Reviews (page 8 of 10)
This is what happens when you smoke weed.
60’s Don’t care
I don't dislike the Beach Boys, but this album was really boring. Maybe it's because it's an early album and they were still working out their sound, but a lot of it just feels kind of lifeless and dull. The early version of "Help Me Ronda" here is a good example of that — the re-recorded version they released on their next album is so much better. A lot of the lyrics haven't aged well either. Good harmonies, but otherwise meh. 2/5
I'd give this a 2.5 but rounding up
This will be my second Beach Boys album to review, after Surf's Up (I've also reviewed Smile and Pacific Ocean Blue). I'm pretty familiar with The Beach Boys' pre-Pet Sounds hits, but this is my first time to listen to an album from that era. I thought this album was fine. The harmonies were fantastic as usual, but the songwriting and arrangements were more often so-so than noteworthy. I found the side one songs to be more enjoyable than side two. "Do You Wanna Dance?" had some great guitar playing, and I enjoyed the piano playing as well. The overall sound was rich, and the lyrics, although not particularly noteworthy, were really fun and enriched by the harmonies. "When I Grow Up" was probably my favorite song on the album. I loved the lyrics, and how it explored the thoughts that can swim through your head as you enter adulthood. Even as a man nearing forty, these themes are still things I think about. The overall song structure and the counting up of the backing vocals were fantastic, and really drove the theme of the song home. "Help Me, Rhonda" was great too, and I loved the way the song faded in and out during the outro. The harmonies on the chorus are some of my favorite in all of the Beach Boys' discography. That song always reminds me of a pastor at the church I went to as a teenager, who used to say "Help Me, Rhonda" as an expression of mild exasperation. While that church overall sucked, that always made me laugh. The second half of the album was a bit dull in my opinion. The harmonies were still great, and there were some nice arrangements, but there really wasn't anything else that stuck out to me. Even though this album was pretty middle of the road, it was nice to listen to it in the context of being the immediate predecessor to Pet Sounds, and for that reason, I can understand why it's on this list.
An admittedly somewhat predictable yet quality A-side, the real show here is the entirety of the B-side, with not a single miss for a single one of the SONGS. Quite frankly, counting B6 doesn't really do that much damage, as it's short and somewhat endearing in the same way snippets of a Beatles interview is unnecessary but has its own charm. Back on track, however… The Beach Boys, especially Brian Wilson, show their dominance over their knowledge of how to warp songs around intricate melodies that may seem like the usual doo-wop shindig at first. But once you dive into the pure melancholia of the whole record, you can tell that something deeper is stewing. I don't mean to imply that this is proto-Pet Sounds, as it still has those early band stereotypes that leak out before and after the golden age of Beach Boys: The somewhat strange Don't Hurt My Little Sister or the generic Dance, Dance, Dance, but there is that glimmer of hope shining here. With a B-side as stacked with perhaps not commercial hits, but still some of the best output of 1965 lyrically and just in terms of pure mood and feel. It's not hard to see why this is considered the start of something greater. Add in Brian's always gorgeous falsetto, a cool Dennis opener, and I guess Mike Love does okay (for once) here. You could argue this is the peak of the Beach Boys as a band, rather than one leading voice, and I could see why some would prefer it that way. It certainly has its hiccups at the start, but I see this as essential listening for the whole Beach Boys experience.
Quite enjoyed that
I mean, I do remember being a teenager and I probably would have connected with these songs.
Really solid with some fantastic tracks. Definitely shows the roadmap to Pet Sounds. Only real criticism is the last “interview” track.
Ágætis plata. Gaman að sjá þá færa sig yfir í stöffið sem þeir eru þekktastir fyrir. Ekki bara brimbretta unglingastöff heldur komnir textar með meiri merkingu og heildarverkið mun meira en fyrri plötur. Ekki alveg komnir í pet sounds gírinn en þetta er í áttina.
i love my boys so much
The Beach Boys Today! I’ve never really delved into the Beach Boys albums pre Pet Sounds, I kind of assumed due to the quantity of them and the duplicated songs on some of them that they would be musically all over the shop - much better to listen to a best of. This album confounded that idea though. Do You Wanna Dance, I’ve always loved this, it is a brilliantly joyful pop song. It wasn’t till I was reading after that I learned this was a cover. I love the hook at the start of each line being replicated in the chorus though, and the ‘hit’ of music and vocals and harmonies at the chorus is just a fantastic moment. I listened to the original out of curiosity and the BBs version really does lift what is quite a flat song. Good to my Baby feels a little early Beach Boys by numbers in comparison, as does Be Good to My Little Sister, although the drop in ‘why don’t you love her…’ part elevates it, a really lovely little melodic and harmonic moment. When I Grow Up to be a Man is really interesting, lyrically and thematically not standard fare for early 65 and you can see how this might have influenced (and been influenced by) John to write even more personally - In My Life followed not long after this. Help me Rhonda is a greatest hits staple that you can easily overlook, but it’s great, the modulating sound level into the chorus is great, and as you’d expect, brilliant harmonies. Dance, Dance, Dance is a bit of I Get Around clone, albeit a fun listen, and does feel a bit like the filler I was expecting. Please Let Me Wonder, however, feels very very different, with a tenderness and maturity standing in stark contrast to Dance, Dance, Dance. This clearly feels like a turning point, noticeably more interesting melodically and musically. The bass is great throughout and all the different instrumental hooks. Superb. I’m So Young sounds great too, but again I didn’t realise this was a cover until after. It is a nice tune and arrangement but isn’t massively different from the original and is a little bit filler-y. Kiss me, Baby, really beautiful and tender, similar to Please Let Me Wonder. I love the ‘up and downess’ of it, little peaks and troughs and a gorgeous sounding chorus. Lovely. She Knows Me Too Well, another beautiful and wistful song, but with a kind of fragile tension to it, a little bit of uncertainty thematically and musically. The jealousy theme also must have resonated with Lennon. In The Back of My Mind, what a song. Again this must have been hugely influential, with a lovely vocal. It’s really sad and has a loneliness to it, and melodically/harmonically it’s really interesting, a similar skill that the Beatles have in creating a musical feeling that matches or contests the lyrics. I really do like a lot of their albums post Pet Sounds, there are some absolute gems and a lot of brilliant stuff on Smiley Smile, Holland, Friends, 20/20, Wild Honey etc, but I’ve tended to struggle with Pet Sounds itself, finding it hard to get into, but I wonder if this might help, in the way that Help feeds into Rubber Soul and Rubber Soul into Revolver. I was really surprised how good this was versus my expectations, and that feeling of a change happening as you listen to the 2nd side, a branching out and a maturity. In terms of a score I think it’s a 4, just due to the unevenness and ‘throwbacknees’ of the 1st side, although the contrast between the surf pop and the introspection is pretty cool. It doesn’t feel as complete in the way Rubber Soul does - and I think we are comparing the Beach Boys to the Beatles here, holding them to a slightly higher standard than other groups of the time - so a 4 it is. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This album is the best!! It put me in such a good mood, and there are so many bangers on it. Made me feel like I was chilling on the beach mid-summer with absolutely no care in the world!
super
Full of classics, feels like a greatest hits album. Excellent as always.
