Reviews (page 2 of 13)
The Beach Boys try to prove there’s more to them than cars and surfboards. Some of it works, some of it drags, and none of it quite convinced me.
Really enjoyed this album
I really liked this. Much less upbeat than I'm used to with the Beach Boys. Favourite track Feel Flows .
Una portada que indica lo lejos que estaban de aquellos gloriosos días de playa y surf. El estilo es mucho más setentero, con buenas voces y coros, instrumentación buena también pero carece de la chispa que tenían en sus mejores momentos. Este es un disco melancólico e introspectivo, un disco muy bueno como el anterior Subflower, ambos con la dirección de Ed Thrasher. Pasan de la diversión de Surf´n USA a la ecología de Don’t go near the water. Long promised road fue el primer sencillo, y un enorme fracaso. Take a load at your feet y Disney girls son enternecedoras. Surf’s up llegó demasiado tarde, Student demonstration time, un R&B con clase, tiene un brío impropio de los Beach Boys. Feel Flows es de lo mejor del disco. A Day In The Life of a Tree, ´Till I die y Surf´s up conforman un cierre excelso.
The album cover is 5/5 but the music is only so-so. Some pretty songs but too dated for me to return to.
enjoyable. That brian wilson album would have gotten a 4 on the new scale. Giving this one a soft 3 as its not memorable but decent and listenable.
3.2/5
Damn the Beach’s boys didn’t sound too beachy on this, I liked it.
Some cool ideas, some bits sound super corny to me. No highs anything like bits of Pet Sounds. Fave Tracks: Feel Flows, Til I Die, Surf’s Up 3.3/5
Interesting to hear the evolution of The Beach Boys on this. I appreciate the willingness to grow their sound and challenge to sunshine and surf golden boys image that made them famous. I do feel like they were reaching or maybe trying a little too hard on this though, especially in the lyrics and songwriting. It just felt like they were trying to appeal to the crowd with the environmental and social justice themes in a little too obvious if a way.
The Beach Boys have really been growing on me throughout this project. Going in I really only knew their hits and I genuinely didn’t understand the praise or comparisons they frequently drew, which to be fair they are not a greatest hits kind of band and are best experienced through full albums. They finally clicked for me some time during my second listen of Pet Sounds, which was the last album the generator gave me. Surf’s up is the first Beach Boys album that pulled me in right away. Likely because I finally started to understand and appreciate them after Pet Sounds, but also partially because this is the most outwardly psychedelic sounding album of theirs that I’ve heard. I’m surprised to see so much dislike for Student Demonstration Time. I genuinely didn’t think it was a bad song despite the lyrics being a bit too easily construed as an anti-protest song. I was expecting Revolution 9 levels of experimentalism, which is actually another maligned song that I really don’t mind. Also, aside from the music, the cover for Surf’s Up is probably one of my all-time favourite album covers.
Quite enjoyable by 70's music standards. A slower paced, more psychedelic and abstract album about protecting the planet. I loved it. Can't rank it much higher than 3 because that fuckass Student Demonstration time.
Gave up on this. Not enjoyable listening.
Let's get the obvious out of the way right off the bat: This album is nowhere near the heights of previous Beach Boys albums. Not even close. The pristine surf pop of Today! is largely missing, as is the baroque brilliance of Pet Sounds. There are dashes of the exploration you hear in the Smile sessions, but this album doesn't even reach the beauty of that unfinished gem. Brian Wilson is largely absent, and it shows. With that said, I do think that this is absolutely an album you "Must Listen To Before You Die". Here is a band right at the end of a string of some of the most perfect and magnificent albums in rock history, suddenly finding themselves at a loss following the complete mental breakdown of their certified genius lead songwriter. Brian Wilson by this stage was in the throes of severe anxiety and paranoid delusions. He had checked himself into a psychiatric facility and contributed significantly less to their musical output following Pet Sounds and Smiley Smile. Then Dennis Wilson's involvement with Charles Manson threw the band into the middle of one of the most infamous murder cases of the century. Very few bands have been thrown into such turmoil and still soldiered through. As a purely historic document, this is a fascinating release. The turmoil of the late 60s and early 70s filtered through the harmonies of the Wilson family is truly strange to behold. There are references to student protests and social upheaval. It's not exactly "Gimme Shelter", but it still doesn't sound like anything else before or since. Anybody wanting a more complete picture of how completely the culture shifted in this period needs to give this a listen.
Very solid later record. Not quite their best, but a solid batch of catchy pop rock tunes. 4/5
The Beach Boys at their most surreal and melancholic. Brian's genius at its most flawed. Such an interesting departure from their earlier sound. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
It was good, more bluesy than I thought.
Pros: Brian and Carl’s tunes. Cons: Lack of quality control, Mike Love’s tunes, mostly sounds like shit. I just feel bad for these guys at this point in their career. Desperate to be relevant, with a band dynamic and hierarchy that is destined to fail. Easily pushed around by bullies and charlatans. Still in possession of one of the greatest musical minds of the century with all the wrong elements to allow it to blossom.
I've been trying to "get" The Beach Boys for a long time now, and they are starting to click with me. This album is much more interesting than most of their others I've heard, very dark and artistic. Some of the lyrics are pretty ham fisted though (especially the weird victim blaming on Student Demonstration Time), and the environmental symbolism a bit obvious. But there's really high highs on here too, like Feel Flows, 'Til I Die, and the title track. Overall it sounds like a band that was falling apart as it's members moved in different creative directions - which is pretty accurate I think.
Who knew The Beach Boys could do so well playing The Beatles.
I realized a couple years ago that I had spent too much of my life hating on the Beach Boys. I only ever associated them with gross pop. After listening to Pet Sounds I decided to be more open-minded about the Beach Boys and other bands that I had previously put in a box. This little gem hadn't hit my radar yet, but I'm glad it did. I can't say I'm initially in love with it, but I can damn sure respect it. The production, the darkness, the weirdness and somehow maintaining a levity around all of it (the name of the album and the cover alone, I mean, c'mon) just works.
The title made me expect old school Beach Boys, but it's not that. It's surprisingly progressive. Very cool album! My favourites were Long Promised Road and basically the entire second half of the album.
This was not what I expected from the Beach Boys. Serious and sober, at times somber, and political. Heavy stuff but solid lyricism that belies their pop pedigree. The cover art, like the title track itself, diverges from the familiar images of its title.
Great pop music
Way more mellow and lyrical than expected for a Beach Boys album. Tracks to Track: Long Promised Road
Probably gotta listen to it again at some point but I think this is a 4, it was fun, not the most memorable, I could see it at a 3 Highlights: Long Promised Road (fav) Feel Flows Til I Die
it was good and fun and cute but also a little boring
Pretty damn good, it’s filled with some psychedelic-influenced instrumentation and great harmonies.
This is Ween-coded even though it pre-dates Ween. It’s also better than pretty much any other Beach Boys I’ve listened to, which is interesting, because Ween isn’t necessarily Good. That’s all I have to say about Surf’s Up, by the Beach Boys.
Student Demonstration Time is the best song on this album
Not their peak
Brian wasn't active enough in the production and it shows. Student Demonstration Time is a nice surprise.
molim? »pet sounds« se može sakrit pred ovim neobičnim a divnim albumom. al da je tolko čudan kolko ga neki ljudi opisuju, pa i nije baš. al je svakako dobar, dosta dobar. slušat ću ponovo
Opening song is great. So relevant. Feels gloomy yet fun.
