The Beach Boys Today!

I miss you Brian Wilson

Ok. Nowhere near as good as Pet Sounds, Side A’s 2 but Side B’s a bit better

THE BEACH BOYS are good at music there good

I understand why this band gets dunked on for being very twee. Clearly super influential, there's all sorts of bits in here that show up elsewhere but oof I don't think you're supposed to sit and listen to the Beach Boys, but be doing something else that takes most of your attention, like dancing or driving to the beach.

This album is definitely a classic, but the Juicy Fruits/Beach Bums/Undeads were better #wellrememberyouforevereddy

Feels appropriate given the sad passing of Brian Wilson. The songwriting and musical talent is undeniable. It's all so upbeat and it's easy to see why it's a solid feel-good-advert soundtrack option. God Only Knows is one of my favourite songs from the band and I've not really stepped much beyond that. This journey confirmed why. So unique but not my vibe

Like a lot of beach boys albums of the time, this is a fun, short album. Has some bangers like “When I Grow Up” and “Help Me, Rhonda.” I didn’t need any help from Rhonda or anyone, getting into this groove. Kneecrest out.

Would have preferred Pet Sounds, but fitting tribute to Mike Love I mean Brian Wilson. The Beach Boys have never really been my thing, tbh. I love the musicality of it, and I respect the gorgeous harmonies, but surfer rock never appealed to me, and I really only enjoy the stuff post beach and car rock. Today! is the first real transition album from the surfer genre into more album rock, and it's a great start. 3/5

Do You Wanna Dance... Fine Good To My Baby is solid Don't Hurt My Little Sister is good When I Grow Up is aurally interesting Help Me, Rhonda is good fun Dance Dance Dance is enjoyable but forgettable sugar Please Let Me Wonder...shrug I'm So Young is enjoyable. I'm a sucker for old school love songs and harmonies Kiss Me, Baby has a solid groove and good harmonies She Knows Me Too Well...meh In The Back of My Mind is an interesting curve ball Bull Session With "Big Daddy" seems to be an interview

Very pleasant to listen to. Superbly well made.

I did not care for this.

Dear lord this music had a time and place, really hard to listen to all the while evoking a picture of a young Ron Howard.

As a huge fan of the Beach Boys, it was a cool experience- even if it is not my all-time favorite album from them. I had only heard two or three tracks before listening to the whole album, so a lot felt fresh. Definitely had the signature Beach Boy vibe, classic harmonies. Even if it didn't totally blow me away, I still enjoyed it overall.

Not really a fan. I couldn’t tell when one song ended and the next one began. I liked the first couple of songs, and then I was over it.

Unpopular opinion - Every Beach Boys song sounds just like the one before it. I don't know what I'm missing. It's not the worst song I've ever heard, but it's not really special either. I saw a quote yesterday saying "It's not that the Beatles were better than The Beach Boys, Brian Wilson was just outnumbered" and I just don't get it. It's good clean family-friendly fun, but it's surface-level cheese, too. Stuff that preppy white boys played to try and kiss a girl after 9 pm on a Saturday night. Lame. I'll take The Beach Boys in a small doses, but even this 27 minute album was too much. I thought that about their Pet Sounds album as well in the past. Give me one Beach Boys song at a pool, and I'll give it 5 stars. Give me a full album, and you get this 2 star review.

Plastic cheese. This album tastes like a Norman Rockwell and reminds me why the British Invasion had to happen

Idk how to feel about the beach boys. Theyre very interesting and incredible vocally but at the same time dont lure me in really

i think the fact that it took me weeks to get through this is evidence enough that i tried really hard to like it and it’s just not my favorite but i know it’s important and all that, just can’t get myself to enjoy that particular sound for so much of their music

This is The Breeze, easy-listening if it were one singular album. Highlights: Please Let Me Wonder

Quite same same, easy listening Favourites: Please Let Me Wonder

It was a mistake listening to this immediately after Neil Young’s - on the beach, because this seemed quite shallow in comparison. Maybe will have to give it another listen soon

Inoffensive background music. 3 stars.

One of those “nothing wrong with it, just not for me” type of albums. Highly reminiscent of Wawa’s Hoagiefest jingle. Makes me think of drive in theaters and malt shakes. Fun for the summer but I’ve never heard a track I felt compelled to throw onto a playlist.

What a stupid closing track. Help Me Rhonda has the worst "faux fadeout fakeout" ever The rest of it is fine

Solid album. Genuinely find a lot of Beach Boys songs a bit too vanilla.

Meh. To samey. 2-3/10.

3.4/need to give them a deeper listen i think. RIP

The sounds and lyrics were quite groovy. I'm sure it was impressive for the time period. For me, it was just ok. RIP B.W.

Broken record but the back half is so much belter than the first imo. First half smacks of whiney austin cold plunge boys (shoutout e) , second half instrumentation is really good. Should take inspo from iglooghost and be 15m long

Some fun, catchy songs on the front half, and a few gorgeous slower cuts on the back half.

Confession time: I’m not a big fan of the early surfer beach boys stuff.

Lots of recognizable songs on here, but this is not my style of music. It's way too boy-band for me, even if it is well done. RIP Brian Wilson

Holy shit. Brian Wilson just died yesterday. Coincidence? I think not. I don't hate listening to the BB and am often quite impressed by them. They're not my type of music either.

Was disappointed on my first listen but enjoyed it more the second time through. Did find some of the songs a bit too repetitive. Not sure if it’s a bad thing that we got Pet Sounds first because it makes me think this isn’t as good as that - or if the bits I like are the bits where I can see Pet Sounds is on the horizon and that makes me look at it more positively. Fav song: Help me, Rhonda - also liked Please Let Me Wonder Least fav: Don’t Hurt My Little Sister

Damn that one at the end where they’re all just chatting about sandwiches and stuff made me sad. Good album though. Specific rating - 4.3 Fav song- help me Rhonda Least fav- in the back of my mind

I know it's only a year before pet sounds but the lyrics make me feel like they're much younger at points. My main criticism boils down to the fact that it's just not pet sounds. favourite: Help Me, Rhonda or Dance, Dance, Dance least: Don't Hurt My Little Sister

Got pushed this album 2 days after Brian Wilson's death (RIP). Production is great but it's just not for me. Has such a dated sound to it. All the songs are less than 3 minutes and it just seems mass produced and white washed. 4.5/10 (2.25/5)

RIP Brian Wilson

Kyllähän tämän kuunteli, mutta ei kyllä omaan hyllyyn päädy.

Jotenkin tosi sympaattinen levy, jonka biiseistä tulee paremmalle mielelle. Soundiin on hitusen purrut ajan hammas, mutta se ei omaa kuuntelukokemusta haitannut.