Surf music at its peak. I don’t think I really need to explain this album anymore. If you don’t know who The Beach Boys are….well….I’m not sure you’ll like them then. I do. It’s not Pet Sounds but it is their sound. Choice Cut: Help Me Rhonda
Excellent. Truly great album
A great Beach Boys album with some truly classic songs that represent the era in which they were popular.
Cool
Makes me wanna get to the beach!
Interesting transitional stuff between early Beach Boys and Pet Sounds. Not that stellar though
A quite enjoyable selection for a genre I'm typically not fond of. Very well composed and a lot of tasty sounds. Enjoying this more on first listen than Pet Sounds, though that album has a LOT of hype around it that may have influenced my first impressions.
Pleasant
On a par with Pet Sounds, which really isn’t saying much.
Shouldn't it be Beach Boy?
Even though this is the Beach boys I feel like this album hasn't aged well and is now less than average
Rock viejuno. Ningún megahit. Un 4.
Smiles 🤭
Not being married is HARD
Not their best work but the melody’s as usual are great
Liked, like Beatles, fun, active album
calkiem sympatyczny
wow.. Das ging schnell. Es ist das drin, was draufsteht: Beachboys. Riesiger Wiedererkennungswert und eine nette Begleitung in den morgen. Holt mich nicht komplett ab, ist aber angenehm gewesen. Klassische 3/5.
- Ich bin definitiv Fan von den Beach Boys, die ich v.a. 2014/15 extrem viel gehört habe - Die haben ihren ganz eigenen Stil, den ich sehr mag und sie hatten unbestritten unfassbar großen Einfluss auf alles, was musikalisch nach ihnen kam - Umso mehr hab ich mich erst über die Auswahl dieses Albums gewundert. - Zwar kannte ich natürlich "Help Me Rhonda" und "Dance, Dance, Dance" gut, sonst war dieses Album mir aber gänzlich neu. - Kann aber nun verstehen, warum das Album hier gelandet ist. Ich würde behaupten, dass die Beach Boys mit dem Album das erste Mal eine gewisse musikalische Reife gezeigt haben, deutlich komplexere Arrangements und interessantere Harmonieren, als auf ihren vorigen Alben und auch im Vergleich zu einem Großteil der Populärmusik der Zeit. - Das Album eröffnet mit "Do You Wanna Dance?" für die Beach Boys ungewohnt orchestral. Diese orchestrale Seite zieht sich an vielen Stellen durch das Album. Finde den Track ziemlich nice. Und geht im Refrain mit den Pauken etc. richtig geil auf. - "Help Me Rhonda" und "Dance, Dance, Dance" sind einfach geile Hits und machen Laune - Insgesamt ist das Album mit einer Laufzeit von ca. 29 min. extrem kurzweilig - Hat mir super gut gefallen, auch wenn hintenraus 1-2 schwächere Tracks lauern Rating: 4-4,25/5
- Beach Boys doing Beach Boys things - Fand ich irgendwie immer ganz witzig, mehr aber auch nicht. Musikalisch reißen sie mich überhaupt nicht mit. Dementsprechend mache ich mir NIE etwas von denen ab. - Habe dieses Album noch nie gehört. Fands nicht scheiße aber ich werde es sehr wahrscheinlich auch nie wieder hören. 2/5
- puh so auf längere Strecke absolut gar nichts meins, fand ich dementsprechend super anstrengend
Chill but not great
Very difficult to respect/hear serious lyrics with the beachy falsetto harmonies and light instrumentation.
While I respect the beach boys and a lot of the things they did, I have to look at this album outside of that. If I didn't know it was by them, would I like it very much? No, no I would not. It's not bad by any means, especially for something made in 1965, but I don't really get much out of it. It sounds mostly the same, similar lyrics in most songs. Easy to listen to but that's it for me. Wake me up when we get to Pet Sounds. Fav songs: - Do You Wanna Dance
Help me Rhonda! get her outta my heart. Timely for this album to pop up. I have a new appreciation for The Beach Boys. However, when people talk about how much better music was then VS now are they considering this repetitive stuff? The music is fun and easy to listen to but is it really deep and great lyrically. No.
Fun 60s album with a few recognizable tracks.
I want to like the Beach Boys. I'm still not sure if I do.
Absolutely brilliant. What's not to like about The Beach Boys. Brilliant harmonies. They are the sound of summer. Makes me want to put on a pair of Vans and grab my surfboard. Great stuff. 👍
pretty standard beach boys. middle of the road
In the Back of My Mind, I liked this. I’m So Young so idk if I appreciated this to the fullest though.
The beginning of the beach boys musical revolution. I love it
As with most Beach Boys albums, it was pretty decent.
Capital B boring
The opening of this album is like some sort of 60s Americana dream of a young man’s thoughts and ambitions. As deep as a puddle it stands as some sort of time capsule almost parody esque to a time that I’m not sure ever existed quite like it’s sung. The closing 3 tracks however hit you with this wonderful multilayered impressive sound that speaks more to the beach boys legacy as artists. If you had to listen to the back half and forget rest.
I've always been focused on their early singles, exemplified in their popular early 70's compilation Endless Summer. It was the traveling soundrack to my early childhood as it was one of the 8 track albums that was played in the RV camper we used as we traveled around the US. I hadn't listened to a full album of theirs until the last 5 years with Pet Sounds, and even that was a tough listen which eventually grew on me enough to truly appreciate what a spectacular album that is. This album seems to pale in comparison, although they are moving a little beyond surfing and cars with this one, with some of the melodic complexity coming into focus that would come into full bloom with their next album, Pet Sounds. Harmonies are as lush as ever, but my older perspective reflects on the almost painfully simplistic or naive lyrics, it just feels white-bread and dated. My bias remains with Brian singing lead. Favorites - Help Me Rhonda, Dance Dance Dance, She Knows Me Too Well.