This is by far and away NOT the best Beach Boys stuff available, but this was a very enjoyable record and easy to make my way through the whole thing multiple times.
A very un-Beach Boys offering here, presumably as they either reckon with the chaos that's surrounded them with Brian's mental health or they just want to show another side to them. Or both, I guess. Either way, it's quite an interesting listen, with some songs - Student Demonstration Time for instance - really quite out there. And there's still the vocal quality that shows up in all their work. But also, you can tell that the true genius in the band is only vaguely present for this - by all accounts Carl was really leading this process rather than Brian - and it suffers for that a little I think.
Absolutely not. If you asked me to come up with songs that the Beach Boys would be doing in 1971, I wouldn't have the comedy chops to come up with a song that makes fun of student protestors getting shot, a song about taking care of your feet, a sickly sweet nostalgic song about Disney girls, and a song from the perspective of a tree. All with sugary sweet falsettos and harmonies. I did not add any of these songs to my library. ⭐️
"Surf's Up" by The Beach Boys is a progressive/psychedelic pop album from early 70s. This album sounds different than their other previous albums. The production level is good on this album. This album has fragile melodies and legendary harmonies and melancholic atmosphere vibe. This album lyrics deals with environmental, social and health concerns. The album starts with wonderful track "Don't Go Near the Water" and ends with three of the band's best songs ever "A Day in the Life of a Tree", "'Till I Die" and "Surf's Up". Other tracks I like are "Long Promised Road" and "Disney Girls". Some tracks I hate on this album are "Student Demonstration Time" and "Take a Load Off Your Feet". Overall great and creative album by the Beach Boys.
No private session used for Spotify. My Beach Boys love pretty much begins and ends with Pet Sounds. I venture before or after that and I don't care for it. This one is pretty okay.
I grew up listening to the Beach Boys, but I don't know this one. The cover makes no sense to me. First impression was they weren't as happy in 1971 and the harmonies weren't the centerpiece of every song. Carl Wilson sounds 'different' on "Long Promised Road" than I remember, more like a solo artist. That was the only hit (#89 on the Top 100) from this album. I oddly hear how they influenced bands like Weezer Sorry, I don't hear why this was included in the Top 1001, it's not apparent. Is it because it's such a departure from their established sound? It was blah and kinda boring, not a single hit. AI tells me... So the album's reputation rests almost entirely on critical acclaim rather than radio success — the album itself reached #29 on the US albums chart (their best new-music showing since 1967) and #15 in the UK, but as standalone singles, nothing from Surf's Up was a genuine hit in the way earlier Beach Boys songs. It's much more of a beloved "deep album" than a hit-single record — critics have long pointed to tracks like the title song and "'Til I Die" as high points, even though neither was released to radio. 3 stars, this album isn't here on merit, it's here on reputation.
With an environmentalist and socially conscious theme, ‘Surf’s Up’ might not be perfect, and it might seem all over the place compared to the singular vision of Pet Sounds, but my goodness the highs on the album are huge highs. ‘Surf’s Up’ like Sunflower before it is the sound of the Beach Boys stepping up and proving their mettle when Brian was no longer able to be a leader and driving creative force. The results are genuinely impressive and in some cases devastatingly so. Dennis having shone with songwriting on Sunflower sadly doesn’t provide any this time, but everyone else is putting a shift in. Bruce makes a potentially slushy nostalgia trip really soar, Al drops 3 tracks contrasting in style but not quality, even making a song about podiatry work. Mike Love delivers a rewrite of a Lieberman/Stoller song trying to be topical. It’s roundly detested, but even it I seem to be able to tolerate (which is remarkable because I generally have little time for Mike Love) Carl is the boss here. He seems to have taken the lead which can’t have been easy. With his songwriting emerging from the shadow of Brian, who had been, not just the band’s Lennon and McCartney, but also its George Martin, Carl leads production and contributes two songs of astonishing accomplishment and beauty. (“Long Promised Road” and my personal favourite from the album, “Feel Flows”). He should have the last word in this review, but although Brian’s involvement was reduced, he does still bring 3 top tier songs to close the album… “A Day in the Life of a Tree” and “‘Til I Die” could be ‘Pet Sounds’ outtakes and the closing title track is actually a ‘Smile’ outtake and all three are incredible. Sophisticated melodies throughout I don’t even mind the first of the 3 is sung largely by Jack Rieley (their manager or something). Pastoral beauty with a simple pump organ accompaniment and harmonies to die for. “‘Til I Die” has a full ‘Pet Sounds’ vocal arrangement and chord changes. “Surf’s Up” itself is one of those Brian Wilson constructions that takes unexpected twists and turns and though meant for the ill-fated ‘Smile’ closes this album triumphantly. Brian might still steal the show and Mike has a good try at spoiling everything, but really it is a tribute to the rest of The Beach Boys and to Carl in particular for pulling off this stunning record.
Ayyyy, second Beach Boys. This would technically be my first Beach Boys album had this list not forced me to listen to "Pet Sounds" after Brian Wilson's death. Nuts to think I would have otherwise gone 607 albums without a single Beach Boys release. I've also assembled a pre-written review for Brian Wilson's Smile, which I appreciated more as a musical artefact than as an album. Anyways, I thought Pet sounds was orright. "Caroline" was a good song and I like "God Only Knows" as well. I admittedly didn't care for the rest of the album, however. In any case, I'm curious and eager to return to this band, so I might as well get into this one. Here goes. Yeah, it's more Beach Boys. Nice, warm, summery vocal melodies abound, and I appreciate the delicate instrumentation which underscores the vocals. There's a bit of variety on this album too as well as some early forays into digital instrumentation, both of which I thought were interesting. Like all Beach Boys albums, I also appreciated the short, concise runtime. Also like all Beach Boys albums is the fact that I don't really care for this music. Yeaaaah, I mean. It's quite slow-moving and samey despite the admirable attempts at throwing some variety into the mix. All in all, I humbly bestow to this album the "I didn't care for this album, but fistbump me nonetheless, bro" award. Three Beach Boys albums seems about right for this group (plus Brian Wilson's "Smile", which was scandalously removed from later editions of the book), so I can trust that this album is in here on good authority. I cosign this inclusion.
The Beach Boys have a very defined sound and aura to them, which is what made this album interesting in that it was such a distinct departure from all of that. It also had a very interesting blend of diverse sounds, including some psychedelic rock elements. What didn’t work for me was the fact that the songs just weren’t that great. Still, it was worth listening to, mainly because The Beach Boys were doing everything they could to not be captured by their own past. 3 stars.
Not the exact type of vibe I was expecting from the Beach Boys, it is unmistakably them but has a slower more introspective tone. Has some psychedelic elements and that signature 60's harmonics but it comes together in a much more cohesive way than other albums of the same type from this list. Surprised at how much I enjoyed this one.
This was more subdued than the previous Beach Boys album I had recently. Not bad, mellow.
my favourite beach boys album, it can feel pretty strange at times but i think that’s what makes it good, feel flows gets its own star
Fundamentally, I just don't think The Beach Boys were very good. This is an alright album musically with some poor lyrics. I don't get why they were so highly regarded.
What a pleasant surprise. I figured it would be all beachy, summer songs (especially given the album title), but not so. This was beautiful and wide-ranging in musicality and themes, with Disney Girls and Student Demonstration as notable standouts. Also, this is a stunning choice in album art. Easily I’d listen to this again.