Kyllähän surffimusa pieninä annoksina ihan ok. Aika kamalia biisejä myös ja hassua et Wilson kuoli samalla kellonlyömällä

Kyllähän surffirokki toimii, sai jopa sateisen päivän näyttämään hitusen aurinkoisemmalta. Kepeät mullat myös Brian Wilssonille, joka menehtyi edellispäivänä.

Mid and jangly

Very cool, I like!!!! 4

The high, fluting voices of the Beach Boys are castrato wails: remarkable technical achievements, but incomprehensible on an emotional level. How do you relate to something that sounds so alien and formal, especially when most people find it hard to listen to opera. Yet, the best work here – When I Grow Up (To Be A Man), Help Me, Rhonda – is as lush and effecting as a classical movement, being harmonically rich and structurally interesting, even while constrained by doo-wop and surftone aesthetics. The remainder, which doesn't constitute the best, are nicely arranged pop standards. And this split between good pop and beyond pop reminds me of nothing so much as A Hard Day's Night, where the division between proficient statis and the stratosphere isn't exactly the same. However, the difference is the Beatles's title track itself. Not only is it catchy and clever, with a previously impossible studio-processed mystery chord at the beginning, but the title itself is new. A play-on-words from Ringo, the title incapsulates another Beatles innovation: the artist as a character. The four forceful characters of the Beatles – and their humour – becomes inextricable from the music. The Beach Boys introduce their sense of humour later – Vegetables; She's Goin' Bald – but it is a goofy humour, not the socially adept humour of the Beatles. And Brian Wilson's personality only becomes apparent when he has free reign over the music, which he gets on Pet Sounds. However, the distinction is clear: the powerhouse personalities of the Beatles are propulsive, until the point where they pull themselves apart; Wilson's gentle character is at once protected and suffocated by the empty-headed pablum of his band mates, his business moguls, and bank managers. Too reserved to push through himself, he has been drawn out and, even then, risks being smashed to smithereens by the pressures. 2.5 I felt bad for the girls in Good to my Baby and She Knows Me Too Well. I felt bad for the Little Sister (and rather sorry for her boyfriend too). I felt absolutely dreadful for Rhonda. Some of the tunes are terrific and the arrangements are sweet and absorbing. But the Beach Boys are utter creeps. 2/5

fun but not memorable?

I've never been the biggest fan of the beach boys. I'm just not able to get into their vibe.

getting this the day after brian wilson died 😢……….. and then not liking it at all 😭😭

I love The Beach Boys. I think my Dad had one of their greatest hits albums when I was a kid, because I know these songs so deeply. “Kokomo” was probably my favorite song growing up, which I later learned is considered the worst Beach Boys song ever. Pet Sounds is obviously incredible, but I still love me just their good ol’ beach songs like this album. Incredible vocals, beautiful productions, good vibes.

Het zijn de Beach Boys. Goede muziek voor de tijd, maar onderhand een beetje achterhaald

If Beige had a baby

Side one of this album includes the faster (radio friendly) tracks, while side two includes the slower tunes, plus a track with the band talking. I liked this album better than Pet Sounds, which we just heard.

I'm gonna choose to believe this is non-random because Brian Wilson just died :( If so, I hope that other people who hadn't already had "Pet Sounds" get that one! Seeing everybody talk about how great an album it is really validated my giving it my first 5, so yay for that. (Of course I also enjoyed revisiting the classic Brian Wilson Norbit and Don Henley stories: https://bsky.app/profile/itsdings.bsky.social/post/3lrduzwv5e22s ; https://bsky.app/profile/margareteby.bsky.social/post/3lree6mui4227 ) But this album seems much less good, maybe because I never heard any of its songs before. Some of the lyrics are a little more perturbing. 'Help Me R(h)onda' made me want a song from R(h)onda's perspective (perhaps titled 'Help yourself, bucko'). There are no instrumentals, but it does end with what must be one of the first skit tracks. Kind of interesting just because it's so old now, but otherwise very mysterious. Highlight: 'Please Let Me Wonder' Lowlight: 'Good To My Baby'

Not today or any other day. Beta male music from the Boomer era rubs me the wrong way for, admittedly, personal reasons. But I get it. The Beach Boys DO deserve a seat at this table - but only one - and that one should have been reserved for either 'Pet Sounds' or something from the height off their vapid surfer days. Oh, who am I kidding? I'm sure both of those are on this lousy list, too. *p.s. I hope it was just a coincidence that Brian Wilson died yesterday and that the algorithm isn't showing favoritism...

Huh? Why? I don’t know how this could even be justified to be on any list of things you need to hear.

I thought this was a random generator lol RIP Brian Wilson 6/20/42 - 6/11/25

Lovely.

Never a huge fan of this band. It all sounds like it came from the same formula.

I mean maybe I've typecast The Beach boys and I just want to hear songs about surfing because that's what Andrew's dad used to play us when he would drive us to the beach so we could go surfing. But I generally don't get it. Everybody talks about how Brian Wilson is such a genius and I just dont hear it.

If there is a bigger "right artist; wrong album" I have yet to find it in this challenge.

this album's biggest flaw is that it isn't Pet Sounds

How can you not at least LIKE this. It is such comfort music. What do you hate? Perfect harmonies and fun rhythms?? Wtf...my high school band director HATED the Beach Boys and I don't get it. RIP Brian Wilson. I get it...it is super repetitive and simple, but it is so fun. "Help Me, Rhonda" is an absolute classic and "Do You Wanna Dance?" is soooo good. I love this! Solid 3.5 Liked Songs: "Do You Wanna Dance?" , "Don't Hurt My Little Sister" , "Help Me, Rhonda" , "Dance, Dance, Dance" , "I'm So Young" , "She Knows Me Too Well"

Brian Wilson is talented, without a doubt. I think the Beach Boys formula just doesn't work for me. 2.5

R.I.P Brian. D Beach Boys sind wükli Today! Summerlichi und Strandigi Energy, aber es tönt au jedes Lied biz gliich. 3 Schichte Sunnecreme ufd Stirn

Beach Boys eich ja scho e vibe, aber gfalled mir i de theorie denn immer besse rals würki. Gemmer ez usnahmswiis doch na 3 Sternlis will schlecht isch ja au nööd

I respect the Beach boys and everything that they did. I enjoy the “poppy” hits 3.5 but rounding down.

RIP Brian Wilson Now THIS is the Beach Boys I wanted. Their previous two albums I had were not so great (Pet Sounds was decent and Surfs Up was weird). But this was a blast through and through. The first few songs are fairly nice, but then Help Me Rhonda hits oh so good, love it. After that the album really hits its stride, the next few songs are great. Dance Dance Dance, Please Let Me Wonder, and I'm So Young are a lot of fun. Wonderful album. Best song: Help Me Rhonda

Lots of hits. Brian Wilson died yesterday.