Crooners to the max. Gotta admit all these songs sounded the same after a while. The harmonies, of course, are impressive.
ça a faite son temps
What a boring snooze-fest! It's snore-town at dullsville! What a yawner of a bore-fest!
silly and short 3/5
I liked the vocals and the instrumentals, lyrics were weaker though, I enjoyed listening but probably won’t listen again for a while
Gute-Laune-Musik! Das Leben ist oft grau und öde genug. Eigener, unverwechselbarer Stil. 5/5
Thoughts before listening: The Beach Boys are great. They released some of the best songs of their time which have remained staples for 60+ years. That being said, outside of Pet Sounds, you never hear about individual albums. They're mostly a singles band with their greatest hits compilations being the typical go to. Looking at the tracklist on this album, it seems like there are only a couple well known songs. Not sure I need to hear an album of Beach Boys deep cuts, but here we go. Review: This is fine. As an album I like it as much as Pet Sounds in that it's a mix of incredible songs and others that just don't do it for me. Apparently this was the band's first album after Brian Wilson went into his non-touring exile where he focused on songcraft and production over everything else. That era produced some absolute classics, but it also wasn't as \"fun\" as the earlier surf rock songs. The first song here is one of my favorites in \"Do You Wanna Dance?\", although I know the Ramones version better than the Beach Boys. Other highlights include \"When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)\", \"Help Me Rhonda\", \"Dance Dance Dance\", and \"Please Let Me Wonder\". The rest of the album is pleasant enough but too slow to really do much for me. I'll match my Pet Sounds rating and also give this 3-stars.
Ok not great!
One of the best Beach Boys albums. So pure and sad and fun.
Yep...thats deffo the beach boys, its fine but exactly what you'd expect and not really for me
The A side of this album makes its successor, Pet Sounds, seem like divine revelation. The B side begins to bring out what makes The Beach Boys special. All in all, it’s a bit of a wash.
In the age-old debate over The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, I have always chosen a Third Coast – The Beach Boys. Unfortunately, my adoration for the group has always excluded this album. Today! is a record of historical importance more than anything, not only for the band, but for music overall. It’s basically the blueprint for the Pop/Rock Album, and the production techniques and compositions cannot be overstated. But albums like this often feel like homework. The real question is: are there exceptional songs? Are they enjoyable beyond their historic significance? Is it in frequent rotation in my house? And I personally answer “well, no, not really” to all those questions. Now, if you’re wondering if these songs are compositionally good, then yes, it’s the fucking Beach Boys. Even the bad songs are well-written. But unlike the albums before this, it’s not kitsch and ridiculous despite its dated sound; it’s just dated, and as a result, it comes across as stale. And unlike the albums that came after it, it’s not consistently throwing gorgeous arrangements and flawless songs at you; it’s “getting there,” but it’s far from consistent. There’s a handful of bright moments, especially in the middle, but they aren’t frequent enough to warrant the rest of the album acceptable. In fact, it’s trying so hard to be “great” that the majority of it ends up feeling forgettable, and some songs aren’t even fleshed out enough to draw you in and be listenable, not just by modern standards, but by the standards of 1965. I’ve tried so hard to see what others see, both today and in years past. And there’s moments where I start to warm to it. Side A starts off weak and uninspired but by “Don’t Hurt…” I start to find The Beach Boys I know and love, even though arguably none of these songs are particular high water-marks in the full scope of their career, excluding “Help Me Rhonda,” even if I love “When I Grow Up.” But then Side B, even though it starts okay, it just…Like, I get *why* the orchestration matters historically, but it’s all so bland and insipid. And then, it ends on the most banal chit-chat in all of recording history up to that point!! Honestly, “Bull Session” is so infuriating, it fuels my dislike more. In the end, while “hate” is a strong term, I can’t say I love or even really like this album. Even when it’s close, it’s never close enough, and that’s why I never relisten to it in full. I’m honestly upset to admit this, because there’s not *enough* Beach Boys on this list imo, so my apathy towards this will inherently make it look like I hate the band overall. But I also can’t lie. Sure, it deserves to be in the book, and it isn’t a worthless listen if you haven’t tried before, but it’s not something I’ll revisit much in full, if ever, and I’ll only pull a couple of songs off of it. It’s a bridge, a piece of history, but I don’t care for bridges or history much if I don’t actually enjoy it.
The Beach Boys sound like pedos to me... I dont know. Meh
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Brian Wilson makes good music.
Nothing impressive didn't really enjoy it
Encapsulates all Beach boys in one album - ups and downs
C’est correct, l’enregistrement des burgers à la fin remonte l’album d’un tit peu
it's pretty beach boys stuff that all blends together. somewhere between a two and three. it's good for what it is, but forgettable.
Classic beach album
Pleasant and very stylised as you would imagine. Very competently produced, sung and orchestrated but is there any depth above and beyond a desire to sell records? I suspect not.
I grew up on surf rock. I love it
There are some very good songs on here. For whatever reason, the Manson connection establishes a very clear ceiling on their oeuvre for me. I liked this, but I could never see myself getting super into it.
Awesome album!
literalmente solfamidos
Classic surf rock. Good stuff.
2.5
I am a sucker for harmonizing
Their job.... It's beach...
brilliant
Yeah this was enjoyable.
Short fun album
such a laidback and carefree album. Beautiful harmonies, and the remastered nature adds some tasteful adjustments to leveling and mixing.
Always nice to listen to, not my absolute favorite though
Boy we went a little environmentalist on this one my dude
Sun, surf, phantastic vocal arrangements. Wilson quality work.
6 / 10 Beach Boys en estado puro. Lo que hacen, lo hacen perfecto, pero más de una canción cansa bastante.
this is exactly what i would expect from a random beach boys album
It was a mistake to listen to this. These songs won't get out of my head.
Sadly, I think the Beach Boys are even more overplayed than the Beatles, plus I just find their musical style too simplistic for me to feel any joy from listening to. Blehhh . I respect this as quality musicianship work, I just don't care for it. 2 stars
Early Beach Boys. Good sound but not fully developed into the phenomenon they would become in Pet Sounds. Easy 50’s / 60’s sounds.
Such a fun listen!