I like the idea of this album more than the album itself. It makes perfect sense that in the early 70’s the beach boys would look beyond simple songs about love and good times and make a more serious record addressing the issues of the day. However, perhaps in an attempt to sound more serious, they largely abandoned the catchy hooks and beautiful multi-part harmonies that made their early music so enjoyable, leaving behind fairly bland album. I wish I could have heard a version of this album that pursued this newfound political focus while still retaining the sonic qualities of their earlier work.
A few redeeming moments kept this from being a total snooze fest.
Ja mikähän tämäkin albumi on oikein olevinaan… 2/5
56/100
I don’t as surprised by this album. I had never heard it before but it really showed their maturity as song writers. My only real knock on it is that it took a while for those beach boys harmonies to shine through but pretty good
Fire so sad tho. Crazy they talking about how bad pollution is in 1971 and did nothing to fix it 💔
no matter how hard i try i just struggle with the beach boys
already loved it so maybe not fair but easy 5/5. Adore the album cover too and vibes are the best as always. 9.0 Favourite Tracks: - A Day in the Life of a Tree - Feel Flows - Disney Girls - Don't Go in the Water - Lookin' at tomorrow
The Beach Boys are one of my favorite bands, but I found this album to be forgettable.
Immediately psychedelic in an unsettling, creepy way. Perhaps musically masterful, but not nice to listen to. I can see why this music is historically relevant and interesting but it largely isn't for me. "Disney Girls" is a good, sad lamenting tune, and "Student Demonstration Time" is fun, punchy, and contemporary. The album definitely picks up in the middle and ends on sort of a typified, Beachy Boys note. Overall, note my favorite.
I saw a review saying “listen to it until you get it”. Naw, I’m not doing that.
A great album full of creative ideas. Surprised that the involvement of B. Wilson was minimal.
The Beach Boys tell me not to go near the water? I don’t know what this album is, but I enjoyed (most of) it.
This is a very different, more serious/mellow/toned down, Beach Boys vibe, and it works well. Likes: Don’t Go Near the Water; Long Promised Road; Feel Flows; Lookin At Tomorrow; Til I Die; Surf’s Up
cool album, but not the best thing i've heard from them. 3 stars
Dark for a Beach Boys album. Till I die was morose
banger
I did a triple take to see if the album art and the artist were correct because what do you mean the polished beach boys approved of this?? The album is weird. I feel like I’m listening to some unapproved recording that leaked and was distorted by a kid on YouTube. Student demonstration time is odd but it wasn’t as bad as the reviews say. Either way I didn’t love this and don’t need to hear it again. Get me back to saccharine beach boys bubble gum pop land
Not what I expect when I see beach boys but decent
damn i just caught my surprise by this album never thought listen album like this from the beach boys amazing
Proprio quello che mi aspettavo dai Beach Boys. Alcune canzonette frivole e altri capolavori da sogno. Le mie preferite 'Disney Girls', 'Student Demonstration Time', 'Til I Die' e 'Surf's Up'.
Weniger Spaß.
I was bored. Singer is annoying. I was expecting something really different from The Beach Boys
I adore "Pet Sounds," and enjoy a lot of the early Beach Boys songs, but I've never really given their later records a second thought. I guess I figured that an album with Brian Wilson in the backseat would be underwhelming, or that a 1970s Beach Boys record would sound cloyingly behind-the-times. But actually, this album shows an impressive adaptation of their sound for a 1971 audience! It's still The Beach Boys, but it has more of a power pop vibe than I was expecting—almost as if we're listening to a band INSPIRED by the Beach Boys (not the band itself). It doesn't bowl me over the way Pet Sounds does, and it has some weak moments, but overall, I'm quite impressed with this record. I also love the dark album cover contrasted with the cutesy album title.
remember Kent State
like a warm blanket after a storm
As with everything that followed Pet Sounds, this is uneven, but has sublime moments folks working in this tradition have tried recapturing ever since. Carl may be second to Brian for me, his melodies a bit simpler or conventional, but there’s a psychedelia/darkness to his contributions that make them stand out. And then there’s the unintentional (?) triptych concluding the record, including possibly the finest thing Brian ever created. Every time I listen to it I’m like, what’s the point? There’s no topping that ever.
It's a very special album for me, this one. Before I was the huge Beach Boys fan I am today I was a huge Pet Sounds fan, like most people. I became obsessed with the album before a Brian Wilson concert in 2016, when he and his incredible band played the entire album. One of my most cherished moments in life. I believe at least 4, 5 years passed until I listen to another Beach Boys album- it was this one. And it's indeed, a very different album. And I love it. I love the sloppiness that comes and goes. Some moments are lo-fi in vibe, and some incredibly articulate (sometimes in the same song!). Unlike other albums in their catalog, this one feels as a group work. Each member contributed where others needed. 3,4,6, 8, 9, 10 are among my favorite Beach Boys songs ever. Add some music to your day and listen to this one. It's getting a 5.
Same as the previous ones. I can't really listen to these albums without thinking that I'm listing to the same ones. It's good but it sounds the same. Review - 6/10
Suuuch a weird album - sounds like 5 men being very crazy in different directions. All the Brian Wilson songs are extremely beautiful and original with the dumbest lyrics you've heard in your life - great foot fetish representation. Disney Girls is so treacly and creepy on its face but honestly I love it. Student Demonstration Time is unforgivably awful. Just the laziest blues ripoff with lyrics that barely rhyme where the message is "man those shitty cops are being so unfair to student protesters! Maybe students should just not protest instead to stay safe :)"
Interesting and surprising, and cheesy and predictable at the same time. I don’t know what to do with this.
Okej men tråkigt album
Reminds me a lot of the Beatles in a good way. Not a huge fan of the more mellow rock from the 70s/80s but it’s definitely good. I wouldn’t replay personally, because it wasn’t too outstanding but the vibes were good so that’s enough for me.
Kinda mellow Beach Boys. It was short and a kind of music I wasn't used to from them. They've had better work and this was mainly a Mike Love album so eww.
Love the irony between the title and the overall mood of the album.
I have heard a lot of Beach Boys and a lot about how eloquent their music is but this is the first album where that's connected for me. Highlights: "Take a Load Off Your Feet", "Feel Flows", "Surf's Up"
Wasn't really my thing
Some great tracks. But too odd and inconsistent for me to come back to it very often.
A strange album with some excellent and some questionable songs. The strength of the final 3 tracks alone warrants 4 stars.
Okay so I know the Beach Boys but my mental picture was Sloop John B and Surfin USA. This was a totally different vibe and I loved seeing the range of the band known primarily for happy and sunny music.
Not the Beach Boys I'm accustomed to, didn't care for this
A good album, I liked Student Demonstration Time and 'Til I Die the most.
that was beautiful over too soon will absolutely be revisiting
Found this incredibly boring. Thought the beach boys were this upbeat lively band, but this album sure isn’t it
A bit disappointed really, but it’s still peak Beach Boys era, so it’s cool.
some of these songs were depressing who the fuck kills themselves at a beach, boys?
Who took the beach out of these boys?
I have never actually listened to The Beach Boys so this was a pleasant surprise. Don't go near the water has such a deep meaning. I thought long promised road was absolutely beautiful!! I was reading about the songs on Spotify as I listened and it helped me understand the songs and like them even more. It was between a 4 and a 5 for me.