Big BB fan but this song didn’t do it for me. Not sure about the full catalog but in this one they definitely leaned on the harmonies more than I would like. It sounded like a cappella group with some backing bands. It was interesting to hear which areas Wilson would bring to Pet Sounds, particularly the horns and some of the Spector Ronnettes stuff. That said, I’ll never be mad with this on.

Might be a philsitine take, but I like this just as much as Pet Sounds. It’s just as interesting to listen to from a sonic quality perspective, and has equally good songs. It struck me listening to this how influential the song writing stylings of beach boys have been for pop music in general. Example is the pop punk craze of the late 90s (blink 182 etc) has way more in common w The Beach Boys, from a songwriting perspective, than it does punk or hard rock.

My brain makes a game of mapping any Beach Boys song to something off of Pet Sounds 😆Various horn parts remind me of Just Wasnt Made For These Times, the chorus singing throughout (esp Help Me Rhonda, Im So Young) is SO playful without losing an occasional dark edge (maximum melancholy) This isnt Pet Sounds, but damn is it good. Sonically, this fits well with really EARLY 60s stuff (released in 65’), but its themes & sounds are more evolved (maybe an end of that simple & happy, 60s vibe before the super concepty, psychedelic, dark and punky state of history). And the ending with Bull Session was fantastic! I was cheesing so hard listening to the band talk about their experiences in Europe. Becoming a favorite early 60s sounding album for me. Adding it to my HIGHLY sought after list of Vinyl To Get when I inevitably undertake that hobby 😆

Nice stuff from the boys

Saw on reddit that the generator gods forced the algorithm today to feed us Beach Boys - love it. RIP Brian. Our spin through Pet Sounds cast Beach Boys and Brian Wilson in a new light for me - felt like I never really got them until recently. But I assumed that post-Pet Sounds would be the only albums for me, and everything before was just the sound that Brian was resisting or reacting to with Pet Sounds. I was wrong, even at this point, these songs have more depth than the surf vibes first suggest. And now reading the wikipedia, I know this is considered the departure album, a ramp up to Pet Sounds. I loved this. A plug for Panda Bear - Sinister Grift. One of the better albums of this year, and definitely heavily influenced by Brian's sound.

The more introspective songs on this one didn't really grab me. That leaves the few more classic Beach Boys tracks to carry the album for me and that wasn't enough for me Standouts Do You Want To Dance Good To My Baby 3/5

1.5

Aww, a day after Brian Wilson passed.. RIP. This is a heckin' good time. Every time I hears these fellas, it puts a smile on my face. Good classics on here. Please Let Me Wonder was a favorite that I hadn't heard before. It's a fun album, but middle of the road for them. 3.

Ah, the Beach Boys! How can one group so perpetually capture sunshine and a youthful American innocence over the decades? Their music is an endless orange summer, tinged with nostalgia. Brian Wilson's writing of vocal harmonies is unparalleled, and the Boys follow his lead with perfect execution. Following Brian's passing last month, I put on Pet Sounds and Smile for my 9-year-old, and he approves. Still good! I imagine the theme in "I'm So Young" to continue rolling around Brian's head and evolving into Pet Sounds' "Wouldn't It Be Nice." The softest of soft rock, one may complain that it is lacking grit, rebellion, or testosterone. Ballz, even. I prefer to see the Beach Boys as an extension of Brian's gentle spirit and demeanor, and I say this with very little knowledge of their story or extensive catalogue. Still, it's my Beach Boys reality, and I'd prefer to imagine Brian's heart as clean and pure (like Daniel Johnston), regardless of whatever the actual truth is. I never heard this complete album, but it encapsulates a time that I never knew, when I imagine my parents were a young couple just starting out in life together. This music isn't my go-to style, but it does deserve representation on this list, and who better to represent it? No one. Not one.

This is typical sunny, poppy early Beach Boys, with "Help Me Rhonda" being the big hit here. 3.5

I really enjoyed this. The Beach Boys have such a unique sound. Happy and upbeat yet the vocal arrangements and harmonies sometimes have tension and a sense of melancholy to them. This stuff sounds like a lot of thought and planning went into it.

Rounding up. These songs are meticulously written, performed, and recorded. Definitely bonus spooky factor that we received this album the day after Brian Wilson passed.

Sweet harmonies. I’m more of a Pet Sounds gal but I bopped to this too

To quote Bernie Sanders: "Yeah, Good. OK." On the plus side, it was only 29 minutes. Still, I found myself skipping a lot of these. Other than Help Me, Ronda this is forgettable. Who do I write to about including it on this list!!??

cute

Like eating sugar out of the bowl

A predecessor to Pet Sounds and a solid one. Loved the listen (esp given recent loss of Brian Wilson).

It's a high wire act: Highly susceptible to self-parody, but when it works, it's sublime. True of the Beach Boys more than virtually any other band.

RIPBW

Such a good summer album.

It was ok, some of them seemed to blend together.

It's probably heresy to say, but I enjoyed this a lot more than Pet Sounds. They should have left the last track for some documentary. That random recording of studio noise adds no value on the album.

Fantastic surf rock, classic Beach boys

I can take a bit of the Beach Boys but it was never meant for me.

Good stuff, a little lighter and more Phil Spector/wall-of-soundy than their later more mature albums. But it's hard not to like the energy pure all-American pop vibes.

Ik wilde zeggen dat het misschien meer op z'n plek was geweest om een ''Pet Sounds'' als tribute aan Brian Wilson voor te schotelen, maar dit is natuurlijk ook wel The Beach Boys in zijn meest natuurlijke - en meest primitieve - vorm. Het is is bloedje warm vandaag, waardoor de sunshine pop er gemakkelijk inglijdt. Maar waar de koperen ploert het zweet in de bilnaad jaagt, word ik hier niet echt heel warm van. Op momenten hoor je al wel dat The Beach Boys - onder leiding van creatief genie Brian - een ongekende revolutie zouden doormaken, maar los van de iconische harmonieën vind ik het veelal dertien in een dozijn West Coast pop. Nummers als 'Help Me, Rhonda' en 'She Knows Me Too Well' geven een inkijkje in de machinekamer van pop-prodigy Brian Wilson, maar daar blijft het ook wel bij. Toch een mooi instapmoment om wat meer van de band op te zetten vandaag. 6/10 Highlights: Help Me, Rhonda She Knows Me Too Well

Kijk aan. De generator levert. Een mooie ode aan het bijzondere en getroubleerde brein van Brian Wilson. Nu stond dit album niet zo op mijn radar als het latere werk. De transitie die de band doormaakte naar Pet Sounds is wel echt weergaloos te noemen. Want hier zijn het nog wel 13 in een dozijn nummertjes. Maar hey, het is maandagochtend en ik heb mij al even op een strand in California gewaand. Dank daarvoor en R.I.P. Brian. 6,5/10 Help me, Rhonda Dance, dance, dance

A taste of things to come. The lyrics are still lacking the seriousness that would come but the hints are there. Musically, ideas are being explored that begin to distinguish the Beach Boys from their silly surfing peers. It's still a ways away from what we would eventually get with Pet Sounds but the light begins to show.

