Reviews (page 7 of 10)
A critical turning point for the Beach Boys. After Brian Wilson's unfortunate mental breakdown that was brought on by pressures from constant touring and personal life struggles, he shifted to becoming a studio-only artist and continued to write songs for the band. Notably, the songs on The Beach Boys Today! moved away from the typical sunshine pop surf songs and showed an embrace of more complex arrangements. This included some unusual orchestrated parts that was indicative of Brian Wilson's ambition as a songwriter. Make no mistake, many of the songs here are still the standard poppy fare that you would expect from the Beach Boys, which I mostly find to be kind of juvenile. That's not to discredit them, it's just not my thing.
This is the first release by the Beach Boys which feels like an album rather than a collection of singles. There are no Surf songs. The first side is uptempo pop - Do You Wanna Dance, When I Grow Up (to Be a Man). Help Me Rhonda - The second is more introspective, with more orchestral arrangements. With songs like Kiss Me Baby and She knows Me too Well (much as I hate it) you can hear the beginnings of Pet Sounds. It is slightly surprising though, given the stories of how the Beatles pushed on the Beach Boys, or Brian Wilson to be exact, and vice-versa, that the jump from this to Pet Sounds, is more stark than, say, that from Rubber Soul to Revolver or Revolver to Sgt. Pepper…
Pleasant ballads but fairly forgettable.
Not my thing. I like some of Brian Wilson's stuff but not this early, I suppose. (12 known/19 new)
Had to leave off a star for the lack of Kokomo
Unsurprisingly way better on a second listen with headphones but the cheesy corn is still getting to me
The Beach Boys really walk that fine line of corniness but the instrumentation and production here is so layered and interesting it cancels it out
Inexplicably enjoyed this quite a bit. Poppy and fun.
The inimitable Beach boys sound, but stuck halfway between fluffy, surfs up pop and Pet Sounds depth. Perfectly pleasant but not ground breaking.
This one is real old sounding and pretty dorky, but also sounds representative/well done for the style. Will I listen to again: 5%
C'est une véritable faille spatio-temporelle qui nous emmène dans les années 60 dans le corps d'un adolescent boutonneux mal dégrossi qui a envie de choper, le tout accompagné de très jolies mélodies et orchestrations. C'est pas leurs meilleurs titres, ça manque un peu de variété, mais ça a tellement de charme. Ça marche toujours à fond sur moi.
For me, The Beach Boys are palatable in small doses, so I'm glad to see that this album clocks in at under 30 minutes. Other than the catchy Help Me Rhonda, there is not much else that stands out. That said, I feel fine giving this a 3.
It’s The Beach Boys as you think they are. I respect them for their time and place but this is just standard Beach Boys.
2 out of 5. Damn, I'm really picky...
A whole album of The Beach Boys is hard to take
just did not vibe with this at all
Classic beach boys music. The squeaky clean love songs are a bit dated by today’s standards but during their time were insanely popular. Very good if you are looking to experience old school music.
Really enjoyed this album
Not my preferred Beach Boys.
Fun music. Always feels like summer when they’re on.
God damn. I hate The Beach Boys. I get why some people like them but it all sounds like overly polished whiny as shit beach rock to me. Musically it’s a fine album but I just hate The Beach Boys
Inoffensive, my mind couldn't help but wander far away whilst listening. I enjoy the beach boys, but this is not an album I would say is a must-listen to.
Old and lame
Overlooked by Pet Sounds, but great
Not a Beach Boys fan, but this one at least is more interesting than the older stuff. Big Phil Spector sound on a lot of this. Not EVERY song revolves around girls, beaches, and cars at this point. Saccharine harmonies are still there though.
A quintessential record of the ‘60s. Not quite in the highest echelon but almost as close as you can get
для меня эти бич бойз (хоть и новый саунд и тексты) неотличимы от всех предыдущих и последующих, но всем им удачи
It's the Beach Boys. You get what you expect. 3/5
This album kinda fell flat for me, very much focused on love stories and they didn't hit the mark on their legendary sound but still a great album that was an absolute hit at the time for its orchestral pop.
I won't deny The Beach Boys were, at the time, the most popular thing to grace the US and maybe the world, but how long did that really last? It's cheesy, corny and has aged terribly. I gave it a little time, but I just couldn't listen to the whole album. Same boring subject repeated. Feel like I'm at a 60s prom.
The Beach Boys are a really solid band, but I think they have far more staying power than they should. This album is undeniably fun, groovy, and very uplifting. But let's be honest with ourselves here, is it really that amazing? Would you ever choose to listen to this over The Beatles?
Never a fan of these lads. Too much annoying harmonies and squeaky clean California vibe. The fact that most of them weren’t surfers, and one died from drowning, makes me wish they chose a different name. Beached Boys? 2 stars cuz they remind me of my dad… a fan who loved harmony, but also couldn’t surf.
Really good But the last track of them talking in the studio ruins it a bit. The rest of it is top class
This is some old time cheesy ass shit. No.
Booring
I want to get real madge about it, but I just can't. They're simply making music that I don't like
Radio slop for old people
eh
Really suprised on how good this album was. Would definitely go back
Wasn't crazy about this but was part of my youth.
Give me pet sounds
Hard to know whether it’s a 3 or 4. On one hand, it’s The Beach Boys… the harmonies are on point, the melodies are interesting, the lyrics are all about youth. On the other hand, will I seek this album out again? Probably not. I think it’s a 3.
I'm So Young
I've never heard The Beach Boys intentionally because they just feel like the antithesis of all the things I enjoy but mainly because their sound and look are so bright and melodic, clean cut and just... well just nice (let's forget all the backstage drama and dark history about this band that could make a saga of books for a second). I knew eventually I'll have to listen to something they made when doing this challenge and I wasn't expecting to have a single positive emotion.... but as things often do with these kinds of expectations it just so happens that things can surprise you like, turns out maybe The Beach Boys aren't entirely antithetical to everything I enjoy and maybe their sound while being obvious melodic, sunny pop it doesn't *feel* as trite or simple than I expected, most often they are just really enjoyable radio pop or some songs like "Please Let Me Wonder" or "Kiss Me, Baby" are wonderfully complex melodically and even emotionally honest in a way that, once again, I never imagined I'd be feeling this way about it. I imagine eventually I will adjust how I feel but honestly? I don't feel so negative to TBB like I used to, I'm looking forward to the next one I listen to
I’m a lifelong Beatles fan, and have never really taken The Beach Boys seriously. It proved quite interesting to investigate the nuances of the Beatles/Beach Boys rivalry and place this album, Today!, in context. It made me want to listen to a lot more early Beatles.
