alsof we iets later een Backstreet Boys album gaan krijgen. Ik denk gewoon niet echt dat dit nou een wereldschokkend album is of had moeten zijn. Pet sounds snap ik, daar hoor je wel echt wat anders in, maar dit? Nee dit is niet mijn ding. Het is wel erg kort, 28 minuten waarvan de laatste 2 geouwehoer is. Dat is een voordeel en daar irriteer ik me minder aan, maar ik kan me niet aan de indruk onttrekken dat zelfs de grootste Beach Boy fan zich zal afvragen "Waarom dit album?" als het langs komt. Het voelt als een album van B-sides, en dan geen B-sides waarvan je denkt "Bizar dat dit een b-side was! Dit was echt heeeeeerlijk!!!11!!" Nee meer dat het overduidelijk is dat dit geen hit is, geen hit gaat worden en ook niet goed genoeg is om een soort hidden gem te zijn. FAVO: Dance, dance, dance,

I liked it, though I find most Beach Boys stuff sounds kinda the same ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

The vocal arrangements and instrumentation raise this album above its inner corny core though, if you listen closely, you can hear more personal lyrics beginning to emerge. 3.5/ 5

The Beach Boys will always find a way to write the best vocal harmonies you've ever heard over the dumbest songs you've ever heard.

Quite a "beach boysy" album. 'Dance, dance, dance' was the only song I recognized from this album. Sounds a bit like a mix between american The Beatles, circus music, and something you'd expect to be played at a high school ball dancefloor in the 60s. Got to give them that they sure know how to make interesting vocal harmonies when they want to. One thing that really annoyed me by the end of the album is how most songs are just about juvenile romance. Not really anything unique to this album, but somehow it just stuck to me, and I can't shake that feeling. Overall a decent album I guess, but I've concluded that I have a hard time appreciating The Beach Boys for much else than their absolute best work, i.e. their most known hits. Weak 3.

It's a Beach Boys album before they really got their sound down. All components of a great Beach Boys album is there, from the harmonics to the vocals, but the last catchy hits are missing. We have had two later Beach Boys albums on this list and both of the have catchy hooks that make you impressed. The most impressive song on this album is “Do You Wanna Dance” which is an ok but standard 60s pop song. Maybe it works as an historical document where they were heading in later albums. Weak 3.

Are we allowed to say it’s kind of average? A couple of cracking singles, sure, and the craft that has gone into the production is obvious but too many of these songs weren’t worth that level of attention. Most of it distinctly forgettable.

I remain partial to the Beach Boys. I blame Nick Jr occasionally running the Muppets music video cover of "Kokomo" when I was a kid (I understand "Kokomo" is not their best work - the Beach Boys or the Muppets). I wouldn't cite this album as a masterpiece the way I think of "Pet Sounds," but it still lands quite well for me. Pop beach party is a winning album formula. Highlights here: "Help Me, Ronda," "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)," and "Do You Wanna Dance?" I could maybe do without the sandwich chatter track.

The beach boys are still not my favorite, but this was mostly ok. Except the last track.

Meh

Nice album, but the audio seemed poorly optimized. The highs were prioritized on one song, and then the kick drum drowned out the vocals in another.

It was fascinating to hear all the the musical elements that would feature heavily on the following year's acclaimed Pet Sounds album coming together, in earnest, on this. This is the transition album. As such, there are some great stand out moments. "When I Grow Up to Be a Man" with its harpsichord, and bass harmonicas and Phil Spector style arrangement was a harbinger of things to come. This is "Wrecking Crew" at their peak powers. But, the expansive "Kiss Me, Baby" and "She Knows Me Too Well" take things to the next level. It's painfully obvious Brian has graduated from this group. In an alternate reality this is where he begins to enjoy solo projects and songwriting for and with other artists. Instead he suffers in an effort to fit all his creativity into the Beach Boys box. There are some great numbers sung by Dennis Wilson on here, including my favorite on the album, "In the Back of My Mind." The lush arrangement is just sooooo good! Not a perfect album but a darn good listen!

So good. The Beach Boys start growing up!

"Help Me, Rhonda"...one of my favorite songs ever, much less Beach Boys songs.

Good classic surf rock, what's not to like?

A solid 60's vocal pop record. All of this sounds great but it doesn't compare to their later records for me by a mile.

Definitely at the cheesier end of the beach boys spectrum.