Mike Love’s said that Bull Session With ‘Big Daddy’ was included as a way to ‘lighten the mood’ of The Beach Boys, which is just a further example of how much of a shit Mike Love is. It’s in there because without it, the album would only be 25 minutes long, which was OK a year or two previously, but which didn’t work now that artists like The Beatles and the Kinks were raising the game on what Pop albums could be. Also, lighten the mood from what Mike? You’re not singing The Velvet Underground here, you’re singing about dancing and how spoiled your little sister is. It’s not exactly Heroin. Musically this is fine. I’ve never been a big fan of The Beach Boys harmonies, they always sounded a bit shrill to me, but in theory they’re fine. I prefer the pastiche Doo-Wop of the second half to the more upbeat first side. It’s aged better, some of it would pass for late 2010’s Indie Pop at points. If I try to turn off the analytical part of my brain, and just pretend that I’m an American Teenager in 65, then I can see why this would be popular. I’m white, I’ve got nothing more to worry about than girls, exams, and the ever-present threat of nuclear holocaust, and suddenly I really enjoy this album. But it does not work 60 years down the line
Quick fun album, just so easygoing, both lyrically and their sound. Kind of enjoyed the banter at the end of the album helps to humanize and relate to the members. 3.1
Сегодня утром, а я проснулся так рано впервые за лет 10 может быть, меня разбудил будто бы эмбиент в духе Уильяма Басински. Я без понятия, что это было, фермеры протестующие или марчин бэнд, но эта музыка заставила меня подняться с кровати с ощущением настоящего Волнения. Духовые. Вот уже 13 минут. Будто бы сирена на фоне. В какой-то момент я подумал: интересно, что же там за альбом будет сегодня в 1001? К сожалению, 1001 не предлагает слушать Уильяма Басински, и вместо этого мне подсунут какой-нибудь левый дэд-рок альбом. А это зе Бич Бойз. Звучит как зе Бич Бойз, у них красивые и очень богатые гармонии, которые, судя по всему, на этом самом альбоме они и нашли. Еще Брайан Уилсон нашел Вещества к этому альбому, а это немного сквозная тема моих бессмысленных и глупых ревью на этом сайте, которые ни одна живая душа не прочитает, ибо они на бессмысленном и глупо названом русском языке, так вот найти Вещества в музыке 60-ых было очевидно важным. Это хороший альбом, но запустил бы я его в шесть утра, чтобы проснуться? Я бы не просыпался в первую очередь, это правда. Лучшая песня - When I Grow Up (To Be a Man).
Just no
Meh. Studio mixing is primitive. I only recognized one song and it isn’t even a polished version of it. 2 stars because of sentimentality, otherwise it would be 1.
Never heard this record before, but it was a nice listen, almost dream-like with its ambient sound. Favourite tracks: Do You Wanna Dance?, Don't Hurt My Little Sister, Help Me, Rhonda, I'm So Young.
It's got one song on it that you get to listen to a dozen times, but it's a good song
Beautiful, listened to both mono and stereo. Brian Wilson is the 👑
The Beach Boys Today! is the eighth album by the American rock band the Beach Boys. Instead of surf songs, this album has an orchestral rock sound which was their first try at something different. An early rock concept album that showed the band could create one of the greatest albums of all time. It is a more mature record than their previous ones as a result of not only the band growing up, but songwriter Brian Wilson becoming introspective and trying marijuana which enhanced his perception of music. Everything was recorded bigger and deeper with more musicians and doubled-up instruments, in addition to more vocal dubs and better mixing. Critics raved about the second side of Today! which contains ballads and is a startling change considering the band's past music. This album has been certified gold in the US. This is an epic Beach Boys album, with a significant change to their songwriting and production style. It was this fresh style change that made this album popular and garnered additional praise for this hit band. Overall, I liked listening to this album and I think most others will too.
The Beach Boys hebben een aantal kort maar krachtige bangers, maar helaas stonden die niet op dit album
Lekker kort, lekker funky
Classic beach boys. Lekker kort albumpie. Ook weer heel prima, maar niet enorm leuk ofzo
it probably works best if it's seen as a stepping stone for their iconic albums to come – on its own, it's quite repetitive (although fun to listen to), but provides an interesting glimpse into the development of their sound
great harmonies, don't have much to say about this album.
I mean, is what it is
Unimpressed. Apart from the opening track "Do You Wanna Dance?" (which is a cover) and "Help Me, Ronda", I don't think that this album has a lot going for it.
Meh, 2 stars
Not a big fan but some tunes were enjoyable
The Beach Boys on the verge of genius.
The music and the harmonies are top notch and highly influential for the time. The lyrics leave A LOT to be desired. They're both *very* dated and pretty much saying the same thing over and over again. Makes for a boring listen. Definitely not my favorite offering from the Beach Boys.
Meh. Not one of their best
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Do you wanna dance?, Help me, Rhonda
Meh.
N/A Unavailable to stream
Ug one star dad rock no even going to listen. Wasnt quite that bad but oof.
A true classic. Such rich harmonies. Love it.
Classic Beach Boys as we know them. An unmistakable sound that no other band has ever come close to matching. Themed lyrics, amazing harmonies, and solid sing-along melodies. Nothing to amaze, but solid fun.
Beach Boys are always appropriate on a snowy winter day
Solid album. Fantastic vocal harmonies. Music like this is always a welcome listen.
Man that was pleasant, it just rolled along, some delightful moments of optimism and smiles of an amazing optimistic America full of delight and entertainment. Listened to it twice back-to-back so easily. Thanks for the discovery.
pretty solid beach boys album, the reviews are right that this one feels whiter though lol. not sure why it's loved over all summer long or summer days, but it's still brian wilson. help me Ronda outro is funny
Fine listen. Nothing special. Backstory makes it a little more interesting. Feel somewhat bad about giving it 2 stars, but I have no desire to dig into The Beach Boys and listen to more.
I remember reading that Brian Wilson is known for creating exceptional harmonies, and I think this album really showcases that. I don’t think any of the songs really stood out to me like in some of their other albums, but it was pleasant to listen to. I could see how it could be interpreted as a bit generic and background music, but I wonder how it went over in the 60s, if it felt revolutionary. I do think the songs and their style has a tendency to blend together in this album, making it not quite as iconic for me as other albums.
Those harmonies! Brian is a genius.
Not the greatest hits.
There are a few songs I had trouble connecting with but overall a decent album, good for easy listening. The Beach Boys are iconic in their own right and their story as a group as well as their surreal side adventures (see: Dennis Wilson) make them all the more legendary.
An easy album to listen to, which I appreciate. Unfortunately, no one song stood out for me. I enjoyed the composition (blending of styles, doo-woo, pop, rock, etc) and simplicity and youthfulness of the lyrics. I wish I could rate this a 2.85 cause I enjoyed listening to it more than some other albums on this list.
Fun album.
alla låtar låter fan likadant.