While the album sounds dated, its sound is one that has potential to withstand the test of time. Great chorus on the first song; the voice is nice too with the beat highlighting it. The first track ultimately sets the rest of the album, it’s a great rock ballad and is one of my favs right off the bat. Love the jubilant feel so far of the album. She knows me too well is a great song and another fav. The second half of this album is amazing. Initial listen: 9/10 or 4.5/5.
Catchy, simple, accessible tunes
Don’t care for the ballads as much but this album is great
Yup. It’s certainly The Beach Boys
short album (12 tracks, only 29 minutes). familiar and predictable, upbeat, not bad
Overall: 7.63 Best: Please Let Me Wonder Worst: I’m so young What an album to start on! It has such great beach boy vibes and really sticks with the theme of heartbreak and keeping it upbeat
“You know she digs you and thinks you're a real groovy guy” is the most 60s lyric ever.
Famous songs are good, but the rest is pretty generic Standout songs: Help me rhonda Dance dance dance
Lot of good songs from my childhood on here, but the surf rock of the Beach Boys never enthralled me.
another beach boys record, i liked this one a little better than the last
I enjoy The Beach Boys, but a dose will last me a long time. In my mind, you need a greatest hits album, Pet Sounds, and Smile by Brian Wilson, and then your bases are covered. This one is Avery solid three for me.
It was fine. A couple good songs.
As somebody already pointed out: It very recognisable as The Beach Boys. The pioneers of having a signature sound. Which they've driven to an absolute extreme because to me, every song sounds exactly and precisely like any other song by them. Possibly with rejuggled lyrics, but I can't even be sure their songs actually do have different lyrics, because... It wouldn't even be necessary. Also, thanks to those legendary harmonies it all sounds so sugary sweet you're at risk of getting diabetes from listening to this
This album was composed and produced beautifully, though it has a dated feel which may prevent me from coming back to it regularly, especially in the tracks which more heavily feature Mike Love "Good To My Baby" was a personal favorite, and "She Knows Me Too Well" also shines for its sort of proto-emo insecure misogynist lyricism. One could have fun spinning this and the Blue Album back-to-back
Bueno
79% Best: When I Grow Up (To Be A Man); Dance, Dance, Dance; I'm So Young Must-Hear? Not quite
Great Beach boys album that is a step up in sound from their previous stuff and a hint at what might come with Pet Sounds.
Catchy happy sounds. Good vibrations and timeless tone
On the cusp of genius
critically acclaimed, very influential band but I just couldn't get excited about this album. sure, must of sounded pretty cool in it's time but all very predictable and a little dated these days.
Did they make more albums? Actually an enjoyable listen. Maybe a bit more raw, but it still contains the catchy melodies that made Pet Sounds the way it is.
It was excellent but at the same time just not for me. I have never connected with the Beach Boys and thinkI never will
:)
Classic
I started out my life hating the Beach Boys, and they've slowly grown on me after many years. That said, this album is garbage, and sets them right back to square zero in my mind. I'll give them credit for Pet Sounds, but this one is just bad.
Solid length. Sounded somewhat like Pet Sounds with some fun tunes. Only so many I can listen to at a time though.
Pleasant listen and pretty good but I can’t really see myself listening to these songs outside of rn
6/10 - all beach boys songs sound the same. They are pleasant sounding but not fantastic. The last song, if you can call it that, was an interesting addition to the album
Still think they’re a little overrated. Album was fine, but it’s just hard to take the music seriously when they sound so goofy
Decent - loved the tunes :)
A couple of Beach Boys classic. Not great overall as an album though.
This is some transitional Beach Boys as they went from surf rock singles (Surfing Safari, etc) to their art-forward album pop (Pet Sounds). This really is an album of two distinct sides. The first is poppy and more upbeat, while the latter is more aligned with the ballad and production we would come to see on Pet Sounds. The second half is where I took notice. Beautiful songs and harmonization. The first started off kind of rough imo but got better as it went along. The final track on the first side Dance Dance Dance taps that surf rock spirit and is a fun one. I'm overall mixed on this one -- second half had me, but I doubt I'll come back often. This flirts a 3/4 boundary for me. Understand it's importance to changing their image and sound, but nowhere near as refined as subsequent albums. High 3
3.5 stars. Quick little album. Has the good beach boys vibe but not too familiar with these songs. Not a bad listen while working.
This has been one of my favorite Beach Boys/BB-adjacent albums. Still don't really love this old pop rock quite too much and I'm happy it was mostly left in the 60's.
Yup! That was some rock from the 60s
Has those classic Beach Boys harmonies with some good sounding instrumentation. Really love Help Me, Rhonda. Overall solid rekkid
Interesting to hear how far pop music has come. This honestly still holds up
Squaresville. Just eat your damn fries and start working on pet sounds.
Girl yes
Bubblegum 2.5/5
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Who doesn't love some Beach Boys? Especially during "in-between-mas." This one has one of my favorites: "Do you wanna dance?" I also love "Dance, dance, dance."
This album is a very digestible length so I appreciate that. The Beach Boys really try to capture that teenage angst. I personally feel like punk music captures it better. Songs like When I Grow Up (To Be a Man) the Beach boys find themselves wondering if they will be into the same type of women they are now. Is this really something any young boy reflects on? I don't know it just seems out of touch and maybe that's just the messaging being dated. Maybe young boys really did wonder those things in the age before the internet. The album as a whole felt more like grown men pretending to be 15 than grown men reflecting on their life as teenagers.
Wow, I really just don’t like this band. Like, I kinda get why people liked them, but the singing grates my nerves. It feels so saccharine that there’s something borderline creepy af about their sound.