Tja hurtigt lyt uden så meget at bide mærke i ud over åbneren som Bamse havde planket.

Alt for pænt og kedeligt - det eneste der redder lidt af albummet er surf-rockeren Dance, Dance, Dance

Maybe it's because it is beach season right now as I listen, but I can't get enough of these boys

Not the heavy hitters but The Beach Boys are always a vibe

This album has the typical Beach Boys sound, or maybe it's just the boy bands from that time, which isn't necessarily bad nowadays, although it feels a bit outdated compared to what we're used to listening today, but it's pretty nice having in the background.

Hard to get excited about these guys. They don't give you a ton of opportunity to groove in with like 150 songs in 29 minutes.

Most of the vocals are about an octave too high, “Bull Session” was obnoxious

I have always enjoyed the Beach Boy sound and harmonies.

I understand why people say every song sounds the same which is fair. However when you listen to them as a child, it sticks with you, and you enjoy it more.

I hate the bubbly, sunny sound of this brand of California music. The songs all blur together, it sets my teeth on edge. The only reason this isn’t a 1 is because they do a great job with the harmonies. Otherwise I hate pretty much everything here.

It is impressive they built successful careers on really 1 signature sound. Yes, was nice to hear other, lesser used instruments on this album

How sadly appropriate. RIP Brian Wilson.

That's not my taste in music - I can't do anything with the music

Ok so this is their rubber soul to pet sounds revolver. Rubber soul was always better. This I'm not sure, but lots of girl group spectorish production on tight beach boys harmonies and songs works well and hints at the deep ambitions and talent there. Young boy was powerful fixated on youth and marriage.

Close to a 1, I really don't enjoy this sound very much. I'll let it have a 2 because the vocal harmonies do sound very cool, but then it's just a repetitive and creepy surf album

Det sound jag förknippar med bb. Och det är inte särskilt bra. Amerikansk dansbandsmusik. händer inte mycket i mig när jag lyssnar på detta album. Trallvänligt men tråkigt.

Surf’s up verkar ha varit deras bästa period för den här lät, precis som Pet sounds, mer som BB brukar låta, vilket är okej men inte superspännande.

Great stuff. The output of music by the Beach Boys between 1962-66 is staggering to state the obvious. A little dated and teenage-y for me to truly get into but definitely appreciate the work. RIP Brian Wilson.

a pleasant listen, would listen to on the beach with some boys

RIP Brian Wilson Top album

Honestly, I just find The Beach Boys boring. The occasional song is fun - I enjoyed Help Me Rhonda, for instance. But a whole album’s worth is waaaaay too much. The lyrics are dippy (will my kids be proud / or think their old man is really a square?!?) and the beat is just unrelentingly bouncy. RIP Brian Wilson.

Ah, the first album not all about surfing. Some classics on here. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 3/5

Great harmonies. No bad songs, but some are off the charts good.

songs about surfing, girls, and surfing girls. whats not to like

Good fun

I'm guessing that the algorithm has been tweaked, so we get this the day after Brian Wilson died, but it's still a little uncanny. Another time I might have compared this to Pet Sounds a little harshly, but today just playing it loud and enjoying the hell out of it. Rest in peace, Brian Wilson.

no way we got randomly assigned this album the day that Brian Wilson died

Perfect

Pretty good. Today! RIP Brian Wilson. Also: lunch time with the boys.

Nice tribute, list. This is certainly not top tier Beach Boys, but it’s fascinating to hear how great they sound and how much they play around with the studio. Also if you stick around you can hear them get sandwiches.

RIP, Brian. You made some great music. Early Beach Boys always brings me back to my childhood and listening to this brought me back to a “beach party” my elementary school had in the gym with hotdogs and french fries in paper trays, beach towels, and The Beach Boys playing.

Liked this

I want to love them so much cos they inspired one of my fave bands (Animal Collective). Love the harmonies, but songs a bit samey

The band that sang like a bunch of ghosts are now, mostly, ghosts. Though Mike Love will always be a ghoul. There are a couple of great ones here, tricky arrangements housing sticky choruses and lyrics that stare at you unblinkingly from that wholesome white-picketed house’s bedroom window. Was David Lynch a fan? Brian Wilson died yesterday, and I now turn to my comrade’s review; I’ve been looking forward all day to watching a friend kick a skeleton. No quarter to corpses, Simon!

Pretty terrible. "Oh but the harmonies" - yes, what about the songs? Creepy vaguely misognyist crap sung as nursery rhymes by castrati. And, hey, harpsichords! Shite

AM Ramones

28 minuten het beste van The Beach Boys! Goede lengte, bijna alle nummers goed. Geweldig gemaakt!

This came on my rotation the day after Brian Wilson passed away. Very fitting

Good to my Baby Help Me, Rhonda In the Back of my Mind

De Beach Boys zijn op hun achtste album nog steeds met thema's bezig waar alle onzekere pubers mee ziten: wil dat meisje met me dansen, ben ik wel lief genoeg voor haar, en hoe krijg ik haar bh los? Natuurlijk, een aantal nummers is best aanstekelijk, met Help me Rhonda ga je vanzelf meedeinen. Maar heel veel klinkt hetzelfde. Best hoor, als je van de Beach Boys houdt. Maar we hadden al twee albums van deze strandknapen gehad, was deze heel hard nodig? Misschien om wat punk- en rapmeuk te compenseren met zoetgevooisde samenzang. Dus vooruit.

's Ochtends vroeg was dit echt teveel. Wilde gelijk terug naar bed. Heb het tijdens het eerste nummer maar uitgezet. Poging 2 tijdens het werk. Niet goed voor de werkgever. Ik zak helemaal weg. Ik kijk nog even terug naar mijn cijfers voor de andere 2 Beach Boys albums. Beide ook een 1. Blijkbaar is er een band erger dan de Beatles. Als ik deze lijst heb doorgewerkt zet ik nooit meer iets op met deze jaren '60 klanken.

Blijkbaar een gebbetje van de sitemaker, want iedereen schijnt vandaag deze plaat te hebben, naar aanleiding van het heengaan van Brian Wilson. Waar hij blijkbaar fan is, ben ik dat over het algemeen niet. In eerste instantie klinken de Beach Boys altijd heel vrolijk en een of twee van de bekendere nummers zijn meestal wel te hebben. Maar ik heb er verder niks mee. Het is overduidelijk gedateerd, te gedateerd. Alsof we weer terug gaan naar de tijd van Happy Days met the Fonz. Nu staan er gelukkig genoeg hitjes of in ieder geval bekendere nummers op (kant A van) dit album, dus dit (deel) is op zich goed door te komen. Maar net als bij Pet Sounds begrijp ik de heisa allemaal niet zo. Zeker niet als kant B begint en er weer een hele rits aan slaapliedjes voorbijkomen, die de score naar beneden trekken. Magere 3 sterretjes voor kant A, kant B trekt het geheel naar beneden.