Love how the album art is cool but also barely contrasts with the actual album, i mean the first song kinda but the theme feels different. Beautiful album though! Standouts are long promised road, disney girls and feel flows.
Mid vibes, title track and "Disney Girls (1957)" were really good tho
Pet Sounds é um dos discos que mais ouvi na minha vida e não sei porque nunca dei atenção aos outros deles. Disco perfeito!
First track about poop water? Instant classic.
I've never been a big BB fan, but this was a good listen. A few misses, but interestingly no huge hits. I actually didn't know any of the tunes, but enjoyed it. Not a 5, not a 'must listen' though.
This was a surprising album for me since it was more of a protest album then I would expect from The Beach Boys knowing them in this era. But no songs were memorable to come back to. But a fine album.
This is very just ok, whatever to me.
Starts altogether pleasant to listen to, varied sounds, but very uneven in both lyrics and songwriting HANG ON NOW, WHAT DID THEY DO TO RIOT IN CELL BLOCK #9 I thought it would be barely 2 stars when I got to the B-side but then I got to the tree song Ok now that I'm done, I don't know what they thought they were doing, thinking they were being political or edgy or psychedelic would put them back on the map, but there's nothing worth saving in this album
This is the foulest, most embarrassing, most ill-considered attempt at a record I've had the misfortune to listen. It's so bad that it taints the rest of the Beach Boys legacy by association. Because of this record, I now think that Pet Sounds is just about Ok. Robert Dimery owes me money for having me listen to this.
Stronger beach boys albums out there I'm afraid, surprised to not enjoy this one that much.
Not what I would have expected from the Beach Boys. A lot of this sounds like all the brothers wanting to find a different 70s sound. Very eclectic mix of songs. I thought there was some really cool sounds throughout, but some of the songs felt very underwritten. But nothing compares to when they hit those deep, slightly dissonant harmonies. Surfs up is very cool. I’ll give it a 3.5/5.
I liked it, definitely felt moodier and more melancholy than their other work, but doesn’t compare to pet sounds for me
Was worried it was going to be another daft Beach Boys surf album but was a nice change. Nowt fantastic but nice enough, still has all the Beach Boys hallmarks. Disney Girls was nice.
That was a trip. Cant imagine ill revisit anytime soon but was certainly not what i expected
Proof that the beach boys did more then the surf stuff and pet sounds that they are known for. I love that after pet sounds they went bat shit crazy and made a few weird strange odd albums ❤️ I like student demonstration time but it feels out of place and disney girls is a bit meh. All the other tracks are great though
Fucking hell didnt know theyd done 15/16 albums before this one. Think thats what you call prolific 'Long Promised Road' and 'Disney Girls' really well written songs No need for ' Take A Load Off Your Feet ' is there Or the one from the perspective of rhe tree Changing to a more experimental 70s era at this point by the sounds of it Its decent. But Wheres the friggin Surfing songs maaaan?! ... Duuuuuude?!
Called surfs up and hardly any surf songs try again
Ik sta echt versteld van de productie op dit album! Gemaakt in 71?! Het klonk soms als een MGMT of Animal Collective album uit 2010. Echt super vet! En natuurlijk prachtige vocals en harmonieën wauw!
Everyone talks about how The Beatles evolved, but few mention the evolution of The Beach Boys. This album defines their growth.
Fun. Never delved into these but I think the time has come.
Long Promised Road, Feel Flows, Til I Die and Surf's Up are reason enough to give this album a five. Love the proggy productions and experimental vibe of this album.
Interesting - sounds very classic Beach Boys, but definitely has some more experimental tracks that nod toward different genres.
that wasn't very beach boys-y
This is so surprisingly dark. It's a real downer.
A departure from what I expected.
I'm not a huge Beach Boys fan--I know, sorry--but this album seems a bit more introspective and socially conscious than other music I've heard by them, and I kind of liked that.
Oh yeah sip, really enjoyable. It's really interesting and not only by historics reasons. Better than I expected. Better than I expected. And it all came before the Beatles.
A return to form of the Californian band. It is not as brilliant as Pet Sounds by any chance but it offers a darker and more psychedelic glimpse at Brian Wilson's songwriting. The feel it has, with a lesser production makes it feel like a foil to their Magnus Opus. 8/10 [KEEP]
Really weird at first, but I got into it as it went along.
te playful voor mijn smaak. kan er wel naar luisteren tho
Rating: 3/5 Playlist track: Don't Go Near The Water Date listened: 02/07/26 (during thesis!!) Listen when: Sunny chill afternoon I loveeee the end of Don't Go Near The Water! So beautiful
i remember i used to skip songs from this album whenever they came up for a reason, but now that i listened to the album as a whole i feel changed.
Maybe a little better at the end than the beginning, but these lyrics often are asinine, and because it's the Beach Boys, you unfortunately can hear every word.
Curious decision to include this album out of their 29 album catalog, the music was uninspired and very forgettable
Kinda reminds me of when the Beatles went Helter Skelter.
You know what, this was fun. Not a typical Beach Boys album but it's actually better for it, because some of these tracks are shockers, but it adds to the... enjoyment, I guess?
Even though the album is titled Surf's Up, it’s not a surfing record. In my opinion, The Beach Boys peaked in the early 1960s. After Pet Sounds, it was all downhill.
Well this was weirder than I expected. I guess it was the 70s.
I really enjoyed the weird Beach Boys over the earlier poppy ones.
Aaaand we’re three for three on albums that are frustratingly average! I just felt nothing listening to this - it seems like every other album from around the 60s and, considering this album is actually from the 70s, it sounds even more dated than it should. The album cover is cool, and that fact there’s only 10 songs makes it less torturous to sit through, but… I’m not gagging.
Excellent Boy Band Album
I LOVEEEEE
chill de cojones
Don’t Go Near the Water - 3.5/5 Long Promised Road - 4.5/5 Take a Load Off Your Feet - 3.5/5 Disney Girls (1957) - 4/5 Student Demonstration Time - 3/5 Feel Flows - 3.5/5 Lookin' at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) - 3.5/5 A Day in the Life of a Tree - 3.5/5 'Til I Die - 4.5/5 Surf's Up - 4.5/5 This was vastly different from their earlier albums, being a lot more introspective and less goofy than their prior stuff. The main thing with this album is that the highs on here were very high and the lows were not good. I'm looking at you Student Demonstration Song. The rest is fairly splotchy but still decent enough. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Long Promised Road, 'Til I Die, Surf's Up
Incredibly harsh 4 due to a couple of duds - love this - the last 2 tracks are absolutely incredible. Til I die is the best song of these albums so far
This is one of the better efforts from the Beach Boys. Not Pet Sounds but something more experimental and bold. I think it shows their talent as it grows.
An interesting blend of different styles. I enjoyed the funkier tracks like “Take A Load Off Your Feet” and “Feel Flows” but a few songs felt like poor imitations of the Beatles…it’s hard to take their hard rock sound seriously. Minus one star for the James Earle Fraser artwork.
“Take a load off your feet, Pete.” Full of mildly interesting tracks and mildly annoying tracks, finishing with a reminder of what the Beach Boys once were and probably still could be if it weren’t for the myriad of personal problems that followed the initial release of “Surf’s Up”
Surf's Up marked an intentional attempt by The Beach Boys to address more serious topics in their music. The result is a bit of a mixed bag. The environmental songs are pretty good, though "A Day in the Life of a Tree" is way too slow. "Student Demonstration Time" is a clumsy throwback musically and even worse lyrically. It's unclear if "Take a Load Off Your Feet" is supposed to be goofy or very serious about foot care. The redeeming factor is the more personal downtrodden songs. "Long Promised Road" is the catchiest and best. The title track has a lot of good ideas that don't quite come together until the very end. In the end, the fact that this isn't a musical advancement past Pet Sounds - in fact, it sounds thinner - is what really does it in. The Beach Boys were better when they were having fun.