Life, Love, Sun, Happyness
Nice
I like this more than Pet Sounds. It’s an easier listen but still feels like they are pushing some boundaries.
Arguably the greatest party record of the 1960s... https://open.substack.com/pub/richcain/p/project-1001-the-beach-boys-today?r=4ztyq&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Very nice very very short
There is simply no denying that Brian Wilson is one of the greatest songwriters of all time and a true savant when it comes to composing harmonies. This is where the genius truly begins. Influencing everyone from The Beatles to The Ramones, Today is close to perfect and at times just as untouchable as Pet Sounds. 4.5 / 5
people back in the day may have thought this was the shit but man does it sound goofy- and don't get me started on some of the lyrics
Pretty amazing to think that the incredible Pet Sounds came out a year after this - because this album is foul. This is the kind of shit teenagers in the 60's listened to in their cars at full volume to try and get pussy. Boring and whiny, the harmonies don't even do it for me. There was a few good songs yeah, but I really do have high expectations for The Beach Boys, and this sorely disappoints.
The Beach Boys Today! - The Beach Boys (shocker) (1965) I really don't have too much for to say for what feels similar in runtime and message to a previous Everly Brothers album. I suppose I could say I would wanna dance with The Beach Boys much more than I would want something slipped in my drink on A Date With the Everly Brothers Highlights: Do you wanna Dance?, Help Me Rhonda
The Beach Boys music has aged like milk in the sun. Boring samey shit about holding hands with your 14 year old girlfriend. Keep it in the nursing home.
Front loaded as fuck but still phenomenal 9/10 Fav tracks - Do You Wanna Dance, Good to my Baby, Don't Hurt my Little Sister, When I Grow Up (To Be a Man), Help me Rhonda, Bull Session with "Big Daddy" Least fav - None
An almost sickly sweet album. Beach Boys just before Brian Wilson lost his mind/peaked artistically. When we got the Everly Brothers I complained about the short length at first and then was happy when it ended early. I was not happy when this ended and I needed to give it another spin (or three). No artist ever did harmonies like these guys. Highlights: Do You Wanna Dance?, Good To My Baby, Help Me, Rhonda, Im So Young, She Knows Me Too Well, In The Back Of My Mind
This is my second Beach Boys album and every time I listen to them my enjoyment goes down. They just have one pitch- it’s a damn good fastball but I think this is where groups like the Beetles surpass them, they adapt, I don’t get that from The Beach Boys.
Okay
bof 1/5
It was decent.
Ah, so this is that transitional era of The Beach Boys where they were starting to get real weird and experimental with the production (love how it sounds) but the lyrics are mostly about girls girls girls (varyingly annoying or fully creepy). Half of this was tremendous and the other half was skip. I did grow up in a household that would exclaim "Help me, Rhonda!" a lot, and that one still holds up.
Kinda repetitive but some catchy songs
Love love love the beach boys. Baroquial and vibrant melodies paired with a phenomenal dancy and light rythmn. Its almost beach jazz. Imagine creating the sound of southern california on analog devices and perfecting the modern pop song. Its incredible. This album encapsulates the pivot from boy band to artist.
Great album
In a nutshell: a weak prelude to Pet Sounds This album has two lukewarm singles and a tonne of filler. Some hints of Pet Sounds can be heard here but it doesn't have much else going for it. Overall: 2/10
What, precisely, am I supposed to see as essential about this album? Corny, commercial music, presented as a smattering of singles without a coherent feel of an album...what am I missing? If Pet Sounds made it onto this list, that's all the Beach Boys you need for this project.
The Beach Boys might be the easiest group to pick out within 3 seconds of hearing any song ever. They are consistent as hell which is good or bad depending if you enjoy the sound. If you aren't paying attention, the album sounds like one long song. Great production and amazing harmonies but damn is it repetitive and if you listen to the lyrics its more repetition. Not a bad album but just such a time capsule at this point.
Surfs up dudes! Short and sweet with some very cool 60s vibes
I like the Beach Boys a lot but not so much the slow songs, which this album has in spades
In my younger days, my main connection to The Beach Boys was their semi-regular cameos on Full House. Sitting down to listen to this album was a great experience and far exceeds their time with Uncle Jesse. My Standouts: Do You Wanna Dance?, When I Grow Up (To Be a Man), Help Me Rhonda
I find beach boys mesmerising. Enjoyable record, Help me Rhonda is a great song. The coming together of vocals is brilliant and skipping from minor and major really special.
What a great album. I've always been a fan of the beachboys since my mum used to play their records when I was a kid. Some very good tracks on here such as When I Grow Up, Do you Wanna Dance and the cherry on top Help me Ronda! Brian Wilson at his best putting together experimental sounds and clever harmonies and melodies. It's all too easy to listen to Greatest Hits albums but we really need to listen to the original albums and hear the tracks we wouldn't normally get to hear. 5
I remember listening to the beach boys on my dads old record player. To me its classic dance music with good rhythms and catchy lyrics. Listening today brought me back in a good way.
Sounds like the classic Beach Boys I grew up with to me. None of their biggest hits on here though, it's good quality music but not super memorable for me. Maybe a 3.5.
Not every song is a hit, but has their iconic sound. 3/5
Always considered the Beach Boys to be 'just' a singles band. Of course with the exception of Pet Sounds. Oh and Smile/Smiley Smile which I really like. And then I got Surf's Up and that was really good too. And actually this is packed with gems too. Maybe it's time to reconsider.
A good album from the Beach Boys, I like their style of music. I liked Kiss Me, Baby the most.
Que decir de los Beach Boys, por algo son junto con los beatles, una de las bandas más influyentes de la historia de la música... este disco está en el espectro de los 9 - 9.3 puntos, disco que envejeció muy bien como sus demás trabajos, disfrutable en cualquier estado de ánimo y en cualquier contexto
It's just a perfect slice of happy-go-lucky pop songs. Under 30 minutes. Right off the bat it gets straight into it. Nice and upbeat and pleasant with lots of really nice harmonies. It's just an enjoyable time. 3.5 rounded up.
Some really good, classic songs.
