Reviews (page 3 of 13)
Excellent Boy Band Album
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.
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
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 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.
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.
Really great, worthy revisit. RYM: N Saved a song: N
babababa baba ba
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.
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".
7.5/10
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
un solido 4
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.
Les famous than Pet Sounds. Anyway there are several songs that are remarkable as Surf's up or Feel flows.
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?
It was pretty good and unusual for The Beach Boys. Based on the cover image, I thought it was heavy rock
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.
Beach booooyyyyyys
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 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.
Quite political, I like it
Loved this one.
Album cover goes harder than it has any right to.
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.
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.
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:
3,87 Student demostration time
Really enjoyed this one! I've always been a fan of the Beach Biys and their dreamy, relaxed vibe. I thoroughly enjoyed the different styles on display here, all while sticking to their established vibe. A solid album that I will definitely try and pick up on vinyl!
Old song to be at the beach just chilling
Bit of a black horse... I went into it knitting that I didn't mind the beach boys but not something I'd seek out. This album was surprisingly varied and deep.
7/10
No more surfing for you
When is a Beach Boys album not a Beach Boys album? Before reading that Brian Wilson was not heavily involved in the production I noticed that the harmonies were not as rich and that the songs were more focused on social justice issues. Should they have renamed the group as they went in this different direction? "Beach Boys" as a brand name evokes sun, surfing and youth. Anyway, this album is a unique listen and a worthy comparison to other, more familiar Beach Boys songs.
A Beach Boys album that starts by telling you, “Don’t go near the water.” We love a self-aware shift.
morning commute music to try and not be consumed by dread to
It's a bit all over the place, especially side one just feels thrown together. But then it finishes with Til I Die and Surf's Up. These are so good that they are going to redeem almost any flaws. There's a version of Til I Die that I prefer on the Don Was produced Brian Wilson album from 1995. His voice 25 years older suits the song perfectly.
Day840 - i guess you’d have to be a pretty big fan to know this album but good for them for trying new sounds. feel flows is a really pretty song
They have such incredible vocals. It's not Pet Sounds tho
I really enjoyed this one. I think I finally got an understanding of why people regard the Beach Boys, especially Brian Wilson, as one of the best ever. This album is much less of the gimmick than others.
Love the Beach Boys 70’s discography
The Beach boys peeked the horrors. They are The Beach Men Now. An album I listened to while applying for job interviews. Between the moody album cover and the darker tone I did have to double check this was infact the beach boys. I really enjoyed this album, it was an easy listen with interesting use of effects and psychedelic tone. Despite the moodier tone it still had the bright and twee qualities of what I expect from the Beach boys. Favourite tracks: "Don't Go Near the water" (fantastic opening track), "Disney Girls" (enjoy the escapist lyrical theme), "Student Demonstration time" (what can I say...perfect!) would listen again!
I don't know how they do it. They just feel timeless and incredible, but somehow it's so clearly just that beach boys, 50s, California vibe.
Very different from their earlier material, quite eclectic in places 👍
Listened this morning - more classic rock and protest vs dreamy pop. They still can write the heck out of a song
Very good. Not Pet Sounds good but very good. Bluesy in good ways. Like everything the Beach Boys did, it is tight and well produced. Bonus points for great cover art.
This was cool. Definitely not the beachy vibe from other albums. Amazing to see Brian Wilson continue to evolve and be influenced by so many. 4/18/26
The Beach Boys' harmonies are unmatched. Some more rock and roll type songs in this album which were a interesting inclusion. Nice concise album
The Beach Boys were not done in 1969! This is such an interesting inversion of their public image while still sticking with their bread and butter musically. It really embodies the emotional arc of the optimistic 60s (of which their music was emblematic) to the pessimistic, cynical 70s after the Manson murders (in which they were tangentially involved). I know this wasn’t a commercial success but to me it is an artistic one. Jams galore, great writing, profound lyrics, thoughts that stick with you.
Super strong sunny stroll album when you're not sure yet what kind of day it will be
good work BGM
One of The Beach Boys' best efforts, providing a glimpse into a more mature, time-worn version of the band that started out so gleefully singing about surfing and cars and bikini girls. Everything from the gorgeously orchestrated love ballad "Disney Girls (1957)" and solemn elegy "A Day in the Life of a Tree", to the delightful prog-pop of "Feel Flows", to the dark multi-part dirge of the title track, this album delivers in spades with all of the Beach Boys' strengths. Except "Student Demonstration Time". Fuck that song.