I find it hard to stomach this era of music. It’s corny as hell. I’m not sure I like the Beatles around this time either. Maybe it’s because of what that generation left in its wake, but it’s hard to listen to music this optimistic and cheeseball. I appreciate their influence but this ain’t no Pet Sounds. But hey, it’s less than 30 min!
I relief to have something easy on the ears (and brain) after my last few albums. Fun and of its time. Which suits me fine today but I'm not sure earns it a place in this list. The Beach Boys yes, absolutely, this particular album, maybe not.
Well this sure is The Beach Boys. Unmistakably The Beach Boys. I mean, it's practically the same as 95% of The Beach Boys ouvre. Sure, there's some stand-out tracks, but they're the ones that don't sound as Interchangebly identical to the rest of them. It does The Beach Boys impeccably well, but as soon as you've heard the first track (maybe throw "Help me Rhonda" in, to make sure you've got the best) you might as well switch it off because you've heard everything from this album.
this album effectively captured a moment of transition for The Beach Boys, showcasing their ability to evolve while maintaining the essence of their sound. it remains a pivotal album in the band's discography, marking a shift toward more sophisticated musical landscapes. i enjoyed this album a lot. it’s getting an 8/10 out of me :) rest of the review on ig @musicwithnessa
7.5/10 Thank goodness, was getting a bit tired after slugging through 3 bad rock albums in a row… A group that I love and the first album of their golden period You can really hear the sound evolving here, both musically and lyrically Production and vocals as on pint as you’d expect, Brian Wilson really knocking it up a gear on this album 2 completely different vibes in the 2 halves, prefer the second one - foreshadowing Pet Sounds - but the sunshine of side 1 was like a blast of warm air on a snowy Thursday in January Best: When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)
•Not owned: Streaming •Teeny bopper in subject matter, mature in its orchestration and production. Plenty of great moments—the rumbling opening track, the bouncy "Help Me, Ronda"—and ends on a weird but kinda neat(?) audio blurb. •3.5/5
Solid
Growing up on several versions of Beach Boys Greatest Hits, this was a treat. Hearing familiar songs mixed in with dynamic new-to-me tracks made me smile. Definitely worthy of a replay. High 4
I love the Beach Boys. This album is not quite a 5 compared with others. Grew up with this music and it brings back many good joyful memories.
Bit same-y but ok to drop in now & again.
again, not the biggest fan of 60s in general but I enjoyed the orchestral sound of this album quite a lot. the constant layering of vocal harmonies throughout the album was an enjoyable element however the overall pace of the album was still a bit too 60ish for my liking.
Didn't enjoy this album at all. Just not into it today
Good fun - dinner party music, mum would love ths.
Glad I listened to some of thier stuff, doesn’t sound that great though
I have not listened to The Beach Boys yet but they sound exactly how I expected. I’m not so into the early rock n roll from the 60’s so none of the songs really stood out to me. The last track was just a conversation which I didn’t like (Bull session with “Big Daddy”). It wasn’t terrible so I will listen again if I had to but I would not intentionally put this album on.
That was white.
Supported by this thematic approach, the record became an early example of a rock concept album and established the group as album artists rather than just a singles band. It has since become regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time. And then PET SOUNDS came to life!
Ugh. I just KNEW you were going to throw a Beach Boys album at me. Not a fan.
I'm sure the beach boys were extremely influential during their time. They were very harmonious. And their bull session, it's just classic. But three albums on this list? THREE? That's 0.3% of this entire list.
This is certainly more of the traditional beach boys sound I remember (compared to Pet Sounds). Short sweet surfy pop. Though there are some catchy tracks, they get a bit stale towards the end. Overall fine, but nothing I gravitate towards.
Its one of their better albums but the Beach Boys are so child like and creepy that its very hard to like them
Bubbly and nice :)
Ugh
Pop
En stabil trea.
This record is very much an interlude in the sound of The Beach Boys, providing a halfway point between their higher-concept later sound and their surfy rock n roll early sound. Some real dumb songs in here too though. Overall not their best, but still a solid album with great harmonies and fun arrangements. Top tracks: Do You Wanna Dance?, Good To My Baby, Help Me Rhonda, Please Let Me Wonder, Kiss Me Baby
This feels like if you told AI to write a beach boys album. It’s too on the nose
Meh. Not good but definitely not terrible. Mediocre at best. It's good that the album is short otherwise the rating would be lower.
4/5 The more I listened the more I liked it.
Super fun and catchy. Zero replayability. Kinda short so I thought I’d listen to it again, halfway through the 3rd song I was over it.
Nowhere near as good as Pet Sounds.
Grew up listening to The Beach Boys. They sound so utterly the same I can’t even remember which ones I knew as a kid.
Beatles...
The album where Brian Wilson started taking lots and lots of drugs. Whatever.
solid side b - especially closing track, nice harmonies, pet sounds better tho!
I didnt listen in super specific detail, but from what I heard its just a bunch of nice songs about love. Thoughts: Nice!
It’s classic but horribly innocent. Great hits but I do not like the sister song.
I have never been a fan of the beach boys and honestly, after listening to an hour of them...I realized that I didn't ever give them a chance. Now that I have, I REALLY hate the beach boys.
One of my first albums was Beach Boys (Endless Summer), but I didn't know this album, other than Help Me Rhonda. I like the harmonies/vocals, but for the most part the songs are fairly kids-having-fun style which feels hokey.
The vocals and harmonies were fine for what they were. But, not really my thing, and just way too much creepy "old man seducing teen girls" energy for my liking.
The weird thing is, I could listen to 'God Only Knows' on repeat. But the sentiment of that song feels wise and poignant compared to the super simple lyrics & storytelling of this album, which mostly seem intent on mimicking a teenage mentality. It very much has a feel of adults trying to use modern slang and just making everyone uncomfortable when they do. Pretty harmonies can't really make up for that, especially when that feels like the only tool in your toolbox.
nothing special, sort of basic 60s pop in my opinion.
Iconic vocals and harmonies, but again 29 minutes across 12 tracks is just such a short album to my ears.