Boring, childish, elevator music
Iconic group, trailer blazers, instrumentally great.
What The Beach Boys did, they did very well. But they repeated it so often that it isn't really necessary to put more than one of their albums on a list like this. They lose stars for being so frigging monotonous. Moving on......
Good old school rock. Solid 3/5
One of the best harmony bands ever. Brian Wilson was not only a great singer but you can hear the attention to detail on these tracks as their producer as well. It was also a nice expansion of their sound with many more instrumental choices to complement the more complex songs that Brian Wilson and Mike Love had written. This album does have a number of my favorites, including the Bobby Freeman cover of "Do You Wanna Dance", "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)", "Help Me, Rhonda", and "Dance, Dance, Dance".
Yup, it's 50's beach rock alright!
Liked some but was meh on others
"I cooked the whole lamb an put its raw head back on." What else does anyone need to say about this record?
There is nothing wrong with the Beach Boys.
Not as intriguing as Pet Sounds
The Beach Boys Today! showcases the group’s signature vocal harmonies, which are undeniably fantastic. The intricacies of their harmonies and the falsetto vocals that rise above the mix bring a lot of texture to each track. Just hearing those voices blend so seamlessly is enough to draw me in, and it’s clear they invested real artistry into the vocal arrangements. Yet, despite these vocal highlights, the songs themselves often don’t stick with me. While the harmonies are beautiful, many tracks seem to lack the depth or energy to hold my attention beyond an initial listen. Most of the songs don’t quite leave a lasting impression, though there are exceptions, like Help Me, Rhonda, that stand out for their catchiness. Some of the more upbeat numbers also lean into a “twinkly” or “jangly” guitar sound, which I find slightly too twee, almost bordering on irritating. The album’s closer—a studio chat among the band—also puzzles me; while it might offer a glimpse into their personalities, it feels like an odd inclusion that detracts from the album’s flow. Standout Track: Help Me, Rhonda Score: 3/5
Yes… The Beach Boys are an important part of musical history, and it only takes one second to know that it’s them when you turn on a song. That doesn’t make everything they made, good music. Help me Rhonda is good though… perhaps because of the nostalgia that hits me when I listen to the early Beach Boys songs. And a song like Kiss Me, Baby has that beautiful vocal arrangement that we also hear a lot on Pet Sounds This album is not the Beach Boys I like. Pet Sounds is where it’s at! And that’s more like “Brian Wilson ft. the Beach Boys.” But this is still fun to listen to, but the lyrics… oh my God they are terrible
Нормально, приятные голоса, но не цепляет
Not nearly as impressive as its predecessor.
I recognised the music as being the Beach Boys without consciously knowing any of the songs. Very much of the time and feels very dated.
Don’t wanna be rude! >_< I like other beach boys stuff I’ve heard, but I didn’t really get much outta this album.
fine, good, i'm not super engaged with the songwriting but the instrumentation can be interesting, probably a sign of what would come with pet sounds huh?
Undeniably catchy
Whizzing along at 200 smiles-per-hour
What a dorky album cover - such a different time. Not exactly lyrical masterpieces - she’s my girl and I’m good to my baby. Ugh the patriarchy. So many gross yet childishly simplistic lyrics. I do like their voices? But unfortunately I paid attention to the words.
Mellow and soothing. Classic 60’s production.
Had some parts I liked but for the most part it wasn't memorable. Parts I liked weren't good enough to carry the album. Favorite songs were: 6. Dance, Dance, Dance 10. She Knows Me Too Well 4/10
Definitely a like not love of an album. By default I like pretty much anything the Beach Boys do. Tight harmonies and surfing always does it for me. I wasn't super moved by any of the songs, but I enjoyed every one of them. My favorite was Do You Wanna Dance, which I knew as a Ramones song (didn't know it was a cover, but that totally makes sense). That one sounded a lot like Phil Spector song and I wondered if he had produced the album (he did not). Album cover: (C) Brown, brown, and browner.
I've listened to a good amount of Beach Boys and this didn't quite feel as good as some of their other stuff. Not unpleasant but this album doesn't hit in 2024 the way it probably did in 1482 or whenever it was released.
I love the Beach Boys, they are my favorite 60s band. This is an interesting album for us to get first. It has none of their most famous hits, and scant reference to boats or surfing. They still reference "my baby" a whole lot, so at least that hasn't gone anywhere. The lyrics on this album are more substantive than their previous outings. "Don't Hurt My Little Sister" is a banger. "When I Grow Up To Be A Man" is funny. They don't want their kids to view them as squares. Unfortunately, some number of the Beach Boys are now weird Trump-heads, so their kids almost certainly think they're squares. "Bull Session with 'Big Daddy'" is a hell of a name for a track. Despite it's pornhub-worthy name, it's just a fun conversation between the band members. European bread is FAR better than American bread, and I thank the Beach Boys for spreading the word. I love everything about the Beach Boys. The songs & albums are nice iPad kid lengths. The sound is awesome. This record shows a different side of them than their top played hits may. Not that different though, they're still on their same shit. 9/10
The Beach Boys’ transition from barbershop surf-rock poster boys to avant-garde art pop geniuses is fascinating, and the release of Pet Sounds and the infamous non-release of Smile in the two years following this album are monumental additions to the pop music canon. This album hints towards that direction, with far more diverse instrumentation than a Beach Boys record so far, but the songwriting is still very simplistic and doesn’t get close to leaving an impression in the same way as their later work
A lot of classics
Fine tunes.
When I was a kid, I thought The Beach Boys were super cool. Today, I found this really boring.
This seemed behind the times, rather than ahead. I know vocal harmonies were their thing, but I forgot how little they did anything else.
I just don't love the Beach Boys.
My mother likes the Beach Boys and we used to listen to them quite a bit when I was younger. Nostalgia may have colored my assessment. But it's good music, particularly for the era. I assume, anyway.
Great harmonies, dick-and-jane subject matter. I guess it's an insight into young middle-class boomer men.
Ugh. For some super talented musicians this is mostly trash. The early 60s were . . . a time.