Beach Boys are pretty boring.

I listened to a lot of Beach Boys as a young kid. It's still a reasonably enjoyable listen now. I think they were a bit advanced for the time, which is interesting, considering how poppy they were at first.

I can see why they were popular and I prefer this album to the other one I’ve listened to so far.

Jovial and playful, I liked Pet Sounds more though. :)

Do You Wanna Dance? 1001 Albums Generator 161 (11/13/2025) The Beach Boys Today! is widely considered the first "great" Beach Boys album. And it really is great. The first side is filled with bombastic, dancing tunes, and the second side is filled with more introspective ballads, but both sides have some pop perfection on them. I am partial to the energetic side of The Beach Boys generally and I think that side A is pretty much perfect except for the kind of annoying Don't Hurt My Little Sister. Do You Wanna Dance? is one of the best pop songs I have ever heard, and Dance, Dance, Dance is also great. When I Grow Up features some really strange harmonic content in the chorus that hints at what the group would do later on Pet Sounds. Side B is also pretty good, with Please Let Me Wonder being one of my favorite songs on the album. I'm So Young is also prog pop perfection, albeit with some really cheesy lyrics. The album ends with some studio sounds, which is an interesting choice, but not very interesting. The Beach Boys Today! is a great album, but The Beach Boys would certainly go on to do better stuff. 4/5. Favs: Do You Wanna Dance? Dance, Dance, Dance She Knows Me Too Well Least Fav: Don't Hurt My Little Sister

I enjoyed it. I’ve heard it several times before. I definitely appreciate it’s importance.

Never heared this album before (aside from couple of hits). This one is so much fun. Will definitely go back to it again. Almost as fun as Pet Sounds.

Everyone who knows and loves Pet Sounds have a lot to thank for this one. This is the first album where TBB find its identity beyond vocal surf. Some of their finest pieces here are on par with Pet Sounds, already with the mellow, classy tone we all know and love

It's the beach boys. If you like them you will live this album. If you don't you won't. Musically it's fine I just don't like the beach boys sound.

I can see how the beach boys sound good enough for someone to like them, but alas I do not

This is the sound of a certain time

Koselige vibes

Pretty decent, always a fun listen with these boys

It’s not The Beach Boys album I’m reaching for when I want to hear them.

OK. 2/5

not the best beach boys classics, but some nice decent songs

Great album

usual beach boys, which means great

A few classic songs like Goid Vibrations, gets this to a 3. I'm not a fan of high pitched singing, whether or not it's harmonized beautifully.

Come on, i know they can do better. What's this crap singing?

This was what I expected from a Beach Boys album

Solid beach boys record. Fun listen. (Would give 3.5 stars if I could)

Lowkey radiant.

Pas mon vibe

kinda boring

This just feels more like a satire of itself than an acclaimed album. I guess ya had to be there (1965).

Hadn't listened to this one before - very good

good album

An okay album. Sounds mostly the same and doesn’t have the hit songs that other albums have. Harmonies are good. At least it was brief. 2.5/5 Probably won’t listen again

A fun album, but it having the one great single in "Help Me Rhonda" should not have put this album on the list. 3.25 / 5

makes me want to dance

Don’t see why this made the cut of the 1000, personally

Sounds like nothing else.

It's got some good melodies. It shows its age periodically. Nothing in here that's especially groundbreaking listening in 2025, but it's still solid listening.

I'm so sick of the Beach Boys. Why do critics love this band so much? Did I need to listen to every single song they ever wrote for this challenge? I got the idea after the first ten or so.

The thing I've found with Beach Boys' records (bar Pet Sounds - what an album!) is that they were generally written, recorded and wrapped in pretty quick succession. So, you're given a single or two, a few catchy covers and some originals that fall short. This album follows the format. I enjoyed parts of it. Their 'Do You Wanna Dance' isn't as good as the Ramones' version. 'Help me, Rhonda' is an absolute banger (even with the false ending, I always hated that part). 'When I grow up' is a bit wimpy. There's some decent harmonies, but also a few risks have been taken in certain songs, and the effect isn't always as pleasing/refined as they got later in their career (which was only like a year away if I'm right!). A fun little jaunt, but not enough to warrant a place on this list. 3 Stars.