First, the list gave us The Queen is Dead the morning after Queen Elizabeth died. Now, the list gives us Beach Boys the day after Brian Wilson dies…. And gives us an album where you can hear Brian’s personality as he’s chatting with the other Boys on *checks notes* “Bull Session With ‘Big Daddy’”. I sometimes get a surreal feeling when listening to music from artists that have passed away. It feels like you’re hanging out with ghosts, their spirit and soul being captured in the vessel of the music. Sadly, some songs don’t reach their peak of meaning _until_ the artist dies. I think of Mac Miller on Malibu “I might die before I detox” — once Mac died from a drug overdose, this song’s meaning morphed from a sad, yet tongue-in-cheek snapshot of his mental health into a morose past-premonition of current realities. I think of Jason Molina’s many indie-blues projects that emanate an atmosphere of depression, and how those same demons of which he shared a snapshot on his albums are those that dragged him down into an early death from alcoholism and its complications. Luckily, it’s not as sad with Brian Wilson. On the last track here (I refuse to call it by its name again), you can feel the happiness and the love that these young men have for life and for each other. You can almost feel their smiles through the dialogue captured on the track, and can hear that their lives are, in reality, just as fun and free-spirited as their music. Accordingly, as I listen to Brian Wilson (and his band’s) creations after he’s passed, I don’t feel any sadness. Instead, I think “what a life!”. He and The Beach Boys sang about and lived a life of girls, beaches, and surfing, they were both widely popular and critically acclaimed, and their music is known and instantly recognizable across generations and across the globe. Most of all, I’m grateful that many of the snapshots of Brian Wilson from his music that will endure over time are ones of pure joy, sun, laughter, love, and friendship. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all leave a legacy like this? R.I.P. Brian Wilson

The missing link between the surf rock era and the orchestral pop of Pet Sounds.

Høres ut som alt anna av beach boys

It was fine.

Pretty good for a Beach Boys record, better than I was expecting. It's definitely not something I'd race to put on again, but the songs are fun enough that I'd enjoy it on occasion I think. 3/5

I have a soft spot for this era of pop music, I think. I tend to prefer this to something later like Surfs Up. This album was fun. 3.5/5

In my initial excitement / the emotion of Brian Wilson's passing yesterday (nice touch, generator), I thought this could almost be the ideal Beach Boys album: it's got the youthful, up-tempo bops of their early work, alongside the more introspective, orchestral style of Pet Sounds. On closer inspection they don't do either style quite as well on 'Today!' as they do elsewhere. Still, R.I.P Brian. 3 / 3.5

Can't dig it. I'm sure it was somewhat of a new sound at the time, but it sounds like worse buddy holly to me; most songs have only one thing going on. Do you wanna dance, Help Me Rhonda, I'm so Young are OK.

Give me the Phil Spector “wall of sound,” but… with The Beach Boys. That’s what this record sounds like. 60s surf-rock melodies and chord progressions at its best.

How can you hate the Beach Boys?

I thought that The Beach Boys Today! was an alright album. In many ways, it does feel very dated from things like the production, the lyrics and many other things that clearly make this album a product of 1965. I still enjoyed this album a decent bit to be honest. I thought that the songs felt relaxing and had that Beach Boys vibe i got from hearing all their really popular stuff pretty well. The main issues with this album are the fact that every song sounds overly similar to each other and that the album went by a little too quickly. This made the album kinda forgettable but these issues never made it bad. Best Song: Help Me, Rhonda Worst Song: Don't Hurt My Little Sister

Solid 4 RIP Brian Wilson

I don't mind the Beach Boys but they really only had one sound their whole career, didn't they? This album has Help me Rhonda which is a song I quite like. But it's not the one with California Dreaming, Kokomo, Good Vibrations, Barbara Ann, or even Surfing USA. So I think the Beach Boys have better albums than this one. I guess they released like 30 albums, so most of them only have 1-2 of their well known hits at most. Still, their one trick is a pretty good trick, and it results in a bunch of catchy tunes. And this album is overall an enjoyable listen.

This is the album that I associate with the Beach Boys. It sounds so much like the mid-50s, fat Cadillacs, petticoats and portable radios. It was fun to listen to some of the old stuff again. But although the album is quite short, the last two tracks got on my nerves. 3/5

I was expecting to be blown away. I was bored mostly. A couple of decent tracks. The rest was just tripe. I did listen to the whole album so it's minimum 2 stars. On the basis of a couple of strong tracks I'll give it 3 stars.

p76. 1965. 4 stars. Protype "Pet Sounds" and an almost perfect example of mid 60s West Coast Surf rock. What sets it apart from the rest of the pack is the evolution of Brian Wilson's songwriting from cars and girls to lyrical vulnerability. Point deducted for the inane chatter that is the final "track". Sometimes, too much pot is not a good thing, guys.

Not my cup of tea, so it's hard for me to leave an unbiased review. The genre switch-up midway through the album was refreshing.

Chill, lekker luisteren!

I used to like I Get Around when I was kid - and even then it sounded really old and like something that my Dad would have listened to when he was a kid. Totally dated sound and themes throughout. Got boring very quickly due to each song sounding more or less the same as the last. Nice harmonies, but then so do a lot of bands. Not sure why this album would be selected as a “must hear” unless you were around when it was released and it has sentimental value. 2/5 Standout tracks; None, they all sound the same. If i was hard pushed; She Knows Me Too Well sounds the least same-y as others I guess.

I probably missed the Zeitgeist on the BeachBoys, but this album is so bland to me. No interesting song, no bangers.

Boh banalotto

A lot of fun! When rock was innocent! You know the songs! enjoy!

Doo wop doo woo. It’s good, harsh to compare it to Pet Sounds. The Melodys are lovely. 3/5

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 😃😃😃😃😃 Production (Remastered): 🧏‍♂️📏🕰️ Music: 😒🎵🔁 Rating: 🏖️🏖️/5

Good ol' beach Boys

Maybe I'm missing something here. Not a bad sound and there's some interesting mixing and instrumental choices but the gap between this and Pet Sounds is huge. Likely a stepping stone for them and other bands and more of the evolution of a sound versus this being on the list just because of what it is by itself.

Interesting. Nice digestible album length. A transitional sound that gets you to Pet Sounds. Some fun pop songs. Odd song, Don't Hurt My Little Sister; is this the only song from this pov? This belongs here, I'm just confused by them overall. The song craft and production is so high level for the time and obviously influential. Brian Wilson, stuck between the music business and art, but he may have needed the constraints to keep him focused.