Honestamente, una grata sorpresa.
Not at all what I’d expect from the Beach Boys, wow! This album is weird and dark, and some songs are really, really good for it, like Feel Flows and Don’t Go Near the Water, even Take A Load Off Your Feet feels like a great Ween song. But then some… really don’t land the jump: Disney Girls is just cringe and Student Demonstration Time feels off. But hey, long live People’s Park!
A delightful album that I didn’t know existed. A bit more experimental and psychedelic compared to their earlier surf rock work.
Wasn't aware of this Beach Boys record and yet I'm presently surprised by this. Memorable hooks and generally very pleasant recording, deserving 4 stars probably
Who knew the Beach Boys got this trippy? Some duds, but some incredible pieces, especially the last three songs, that clearly flow from the same genius behind Pet Sounds.
Many catchy songs, love lookin’ at tomorrow. 4.5/5
Had heard some of the beach boys hit singles before (none from this album) Highlights for me would be Feel Flows, particularly the added layers with flutes and saxophone, as well as day in the life of tree, could feel some sufjan stevens vibes from that one, depressing and somber but really beautiful. Long promised road feels more modern than 71' as well, the way they structured it made it quite catchy. Lowlights: Disney girls, felt a bit like a lullaby and snoozefest. Was not really needed in the album. Title song/ closer was also not up my alley.
I didn’t like it as much as I expected to. But there are some lovely moments here and I am feeling generous.
Really strange album, from the cover/title juxtaposition to the musical styles being all over the place. The great tracks are great and the oddities are odd enough to be fun.
I really like this how dynamic and interesting this is. It is truly a rollercoaster and as I finish for the second time I feel so full. The songs bounce off each other and the vibe of the songs just feed into the album cover. The end of the line which is a painting based ona sculture and wow what a fantastic metaphor. The beach boys have hit their peak and now their contempararies are slowly leaving and washing away and they reminicise on the career and impact they had while genre bending at every corner. The Title Track is a mix of 3 songs in 1 and it just feels like a beautiful bow being tied this album of reflection is evident in don’t go near the water clearly a metaphor to they must not do the same thing and they must innovate. Don’t go near the water being a warning it is so scary. It is a victory lap a somber run the bases. In a perfect world this would be the beach boys last album or at least it marks the end of an era
Delightfully weird and very much not a typical Beach Bots album.
Buen álbum, me gustó la primera parte sobre todo Puntaje: 8/10
Musiques intéressantes et good vibe !
Muy bueno, la verdad que no me esperaba escuchar a los beach boys haciendo algo medio experimental y a su vez hacer un pop precioso como ellos lo saben hacer, me gustó
Quirky - I was surprised to hear the Beach Boys sound like this.
High 3? I appreciated the album artwork vs the name of the album. Some evolved beach boy isms but a few funky (not in a good way) spots
I remember hearing this album for the first time. It's so impeccably bizarre and really lovely and beautiful. i love the beach boys!!
Pretty surprised about that one. Has a nice vibe to it
Me gustó. Lo sentí como una peli
This is way weirder and more psychedelic than I expected from a Beach Boys album. I’ve only ever listened to their biggest hits, and this album is very different. It has the beautiful harmonies that are distinctive of their sound, but the melodies and instrumentals are much more experimental. A great album!
I can see the talent but no favs
Surf’s Up has the unfortunate distinction of being the Beach Boys album most comparable to Pet Sounds (other than Smile of course). Even if it’s likely the second best Beach Boys album, that’s a lot to live up to since Pet Sounds may be better than any album made by anyone. If Pet Sounds is the sound of youth entering adulthood and trying to make sense of it all, Surf’s Up is the sound of adulthood kicking your ass. It’s worn down a bit, battered by an unfair world. It’s a fantastic record and best consumed in full, but it’s impossible not to compare it to Pet Sounds. Brian’s lessened role is apparent in its sound, but the talents of the band are undeniable.
I was not expecting this from The Beach Boys. Really enjoyed it though. Some of the slower songs didn't spark joy but the more psychedelic and rock focused ones really spoke to me. I also appear to be in the minority here because I actually really enjoyed Student Demonstration Time.
i will listen to the beach boys all day any day
It's great but also quite odd
Great album
I guess I like the Beach Boys! At least Pet Sounds and the couple of albums right after that. Plus this one. I haven't heard much between Smiley Smile and this one. The Surfin USA type stuff doesn't really speak to me outside of being in a water park, but this album is full of rich harmonies and thoughtful songwriting. Solid melody work, interesting chord progressions. Great lyrical work. Even the ubiquitous rock album blues tune wasn't impotent like it can often be (imo) with this sort of group. I really, really enjoyed it and will probably be back in a couple of days.