An old man sits in an armchair in the lounge at his retirement home. There are about 15 other residents sitting around him, and morning tea is being served by two lovely Filipino nurses. There is some concert music playing on a tv in the corner, to break the silence. The man happily drifts off into a daydream, remembering back to his youth when it was all surf trips and pub lunches. My God he was a womaniser back then.

Good tunes with questionable lyrics.

Standard Beach Boys stuff, but the extended chat at the end loses it a star.

As an introduction to the beach boys this was alright. I know they have better to come

5/5 get better w every listen feels like spring and summer classic songs

Not their best but still nice

I respect the beach boys but its really never been my thing.

Enjoyable - pleasant simple songs, not the more sophisticated sound of Pet Sounds

Dated nowadays, but a solid album for its time.

Classic :)

Not their best

Solid but boring. Lyrics sound like a different, more boring time.

The Beach Boys with their signature-sound. But for me in total sounds a bit dated. Just because of "Help Me, Rhonda" I give it the weak three stars. 2,5

it was pretty good, very old sounding i wish it had modern quality.

Dios mio que bodrioooo Nota: 2.2

85

Beautiful pop songs as would be expected from The Beach Boys. I find their pre-Pet Sounds stuff slightly one note though. Still lovely to listen to, but doesn’t have as much of a lasting impact.

Solid Beach Boys. "In the Back of My Mind", "Help me, Rhonda", and "Good to My Baby" are some highlights.

Great harmonies, arrangements and songwriting. You can hear the growth that will eventually lead to Pet Sounds. I will say some of the vocal and vocal arrangements sounded different than versions I remember, but that could just be my age, haha. Highlights: " Help Me, Rhonda" and "Dance, Dance, Dance"

Hey, I listened to The Beach Boys today Oh great, which album? The Beach Boys Today Yes I know that, BUT WHICH ALBUM Fantastic harmonies, glorious production but............ this hasn't evolved much from earlier efforts. It's not a bad thing, but why the inclusion of this album specifically?

For my Money, the best of the pre pet sounds beach boys.

I am usually tired of hearing The Beach Boys, since I find a lot of their musical tastes off-putting, but this had some really wonderful tracks. Was also surprised by the burgers skit, felt very modern, except for the fact they made it the finale!

God dammit the beach boys just rub me the wrong way sometimes. There are moments when it’s their music makes me feel complete and there are then moments when I feel like I’m losing my mind. This album left me with half a brain, feeling like I’m being belittled and sung to like I’m 5 years old. 2 stars because of Brian Wilson

canciones muy de la primera época. Tomalo o dejalo. Yo lo tomo.

lite mindre spännande än jag hoppades på, men fortfarande beach boys

Toppen Beach Boys album och starten på deras experimentella era. Ärligt talat, bästa låten är sista då de bara sitter o snackar. Det är som att lyssna på spöken och det är en sån fin insyn i deras relation till varandra under den här tiden.

Très bon mais aucun hit sur cet album, un peu déçu

No surf or car songs? No over the top industry changing production?... Meh, it's ok I guess.

Big fan post pet sounds. You can hear the potential here, but it is not yet achieved

The production is excellent on this, harmonies create this wall of sound that really hits you, it's definitely dated, songs are simple and the themes are repetitive but it's an easy listen and fairly enjoyable.

Blech Boys! This has never been my cup of tea. People go on and on about how the Beach Boys changed music and they're amazing. Lord knows I've tried too many times to dig in and hear the gems buried in their music, to no avail! If you've heard 1 minute of their music, you've heard it all! Over and over, high pitched harmonies, singing about the beach life and girls. Sorry, dude. I tried. I really did. But there is no there there. This is a 1!

Fun

Great representations of The Beach Boys creativity with pop music and extremely good melodies. Help me Rhonda was one that stood out

Rolling Stone 466 The first half of this album is peak Beach Boys the beginning of their more ‘interesting’ period. The second half more mellow and slow dancey really lags and all kind of sounds the same.

this was sick, every song slapped and i liked the end, made me get a more personal feel with the band at the end as i haven’t heard them not sing. not close to pet sounds but as an album back in the hay day, it’s sick

Fun fun fun!

Help Me Rhonda was a constant spin on the jukebox my parents had won at a charity auction.

Some really great songs! Some pretty good songs.

cooli musig:) tönt eif alles biz ähnlich..