What a different direction! I knew they had a few albums that were psychedelic to say the least, but when you influence the Beatles, where do you stop. This would’ve been the battle I would’ve love to see, not the stones vs Beatles. Brian Wilson with his catchy pop lines and musical ability to create a sonic scape of sound pleasing and terrifying to the listener. Are they started off as a go lucky California boy band, but they matured to new heights in their career.

Terrible

Do You Wanna Dance! What a banger. I never knew the Ramones version, but this was just as good.

Help Me, Rhonda is great and I quite like some Beach Boys, but overall this album was slightly weaker than I expected.

I think I'm in the minority here but I just don't see anything that big or exciting going on. Couldn't largely distinguish each song

I live The Beach Boys sound

I love Beach Boys but I only really know their big hits (plus Pet Sounds, my beloved). It's really hard to believe that this came out only a year before Pet Sounds. They really found their sound and matured in Pet Sounds because this is like the Beatles "Love Me Do" early career albums - it's fun but very "hey toots, wanna go get a milkshake at the sock hop?" Also kind of weird with tracks such as "Don't Hurt My Little Sister" and "Bull Session With 'Big Daddy'"(????). Pet Sounds has the beautiful "Wouldn't It Be Nice" that reflects the frustration of being young and in love perfectly, while this album has "I'm So Young" which is like "Wouldn't It Be Nice" if it just wasn't that good. "In The Back Of My Mind" was a really cool, slower treat that is so different from the rest of the album. I really liked it and it stood out. I did in fact roll my eyes at the pure goofiness and immaturity a few times tho I fear. Also "Bull Session," despite its gag-worthy name, was a pleasant surprise because I'm such a sucker for a behind-the-scenes candid conversation like this. Not for everyone, but for me lol. As corny as this album is, there are some bangers still. "Help Me, Rhonda" is amazing. "Please Let Me Wonder" has some really cool synths and steel guitar (I think) that were ahead of their time and a lot of fun. Also, Brian Wilson can do no wrong in my head so I still had a lot of fun listening to it. His voice is so iconic and they've always had such a distinct SoCal teenager summertime vibe no matter how cheesy they are. They have a chokehold on me. Most people would probably disagree (idk I haven't looked at the other reviews yet so idk if I'm allowed to like it) but I'm giving this a 4 based on how much fun I personally had listening to it. Standout tracks: Help Me, Rhonda Dance, Dance, Dance In The Back Of My Mind

Great sound from the early Beach Boys. Nice vocal harmonies and production plus one or two really good songs.

Good side A, per side B

I’d say this is The Beach Boys in their platonic form. It doesn’t quite have the differentiating factors that make Pet Sounds or Surfs Up so special but there is the inspirational songwriting and performances that you would expect. I particularly liked Do You Wanna Dance? which would uplift the spirits of even the most embittered troll. The album gets progressively less evocative as it goes on, especially the lyrics. For example, I'm So Young mourns how the protagonist is too young to get married, they wish they could get married, etc.

Nice

Not a Beach Boys fan. This album did nothing for me change that.

heb het nooit zo erg gehad met de beach boys

Hearing this makes me think of a simpler time.

I found it a bit boring if I’m honest and I don’t really think Pet Sounds is all it’s made out to be either.

me: please... enough with the UK 60s rock bands... this hellsite: ok :) here's an AMERICAN 60s rock band! HAVE MERCY I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE

Personal heresy no. 352: I don't much care for the Beach Boys. And while I recognise a few great songs, I've never quite understood the scale of their hype. This record was a pleasant listen but has done very little to disabuse me of that skepticism.

This is a Beach Boys album full of Beach Boys songs that sound like Beach Boys songs.

Love this early Beach Boys album 💿 3/5 #albumsky #musicsky

Enjoyable listen. Did not knock my socks off though.

The hits on this album are iconic, but some good b sides too.

Coś strasznego

Help me, Rhonda Please, let me wonder I'm so young

I really wanted to like this, and there’s a lot of beach boys music I love. But this one really falls short for me. I don’t even love the beach boys style with surf rock, but I love that they sneak in some thick ass harmonies and unique phrasing. On first listen this album doesn’t live up to that hype for me.

Any album on this list that is 12 songs and 28 minutes should be an instant 5. Something beautiful about how quick and to the point this album is. Good to my baby has got to have gotten some guy laid by him going “this is so us”. When I grow up is a blink-182 song. Do need Brian Wilson to stop singing about how hard the test was when he’s 25 at this point. Bull session was probably the best behind the scenes look into their lives the fans could get so I’ll excuse it.

I'm a Beach Boys sucker. They truly make me believe that the 60s were the best decade. I'm envious of the lifestyle they portray and they make me dream about simpler problems in a simpler world. There were a couple instances in this album that felt a little creepy talking about underage relationships, but, eh? Although I love the Beach Boys, I definitely pick a choose my favorite songs across their discography rather than loving specific albums. Pet Sounds is kinda the outlier. Still I think this is a good 4. Favorite Songs: Please Let me Wonder, I'm So Young (eh?), Do you Wanna Dance?

Way better than I expected for a beach boys album. You can see how Brian ended up at pet sounds after this. You can’t beat their harmonies, truly the best.

The Beach Boys really are incredible. This is orchestral garage rock with multi-part harmonies, they really do make a genre all their own. That being said, I remember some of these songs sounding different? I listened to the remaster on spotify, maybe that was the issue, but the versions I remember as a kid were better? Weird.

masterpiece

I feel like there’s an excess of Beach Boys on this list but ok. Still good to hear; all new to me except Help Me Rhonda.

3.5

2.5 - an ok album that sings the same song about girls over and over again. But the harmonies are always top notch

Nice Melodie’s as always and some deeper lyrics. A very good record by the beach boys!

6/10 The songs are all nice songs but I just don’t know when I’m in the mood to listen to The Beach Boys. Based on this and Pet Sounds I don’t really feel like they ever moved past being a complete product of the 60s in the same way the Beatles were able to. Listens: 1

...plus three more great new songs written by Brian Wilson! Is it fair to call these deep cuts? Beach Boys adjacent is what this sounds like. And that the bonus track... what a classic.

I’m bewildered by this album being in the list. The Beach Boys are great, but the content on this one is just not that interesting. Forever a fan of the falsetto, but that’s it.

I cannot connect to this in the slightest. It is SO long before my time, and it is music made for a population and community that I am not a part of, and that I do not romanticize is the slightest. In short, it is nigh unlistenable.

endless harmonies

I think their sound is not for me

As always fun and harmonious

Classic Beach Boys, in their transition from car and surf songs to something greater. You can hear their path to "Pet Sounds," though they aren't there, yet. However, it's still a classic. Classic American Rock'n'Roll songs with a hopping, fun vibe.