Objectively this is a three, especially when compared to what The Beach Boys accomplish later with Pet Sounds, but gosh darn it! This is my list and I like The Beach Boys and I’m giving this a 4. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me :)
repetitive across song and album but the beach boys sound is classic and this early unformed sound is still that. 2/5
Favorite Songs: Help Me, Rhonda Do You Wanna Dance Please Let Me Wonder
Fun songs are very fun others a bit sickly sweet. It is what they were going for but not what I like
-YESS THE BEACH BOYS -theres something about the beach boys i just really love -and these songs are so fun -and their voices sound so nice and satisfying -ESPECIALLY when they all sing together -help me rhonda is one of my parents favorite songs -and they used to sing it when i was younger so i have a soft spot for it -its also my favorite beach boys songs -and now please let me wonder is my new fav! -omg theres talking in this song?????? -that was SUCH a delightful experience that is getting 5 stars from me
Not my favorite Beach Boys but pretty good non-the-less
I like the beach boys. But this is their SEVENTH album and they had cranked out 6 just like it already. Harmonies are good, rock adjacent music nods to those who started the genre with a west coast lilt. But damn every song was the same. Gotta get Brian off the deep end before the symphonies got going.
it was nice to get a classic band although they’re not my favourite I do like their sound. I liked how short it was, but I feel like it was just kind of boring in my opinion.
Never was a fan of the Beach Boys, although over the years I've found a lot more to at least appreciate - if not enjoy - about some of their music. This has that traditional "Beach Boys sound" with the soaring harmonies that definitely turned me off as a kid - it's impressive and unique, I just never connected with it and still don't. Eh not much to say - it's the Beach Boys; a few well known songs and a famous classic (e.g. "Help Me Rhonda") - I can start to look beyond the saccharine-sweet vocals (a little bit) to better-appreciate the sneaky complexity in musical arrangements overall. Multiple and varied instruments on every track, counter melodies, honestly quite impressive for 1965 let alone any time. End compliments there - most of the songs are boring. The ballads that the second half of this album loads up on somehow make a 29 minute album feel 3x as long. Regardless I suppose everyone should at least be familiar with their sound and a few hits but as an album this is a giant meh. 5/10 2 stars
For being such an old record I was surprised how much I liked this. Fun songs throughout and interesting they have an early version of a skit at the end.
I don’t think I’d heard this particular album before. It’s interesting to hear the period between classic surf Beach Boys and Pet Sounds Beach Boys.
superb
Yeah average
Help me Rhonda was the saving grace of this album. It all sounded the same
44/100
Gut hörbares Surfrock album. Kein song, der super überrascht und beeindruckt, aber solides Album.
Pretty cool piece of pop-rock history
love beach boys
Nothing special with a weird ending
It's not surf rock anymore and it's not the masterpiece that Pet Sounds is. It's a transitional record. To be honest the transition is not very interesting. Everything is OK, but nothing stands out. I don't think this belongs on the list. The link to youtube music was dead, but it's there if you search for it. Favorite song: When I Grow Up To Be A Man.
All catchy songs, no skips.
Another classic!
pretty weak for a Beach Boys album
Very good! Singing in Falsetto before it was cool.
Old school feel good Americana.
God, I hate the Beach Boys! I knew eventually Pet Sounds would come up, because "Brian Wilson is a genius". Sorry, this is the Alvin and the Chipmunks. Adults shouldn't have to listen to this shit.
Loved it, genuinely such a bop, totally fit the vibe of the day and gave a much-needed energy boost. Fave song that's still stuck in my head has gotta be Do you Wanna Dance cause it was just so uplifting and totally tubular :)
just me and the boys, a lil day at the beach :))) life is good for 28 minutes 3*
There is a lot of technical meat on these songs, even if they sound ultimately quite dated. The fake track at the end is kind of a pain in the neck.
It's a mid beach Boys album
Milk shakes and brillantine.
Hørres ut som alt anna av beach boys
When you see a Beach Boys album, you know exactly how it's going to sound
Buen disco de un gran grupo en el que no destaca especialmente, pues muchas canciones pueden sonar parecidas. Voz y estilo característico. Me esperaba alguna canción más reconocible
Nice
Best Song: Dance, Dance, Dance. This is the kind of mindlessness that they're suited for. Worst Song: Don't Hurt My Little Sister. What in the brotherfuck is this song? Overall: The Beach Boys feel like a band that over-indexed on their ability to sing perfect harmonies. Great, you've got a big group that covers a broad vocal range. Congrats. Do something more interesting with it. Each song just sounds like they're soullessly singing a bunch of loosely connected sentences.
Like some of the songs but the recording/mastering makes it sound a bit tinny. Some of the tracks are very 1950# doo-wop. Enjoyable, but a mood not an everyday thing
The vocal harmonies are nice, but that is literally it. I just don't get the hype. The lyrics are mindless, the instrumentation uninspiring, and the addition of 'Bull Session with the 'Big Daddy'' just plain insulting. It's 11 actual tracks in 27 minutes just barely constituting a "rock" album. You could then argue that this records holds historical value in being an early example of a rock album, but at this point in time The Beatles had already released A Hard Day's Night and would release Help! and Rubber Soul later that year. Why even bother with this one then?
Obviously, plastering otherwise boring songs with vocal harmonies is not going to safe them, Brian.
Moldin’ Oldies.
Do You Wanna Dance is a a great song but not an original. Help me Rhonda is a good original. When the album switches to ballads it sounds like high pitched Beatles ballads that Paul wrote that weren’t good enough to make their albums.
While I’m not the biggest beach Boys fan, I prefer this to the next year's release, Pet Sounds and the other BB LPs we’ve been sent. The songs are fun(ish), the ballads less so, and the arrangements are sophisticated, thanks to The Wrecking Crew I think – I even see Glen Campbell name in there on 12 string guitar. It’s hard to believe this is their 8th album.
Although I admit that the Beach Boys are probably the finest purveyors of harmonics and vocalization, I never did enjoy their music. Although well performed, written and produced (reminiscent of Phil Spector's Wall of Sound), their music sounds positively quaint and anachronistic today. I also think the Ramones covered Do you wanna dance better.
Brani Preferiti: - Nessuna preferenza Note: Non posso dire di essere un fan di questo album, è sicuramente piacevole da ascoltare ed è una buona musica da ascoltare in sottofondo. Non mi pare essere un album che abbia contenuti interessanti.
I enjoyed the album. I like the beach boys and I thought this was a solid album. Nothing really blew me away it was just a solid album that made really good peaceful background music. Makes me appreciate later beach boys more
Actually very down for this today. Lessgooooo. This shit goes undeniably hard. Beach boys can be easily labeled as corny old school music but you listen and its just amazing. Every track is so beautiful. I loved this. I think I have it on vinyl, i hope so.
Classic but serviceable Beach Boys.