There's a lot you could say about THE BEACH BOYS TODAY! in terms of its place in the band's history. To begin with, it was their first album to step away from singing about hot rods and surfing. Not a single mention of either on the whole record! On top of that, thanks to Brian Wilson quitting touring to work in the studio full time, it was far more musically sophisticated than anything they'd done to that point except for their Christmas record. In tandem with that album, they seemed to be laying the exact groundwork for PET SOUNDS to come out a year later and revolutionize the whole game. For those, there's a good argument to be made that THE BEACH BOYS TODAY! is the first- or second-most important album the band ever recorded — maybe third if you wanna be technical and count SMiLE. However, I don't wanna factor any of that into my review of/babble about this album. After all, I've got no ear for musical complexities; what does it matter to me what specific chords are getting used? I'm sure I can register what's going on on some deeper level, but don't expect me to write a thesis paper about it. On top of that, the lyrics... Well, there are some songs where the lyrics matter more than others, I feel like. There are also some incredibly spare lyrics that've aged worse than others, but instead of making a scene I just choose to blame them on Mike Love and leave it at that. So then why do I still consider THE BEACH BOYS TODAY! to be the second or third best album they've done? For one, it depends on how I'm feeling about SURF'S UP that day (it's number two now). But beyond that, I'd say it honestly is because it exists in-between periods of the band's history. It's the transition point between their surf music and the full-on orchestral stuff PET SOUNDS would have, and it's such an interesting combination. Even if I can't hear the specifics and praise the album for that, it's still intriguing that there's clearly more going on in the instrumentation than in something like... I'unno, "Chug-A-Lug"? And that's even before the unique instruments come in. I mean, I just really truly love the individual halves that're being mushed together here (I don't own ENDLESS SUMMER on vinyl and two CD copies of PET SOUNDS for nothing), so this whole disc is a damn treat. But let's take this album one side at a time. The first is dedicated to all of the uptempo songs, and is where we get "Dance, Dance, Dance" and the original "Help Me, Rhonda". They're all good, fun songs, but I gotta admit, they're all kind of overshadowed by the crown jewel of this side: "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)". Imagine, in the middle of a record side about dancing and girls, suddenly there's this song where a boy anxiously ponders his adulthood, including if he'll love for the rest of his life the woman he marries. It's a remarkably mature song when put next to "Little Deuce Coupe". It's a wistful song, but backed with the instrumentation I can't help but feel like there's some kind of excitement, too. Like, the boy's worried about growing up, but at the same time, he kinda can't wait to find out what he'll be like? Seriously, this is the most musically advanced thing on the first side, and it's just an absolute wonder to behold. And let me tell you, in light of not only Brian's passing earlier this, but everything that would happen in his life past this post... Goodness. In short, it's an absolute 11/10 song for side one if there ever was one. Now, if side one finds most of itself outweighed by one singularly amazing song, side two's are way more consistent across the board. This is the side with the slower tempo ballads, and, quite frankly, it's the **best** side? Like, The Beach Boys are always amazing with the harmonies, no matter what tempo you're listening to them out. However, I don't think there's anything that can quite beat a ballad Beach Boys harmony, and this is a side full of them. There's really no one specific song I wanna highlight; they all fade into each other as this beautifully lush stream of vocals and instrumentation. Most people would say "fading into each other" is a bad thing, but to me it just highlights how consistent the side is. You can't just listen to one on their own; they all flow into each other like a suite and it paints this gorgeous sound picture in your head. Like, not to the extent of something like PET SOUNDS, or maybe even the last three songs on SURF'S Up, but if there was any side on here I wanted to revisit as soon as possible, it was side two. Just absolutely marvelous stuff. (These are apparently the "crusty brothel sheets" that one review is talking about. Honestly now.) And then there's "Bull Sessions With 'Big Daddy'". ... And that is exactly as much attention as that track deserves. (Seriously, there's nothing wrong with it; it's just an excerpt from a 20 minute interview, but, like... Whyyyy is it here? Do yourself a favor and just close the album on "In The Back Of My Mind"; it works way better that way.) THE BEACH BOYS TODAY!, lemme tell you, is the band's first masterwork. It's not without its flaws, of course, but it was the first album where they weren't just hinting at their potential. It's their most realized project yet, and seriously, side two is **so good**. I mean no shade to side one, of course; it still has "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" and a buncha fun songs to dance to, but goodness me, side two is just that great. And if I'm gonna interrupt my closing thoughts to gush like that, well... But yeah: today, yesterday, tomorrow, whenever, this is a great album. Without a doubt, one of the absolute greatest they ever made. And when I grow up, no matter how old I get, I'll always be holdin' it with PET SOUNDS, SURF'S UP and FRIENDS in the back of my mind. (And seriously, all y'all 1's makin' faces at Brian over the lyrics: just blame Mike Love. He's a creep and he's right there; it's not that hard.)