Short and comfy. Some nice chords in there, too.

Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Today A transitional album of which I enjoy the second half more than the first (i typically enjoy 66-71 beach boys best) but enjoy it all less than the best of what came before and after. Low 4 for me ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pretty good for 1965. Score a 3-

Meh. Product of it's time, sappy teenager music that I have no particular interest listening to these days.

3.7

Who doesn't enjoy some Beach Boys on occasion. Fun album that was easy to listen to. 4/5

Smells like hair tonic, milk and a hint of horny teenage desperation.

The album was good for what it was, it didn’t really stand out to me? I like the beach boys vibe, it might make more sense in the context of the music at the time. A lot of the songs are very similar, felt like classic beach/surf music, Pop during the 60s. Three out of five, I don’t think I’ll necessarily go back to it.

iconic!

Solid Beach Boys musicality. The lyrics, as usual, are fluff. But the sound is good.

10/10 album

Amazing harmonies

3.75

Total close harmony wank

Amazing. This gave the Ramones their career, so it deserves five stars just for that fact. Beautiful harmonies. No wonder it's lasted

I am a self-professed lover of the mid-sixties teeny bopper pop music. The first few Monkees albums, which I adore, are the best reflection of that. But what The Beach Boys did here is drivel! There’s no substance, and the lyrics are dull. The only saving grace, except for “Help Me, Rhonda,” is their beautiful harmonies. I was bored on the whole, but the harmonies made this 28-minute album bearable. The Beach Boys, Goodbye!

I mean, it was classic Beach Boys. What is there to say? Of all the Beach Boys albums, this album didn't feel like a particular standout, but what do I know? Ultimately, just kind of average, through and through.

2.9 Interesting hearing the Beach Boys before they found drugs, a bit like listening to early Beatles. But like that, it doesn't sound too great 60 years later. Just a collection of love songs that don't really connect well over half a century later. Nothing worth saving, but can see why it's on this list.

This album doesn’t get as much mainstream love as Pet Sounds, but it’s arguably the bridge between their surf pop sound and the more artistically diverse work that was to come. This is where Brian Wilson really came into his own, and the exquisite harmonies sound just as great today as I'm sure they did 60 years ago.

boah, das ist ganz schön alt

Essential for their later sound, but I think they got their stride after this album. Love ‘em, though.

I hate the Beach Boys

Much like Pet Sounds, this album never clicked with me, but I do recognize how good the songwriting and arrangements, particularly the vocal harmonies, are. A very cute and sunny album. Key tracks: Do You Wanna Dance When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)

A tight 29 minutes of The Beach Boys doing The Beach Boys

Most of The Beach Boys sound is very dated to me. That is the case for their album Today! It’s perfect music if you are “going to a sock hop,” or wanting to ask your gal to “go steady.” Listening to this in 2025 as an adult is not something I would do on my own accord. For me, it does not translate to current day and I have no nostalgia for most of their music. I had a short stint with their music in my junior high days but that was about it. Nothing against their talent and musicianship. I just don’t particularly care to listen to their music. This is a 2 rating. 2/5

Umm, okay. Beach Boys, cool. Definitely got that basic Beach Boys thing going. Another one that belongs on the ‘1001 Albums That Exist’ list.

Somehow much worse than I remember. Sure, the harmonies are great and overall it sounds nice but man the songwriting is just awful. This whole album is nothing but cringey, often creepy love songs. I don't think that this album has aged particularly well. Its pretty insane when you compare this to what the Beach Boys would go on to release the following year.. Favorite track: Please Let Me Wonder

These boys have some great albums, not sure this is one of them

Album 735 of 1001 The Beach Boys - The Beach Boys Today! (1965) Rating : 4 / 5 I feel like I should like this more than I do. The recording seemed pretty shoddy to me. Maybe it was just spotify. I've always considered them a favorite but was a bit disappointed, for some reason. That said, it is still a fine album.

A brief sojourn with the sound of the Beach Boys but not really the substance of the Beach Boys.

creepy creepy

Some ok songs

:/

I just really fucking hate the Beach Boys. Old falsetto cheesy shit that may be objectively great for whatever reason, but no desire to ever hear this again unless it's part of a twisted David Lynchesque sort of film.

Better than I thought

Its ok, not my style

Reasonable, starts to all sound the same.

Gelungenes aber nichh spektakuläres Beach Boys Album mit den Top Songs „Danc Dance Dance“ und „Don‘t Hurt Me Sister“. Geniesst den heißen Tag am Strand mit Lichtschutzfaktor 50.

Early Beach Boys is still great. Cheesy? Of course, but the harmonies and the songwriting make up for it.

Talk about easy listening, put this on the background and forget it good vibes ahoy.

I really like the A-side, bit I’m not as big a fan of their slower songs on the B-side, which are mostly boring, with the exception of She Knows Me Too Well. 6/10

I once had this dog that I'd had since he was a puppy. Once day, a couple years into my owing this dog he saw a bird and went into a perfect "point" stance, alerting me of it's direction just in case I wanted to shoot it. How did he know how to do this? I'm not hunter. I had not taught him how to do that stance? What I had witnessed was epigenetic response. Somewhere in that dog's lineage was a bird dog that had been taught by a human to point out prey. That somehow got encoded into the dogs DNA for future generations. Really crazy right? We teach a dog how to do something and it sticks with them for future generations. I've often wondered if the reason I like the Beach Boys is because my dad liked the Beach Boys. Was the fondness passed down in my genes? Here I am, a total metal head... And I'm all, "oh yea, give me that doo wop style vocal harmonization."

Beach Boys are legendary, and while this album certainly has great harmonies, it mostly falls flat. The last 2 songs (not counting that food delivery/interview) really save this from a 2. "She Knows Me Too Well" is just insane, both in lyrics and vocal perfomance

Juvenile and cringey lyrics, but some of those tunes are pretty dang catchy.

Fun.

There's traces of something I could almost like

Beach boys, sound of the 60’s. Started the surfer rock craze. Good, fun music. Not their best album, think that would be, Pet Sounds. But, good album nonetheless the less.

There were some great lyrics and good tunes just never saw The Beach Boys as the American Beatles.

Doowop medium.

ну типа норм, бэнгеров не обнаружено.

A favorite from back in the day

I liked this album better than Pet Sounds which felt like The Beach Boys trying too hard to be The Beatles. This felt more like The Beach Boys evolving as The Beach Boys and not trying to emulate someone else's style.

An important transition album for the group with a couple of songs that have become iconic. But not the first Beach Boys album anyone is likely to turn to when they want to listen to them, I think.