Maybe like a 3.5
Can’t go wrong with TBB
Classic, heard lots before
high 4! this one’s like a 4.675
Pre-listening thoughts: 28 min album is CRAZYYYY. I like The Beach Boys so I’m assuming I’ll enjoy this Post/during listening thoughts: The Beach Boys are kind of a blueprint for 60s music but as they went on they became something pretty innovative and unique. This is pretty standard stuff from them though. Their vocal harmonies are just too good. I wish I could give this a 4.5 because I’m not sure it’s a 5 from me but it’s better than a 4. So I’ll give it an 8.8/10 and you’ll have to trust what I mean with my star rating. DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: no I think you can hear a few Beach Boys songs and understand their deal, but this is a solid album Fav tracks: Good To My Baby, Help Me Rhonda, Dance Dance Dance, Please Let Me Wonder, Kiss Me Baby Least fav tracks: none
such a fun album, I listened to the Beach Boys before I could speak english
The problem we have in 1965 is The Beatles were releasing Rubber Soul. Moody, psychodelic cover and - whilst we needed to wait until 1966 for Revolver as the fiunished article - half an album of revolutionary songs which had started to change the world. By contrast, whilstt he sheer talent of Brian Wilson's songwriting can be heard on 'do you wanna dance' and 'help me rhonda', the music, image, harmonies and vibe of this record is still steeped. It hasn't even homed in on the californian surf style pop which gave Wilson the kick start before going on to complete his one and only opus, Pet Sounds. Americans probably have a different opinion because this record wanders nowhere beyond their shores.
If there is a genre of music that really doesn’t stand up to the test of time, it’s The Beach Boys brand of harmony preppy-pop. The lyrics are cliched and borderline misogynistic. There was a time and a place for this. That time is not now and the place is not here.
Correcto
2/5
It's that classic sound. But as with other bands of this era, the later works are far more interesting.
Is it bad or blasphemous or weird that I liked this better than “Pet Sounds”? Maybe it was the lack of hype around this, but I just overall liked the vibes better. They weren’t trying to do too much like they might’ve been on “Pet Sounds” and it just works better. Also, I need to admit something. The Wikipedia article for this album notes that this is the first album to not include songs about surfing or cars, ditching the surf motif in all but their name. I didn’t hear a distinct difference in style or arrangement between this and previous albums. Which made me realize - I’ve so closely associated The Beach Boys sound with surfer rock that I just assumed they were one and the same. So I expected a different sound from this album but didn’t get it. Their sound isn’t necessarily tied to the content of their songs, and vice versa. They exist independently from each other. I was just out here assuming that surf music sounded like Beach Boys music and so if they did something other than surf music, it would sound different. But no. Anyway, I like this enough to give it four stars. Better than “Pet Sounds.” Fight me. Standout Tracks: Do You Wanna Dance?, Help Me, Rhonda, In the Back of My Mind
It was okay. Not my vibe
Makes me wanna start an acapella group with the boys
More Beach Boys! When I Grow Up was very interesting and in a way haunting. Help Me Ronda is a classic. Just another fun beach album to listen to while driving to the beach in California in the 60's. In some ways, though, it's also an album you'd listen to as the sun is setting on the beach and you're looking out your window because your parents wouldn't let you go. Lots of retrospective songs on here about being too young for things or being worried about something. Very interesting.
Very early Beach Boys, sounds a lot like early Beatles, and I'm not a huge fan of either. But a some good songs on here, and the "Bull Session" is a pretty fun glimpse into behind the scenes. Pretty good album overall, but they've got much better. Favorite tracks: When I Grow Up, Help Me Rhonda, I'm So Young, Bull Session. Album art: Pretty weak, very of-the-era "we need to have some kind of cover" image. Reminds me of the Everly Brothers. 3.5/5
Corny. Annoying.
Todavía les faltaba mejorar pero prometen y mucho
4/5
There are two fun tracks on here. Thank God the Stones et. al. came along and saved us from all this sacharin silliness.
Cool in the context of The Beach Boys development and I guess pop music itself since they were so influential. Still though, I would rather listen to any of The Beach Boys albums right before or after this one. None of the tracks didn’t do much for me the first time I listened to it and on this listen as well Rating: 3.0
3.5/5
They should revise this list and limit it to one album per artist. This doesn't sound like anything but worse songs from Pet Sounds.
This album gave me huge anemoia, for some reason the Beach Boys always make me feel like I’m living in the 60’s. The album itself is pretty good, there’s a bit of variety and the lyrics are very typical. All in all, quite pleasant, but not ground breaking.
One side of surf-rock hits or near-hits with the trademark harmonies from the Californian band, plus one side of even more sophisticated arrangements and chord sequences for slower, more "intimate" cuts, foretelling *Pet Sounds*. The whole thing equals... two sides of Beach Boys happiness. Critics have always loved this one. Out of the band"s classic early period, album *Surfin' USA* is probably even more iconic for the fans. But it would be a shame not to select a second album from that early period, and *The Beach Boys Today!* is the most likely candidate for that. Then add those albums from the band's two subsequent "eras": *Pet Sounds*, *Smile*, *Sunflower*, *Surf's Up*, and maybe *Carl And The Passions* if you have room left. But I guess all that is a story for another time, kiddies... 4.5/5 for the purposes of this list of essential albums. 9.5 for more general purposes (5 + 4.5) Number of albums left to review: 65 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 405 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 232 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 299
I like a few Beach Boys songs a lot. But none of those are on this album. The whole thing feels a bit twee
Started out kinda shaky but found some great stuff on the second half
This album is an excellent bridge from early breezy Beach Boys to the more complex and mature later Beach Boys with the complex lush arrangements. This song is recorded perfectly and works together. An excellent snapshot of the band growing as artists.
I have fond memories of the Beach Boys from listening to them in my Dad's car on childhood summer journeys, but this is actually pretty bad. Help Me Ronda and Do You Wanna Dance are pretty good fun, but the rest of the album is just the same thing but worse, except for a shitty, self indulgent out take at the end. There's a time and a place for the Beach Boys, and it's probably on a best of compilation.