8/10
Beach Boys, I was not familiar with your game! The harmonies are actually insane and I was not expecting them to get as political as they did. A really cool album with very strong themes - feels like a bait & switch when you look at the title, which is my favorite type of album. Highlights: Disney Girls, Feel Flows, Student Demonstration Song
Really surprised I’ve never heard of this album or any of the songs. Finally a nice surprise on this list.
Fine album. Some seminal tracks and mould breaking production values. Not every track was exceptional hence the rating
Solid album. Definitely not their best. Lacks the layers of sound that Brian Wilson and the Boys are known for
great album
The world was going to hell in 1971 and it hasn't got much better
*84 Første track beskriver meget godt den situation, som Danmark er endt i mht. vores indre farvande. Lidt sjovt vi ikke er blevet meget klogere 55 år senere. Der et par meget mærkelige tracks iblandt, men de sidste tre er spot on. Især A Day In The Life of a Tree og ‘Til I Die er rørende smukke. + coveret er utroligt flot.
7/10 At their best, The Beach Boys create stunning music. Brian Wilson is obviously the key figure from a songwriting point of view, with the quality of his melodic ear and his balancing of interweaving lines of counterpoint into those lush vocal harmonies creating some beautiful and captivating music. But the rest of the band aren't bad either. This record is a little bit light on Brian, but there are some quality tracks from Carl, Bruce's Disney Girls, which is sugary sweet but lovely, and even the odd moment from Mike Love (Student Demonstration Time aside) which come together to create a decent, if slightly uneven record. The problem with a collection like this is that the members of the band often have slightly different sounds that they go for with their compositions, and without Brian at the tiller, both for songwriting support and in the producers chair, the results can be a little disconnected. But there's still a lot to enjoy here. They're a tight and talented band, who aren't afraid to have a play with production to bring out some interesting tones across the tracks. It even gets a touch proggy in places. And obviously, the vocal harmonies are always great. The final two tracks of the album are special indeed and do help to elevate the record just a bit. It's not the greatest Beach Boys album, but it's still worth a listen, and there's enough in here to make it worthy of a repeat spin now and again. Don't Go Near The Water - An interesting, slightly experimental start. It's a bit twee, but it's melodically solid and has a nice groove to it. Not a top tier Beach Boys effort, but not bad either. Long Promised Road - This is a step forward in quality. It's got that more soulful edge typical of a Carl Wilson composition. It's subtle, has a nice ebb and flow of groove and has some great melodies with engaging backing vocals. It's a slightly muddled mix, but that kind of works with the grubby soul tone. Take A Load Off Your Feet - Another slightly twee track that has that nice edge of silliness that works pretty well for a lot of Beach Boys songs. It doesn't offer the greatest amount of variety across its runtime, but it's another pleasant, middling quality effort. Disney Girls (1957) - I unashamedly love this song. Sure, it's saccharine as all hell, but it has a beautiful bittersweet feeling that just hits me in all the right ways. I love the melodies, the harmonies, the subtle drift of the rhythm and flow. It's just sweet and lovely. Student Demonstration Time - It's a grubby blues number that doesn't really fit the feel of the rest of the record. It's pretty by the numbers and doesn't do anything particularly interesting or new. It also sounds like someone trying to be political but not really getting it or sounding convincing. That'd be a Mike Love composition then. Feel Flows - Some more Carl Wilson soul edged stuff now but with a prog twist to the production. Again, there are some excellent melodic moments in this and the general vibe of the production is lovely. It does feel like they could have done more with this though and developed it into some broader directions as it feels a tiny bit too anchored to its base chord structure. Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) - There's a nice enough vibe to this, but it's a bit of a basic and unadventurous composition. Not bad necessarily, and quite tonally pleasant, but a little bland. A Day In The Life Of A Tree - And now we reach the Brian Wilson tryptych that ends the record. It's a slightly weird start, a hymn like song from the perspective of a tree. It's pretty, it's a bit quirky and odd and has that trademark Brian Wilson bittersweet sound. It's not one of his best, but it's nice. 'Til I Die - Ah, now this is gorgeous. Some of the harmonies and modulations are so lush and it strikes that balance between being completely heart wrenching but having a very slightly optimistic edge. The stacked vocal harmonies that roll around at the end are just beautiful. Surf's Up - And he keeps rolling with a track originally intended for Smile. Again, he writes melancholy so well and his construction of harmony and counterpoint are just stunning. The ebb and flow of the track takes you on a wonderful journey, through moments of sparsity to full, rolling tonal beds, but every bit is wonderful. What a way to end a record.