Starts out as your typical early Beach Boys fare (good), but then that second side happens, and you can clearly tell where the seeds that eventually led to Pet Sounds (and SMiLE, to an extent) germinated. 4.5 bumped up to 5.

I’m at a 4.5 that I’ll bump up to a 5. When we got “Pet Sounds”, I very specifically mentioned that when my brain still thinks of The Beach Boys, it conjures up the poppier stuff, like “Surfin’ U.S.A.” or “Good Vibrations”. The entire first half of this album has finally scratched that itch; the first 6 tracks here are that poppier, doo-wop version of the Beach Boys sort of getting it all out there for the people who like it. I’m a total sucker for it, so I think they all work; certainly heavy on the repetition, and not the most compelling from a lyrical point, but in terms of a kind of infectious, joyful energy, it’s just there in spades. It’s nothing special, but it’s fun, especially once some key changes start to enter in. The last 5 tracks (because I cannot possibly call that nothingburger of a burger-filled interview a “track”) act as a really strong precursor to the expanded effort on “Pet Sounds”, and while it’s certainly more of a prototype here as opposed to the swirling, meticulous & laborious work Brian Wilson put into “Pet Sounds”, I think it’s just as effective in terms of bridging the gap. The harmonies from the group are on full display, and when they enter the ears like that, it’s just blissful. Past that, the lyricism just feels more concrete, giving a bit more of a storytelling edge. They’re (thankfully) not trying to be Bob Dylan or anything, but it’s just slightly more mature, and it feels far more adjacent to the folksier side of pop/rock that would come into vogue for the latter half of the 1960s. Realistically, the only reasons I’m at a 4.5 instead of a flat 5 are because of two things: the “school dance” vibes of the first 6 tracks wearing just a little thin, even with how fast each track is, and the interview being… well, totally fucking useless. Maybe a little fun, if you want to know their lunch orders, but it’s the most pointless “bonus” track I think we’ve gotten on the list. Regardless, it’s an easy enough bump up to a 5. I’m sure there’s a lot more that could be said here, but I think at its core, it’s just a nice album. It’s a good blend of the doo-wop Beach Boys & the critical “Pet Sounds” acclaim, and if nothing else, it’s a fun, breezy 27 minute record (again, not counting the last "track"). This is the third & final Beach Boys album on the list, and that’s a straight 15/15; good picks for the list, and clearly, I need to listen to more of them. Maybe not the Mike Love era, though. Once again, thank you Brian.

Today! falls into the “goofy” category. Help Me, Rhonda, Do You Wanna Dance? and When I Grow Up (To Be A Man) continued to get radio play into the 70s and we’d all sing along. But The Beach Boys still sound like a barbershop quintet to me. The album is 1001 Must Hear List worthy, but Brian’s breakdown helped get it there. (2.7*s)

The Beach Boys have always been a little too Barbershoppy and sugar coated. Today! gives you a sugar buzzlike most of their work. They do stray from the surfer vibe on this album and tried to show the world they are versatile. I don't think they hit the mark here and def improve their experimentation on the next release. It's a shorty so it doesn't overstimulate your sweet tooth...1.7 stars.

The Beach Boys distanced themselves a bit from the surf rock genre and with it went a lot of the charm that I guess I appreciated from their earlier albums. Maybe it was the right professional choice at the time, but 25 years later these chamber pop albums are just skippable bubble gum for the most part. It's not the worst in small doses for 1-2 songs but most of it has no lasting appeal. I'm not a big Beach Boys fan to begin with and this comes in well below than the prior entry. Glad that it was short because it would have taken additional hits had it dragged on. They had their moment in the sun and deserved it but music has mostly moved on. (Evidently not everyone has moved on since whatever is left of The Beach Boys is still touring in 2025 with John Stamos involvement. Madness.) 1.48 stars

She Knows Me Too Well is creepy as hell - “I’m jealous and abusive but she understands that I only act like that because I love her so much.” Yikes. Other than that, this is a fun midpoint between the early singles and the more ambitious Pet Sounds.