This was the album that came out after Brian Wilson had to give up touring for health reasons, but a year before Pet Sounds. It’s an ok collection of pop tunes with two bangers (Do You Wanna Dance and Help Me Ronda) but a lot of filler for an album that’s less than 30 minutes. The worst bit is the last track which is just two minutes of studio chatter. I initially thought this was a special feature, but it’s on the original release. Lazy, lazy Beach Boys.
This kind of music feels like unicorns puking rainbows. It's funny and colourful at first sight, but it's always the same (a fuckin' rainbow!) and when you look into the details, it's pretty gross (I'm 99% sure they were all sexual harassers). And it's not even one of their most known records; it once again makes me wonder why we have this and some much more interesting/meaningful records are not here (I mean, apart from the fact the list was done by a group of old American white dudes).
No doubt the Beach Boys were (are) very significant in the history of pop music and their place on this list is more than deserved. Personally they are a group which I am glad exist but at the same time can take or leave. They were big in my formative years of getting into music but even at that time were not what I wanted to listen to or develop with. There was so much choice in the mid 60’s of British bands that I rightly or wrongly discounted American ones. My appreciation of US 60’s bands has changed over the years to an extent that I wish I hadn’t been so blinkered but would never include the Beach Boys within the bands I now think I’ve missed out on. When the time and mood is right I love to listen to them and one or two songs on later albums and on this list are absolute classics. But having now listened to this album in full I don’t think that I will ever pop it on again. Listened to the album via Tidal which offered hi-res stereo and mono versions. It was interesting to listen to the difference and concluding that the mono version sounded better. Testament perhaps to the times it was recorded for a largely mono market and that faffing around with the original recording is not always good. 3/5 3/9/24
The band the Beatles wish they’d been. 4.5
I just can't with the beach boys
With a title true to its time and place, this record is an important precursor to what the band would become during its golden age of 1966-1973.
I think the Beach Boys get more credit than they deserve, but they definitely found a sound that filled a niche. Good for them.
Don't care for the Beach Boys, especially their early albums about cars, girls, surfing and the beach. It makes sense, they were called the Beach Boys for a reason and their white bread, generic, all-American image and music was everything I didn't like about them. The Beach Boys Today! shifted the band towards album oriented music rather than just peppy hit singles and this I can tolerate. There are shades of what was to become, with a more richer mature sound, slower tempos and lush, denser arrangements, that carried on to an expanded range on Pet Sounds. Most of the songs are fine, but there's still a lot of filler and lesser material. Overall, worth the listen, this is a period when the Beach Boys grow up and begin to make decent music, finally.
Fave. Help me Rhonda
This album is a lot weaker than Pet Sounds. Very decent but boring poppy music for girls to scream to. 3/5
More misses than hits. There’s a kitschyness that the Beach Boys exude. There are glimpses of the Wall of Sound working its way into things. Frankly I was underwhelmed.
感觉不如PETSOUNDS
pleasant and sounds classic
Yeah, there’s a couple very well known, good songs, but the album sounds like crap. I don’t know if it was due to the era or they only had access to terrible equipment or the producing let it down, but it’s echoey, flat, muddy, there’s zero bass, and even the remaster sucks so I suppose the master sucked worse. That part’s a damn shame, I can see why they would’ve been popular then. Second half of the album is way too slow for me though.
"abandonment of car or surf songs" I'm sorry, but that's what I'm here for. Faves: Do You Wanna Dance? When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)
Ok, this is my second Beach Boys album through the project, after "Surf's Up", which is their almost-anti-Beach-Boys album - and this one is them deliberately stepping away from singing about surfing and cars? I believe the only other album of theirs on the list is "Pet Sounds", so Dimery apparently hasn't included any of their baseline albums?! What a joke! The Beatles and Stones both get their earliest albums included, when they were basically just covers bands, but we don't get a an exemplar of the classic Beach Boys sound!? 😡 Anyway, this is a pleasant enough listen, as one would expect - great harmonies and summery vibes, albeit with slightly gross patriarchal lyrics. Fave tracks - "Help Me, Ronda" is the one I knew going in, and "She Knows Me Too Well" from the less well known tracks....
Anything by the Beach Boys is good.
Beach Boys viben er på plass, men presterte litt dårlig
Very much transitional, which means it kind of struggles to have a viewpoint. Not as good as some of their other material.
Favourite songs: "Help Me, Rhonda", "Dance, Dance, Dance", Do You Wanna Dance? Least favourite songs: In the Back of My Mind 3/5
Solid album. Would listen again.
I love some BB tracks but let's be honest they pretty much all sound the same.
One long boring song.
For 28 minutes and 55 seconds, I felt loved. Then I recalled the impending heat death of the universe. Fuuck
Dreadful
"Ugh, the ending of I'm So Young gives me goosebumps. Beach Boys albums can suffer from songs sounding too same-y, and this one falls into that category. Especially the first half. But you can also hear the development towards Pet Sounds in this album. An expansion of instrumentation. More complex harmonies. And an attempt to get out of the surfing/summer lyrical content rut. My bias bleed through on this rating. I really love the Beach Boys. They just have a really high floor for me, almost exclusively because of their vocal talent. I could listen to them sing harmonies about anything. Favorite Song(s): Help Me, Rhonda, I'm So Young"
Very nice
Some classics on here. Dennis singing Do You Wanna Dance, Brian singing Please Let Me Wonder. Beach Boys are in hindsight a very weird band - intricately orchestrated music behind almost creepily adolescent lyrics sung by angels .
I have to admit that I've never been able to become a Beach Boys fan, so this is a tough one for me to enjoy for its own sake. And while I guess I can (sort of) see how this album is a departure for the Beach Boys from surf and car music, it doesn't really sound all that different from all of the other Beach Boys songs I've heard. Well, except for all the somewhat insipid ballads on the b-side. And of course the bizarre ending track... (3)
I couldn't understand why this album made the grade so I read about it on wikipedia and still don't think it should be on the list. I get that it's a transition from their surf style but it doesn't seem all that great to me.
i was slightly disappointed by the first half of this album, finding it to be all very similar and a little bit boring - not to mention some questionable lyrics. however, around the “help me rhonda” mark, things started to change for the better, the tracks becoming more diverse, but still retaining those characteristic beach boys motifs - notably their iconic harmonies. personally, this first half felt as though they were only writing the songs to succeed commercially, not from a place of real interest. in contrast, the second half of the album, more reflective and introspective, appealed much more to me, saving this album from falling below 3 stars. i enjoyed “in the back of my mind” especially. i believe this isn’t the best showcase of the beach boys’ talent, and other albums - eg pet sounds - give a much better idea of their ability. i can see why people get bored of this album - the repetitiveness can become dull.
beach boys songs always feel like they should be in a nice coming of age feel-good movie but i cannot honestly appreciate this too much as music in itself. but. it is fun.