5/10 -it's actually not bad, nice to have in the background
Interesting layovers and blend of songs.
ok
Musta been bored ash just talking about anything but mildly entertaining. Def not best of The Beach Boys. Best tracks: Feels Flow, Disney Girls
Excellent 33 minutes of high quality music. These boys definitely had the chops for writing catchy music. And when they then took that and got experimental with it, that was magic. 4.5/5
Some nice crunchy 70’s guitars, but overall pretty disjointed, too much Mike and not enough Brian?
I like the beach boys but this was not good.
Interesting, but not what I want to listen to when i think Beach Boys.
It was okay. Not sure I've ever actually sat through a whole beach boys album, was expecting 30 minutes of good vibrations and I'm happy it wasn't that.
Enjoyable, even though it loses steam in the second half. Now I know what era Oranger got their main influence from!
Advertised in ‘71 as “it’s safe to listen to the Beach Boys again”. If safe means mediocre. With new management and brother Carl in charge, the band begins to walk back from the experimental Pet Sounds into a safer “environmentally conscious and socially aware” territory. The only saving grace for this album is the three Brian penned songs on side two. My favorite “ A Day In The Life Of A Tree”
Not the greatest BB album I’ve ever heard, but the boys in good harmony
Don't Go Near the Water - 4/5 Long Promised Road - 5/5 Take a Load Off Your Feet - 3/5 Disney Girls (1957) - 5/5 Student Demonstration Time - 1/5 Feel Flows - 4/5 Lookin' at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) - 3/5 A Day in the Life of a Tree - 4/5 'Til I Die - 5/5 Surf's Up - 5/5 Average score: 3.9/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ it's not my favorite album of theirs, but it's got a few gems on it. Student Demonstration Time is hands-down their worst track ever though, holy shit. i'm not surprised at all that this was their views of the student protests around the time though, but still this would be receiving a much better score if that was scrapped all-together. still, their other tracks just barely kept it in the 4-star range
Thought better than Pet Sounds
Overall 5/5: I liked this album more than I thought I would. The album cover definitely portrays the dark, strange, and uneasy feelings of these songs. At the same time this album is really beautiful and has so many unique sounds, production, lyrics, and harmonies. Surfs Up and Surfin USA couldn’t be any different. Don’t Go Near The Water 3.75/5: interesting sounds give uneasy feeling, the piano part is interesting to start and end the song. Nice harmony at end. The Long Promised Road 4/5: I like the middle section and the overall melody. Songs builds well. Take a Load of Your Feet 3.5/5 : weird but cool vocal delay and background vocals. Fun background sounds Disney Girls 4.8/5: Funny song title, but overall a nice ballad with amazing harmonies. I’ll listen to this one again for sure! Student Demonstration Time: 4/5 Another memorable title, interesting unique topic for a song. I like the use of alarm/police sounds. Other than that, just a solid blues song Feel Flows 4.5/5: Song gives me an easy feeling, the flute part was cool and there were so many interesting sounds. Definitely an experimental song but didn’t feel like too much. Lookin at Tomorrow (Welfare Song) 3/5: fits the vibe for a song called welfare song Day in The Life of a Tree 4.8/5: what a weird concept for a song. I love it! I’m envisioning the tree as I hear the song. Til I Die 4/5: now we are a cork in the ocean lol. I’m usually not a person to pay attention to lyrics but these got my attention. There’s so many layers of sound that sounds so full Surfs Up 3.5/5: Really interesting melody, I have no clue what this songs about after a first listen.
buena música para el buen humor
"Hideous. That's the Beach Boys. If you can't give it 0 stars then it should get a 1." - My Dad on a road trip home
I hadn’t heard this Beach Boys album before. Not my favorite, I didn’t love a lot of it, but I did kind of dig the more serious somber side of them. 3/5
A departure from what I always thought of as the Beach Boys sound as heard in Pet Sounds, this album is just ok. Some good songs, but if I want to listen to 70s folk protest music, this wouldn't be my first stop.
Beach Boys telling me Don't Go Near the Water was troubling, then Student Demonstrations, then the song about load off your feet. All so Unexpected. The cover art has me curious.
This was not what I was expecting when I saw Beach Boys. One of the songs was about feet? It was interesting, but I probably won't be listening again.
Not their best
Hadn’t heard this album. So different.
Didn’t think I’d ever become such a fan of the beach boys but they have a way of growing on you
Not sure if I’ve heard any of these before
Everything they do is perfect especially Disney Girls
I only listened to the Beach Boys today after rolling this
This is definitely not the Beach Boys' best work. Far from it, actually. To be honest, I never quite understood how their quality dropped so much in the early 70s, technically speaking. But the songs still maintain a good standard of quality in terms of composition. I'd give it 4 stars.
Music as it should be. Good Harmonies and lyrics. A good album overall.
Sad beach boys, aww
You're gonna have to see the beach for the seashells a little bit here. If all you can see is the corniness of the Beach Boys trying to mine the Pet Sounds well dry (and the Americana bullshit of Mike Love's Chuck Berry flavored anti-protest song), you won't get much out of this album. But, inexplicably, I adored it. It's one of those impossible to recreate snapshots into a band scrambling to make sense of the world, make sense of themselves. They're worried about the environment, the political climate outside, the lows of the drugs they're sampling. You can listen to all sorts of albums where those fears seep into the music, but it's more than that here: everything from the drab painting used as a cover to the album sequencing (or, lack thereof) seems indicative of a band that has no idea what to do. That doesn't mean the music isn't good. Far from it, actually: basically every song here (except for the one we've already discussed) lands. Some land easier than others (the album opener has been a favorite of mine for years, as has the nostalgic and corny-ish Disney Girls), but it all washes over fine in the end. The last truly great album of one of the first truly great rock bands... fittingly awkward, all over the place, and cheesy.
la verdad nada memorable… no me encantó ninguna canción… pero suena bien.
This is a great record with strong contributions by all six band members. Should have been a classic in it's day. Also a reminder of a time when MIke Love wasn't a total fucking dickhead.
It has some neat arrangements and good melodies but not a single song stuck with me after listening to it. Cool album cover.
I’m aware of The Beach Boys and their hits, but am not so sure if I’m a fan… Without any of those notable/fun singles on this album my first impression was that the recording was kind of rough and not typical from what I’ve heard or expected from them. It wasn’t until Student Demonstration Time that I took much note or felt like it was a serious album. Upon closer reflection of the album, songs, and lyrics I recognize this was intentional and can appreciate it for what it is.
Really great, worthy revisit. RYM: N Saved a song: N
Average not their best
It's them isnt it
Hva i alle dager var dette???
This was fine? "Student Demonstration Time" "Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)" and "A Day In the Life of a Tree" were decent, but the rest didn't grab me much. Not sure if this was the best intro to the Beach Boys
babababa baba ba
What the heck is this?!? Clearly I was not aware that the Beach Boys got away from the sunny California pop sound of the 60’s. Hated the first half of the album. Student Demonstration Time was decent and I was familiar with Feel Flows from Almost Famous I think. Hated the last several songs on the album as well. Overall depressing and whiny. (2)
Not looking forward to… What a weird album. Obviously Beatles influenced. Socially conscious in a… so very forthright manner. And then it slips back to… awesomeness with the final two tracks: till I die and Surf’s up. Idk. It’s actually a mess. 3 Boolean: True?