Sweet sweet start that tapers off a touch towards the middle. Title track is the clear highlight (and the only one of these that I had heard before) but this is mostly an excellent album. Always down for an environmental anthem, no matter how dorky. 4.5
I remember feeling mellow towards this album when I first heard it, but it's growing on me much harder now, Long Promised Road reminds me of another of my favorite Beach Boys songs, I Wasn't Made For These Times. Student Demonstration Time uses synths in some of the coolest ways I've ever heard ever. Feel Flows is really my final highlight, but it's a lovely one.
Has that prime Beach Boys’ sensibility/vibe: innocent and child-like but with more social consciousness. The result sounds like a record that comes across as motivational to me. First impression notes (from when I listened to this before getting this album: The Beach Boys updated to a soft-rock/soul/70s pop sound. So serious like Pet Sounds)
Classic 70s soft rock (like beatles). Upbeat and ehole album is same vibes like its one big song.
Darker edgier Beach Boys, many of the same approaches harmony Melodie’s but with the sunshine dulled or absent
8/10
I didn’t know that the Beach Boys didn’t suck! All of their popular songs are bubble-gummy yuck. This had substance.
This was a gorgeous album, will be listening to agin
This is one of the most iconic images from my childhood. I miss my dad:(
Oh nice. I like The Beach Boys. Love ‘em actually. Pet sounds, forever, heroes and villains… all phenomenal experiences. So I was glad to get this one! And I enjoyed it plenty. Even when the political stuff kinda gets in the way of the overall enjoyment, because, it sucks, specifically that annoying student demonstration song, but the lush air of the whole thing is still very enjoyable, especially the fantastic b-side, culminating in one of the best tracks of the Boys’ careers. Overall it’s pretty alright. It left AN impression on me. I like it! It’s pretty great! 8.6/10
I was really glad to have the opportunity to discover this beach boys album, because, other than pet sounds, the only impression I had of them was that they were slightly corny (based on what little I know of their older music). I knew since I listened to pet sounds in college that Brian Wilson was an auteur of composition, but I still would never have guessed that the beach boys made music like this. There is a ton of artistry on display here. Some of the compositions remind me of Jacob Collier, with their Maximalism, and I love all of the little phonic details. The first half of the album was very catchy and easy to sing along to, and the second half was a little more contemplative and structurally experimental (cut from a similar cloth as pet sounds). This has got me intrigued to look into more of their music, because I thought this was phenomenal
My mind is a little blown that this album is new to me. I think I tended to dismiss the Beach Boys as lightweight, when I was younger, but then I started picking up hints that Brian Wilson was a genius, Pet Sounds a masterpiece, etc., plus, as I told Ray recently, Fred had an 8-track tape (!) of the Beach Boys Greatest Hits when we roomed together at FSU, and I came to love those songs. But, somehow, despite periodically reassessing the Beach Boys in my adult life, I never had any awareness (to speak of - I guess the album cover looks a little familiar, lol) of this album, or that it could possibly end up in this (1001) list. Also interesting that it came out 3 months before Sly's "There's a Riot Goin On" (which, as Ray noted, could be a response to Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On"). Just to take that a step further: Those 3 albums all came out in 1971 (Gaye in May; Beach Boys in August; and Sly in November), which was (obviously) a time of great musical creativity, and also a response to the Kent State massacre (May 1970), and the Vietnam War (and the draft) more generally, as well as growing awareness that humans were harming the environment. It just occurs to me that this album might reflect the end of Brian Wilson's innocence (if you want to be . . . poetic? . . . about it): no more light-hearted songs about girls and surfing - or, more broadly, the end of his generation's innocence. Ok, well, I still need to rate this album, lol. That's difficult, but I think I'll go with 4 stars. Not a 5; not a 2; possibly a 3, but I think it deserves a 4 (or at least a 3.5). At the moment, I'm listening a 2nd time, and there's this amazing flute (!) in "Feel Flows," so, yeah, definitely a 4, and I'll probably want to come back to this again at some point.