It's ludicrously hubristic to not like the Beach Boys, but I think I don't like the Beach Boys. Sure, they have catchy songs that have been around us for decades, a beautiful way with harmony and still, it's just not easy to listen to. I can recognise their craft and not put them in the unlistenable categories but I can't really give them more than bang average.

Second album généré pour ce groupe, plus ancien que le précédent (surf’s up) qui ne m’avait pas convaincu. Je ne suis pas convaincu par celui ci non plus. Aucun morceau mémorable, et je trouve que le son a mal vieilli. Pas désagréable, mais je ne l’écouterais pas une seconde fois. =>2/5

A couple songs didn’t age all that well. Specifically, Little Sister, and She Knows Me Too Well. Although, I don’t know the context of the songs. Maybe Knows Me was meant to be a critique of that type of guy by showing the hypocrisy of his world view. If that’s the case it’s way ahead of its time, but I don’t think it is the case. Anyways, the rest of the album is great! Lots of good tunes on here, Help Me Rhonda is the stand out. One bonus point, the Ramones did a cover of Do you wanna dance that is a rare instance of the cover being better than the original.

Klassiker!

Listening to The Beach Boys is like watching a world-class chef choosing to work in fast food, carefully constructing the same shitty ingredients into the something more delectable. Sure, it’ll improve the product, but why waste your talent?

Very old beach boys singing quartet stuff. Don't think they ever sang about surfing which defeats the point a bit, maybe at the time they thought that was a huge experimental shift in their sound. Didn't recognise any of them except help me Rhonda and even then that was from a podcast taking the piss out of it. It's all a bit pointless isn't it, it sounds like old beach boys, like the other old beach boys. As dated as anything could sound and completely uninteresting. 1.5 for not being distracting.

It feels like we always have Beach Boys. This one went by in a flash, and was absolutely fine. Managed to work to it, no issues. Forgettable - Pacific Ocean Blue has been my favourite sort-of Beach Boys album, as it had more of an edge. Inoffensive this.

Really didn't get on with this. Didn't know any of the tracks and it was all so saccharin. Huge contrast to the other 2 albums from the 60s we had this week. Pretty awful tbh. Not for me. I'll take the 60s psychedelia and leave this. 1.5

The Beach Boys are great but I can only take them in small quantities.

A collection of perfect little pop morsels

I can see how this album foreshadows "Pet Sounds", but that doesn't make it worthy of this list.

t'was boring as, there be way better beach bois

I have respect for the beach boys, but God this is one of the gayest albums I've ever heard. You got Beatles and the Stones dripping in sex appeal, then you got the Beach Boys and they make you wanna pull your pants up

For a beach boys album I didn’t mind it

Nice album if not the one with all the classics on 7/10

One of the greatest live albums

Love it

Hadn’t heard the first song on the album what a banger

Impressively produced and sang. A bit too pop oriented and teen focused. Similar to super early Beatles. The hangover from the bubblegum era is heard

Yea it’s fun and the harmonies are nice, but this doesn’t strike me as a great, incomparable album

Honestly The Beach Boys aren’t my favorite. It’s sunny and fun, definitely good music, just not my exact cup of tea.

classic

Ehh... if you're going to go with a pre-Pet Sounds album, there are much better than this. Surfer Girl would probably be the one I'd choose, but there's so many better albums from The Beach Boys. I get that this is a transitional record, but it's honestly not a particularly good or interesting part of their transition. This album is fairly dull and the tracks are fine but not standouts. Pet Sounds and Surf's Up! definitely deserve a place on this list. The Beach Boys Today!... not so much. This record is a 3.5 for me, but I'm rounding up in this case because "Do You Wanna Dance?" and "Help Me, Rhonda" are two of my favorite songs from The Beach Boys, and they're both on this album. But also what the hell was that last track?

Day413 - if you made a list of great american bands the beach boys would be at or close to the top. we all know their sound evolved to what it would be with pet sounds but the harmonies were always there and this us help me rhonda

fun but i am often not in the mood for the vibe of music the beach boys make.

This style was really long in the tooth when this debuted. I'm surprised they never really expanded beyond this sound.

Boring, both in music and lyrics.

While the Beach Boys provide an incredible foundation to later music (and longevity), this is not a choice I would have made myself. Much respect to them for many, many years of hits and incredible music but this isn't my jive.

Just... nah.

I've heard pet sounds and various versions of Smile. This is actually what the Beach Boys are/we're. That's like, my opinion man. Before Brian Wilson went off the deep end he helped his buddies sing good and make nice music together. I hear Smile and pet sounds and I think of the very sad after for Brian Wilson, this to me sounds like some buddies having fun.

One of my favourite Beach boy albums. The surf rock side and more ballad side, ignoring the goof piece that ends it. Moving from the earlier album sounds to the more evolved wannabe Spector sound on the one record. It’s fun and sad at the same time. Yeah it’s very mid sixties, sound and content, so what, revisionism can be so tiresome especially in these so enlightening times (irony). 5 Star.

I wish the warm California sun was shining on me today! I listened to Beach Boys often growing because my parents loved them. They are really their own thing, and they do that thing well. They play surfer music in a nice layered pop way focusing on a really simple life, but they seem to realize growing up might be necessary. Lots of good hits on this one that warm the soul with some happy sunny vibes

oh the Beach Boys.... My Dad had the Endless Summer album (greatest hits compilation) and it was played OFTEN. No surfboards were waxed in the making of this album. This is their 8th album and they decided they wanted to grow beyond cars, and surfboards, and make an album entirely about girls. Way to really break out. The Beach Boys have such great vocal harmonies and the songwriting is pretty undeniably great when they really hit it (Help Me Rhonda). The only thing that gets on my nerves about them is their teenage bubble gum notions about love. Songs like Please Let Me Wonder are great musically but cringe on the cheese factor. Do You Wanna Dance is an awesome cover (Bobby Freeman 1958 wrote it). But I like the Ramones version better.

The Beach Boys always deliver on the sunny layered melodies. I really appreciate the simple, easy going So. Cal vibe presented here.

This was some solid classic Beach Boys. But I thought I would love it more.

eh, some really beautoful tunes, some really annoying and repetitive ones... 5/10

This sounds exactly as you would expect, and is perfectly pleasant.

Meh. I'm not generally a fan of the beach boys, although even I can appreciate that Pet Sounds is a work of genius. This is...not that. Pros - some lovely harmonies. Help me Rhonda and When I grow up are well constructed songs Cons - it's just so saccharine and childish. All the songs feel like a 12 year old talking about the world. It just left me cold. The whole thing is quite repetitive, and i have no desire to go back to it. You get the impression that some early 1001 albums were more interested in the stature of the artist than the actual output, and this is a perfect example. Is this really more worthy than 100s of similar works? Proportionally, how many of these 60s and 70s albums actually stand up? So far, not many.

Average. Would not listen again

Very samey. Couple of classics here though

3.5