Mangler revidering
You see the title and think, great! An album of sun-kissed Beach Boys classics! But none of these songs made it on to their greatest hits album. Instead, it’s the Beach Boys entering the 1970s with a social conscience. Some good things here - ‘Disney Girls (1957)’ is sweet and poignant - but some - ‘Student Demonstration Time’ - leave you cringing.
I'd like this more if I were high I had fun listening, even though the audio quality was strangely atrocious at times, but a few hours later nothing has stuck with me
Disney girls, a day in the life of a tree. Outdated
Misses Brian Wilson Can’t really hear his influence so much on this. It’s fine. But far from pet sounds or the earlier records, lost some of the innocence and melodies that made me love them. Favourite track: dunno, couldn’t really get into it
Not a fan, but it was fine
I don't think I'd heard most of these songs until today. It's a solid album, with socially aware lyrics unlike the Beach Boys that we're all used to (about surfing, girls, cars, etc). I rather enjoyed it.
A genuinely interesting album - it’s hard to predict where it’ll go next. It’s good too, which is a bonus! Favourite track: ‘Til I Die
I've listened to this one before as with the other classic Beach Boys albums. Very pretty
It was good, had a great song Disney Girls and several other highlights but it is not Pet Sounds.
great effort for a 17th studio album by the boys (except you mike love, you suck). "long promised road" is great. so is "surf's up".
Man. Going to bed but I wanted to plug today’s album one more time. I profess I mostly know their singles far outside Surf’s Up, but this album ranges from kinda boring (A Day in the Life of a Tree), to not good (Take a Load Off Your Feet and Student Demonstration Time) and a mix of pretty and forgettable. There’s also surprisingly little Brian Wilson to it and I feel that can’t be a coincidence.
7.5/10
Never would have placed that as a Beach Boys album.
The album felt like a whimsical vibe until “Student Demonstration Time” started playing, it sounds good though. “A Day In The Life Of A Tree” sounds like the title for a trip on salvia.
Amigos si
This was a surprise to me. When i went through the Beach Boys catalogue, i tended to go backwards from Pet Sounds for their lighter, poppier stuff. This was a real eye opener as it took their vocal harmonies and layered production and moved it into a more mature sound. The result is a great album of warmth and depth and maturity.
While the songs themselves didn't really gel with me, production-wise, it seems to be full of funny little noises and studio wizardry that just about piqued my interest. I wondered at various points in Grandaddy might be fans of this record. A curious album that I probably need to spend a little more time with to really make sense of it.
I don't think I knew a single one of the songs on this album and yet it has that signature Beach Boys sound. I wanted to listen to the whole thing, so that's a start, although there are a few meandering moments that left me scratching my head a little. It seems a little bit too knowing somehow in places. I think I need to listen again and for the most part I am happy to do that.
A short album is a treat. It’s even more of a treat when you can ignore the first half or so and jump straight to the last three tracks. The titular Surf’s Up may be a bit little meandering (Good Vibrations in comparison holds its disparate parts together though the power of that snare, God Only Knows never seems fractured) but there is a unifying sweetness across it, A Day in the Life of a Tree, and 'Til I Die. It is a beautiful, bewildering experience. However, they all feel like sketches of lovely melodies that didn't then and certainly won't know find their final home with a proper lyric, a proper form, and proper arrangement and performance. Still, that little run throws everything else into relief. The idea that the Beach Boys is a band rather than a support system for Brian Wilson is a stretch. None of those other Wilson boys would be making contributions to records if Brian hadn't made it their business. Nobody's doing their best work on their seventeenth album, except maybe the guys who are actually working for once. But it's not even the best work on the record. 2.5 There is loveliness everywhere on Surf’s Up: Don’t Go Near the Water, Carl’s two contributions, and Brian’s Day in the Life of a Tree and ‘Til I Die. All lovely, all great. The title song is a special piece of work but belongs to a different time and a different Beach Boys. Van Dyke Parks’ lyrics, full of fearless poetic high-mindedness and rather rubbish, do not chime at all with the simple charms of much of the other material on the album and seem of a different, less generous mode of pretension even than the lyrics of Feel Flows. This Surf’s Up by my reckoning anyway, is only the third best recorded version of the song that exists - the composite version on the Smile Sessions is supreme and the Brian Wilson solo piano version from 1967 makes this one feel like a bloodless tribute act. The double-tracking of the main vocal feels sloppy and tired. There is also Student Demonstration Time here. It would be a merely embarrassing piece of cod blues were it not for the absolutely repulsive sentiments of the lyrics. It is such a shockingly callous scoff that it casts a shadow over the whole album. What is the true character and value of the idealism expressed elsewhere here - musical as well as lyrical - when this group of supposed adults not only recorded Student Demonstration Time but let it out the door? Shame on everyone involved. Disney Girls (1957) would also be worth a wince, except that it does put me merrily in mind of a song performed regularly by a local singer years ago at the Hewitt which bade farewell to love with the line ‘You’ll meet some steady wanker, who’ll go to Mass with you.’ There is something of the whole notion of the Beach Boys in ‘steady wanker’, I think. Not that they would be taking the Best Girls to Mass on a Saturday night, of course. Because they’re basically Protestants, I reckon. 2.5/5
What a strange album. Unconvincingly late to the psychedelic party but there are some good songs hiding in there somewhere.
Nope
Really liked this album! Never heard of this album, but I loved the more somber tone that this album had. Disney Girls (1957) was a huge highlight not just on this album, but in the Beach Boys' discography.
Social commentary feels a but forced and blunted.
Never really listened to the beach boy's before, very nice album, love the cover art.
Maybe it’s just where I’m at but I really liked this. My beach boys experience has been “california girls” (blech) -> pet sounds (incredible) -> kokomo (double blech) so i really didn’t know what to expect. Thankfully, the album title is misleading. It’s a bit all over the place (Disney Girls going into Student Demonstation is certainly a choice) but i will definitely be putting this in rotation and it may well grow into a 5 star
The beach boys are always fun and this was definitely enjoyable though not mind blowing
I know The Hits and I’ve given Pet Sounds a couple of tries but this is absolutely unknown to me. I am immediately enjoying how creepy the opening song is. The cover is harrowing (complimentary) - could be something from The Classics but I don’t know what. Long Promised Road is Uplifting. Take a Load off Your Feet is very silly but very good. Student Demonstration Time is absolutely brilliant. It’s so layered musically and lyrically and stylistically. I love how many weird sounds we’ve got involved. I hear whispers of RAM. A Day In The Life Of A Tree is genuinely moving and fair play to them for giving a shit about pollution in 1971. If you gave loads of woodland sprites and their tiny critter pals access to a studio, they would make an album like this.
Near Beach Boys' best
Good fun i suppose. Always felt this band was one for the critics a bit like the velvet underground. Not much depth and only one good album. This isn't it. Lots of ideas jostling for space and not much of it is very interesting
not what i expected from this scary ass album cover but it is what i expected from the beach boys. beautiful harmonies as always
I liked the topics and the variations of the songs.