8/10… art rock / baroque pop / *1971
What a weird album from the Beach Boys. Unfocused musically, lyrically, production-wise…but it mostly comes together to work (other than the notable misfire Student Demonstration Time). Side A in particular is completely scattered, though I still like most of the tunes. Side B is where it really kicks into gear, with the ending 2 songs being stunningly wonderful. Carl makes some great contributions with Feel Flows and Long Promised Road. Take A Load Off Your Feet is so silly that you want to hate it but can’t. Most of it just has a vague overlying trippiness to it. It’s an album that works when it shouldn’t, and shows the BBs can continue to offer good music that isn’t their surf rock shtick or at the complicated heights of Pet Sounds.
This really caught me by surprise. I am familiar with Pet Sounds but was unaware that they made anything this weird and good after that album. I really love the oddness of the protest song.
This barely sounds like the beach boys IMO
Beautiful album great work. Favorite song was Disney girl.
This was a beach boys revelation for me, havibg obly been familiar with greatest hits i kinda thought they were a one trick pony. But this album had depth, musicality & a touch of thr Eagles at times
A more darker side of The Beach Boys that I really appreciated! Loved this one!
So much better that I expected
I did not realize the Beach Boys were like this. A rabbit hole to explore later
Everything on this album was new to me, and I had to listen to it twice after seeing some low reviews to make sure I wasn't missing something. This is so good, experimental pop in peak form with definitely some stuff that falls on the wrong side of the fine line between clever and stupid, ie Student Demonstration Time. But otherwise really great stuff, standouts were Feel Flows and Disney Girls. Rounding down for Student Demonstration Time.
Good
This certainly ain't Surfin' in the USA. This Beach Boys album comes off as more serious and experimental VS what one thinks a Beach Boys album should sound like. Frankly I need to spoend more time with this but it might be my new favorite Beach Boys album.
interesting - some blues, some downtempo. still some falsetto too
Much better than I expected. Pretty relaxing. I listen to it in the background, so I would recommend it.
they have a talent of putting the most gorgeous song you’ve ever heard right next to the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever heard 😭 obligatory: what the fuck student demonstration time
Mu bueno Mu bueno Mu bueno Mu bueno
Never appreciated the skills and craftsman’s ship of this band. Now I do
tiene gracia que los Beach Boys sean mejores cuanto más triste están
4,5/5
Nunca afondei na discografía dos Beach Boys. Nunca entrei nela máis alá do aclamado Pet Sounds e nin sequera me lembro da última vez que o escoitei completo. Non porque non me gusten, senón porque o tempo é finito e non hai sempre capacidade para abarcar todo o que un quere. Ten a parte mala de que vivín estes trinta e un anos (e oito meses) alleo a discos coma este Surf's up. Ten a parte boa de que aínda hai marxe para que un álbum que leva publicado cincuenta e cinco anos me voase a cabeza nunha primeira escoita nada máis comezou a soar 'Don't Go Near the Water'. Pareceume unha marabilla. Psicodelia, clasicismo, pop, unha banda irrepetible adentrándose no inexplorado. Confeso tamén que se me apagou o cerebro a medio disco (despois de 'Disney Girls') porque estou desfeito de embalar, cargar e descargar caixar cidade arriba e cidade abaixo, pero volvín conectar no tramo final cun trío fantástico de cancións de peche. Foi a miña primeira visita, mais seguro que non a última (é máis, a segunda xa está a ser mentres redacto isto) (#22 dos 1.001 discos que escoitar antes de morrer: 4/5)
Oddly enough, I just can't get into The Beach Boys. I know Pet Sounds is widely considered a masterpiece. Even Paul McCartney has claimed that "God Only Knows" is the greatest song ever written. But the sound of The Beach Boys, while very pretty, just doesn't appeal to me as a listener beyond a few of the early singles. My first casual listen to Surf's Up left me ambivalent. I just didn't care. My close listen through headphones was much more interesting. The arrangements, production, and performances are just stellar. No one should ever deny that The Beach Boys' harmonies are top-notch. In rock and roll, only Crosby, Stills, and Nash have better male harmonies if you ask me. And this record has a much more mature feel. It sounds like the Dark Beach Boys from an alternate universe. I came closer to liking this record than even Pet Sounds, but something about it still felt contrived to me. I wasn't surprised when I read up on the album's history and learned that it was deliberately created to shift the group back into the early '70s mainstream "counterculture" zeitgeist. The result is a gorgeous album with a lot to love. But something just feels off to me, inauthentic. To me, this album has a five-star sound with a three-star execution. Let's split the difference and give it four stars.
cool
How perfect of a coincidence i get this album the day i see Al Jardine make a quick guest appearance on one of my favorite podcasts and he talks a TINY bit about this! This is as Tim Heidecker calls it “the reccord all the hipsters like” and i’d be right with them i guess.