HEHE 12 songs for a total of 28 min. I do love me some Beach Boys. How cool would it have been to grow up on the coast in California? This album came out in 65 hm. I don't see any of their big hits on this one. Oh I guess Help Me Rhonda is on here. Love & Mercy was sure a good movie. I had no idea Brian Wilson went through so much shit because of his agent dude. That last track was cool. Hearing them talking and eating burgers & fries drinking shakes.
Alright. I get why it’s on here
Beach Boys have such a distinct and iconic sound. Doo-wop, falsetto, surfer music, but man the lyrics make them sound like a bunch of dorks.
Not my favorite Beach Boys album by a long shot, but I can’t deny my love for their nostalgic and excellently mixed harmonies. It just feels like an echo of a simpler time, even though in many ways it wasn’t. I know my parents grew up around this time in Southern California, so albums like this almost allow me to put myself in their teenage shoes.
приятно, мило быстро
Батя очень талантливого сына. По правде, не с первого прослушивания я врубился. Но оценив творческий путь Бич Бойз до этой пластинки, хочется сказать, что скакнули они будь здоров за 2 года. Прям кайфы. И лирика уже не про тачку и тёлку, а о чём-то более высоком... В общем, ребята готовы совершить переворот в поп-музыке.
já ouvi. 2.5
So great to re listen to this seminal release.
cool
sounds like christmas
Not bad, but not particularly inspiring either. As a few others have pointed out, it sounds like a collection of B-sides. There are a few Beach Boys albums worth listening to; this is probably toward the bottom of that list.
Its got most of the classics. I like more the obscure
Dance Dance Dance best of side 1, She Knows Me Too Well my favorite of the slower side 2.
Ludique, entraînant, rafraîchissant; s’écoute comme on mange un bonbon
Classic surfer sound. The hits still sound good. The slow songs did not age well. Many songs sound similar. Would rate it a 1.5 if possible.
Interesting to hear the progress of artists lurching toward their masterpiece. Peek-a-boo, Pet Sounds.
Iconic and happy as hell. Always great production and perfect vocals and harmonies.
Classic beach Boys sound but this being their fourth album on this list, it fails to provide anything new or exciting
Nice quick album, can always jam to the boys
# 36 : Sound is crap for a remaster! Harmonies are good as you'd expect from them, but the lyrics... yuk! - the second half was a snooze fest! Help Me Rhonda
nice clean boys making bops
Cheesy selection of surf-pop from a band still two years away from their peak work.
I like the Beach Boys, but this isn't really a good album of theirs. Only song worth listening to is Help Me Rhonda. They have much better albums than this one.
I have tried to listen to the beach boys multiple times in my life. People say Pet Sounds is a masterpiece. I don't get it. This is lame barber shop crap.
This was an excellent slice of fun. Basically nostalgia for the summer special episodes of Mork and Mindy and the like.
I enjoyed it. When I Grow Up... and Help Me Rhonda were highlights for me.
No es un disco mediocre por lo que significa la banda y por alguno que otro tema resacatable (3 4 como mucho), pero este disco me resulta demasiado monotono. Si es musica alegre que zafa, pero la realidad es que en formato disco aturde hasta cierto punto ai lo que uqeres es escucharlo. Para bailar y cantar debe ser lo mejor, pero no siempre se escucha asi 4/10.
This album didn’t hold a candle to pet sounds but it was still a solid beach boys album that goes into more of a doowop, love ballad direction. I don’t have much else to say about it honestly.
Avis biaisé
je reviens comme une fleur
Just sit back and let these delicious vocal harmonies surf over you. Maybe just don’t pay so much attention to the lyrics. I don’t think this will be everyone’s cup of tea, but man, I’m just a sucker for the 60s surf sound. This album gives off the best kind of feeling I get from listening to music; a sense of nostalgia and longing for a time I was never even a part of.
Not today, The Beach Boys.
another album where i wish we had half-star ratings on this site! it was pretty solid and pleasant to listen to but the only real standout to me was do you wanna dance. i absolutely love the album cover though - listing out basically all the tracks and then relegating three to obscurity (though they could have just fit them all there) is an incredible move. but i'd expect nothing less from the genius behind like a dozen covers of shortnin' bread. favorites: do you wanna dance, help me rhonda
A goos album, a little bit underwhelmed, i expected more. But this is generally not the type of music i like. 3/5
Of course, I'd heard of the Beach Boys, and yeah, I'd also heard some of their songs, but I guess I never sat down and listened to one of their albums. Well, I sort of regret having done that, because I really did not enjoy it. The tracks are repetitive, the production quality is all over the map, and the lyrics sound like they were written by a 70s TV sitcom writer attempting to channel the ethos of a 1950's teenager. Only in radio-hit sized doses I guess...
More harmonies! MORE HARMONIES !!
Yesterday!
Good.
Just okay
Must have been the bee's knees in 1965, but in hindsight it's pretty generic 60s pop. 2/5
2.5
Probably the only album I've listened to where a discussion about sandwiches is the best track.
вау!очень коротенький..
Great album. Beach boys rock
The Beach Boys are great, but a lot of the lyrics describe unhealthy relationships
This album from The Beach Boys, released a year before their big masterpiece Pet Sounds, show a lot of the same promise and quality. This is a sonic feast for the ears. The exploration of more introspective and introspective lyrical themes is a standout feature of the album. Songs like \"Please Let Me Wonder\" and \"She Knows Me Too Well\" delve into the complexities of love and relationships, showcasing the band's growth as songwriters. Their ability to capture genuine emotion through their music is a very special attribute of The Beach Boys. This is well shown in the deeper cuts on Beach Boys Today! that truly showcase the band's artistic prowess. Songs like \"In the Back of My Mind\" and \"When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)\" display their ability to tackle more introspective themes, reflecting on the bittersweet realities of growing up and the longing for a sense of belonging. The production on this album is expectedly amazing, with Brian Wilson's meticulous attention to detail shining through in every track. The lush vocal harmonies, intricate instrumental arrangements, and innovative use of studio techniques create a rich sonic tapestry that elevates the songs to another level. Whilst ”Pet Sounds” was their big masterpiece, this album is not far behind in it’s sonic tendencies.
The Beach Boys Today! by The Beach Boys is a notable album that showcases the group's evolving sound. Released in 1965, it allegedly marks a departure from their earlier surf-rock sound, although to be honest the back half of the album sounded stylistically the same to me, just slowed down. While the harmonies and vocal performances are exceptional, the songwriting falls short. The lyrics are often superficial and lack depth, preventing the album from reaching its full potential. Nevertheless, tracks like "Do You Wanna Dance?" and "Please Let Me Wonder" showcase the band's melodic prowess and tight musicianship. The album's production is crisp, highlighting the group's vocal talents. The Beach Boys Today! is a solid release, but the weak songwriting hampers its overall impact.