Environmental/social concerns Beach Boys? I'm here for it. This is a side of the Beach Boys that I was not familiar with, but I liked it.
Opening song- not what I expected from the Beach Boys! 2nd song - ok, this sounds more like what I expected from the Beach Boys lol Disney Girls is putting me to sleep. Also, strongly reminiscent of the Beatles Student Demonstration Time- I like this one! Very bluesy. Interesting use of a theramin Aside from Student Demonstration Time, not many standouts for me. Didn't mind having on in the background
It's okay.
Interesting artistic choices but the album as a whole is ok at best, don't see myself listening to it.
un solido 4
Not as fun as Pet Sounds but it's ok
When the album ended Spotify queued up Pet Sounds and I just thought how much better the back half of the album was until I realized what had happened. This is a pretty good album but is definitely a step down in comparison. There's a good variety of songs, some classic rock and soft melodic tunes.
2.5 okay
Amazing, they managed to make an album even worse than Pet Sounds. All the worst of beach boys combined with the most generic 60s-style music. Just made in the 70s instead.
I was looking forward to hearing this, but ultimately found it a bit dull. Could grow on me I suppose with a few more listens, but not sure if I'm that bothered to be honest.
some interesting bits but kinda boring
J'ai toujours pas la vision pour Pet Sound's mais j'ai vraiment aimé ++ cet album. Très très cool ! Potentiellement même un 5 après plusieurs écoutes 1) Disney Girls 2) Feel flows 3) Surf's up
I love the Beach Boys, and I especially love Brian Wilson's contributions to modern music, and post Animal Sounds music. Yet, here I am thinking to myself "It's... fine" as I roll my eyes.
It’s a Beach Boys album so it’s going to be meticulously curated and produced. I don’t love the song choices, but it’s a solid offering.
I am not putting myself through this again. Did not listen.
A decent album, nothing stood out head and shoulders above the rest, but it was an enjoyable listen. No takeaways from me and probably wouldn't listen again, but definitely not bad.
Les famous than Pet Sounds. Anyway there are several songs that are remarkable as Surf's up or Feel flows.
Muy experimental para mi opinión
One of the better Beach Boys albums. Extremely melancholic (well, for them at least) and a great sign of what else they could do outside of Pet Sounds. Some great guitar tones on this, who knew the Beach Boys could rip like this?
Nothing at all what I expected….wheres the surf music?
YT link sounded artifical almost covered
I'll come back to this after I fully listen to Pet Sounds. Rating a 3 for now as a place holder.
צר לי ממש
3.5 stars
I have never heard an anti-protest song before.
Was honestly blown away by this album. Didn’t have any knowledge going in, and it was far better than what I expected.
It was pretty good and unusual for The Beach Boys. Based on the cover image, I thought it was heavy rock
Way more melodic and flowery than I remember, but it makes sense. These guys make beautiful music. But a bit repetitive for me. It was a groovy era!
============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== -----------------THE BEACH BOYS--------------- ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------- -------------------SURF'S UP------------------ ---------------------------------------------- ---------------------(1971)------------------- ============================================== ============================================== -----------------CALIFICACIÓN----------------- --------------------★★★⯨☆-------------------- --------------------(3,35)------------------- ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== 1. Don't Go Near The Water (★★★★☆) 2. Long Promised Road (★★⯨☆☆) 3. Take A Load Off Your Feet (★★★⯨☆) 4. Disney Girls (★★⯨☆☆) 5. Student Demonstration Time (★★★⯨☆) 6. Feel Flows (★★★☆☆) 7. Lookin' At Tomorrow (★★★★⯨) 8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree (★★★⯨☆) 9. 'Til I Die (★★⯨☆☆) 10. Surf's Up (★★★★☆) ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== PUNTAJE TOTAL 4+2,5+3,5+2,5+3,5+3+4,5+3,5+2,5+4 = 33,5 ============================================== ============================================== PUNTAJE PROMEDIO 33,5 / 10 = 3,35 ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== CALIFICACIÓN FINAL ★★★⯨☆ (3,35) ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ============================================== ==============================================
The Beach Boys get political and more than just going to the Beach (water)
This album confused me. I had to listen to it a few times, but I like it? The Beach Boy harmonies, but not the Beach Boy sound I've come to expect.
Eh ok
This album came out in 1971, the same year as the last album I reviewed, Madman Across the Water. While Elton John and Bernie Taupin get a little serious with their violins, choirs, and lyrics, the the first song of this Beach Boys album from the same year sounds infantile. I already disparaged Brian Wilson's Smile album so dissing this one feels like piling on, but...it still just seems too childish to take seriously. The second song was a little more 'normal', but the next one, Take a Load off your Feet, just reverted back to adolescence. Student Demonstration Time has some oomph to it, but sounds like a ripoff of Hoochie Coochie Man. The wikipedia article on the song is worth revisiting, both because it says Leiber & Stoller wrote it in 1954--Riot in Cell Block #9--but that Mike Love rewrote the lyrics and the other Beach Boys thought it was too dark. 1 star. I'm convinced that the Beach Boys are among the most overrated bands in pop music. (Caveat: I get the popularity of the songs that got radio play, but this album does not belong on any must-listen list, AND I still haven’t listened to Pet Sounds all the way through so maybe I’m just pissed about wasting another half hour on this band)
Lo disfruté
Beach booooyyyyyys
Some brave choices made on this album and the result is a mixed bag.
Surf's Up is probably my favorite of all The Beach Boys albums here. When i first looked at this album's cover art and saw how dark it looked, i thought that this album was gonna sound very dark and depressing and while the lyrical subject matter is a bit dark, it doesn't seem to stray too far from the path that The Beach Boys Today and Pet Sounds follow. The songs here have that very psychedelic sound which was the other main one alongside the one that the Beatles did. I thought that the songs on offer were pretty good even if that last song felt like it was having a bit of an identity crisis. Could it just be the fact that it's the most fresh in my mind, i don't know but i can say its my favorite Beach Boys album that i have heard. Best Song: A Day In The Life Of A Tree Worst Song: Surf's Up Side note: Oh, and since this is my last Beach Boys album, you know what that means: 1. Surf's Up 2. Pet Sounds 3. The Beach Boys Today
For me, a truly seminal masterpiece. It doesn't get much better than this.
A 'dark inversion' of the typical Beach Boys we know. The slower pace doesn't always work and the lyrics are a bit forced at times, but at the sparse times when the iconic harmonies are there, it's beautiful. Faves: Don't Go Near The Water, Disney Girls (1957), A Day In The Life Of A Tree, 'Til I Die
Definitely a different sound from the kings of beach rock. Evidently the Beatles' experimentation was a major influence on Brian Wilson's songwriting at this point. Along with Charlie Manson and LSD. 3.5/5 rounded to 4.
This wasn't what I had expected based on Beach Boys stuff I had heard before, but I liked it. It was definitely slightly odd, but the music was interesting, it had a good variety of instrumentation and genres throughout the course of the album, some nice harmonies (more what I had expected), and some important themes. Surprising 4.
Soo much interesting stuff going on in this album... Every song felt so fresh, they did so much with the guitar. It regularly feels like they are playing a completely different instrument. There's also just a ton of unique instrument combinations here in general Enjoyed every song but didn't have anything that pushed it over the edge of a 5.