Really good stuff
Second best Beach Boys album. Enjoyed it a lot
There was an unexpected blues banger in this. Not the cheesey pop i was expecting. Song about a tree was weird but good. Student demo my fave song. Harmonies were banging tbf - 'til i die especially.
beach boys!
A strange but strangely beautiful later career album from The Beach Boys. Gone are the days of fun loving surf rock. This is building on the precedent.set by the experimental "Pet Sounds". But it's not simply Brian Wilson at the helm, although his work is clearly present. All of the members have their stake in trying to stay relevant after the late 60s. It may not be their best work and certainly not their best known. But this is more evidence that The Beach Boys were one of the most significant bands of their era.
I had only listened to their very early works and Pet Sounds, so this was my first time hearing this album. It's also been a while since I last listened to The Beach Boys themselves, but their vocals and harmonies are as pleasing as ever, with a beautiful timbre that sounds great. However, it's far from perfect.
Liked it more than pet sounds
Pretty good pretty gooood
Candidly I need to listen to more of the beach boys. I really haven’t dove in as I haven’t been compelled by the small sample I’ve heard and purely rely on their historical significance and popularity as my reason to listen to more. This album broke the mold of what I thought they were and I liked that. It’s definitely not my favorite album in the world but I can see myself returning to this and liking it the more I listen to it.
Pretty cool, surprisingly rocky, and bluesy.
A somber psychedelic pop/folk album. Lots of songs here focus on environmental and political concerns. A gripping, beautiful listen. One of the most fitting album covers I've seen to capture the mood of a record. 4/5.
This was a really solid album. There was a lot of really fun instrumentation, and there's just something that feels very of its time about it. It's vintage in a way that makes it very enjoyable for a modern listener. Favorites: Don't Go Near the Water, Student Demonstration Time, Surf's Up
très agréable à écouter et le cover art waw
I liked this album. I didn’t like every single thing about it, but it is definitely more mature than the early sixties songs of theirs. I was never a big fan of the Beach Boys, but I have to admit this is definitely worth listening to. Solid 4 for me.
More matured than the early albums.
Surprisingly good, especially for a Besch Boys album I’d never heard of before. Several songs took on political themes, as far as I know a new development for them, even if the lyrics were a little more simplistic than their norm.
Surprisingly poignant
Fast 5 aber knapp noch eine 4/5
What an album. It’s starts with the odd Don’t Go Near the Water. I’m sure it was an honest plea to fight water pollution but they chose toothpaste and soap to attack. Take a load off your feet was another odd song. Just odd lyrics. The reworking of a blues song to create the protest song Student Protest Time. When I started listening I thought okay this is a pro-protest song but then by the end I was left unsure. Also some of the do-dos were a bit too happy for such heavy subject matter. But I liked Til I Die and Surf’s Up. There was something about both those song that grabbed me. The lyrics were good too. I also liked Disney Girls.
good album, some good songs on it, felt more intimate than other albums
Standout tracks: Long promised road Disney girls (1957) A day in the life of a tree 'Til I die Surf's up This album isnt at all what i was expecting and was way better than what i thought i was getting in to. A really great listen with some memorable moments.
Some good songs here, but also some real doozies. Maybe I don’t get it but A Day in the Life of a Tree and Student Demonstration Time came off as jokey. A song about Kent State that sounded like Bad to the Bone? Also, does anybody think that the end of These Things I’ll Be Til the Day I Die is kind of like “I Got Soul But I’m Not a Soldier”?