A decent bunch of songs but nowhere near as strong as some of their other work. Also, why did so many bands/groups have to put an eating/conversation filler track on their records? Completely unnecessary!
High schooler music written by grown men. That said... it's not bad.
Pretty good but still kind of boring
I never have understood why so many people think so highly of the Beach Boys. For me 2 stars or D- is generous.
Another Beach Boys record…more of the same Beach Boys sound. Nothing too impressive about this one, but it had its fun moments. Always a good play when in a beach town or at a summer cookout, but that’s about it for me.
C' mon It's classic Beach Boys.. It's a fun listen and very well recorded.
I had to check if this was produced Phil Spector but it was Brian Wilson. Very dense and a good listen with classic and uniquely identifiable Beach Boys harmonies.
Good. I remember listening to these songs on road trips growing up.
I really really enjoyed listening to this. Some songs I knew, a bunch I didn't, but all with that signature Beach Boys sound and what harmonies. I'll be gladly listening to this one many times.
It’s okay.
Ok, 1965. Brian Wilson is 23, Dennis Wilson 21, Carl Wilson 20, Mike Love is 24, and Al Jardine 23. It's weird to realize that this is their EIGHTH album and they've only been a band for four years. Several of them were married. Given their youth, and likely... distorted view of life due to fast fame so young in an era where misogyny was standard, but... Some of the lyrics are creepy as fuck: Good to My Baby: "They think I'm bad and treat her so mean, but all they know is from what they've seen / and when I get her alone now, you know we're happy as a couple could be / and when I giver her my love it's between her and me." Sounds like a classic abuser and rapist. Don't Hurt My Litter Sister: "Why don't you love her / Like her big brother" ew. Help Me Rhonda He's begging Rhonda to have sex so he can forget about another girl who dumped him. Please Let Me Wonder: "I built all my goals around you / That some day, my love would surround you / You'll never know what we've been through / For so long, I thought about it / And now, I just can't live without it / This beautiful image I have of you" So, basically, stalker vibes. She Knows Me Too Well: He places unreasonable expectations on his girlfriend. He "treat[s] her so mean." He's jealous, "And then I'm not happy 'til I make her break down and cry." Wow. Great harmonies can't overcome that.
just yeah 59/100
Simply incredible. There is still some of the simpler, less significant Beach Boys sound here, but the arrangements are complex and gorgeous. There is a real Wall of Sound vibe and much more lyrical sophistication. I listened to this twice in a row.
Even when listening to the better Beach Boys songs, it’s hard to get over the feeling that you’re listening to what conservative parents in the 50s hoped their children would be into. And this album didn’t contain the better Beach Boys songs
I like the Beach Boys. Simpsons: Yes
Didn't hate it, didn't love it.
This wasn't good, the only positive was that it was under half an hour. Definitely. will not be listening to it again
Really enjoyed this. Was toying with a 5 but the last track killed it for me. Not The Beach Boys at there best but damn close.
Honestly liked this more than Pet Sounds. The production sounds less muddy because there’s like 1 layer less of overdubs.
Throw back to the 60’s
Recognizable Sing along music
This trundled along quite pleasantly and unremarkably and Beach Boysy. And that’s really all I have to say
Like a Beach Boys blueprint Hints of what was to come and obviously a mesmerising sound but very juvenile
I don't know. Some weird stuff here.
Not their best songs but still funny to listen
It was perfect for a sunday afternoon 😌
After getting two hour+ albums in a row, this one is mercifully short, not that it’s bad. In fact the first track, “Do You Wanna Dance?,” is quite good. The rest is pretty standard Beach Boys fare, but the Wilsons’ British and R&B influences are more apparent here than on previous albums.
A very Nice Beach boys moments, a Little to anoying AT the END
Like a lot of early rock, this is one that was good at the time but just doesn’t hold up to modern listening. Gets an extra star for the instruments on Help Me Rhonda
The One Before The Big One - the Rubber Soul of the Beach Boys ouevre. The shift here is that these songs still sound like every other Beach Boys song, it's just that they changed the lyrics to something other than the beach. A good record, but I would have a hard time picking this one out from any of the otherrs.
Sounds a bit like they’re trying to ride The Beatles wave a bit. I did like the slower ballady half of the album (2.5/5)
With signature tunes They deliver surf through sound Then rinse and repeat
Pretty fun. Nothing extraordinary, but catchy and cute.
Do You Wanna Dance? 3.7 Good to My Baby 3.6 Don't Hurt My Little Sister 3.4 When I Grow Up (To Be a Man) 3 Help Me, Ronda 3.8 Dance, Dance, Dance 3.5 Please Let Me Wonder 3.4 I'm So Young 3.5 Kiss Me Baby 3 She Knows Me Too Well 3 In the Back of My Mind 2.8 Bull Session with the 'Big Daddy' 1.5 Score: 3.183333333
1. dance - 0 2. baby - 1 3. zizter - 0 4. man - 1 5. rhonda - 0 6. dance - 1 7. uuonder - 1.5 8. young - 1 9. kizz me - 1.5 10. uuell - 1.5 11. mind - 1 12. daddy - 0
I think it's pretty much what The Beach Boys are all about. Soothing harmonies, high voices and some rhythms to dance to. Pleasurable. 3.5/5.
She Knows Me Too Well Honestly forgot I was listening to this album and then it was over. The harmony is good but it’s nothing to go crazy about.