Classic. I've been listening to these songs for basically my entire life, so this shit is part of my DNA at this point.
Really enjoyed it
musikalisch nice, die lyrics.. naja
Fun songs with great harmonies. I'm absolutely more a Pet Sounds/Smile era fan, so this is a lean and repetitive collection. Still, totally the sound of summer!
Not exactly the Beach Boys I love. Pet Sounds, Smile, etc. but there are multiple tracks here I enjoy and hell, hard to be at those harmonies.
Ah, we hit a Brian Wilson album. Brian Wilson was an unparalleled American musical genius. If you've ever listened to their studio chatter, you instantly begin to realize why. He was incredibly meticulous, often directing the band to a new take at the littlest variation that went against his vision. I liked this pre-Vegetables album because it was Brian Wilson before he went bonkers. The only cringe I had was the slightly cringy references to teenage girls (see: I'm So Young) that probably wouldn't be well accepted in today's context, especially considering Wilson was 23 at the time of the album. Kiss Me, Baby is my favorite of the tracks.
The soundtrack of young white privilege.
The Beach Boys are enjoyable when pioneering the surf rock sound with lots of harmonies. This album was pretty short on both of those things.
I can respect the musicality, but The Beach Boys is not my jam.
The Beach Boys have a one of a kind sound for sure. It’s mostly a depressing sound, but that’s Brian Wilson for you. When he was able to, or felt like, writing upbeat songs, he was at the top of his game. Unfortunately, there are only 2-3 tracks that fall into that category.
HL: "Help Me Ronda", "When I Grow Up (To Be a Man)", "Do You Wanna Dance?", "Kiss Me Baby", "In The Back Of My Mind" It's not annoying like I thought it would be I don't know why I expected it to be annoying though, I really like Pet Sounds & the other B.B. album from the generator, Surf's Up Guess I thought it would be more like "Surfin USA"
Of its time. Not offensive, but not something I would actively choose to listen to.
wooooooooo weeeeeee waaaaaaaaah
It's okay
Overall kinda mid album. I enjoyed the rhythm of I'm So Young. Dance Dance Dance was fun, and I know Help Me Rhonda because my dad sings it all the time. The variety of instruments used was pretty cool, but otherwise I thought the way they used the instruments was generally pretty bland. A little boring in general. 3/5
2.75
I don’t see why this needs to be on the list when we know Pet Sounds will be making an appearance. Do You Wanna Dance and Help Me Rhonda are classics and rightfully so, but the other songs seem stuck in the 50s, even though this came out in 65. Songs about how your sister’s boyfriend better be nice to her and how you’re too young to get married (??) feel like they belong on a kidz bop album
Fine album but I don’t know if it’s one of their best. Help Me Rhonda is definitely worthy though.
This album felt like the Beach Boys' "Hard Day's Night". What I mean by that is that it's not their absolute best work but it forshadows the greatness that would come only a year or two later on "Pet Sounds". All of the ingredients used later are present and you can hear the band beginning to experiment with different instrumentation. Since it's the Beach Boys I knew the harmonies would be great but damn were they gorgeous ("Please Let Me Wonder" and "She Knows Me Too Well" being the best examples here). I also thought that here, Brian Wilson took Phil Spector's wall of sound concept and improved upon it largely due to the vocal harmonies. This is most obvious on "So Young". There are a couple of songs I could do without, and the album definitely feels more like a collection of singles, but it does give you a good sense of who the Beach Boys are and why they are great. Would do a 3.5 if possible.
Nice
Too cheesy for me
Could not be a more aptly titled album
This is a great album because I am able to like the Beach Boys for exactly 28 minutes per day.
The only album I’ve turned off. How boring and bland. Trash tier music
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Do You Wanna Dance? (1) 2 - Dance, Dance, Dance (6) 3 - Help Me, Rhonda (5)
I love the Beach Boys and their harmonies but this is not my favorite of their albums.
If Pet Sounds often gets compared to The Beatles' Sgt Pepper, then I would say this parallels their Rubber Soul. It is an album that is mid-emergence of their previous style, and transitionary sound that blends their past and their future. And god damn is it good. The songs are all so fun and catchy, it explores unique and interesting ideas, the intentional sequencing of the songs really pushing forward the album format, and it's orchestration and instrumentation pushed the boundaries of what rock could do.
Fun little beach boys record. Not as substantial as I'd like though.
Highlights: "I'm So Young," "She Knows Me Too Well," "Please Let Me Wonder" The breakthrough album where the boy band discovered the songwriting power of Being Sad. Jokes aside, Side A is more bearable than the stereotypical Beach Boys record, with the shrill falsetto kept to a minimum, but the downbeat Side B is where this album really shines. As easy as is it to parody them, as much fame and influence as they've enjoyed, you can still find something you've never heard before.
This was a fun album by the Beach Boys, with some surprisingly rich arrangements. It has less of the "fun-fun" vibe of their earlier works, which really suits the band. When they lean more into the ballads (i.e., side 2), the band has more opportunities to harmonize in interesting ways. I adore "Help me Ronda," although the album version isn't quite as good as the one they released for the single. And I just don't get the waste of space that is "Bull Session with the 'Big Daddy.'" Fave Songs: Help Me, Ronda; Kiss Me, Baby; I'm So Young; Please Let Me Wonder; In the Back of My Mind; Dance, Dance, Dance
It's the beach boys, we all know what that sounds like. It's not pet sounds though.
Outside of Pet Sounds, the Beach Boys were definitely a singles band. Still, this is nice listening. Love the harmonies, love the pure simple sound, and the length is pretty much perfect. Why did they record themselves eating lunch as the final track? The world may never know. Best song: When I Grow Up (To Be a Man) [Love Help Me Rhonda, but the recording on this album isn't the best version.]
Thanks to this project and thanks even more to the incredible podcast series, 'A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs,' which I emphatically and enthusiastically recommend to even the most casual fan of rock music -- I promise it's worth it: start at the first episode, go chronologically from there, be patient, and I swear it's so worth it -- I am growing to appreciate The Beach Boys and understand their music has more complexity and evolution than I thought. This album reflects their growth as they moved forward from earlier successes and pushed themselves with more interesting compositions and less teen-focused lyrics. As always, their musicianship is excellent and their vocal performances are superb. Well done, 1001 Albums project and 'A History Of Rock Music In 500 Songs' podcast. You opened my mind.