A bunch of sappy teenage love songs that all sound the same. The sound is kind of nice, but I've never understood the love for the Beach Boys.

i woke up in a good mood and also it’s sunny outside so i’m giving this 4☆

stone temple pilots cover of she knows me too well is better

My favorite track was the last one where it was just a recording of the fellas opening their burger order and talking. The rest of the tracks were fine, just exactly what you'd expect from the beach boys.

I know The Beach Boys get better (God only knows), but I’m not sure if they get more iconic.

Oh Ronda! The apple of everyone's eye! This isn't the best beach boys album but I wouldn't turn it off if it came on.

Legendary melodies

the most a beach boy has ever beach boyed on a beach boy album

eh

Bit dull

Enjoyed it, not sure if I LOVED it but a couple of standout songs

The Good: It is only for today The Bad: what if we like it and want to listen to it tomorrow? The Ugly: listening to them yesterday… If there is anything to learn from this album then it is to show the importance of choosing a good name for your band… If Elvis Presley could have recorded any style of music, people would’ve accepted it. The Beach Boys should stick to beach kind of music… not that ‘50s rock n roll classics are beach worthy, just not what one thinks about… Also, note that I am not a beach boys fan. I listened to the album. Appreciated the fact that it wasn’t too long, while bobbing along to several tracks. That’s it. Probably will not play that album again… and if the album that is going to presented to me now is not pleasing, I will go and listen to The Idiot by Iggy Pop again, which is quickly becoming a top-10 all time favorite for me… 3*

Pretty good but lacked a consistency

A start that got better.

I think I prefer the uptempo Beach Boys more than the ballads but whichever the song you can’t knock those harmonies.

This is their 8th studio album? It sounds like a debut written around the campfire after a fun day of surfing by a bunch of kids. No sound or drug experimentation for these guys. It’s full of catchy simple songs and is an enjoyable listen.

Harmony porn.

3.2

Nice 60s pop

3.4 - Alles in Allem sehr unterhaltsam, aber auch viel Gedudel dabei

The Beach Boys are obviously fantastic, influential, and talented. It’s just before my time and hard to relate to or click with. A bit too “happy go lucky” of a sound for me to be able to really relate to or be in the moment with. My favorite off of this album was “Dance, Dance, Dance.” It was good (obviously), especially the rhythms and vocal layering/harmonies, just not relatable and not very interesting to me unfortunately.

Will my kids be proud or think their old man is really a square?

I get that they were trying new things, but this did not grab me. But it was short!

they just didn't really have it yet

They were good. A lot of teenage angst but in a different time

Love me some classic beach boys

Them and The Beatles were the thing in the 60s. It was all about these 2 bands. Because they were different. Was it that good? No, but everyone copied them. I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.

I liked this album. A lot of the songs had a nice vibe. I really liked dance dance dance

Not the best I’ve heard from the Beach Boys but not bad

I have started to listen to the Beach Boys albums a bit recently. The songwriting and harmonies are so good. This is a good record so far. I listened to the whole thing which is rare for me in this list.

Yeah it's not bad, pretty mid.

Nice harmonies and catchy songs. A good listen

Album has great harmonies. Must be early stuff because they talk about high-school and growing up to be a man. It's kind of charming because they aren't being all machismo. Typical beach boy sound but not many previously known hits. I liked Dance, Dance, Dance and Do you Wanna dance but most songs are okay and deserve a listen. Don't care for She knows me to well, but it might just be the topic. Like the last "song" at the end where the guys eat and chat. Not music but slice of life sort of.

I enjoyed this album. I knew a few songs and those were the ones that stood out to me. I definitely prefer the later beach boys albums more, when they were experimenting with new sounds.

Beach Boys. Hmm - have always seemed like a cheesy ripoff of the Beatles, and nothing on this album changes my view. I do appreciate the underlying harmonic setup - it's not simple 12-bar blues based 60s rock. Everything on on top is saccharine sweet and cloying - falsetto and at times screeching (She Knows me too well) vocals, slimey harmonies and questionable lyrics. The upbeat songs are at least tolerable, but the ballads are horrible.

A classic for a reason. I also hope the same things that turned me on as a kid still turn me on when I grow up.