Overall a really fun album but oh my god what a stinker “student demonstration time” is
This is certainly a strange album. Anyone going into this expecting cheery songs about surfing and girls is going to be very confused. I became obsessed with this album after Brian Wilson passed. I was lured in by the dark cover that you wouldn't expect from the Beach Boys. With the top-notch production and gorgeous harmonies, this still sounds like the band, but there is something darker lurking under the surface. The songs are mostly about pollution. 'A Day In The Life Of A Tree' is sung from the perspective of a dying tree. Although that may sound corny, there's something about the combination of the pained vocals and the organ that makes me feel so incredibly sad. 'Disney Girls (1957)' and 'Student Demonstration Time' are by far the worst tracks here, with the former song being a tacky Disney endorsement and the latter being a dated take on the civil unrest of the time. Post-Pet Sounds Beach Boys are such an interesting band. They continued to experiment and got varying results, but this album is a winner despite the weak cuts.
El que más me ha gustado de los Playus hasta ahora
Spacy groovy beach boys.
Took me a little while to get on the wavelength as it feels very different from the Beach Boys I know. Some very interesting and solid songwriting. Feels like a Weezer influence.
achei maneiro, coeso, salvei duas músicas, na conhecia a banda nem o álbum
Pretty solid 4 stars. Great songs with a melancholy vibe. Student Demonstration is stupidly out of place in the album but I quite like the song by itself.
Solid album from a great band. Really shocked I had never heard student demonstration time.
I didnt know what to expect from the Beach Boys but I was surprised by the content in this album. Very progressive song lyrics and the guitar and the vocals are nice. I think I liek Student Demonstration Time and A Day in the Life of a Tree the best. Some tracks are very energetic while some are more slow and ethereal. 7.2/10 Also, just realized I've been messing up by out of 10 ratings with the five star system lol.
The first Beach Boys album I actually liked
240626 23:46 4
Some good songs and I am impressed with their environmental messaging in 1971.
The first half of the album is upbeat and the latter half is sad and slow.
The Beach Chads
Love beach boys
The grown-up, more mature, Beach Boys - still some amazing harmony and brilliant instrumentation and playing, but now instead of just singing wistfully about a cute surfer girl or catching the perfect wave, they've got real things to say. They were socially conscious, and this album was one way to express those thoughts. I thoroughly enjoyed this album!
The perfect album for todays walk home. 4 degrees, the ice is melting away, cold and clear skies. The sun is slowly setting. I really liked this.
Honestly this was a great album with a lot of great musical ideas happening. First of all the dreamy vocals which initially I didn't like but they work so well with the dreamy, alternative vibe of the music that I can't imagine the album without them. The vast range in melodies and feels of this album are also a great part of it. 8/10, Favorite Song: Feel Flows
Heard of The Beach Boys, don’t know if I could name a song. Don’t think they make the type of music I like. Don’t go near the water is a fun song, very well written. Really good production on long promised Road. The solo in the back half is really cool. Take a load is goofy and dated. But with that being said it is musically impressive. So far, not what I was expecting when I saw the Beach boys. Disney girls was more what I was expecting. Not my style, but not horrible. Good lyrics and harmonies. Student demonstration time is awesome. So many cool sounds going on. Again not what I was expecting from The Beach Boys. A classic rock song. Not a complicated song, but sometimes simple is better. Fuel flows is saved by the guitar/flute solo. Other than that pretty average song. Looking at tomorrow was pretty average as well. Nothing really stood out about it. Life of a tree is really cool. Good use of the flute again. Great song writing. Really emotional. Not a fan of til I die. Just too much going on. Not very catchy. Surfs up is really well written. First 2 mins is what I would expect felt beach boys, very poppy. Cool switch up in the middle. Good piano. Good closer to the album. Very fun overall. 3.5 stars
358/1089 - "Surf's Up" the song has one of the most beautiful phrases in all of music, and is my favorite Beach Boys song. I'm excited to see what the rest of the album has to offer. After listening: Normally I deduct stars for emergency vehicle noises as it's confusing for me when listening while driving. I think it's obviously fake sounding in Student Demonstration Time, so I'm not gonna deduct stars for that. I like the cleaner voices of the Wilson brothers over Love and Jardine and thought the album was too safe overall.
fantastic beach boys record - an expansion on already fantastic works. disney girls remains a classic
It is hard to rate. It has it's good moments and it has it's boring moments. It is barely 4.
vibed
8.7/10. Surf’s up sounds haunting, fragile & everything I didn’t expect The Beach Boys to sound like-in the best way possible. I wasn’t familiar with this record before, and this is the first Beach Boys album I’ve listened to, though of course I’m familiar with most of their popular songs. I’m glad this was the first one of their records to pop up because honestly before this, I wasn’t particularly the biggest fan of their Surf-Style Pop Rock-it just didn’t draw me in before. Now I can say I’m a fan & I’m looking forward to hearing their other material to compare the different styles & eras. Favorite song: Surf’s Up Least favorite: Take a load off your feet
Even with Mike Love's horrible Student Demonstration Time, this is a four-star album. It has some of the most beautiful Beach Boys songs on it
Not a Beach Boys album I’m familiar. Love the arrangements. A real focus on environmental issues it seems
This is nothing like I expected and surprisingly good
different
8.5/10
Heat
Hadn’t heard this beach boys record before. Not surprised it’s really good.