Boring. Prefer them when Adam Buxton does them. https://youtu.be/iq8IHET9eiE?si=RNAg6RdAGm87F55K
The beach boys have such a crazy history for a band that seem like dorks from simpler times. Anyways, they are good and so is this record.
Listen to a single beach boy song and you've listened to all of them I swear.
Meh.
I'm probably rating this album a star higher than it really should be because I'm nostalgic for 60's music. I will say, though, I do not like the remastered version of Help Me, Rhonda. The original is way better. Overall, an album that makes me want to drive to the beach with the windows rolled down.
I totally get why this is good but its so dated. I can see the influence but these tracks feel more at home in a nostalgic movie than something I would actively listen to. Perfectly pleasant but not my thing.
This could be a very normal album by a celebrated good time group but the lyrics are some of the weirdest shit I’ve ever heard. Maybe it was different back in the day but “people say I’m mean and treat her bad” followed by “they just know what they see” is some weird shit. Don’t tell people to kiss your sister. I never realized “Help me Ronda” is about a rebound hookup. “Please let me wonder” is confusing…is this guy an incel or is he having second thoughts? I can’t figure it out. A lot of other artists could get away with this but the whole point of The Beach Boys is the singing and the clear enunciation of every word. The musicality (is that a word?) is classic beach boys. But yikes.
One word: Infectious. These songs are simple enough for you to sing along with on a first listen and catchy enough to stay with you all day. I don't want to blast this while on the road, but it made a nice neighbor friendly listen while mulching this weekend.
Strong start made me wish I was 80+ but it became slightly stale. Would listen again though because, hey, surf is fun.
Precursor to Pet Sounds? Just give me Pet Sounds?
like a 60s version of backstreet boys or n sync - this album really grated on me after the first song or two, the entire thing sounded like one long song
I think it was fine. Didn't get through the whole album, but not offensive.
Thought I had heard most of The Beach Boys songs, but I guess just the popular ones.. sounded very beach boy-ee
Brian Wilson is a musical genius! I feel the music of today would not be the same without his influence. Love The Beach Boys and thoroughly enjoyed listening. No surprise this album made the list.
Fun, breezy. What you expect from the beach boys. But it's no pet sounds.
Pretty solid album. It's just not as good as Pet Sounds. I shouldn't hold that against it but here we are.
Somehow, the more I listen to The Beach Boys, the more I appreciate them. Great album .
Not bad, but did we really need pre-Pet Sounds Beach Boys on the list?
4.1 beach boys are great. Not their best effort.
Immaculate vibes, and a short album. Good all around, reminds me of a relaxing day. I don't think it meets the same standards as good vibrations but it's still a good listen.
It’s got those classic, sweet and dreamy harmonies that The Beach Boys are known for, but nothing else about this is particularly stirring.
Unlike early Beatles this was waayy to cheesemo for me. Pleas Let Me Wonder is pretty wonderful though.
Limp wristed frat boy band.
It's the Beach Boys, you get what you expect. Nice tunes, good harmonies, pleasant lyrics. All nice, but nothing exceptional. Nice easy listening 3.
No no no no no
The beginnings of Brian Wilson's move into experimental use of instrumentation. Yes it sounds lame to modern ears, but at the time it was pretty groundbreaking. Some really good tunes and everyone must surely love 'Help Me Rhonda'?
Samey after a while. Pet Sounds is better.
A very ok album. Funny that this is commonly cited as one of the best albums of all time. A solid 2.5/5 -> 3/5.
La influencia de Phil Spector en la producción de algunos temas de este disco produjo una serie de éxitos pop que han llegado hasta nuestros días. Es el caso de las siempre alegres "Dance, Dance, Dance", "Help Me, Rhonda" o "Do You Wanna Dance". Pero Brian Wilson ya había comenzado a experimentar con nuevos sonidos y nuevas temáticas que superaban el surf y las playas californianas, animado por las influencias de ida y vuelta con el otro lado del Atlántico. Canciones como "When I Grow Up" o "She Knows Me Too Well" hablan de la incertidumbre adolescente por el futuro o del amor. "Please Let Me Wonder" es una de las canciones destacadas del álbum.
Classic beach boys. Some interesting songs about being mean to women lol
Californian Surfin' sound, the trademark of the Beach Boys. It is somehow repetitive, and to some extent boring. Worse are the lyrics. Maybe acceptable at that time, they are now cringe at best.
Its good. Their songs are always timeless
Really really good. In the back of my mind was doppeeee.
My first Beach Boys album, I’ve only heard the hits before. Great harmonies but everything sounds the same after 3 songs
Einschläfernder orchestral Rock.
My Beach Boys listening has been primarily confined to Pet Sounds and one best-of comp. Help Me Rhonda is on that comp. I think that's actually all I needed to hear of this album. The songs are so *verbose* in such a boring way. Not what I wanted to hear.
People were STARVING for music in the 60s
This was a fun album! I really love the sound of the Beach Boys, even if I didn't love some of the lyrics (the poor girlfriend in "She Knows Me Too Well"). I especially liked "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)" and "Help Me, Ronda".
there's probably a joke to be made here about white noise and wall of sound, but i can't quite get there. shoutout to this album for frontloading the recognizable hits so i could drift off into beats to study and relax to mode. 2.5
Help Me Rhonda really carries this
Idk why this ended with a mukbang
I love this band, and I'm glad this was part of the challenge. Good album.
Easily The Beach Boys’ best record up until Pet Sounds. “Do You Wanna Dance?” is my favorite early Beach Boys song, and most of the rest of the songs are solid as well, including the classic “Help Me Rhonda”. But what the hell is the “Bull Session with Big Daddy” even doing on the album? A 2 minute interview excerpt where it sounds like the present band members are only half-paying attention just sounds like the record studio wanted to pad the track listing. It’s a shame, since The Beach Boys had some solid non-album singles released around that time that probably could have been included. When you compare this to The Beatles’ Beatles for Sale and Help! released around the same time, it’s easy to see how the two bands were on equal footing, vying for the title of the best band in the world. Obviously that went to The Beatles only a few short years later, but the era from 1965-1966 which included the release of this album and Pet Sounds cemented The Beach Boys as one of the best ever.