Pretty good tunes, cleverly ironic cover/ title, but Brian Wilson’s minimal involvement leaves the overall sound lacking
This feels a little menacing. I really like the beach boys but their music is so chill and layered it starts to feel a little sinister. Like there's something lurking under the surface. The song titles and lyrics and album art aren't really helping either. Oh it's eco friendly oh that's chill actually. Great job Mr. Boys. This is interesting I feel like this is a deviation from past beach boys. Very different. This album is actually very menacing. What was wrong with the boys?? 17th album??? What the fuck?? Did they have lives bro?? Genuinely what are these guys on about. A day in the life of a tree?? Really?? Pretty deep if I had to guess. Favourite: Student Demonstration Time Least favourite: Feel Flows
not my fave beach boys but it was interesting
I kinda wish this was more party music. That's what I had in my head at least. I was happy for this to be on the list and to get to check it out, but it didn't wow me.
Boring! Never liked the Beach Boys as surf-rock and this, what ever this is, isn't any better. I see lots of reviews claiming this album is brilliant. I just don't see it. Starting to miss Throbbing Gristle.
I recognized none of these songs. Maybe it's just me, or maybe this is far from their best album? Makes me feel maybe the list is too diluted. It was fairly low in background so maybe this is harsh. Maybe I said a particular word too much in this review. Maybe I didn't.
What happens when you try to be The Beatles but forget you aren't The Beatles. The album gets better in the second half when the Boys get closer to what they excel at.
I wasn't feeling this one as much for the most part, but by god, those last two songs? They sounded like pure magic. It's a satisfying end to my journey with The Beach Boys on this list.
7/10. Another good Beach Boys album, with some really beautiful moments. The harmonies are still great, and when it works, it really works. A solid listen, with a few moments that definitely stand out.
This was deeply weird. Not at all what I expected. I can’t decide if it is just ok, or if I sort of like it.
Better than other beach boys I’ve listened too but not life changing. I like the Disney girl one :)
Normal
BUENISIMO. 5 ESTRELLAS lo voy a volver a escuchar
mellow. vibes. harmony.
A concept album with its heart in the right place- tight production and length but not as many ‘ear worms’ as other BB albums. Enjoyable but in my opinion forgettable.
Quite political, I like it
Alright, but not my favourite
Loved this one.
Album cover goes harder than it has any right to.
1/5 Best Song: Take A Load Off Your Feet Worst Song: Student Demonstration Time Weirdest Song: Take A Load Off Your Feet The Beach Boys have a fun-ectomy in the boring and disjointed Surf's Up.
I honestly don't know much about beach boys other then pet sounds. I thought a lot of these songs were fun especially be good to your feet. but it doesn't make as much use of the harmonies and dreamy vibes that they're known for. And without all that they're just sound like another band trying to be the Beatles.
#2 This album sounded very different than I expected from the Beach Boys, and not in a good way. I was looking forward to their signature vocal harmonizations and catchy melodies, and it just seemed bland and drab instead. I even gave it a second listen to see if I was missing something, and it still just did not speak to me. There are a few nice moments, but overall forgettable.
Superb album.
Country inspired Yank style music. Not sure why Billy is in this and I'm not keen on finding out why he bothered
Plešem v kuhni na Marvin Gayea in z grozo ugotovim, da sm pozabila poslušat današnji album. Pejmo! Moj prvi Beach Boys, njihov 17.. Waw. (A sta tm dve piki? Huh.) Fak, zanimiv komad ("Don't Go Near The Water")? "Long Promised Road" mi je kinda kul? Cover mi je ful zanimiv & z mal brskanja sm našla, da je to originalno kip od Jamesa Earlea Fraserja - End of the Trail. "Take a Load Off Your Feet" - spet, zanimiv komad. Neko eksperimentiranje z vokali, dodatki raznih sound efektov, splošen whimsy. Kul. What? Kr najbl bluesovski komad, suddenly ("Student Demonstration Time"). Do zdaj mi je vse zvenelo (za moje splošno neznanje o bandu) zlo v njihovem early stilu. (Na wiki dejansko piše, da band ni bil ful navdušen nad tem komadom, tko da mogoč mam kinda prou?) Spet zanimivo eksperimentiranje v "Feel Flows"). Zadnji trije so mi bli vsi prou lepi. Ok, ta obdobje banda mi je bolj všeč, k pa Pet Sounds.
I can't stand the Beach boys. I don't know why anyone likes them.
Number: 117 Date: 04/30/2026 Artist: The Beach Boys Album: Surf's Up Year: 1971 Genre: Baroque Pop Familiarity: Moderate (3) Rating: 3 Before: ======= I do like some of The Beach Boy's Work. I'm not familiar with this album at all though. During: ======= Woah, the first song, "Don't Go Near The Water" is hilarious. The second one "Long Promised Road" is quite different form their earlier work, almost like it's a different band. I think this album might take a few listens to fully appreciate it. 3 Don't Go Near The Water 3 Long Promised Road 3 Take A Load Off Your Feet 2 Disney Girls (1957) 2 Student Demonstration Time 3 Feel Flows 2 Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) 3 A Day In The Life Of A Tree 2 'Til I Die 3 Surf's Up ----------------------------------------------------- 2.63 WEIGHTED AVERAGE (accounts for song lengths) After : ======= It's an interesting album and I have to admire some of the chances they took. On some songs, I could not figure out if they were serious or if I was listening to a parody. I almost felt like I was listening to a very toned down version of Ween at times. My take is that most of the album is a parody or they had completely lost their way and were grasping at straws so to speak. 3 my personal rating 2 suitability for this list 3 impact ----------------------------------------------- 2.7 composite rating
Surf’s down.
There's a lesson in sequencing laid plain here if we're open to it. The album is structured like a compliment sandwich — two great opening tracks and two great closing tracks, with the middle portion being the more difficult to hear, swallow and digest...or in the case of the record simply the cheesier and "less obviously great" moments. There's a mid-record bump with Feel Flows which would be the first track on Side 2 of the vinyl, effectively creating a second sandwich or nested structure as well. This jockeying back and forth looking for highs and lows in the material and intentionally placing them is a common technique, even as it has shifted over time with different eras of delivery format or container for music: records/tapes, CDs, and streaming. Even as it mutates, I think some albums more obviously follow this intention and Surf's Up is one of them. It also demonstrates how rare it can be to get a full album of bangers — all peak — from start to finish. The Beach Boys, whose career was in distress, were no longer the band to deliver that kind of experience but this record, as many do, still rewards the listener even in the landlocked valleys.
really liked student demonstation time. surprised I have never heard this album before but enjoyed
Great vibes some very different sounds from the beach boys, normally they just make pet sounds. Would gladly listen to this again saved a few highlights.
This was genuinely one of the hardest listen's I've had so far. Like what even was majority of this album, I felt nothing.
I started liking it by the last half of the album, but I think I'll need another listen before I know how I feel about it.
Seems fine...creative for sure. Not my cup of tea but still a good one.
I’m very mixed. I really like the messaging however the inconsistency’s for me amount to more than the great messaging.
Great Songs: Take a Load Off Your Feet, Student Demonstration Time Good Songs: Don't Go Near the Water, Long Promised Road, Disney Girls, Feel Flows, 'Til I Die, Surf's Up Mid Songs: Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song), A Day In the Life of a Tree Bad Songs:
This was okay, I wasn’t crazy about it! I really love The Beach Boys earlier stuff, and I see they were trying to switch up their sound, but I think there is a reason this one isn’t remembered as well. Still a solid listen! Top Songs: Long Promised Road, Surf’s Up
the coast girls