My first 4. Unexpected. This was just really chilled and I liked it.
For me this is by far the best album that the beach boys ever released and for its time this album still holds up well even to today’s pop/pop rock standards. One of the biggest criticisms this album gets is on one specific song “student demonstration time”. However I think the criticism is somewhat misplaced as yes I agree that the actual lyrics are not as good as some of the others and the message seems to not have been portrayed very well, the actual musical aspect of the song I think is the best on the whole album. It has a really true 70s sound and the distortion on the guitar paired with the sirens that play every so often really tie the song together making it in my opinion the best on the whole album. As for the rest of the album it’s also very good I think the opening track is relatively weak compared to the rest but it made up for by the fact that it’s followed by long promised road which is a phenomenal song. All together it’s a very good album, especially for its time but due to the generally similar sound of a lot of the songs I just can’t give it 5 stars but it’s a strong 4 stars A medium 8 out of 10
First time listening to a beach boys record. I recall a random fact that includes Charles Manson and music.
Really liked this one. Probably the only Beach boys album I'll listen to again. Definitely not what I expected.
It was interesting. Not the beach boys songs I know for sure!
Muy buen album y tremenda portada
Never heard of this album before I think it’s quite good A Day In The Life Of A Tree is my favourite song in this album 8.5/10 2025/12/27
cool album!
So nearly a masterpiece. The production is slightly ramshackle, to my ears. A couple of the songs aren't quite as good as the others. But when it's good, this album is really good. I love Long Promised Road.
I actually rly liked it. Didn’t kno they got down like that
Album #10 The Beach Boys: Surf's Up On paper, an album called “Surfs Up” by “The Beach Boys” should be the most generic-sounding surf-rock and sunshine pop ever created, relegated to only being played during yacht parties and over beach volleyball cutscenes in Top Gun. Yet the album cover indicates that there may be a level of irony to the nomenclature, depicting a warrior and his steed seemingly approaching the end of their journey, almost in a horseman of the apocalypse style. This album, much like The Beach Boys' crowning achievement, “Pet Sounds,” indicates why they were compared to the Beatles at the time. Not only can they create irresistible pop melodies, but they are also capable of experimenting with their music and exploring darker themes. One thing that always separated the Beach Boys from the Beatles, however, was just how unapologetically American they were with their themes. At the time, there was a great sense of post-war optimism in the United States, almost a sense of naivety, which appeared in some of the Beach Boys' poppier early albums. Yet in Surfs Up, however, much like the title of the album appears to take something joyous and make it melancholic, they focus less on American optimism and more on the cynical reality. Exploring themes of environmentalism (A Day in the Life of a Tree), death (Til I Die), and Police Brutality (Student Demonstration Time). Even the song ‘Disney Girls’, which at first may seem like a more traditional Beach Boys pop tune, has an underlying sense of sadness about it, and when examining the lyrics further reveals it is about a man who escapes his disappointing reality with fantasies of fictional Disney Girls, knowing that love will never be found in real life. No doubt the centrepiece of the album is the title track. Closing the album on such a sad yet beautiful note, the song includes some of the Beach Boys' finest imagery and lyrics. Yet my favourite song off the album has to be Long Promised Road. This song also explores the themes of depression and dissatisfaction of life, but what sets it apart from the others on the album is the uplifting and irresistible chorus, which encourages you to fight back and overcome your obstacles. Something about this album just has such an intriguing atmosphere about it. I never did consider the Beach Boys to be anywhere near the Beatles since I wasn’t as familiar with their discography, but if this album is anything to go by, then it seems as though the Beach Boys may have multiple albums which are capable of going toe-to-toe with the Beatles' best. Take a Load Off Your Feet and Student Demonstration Time in particular seem to be pointed to as the weak points of the album, and whilst I would agree, I don’t think either track is that bad. I also don’t agree with the criticism that they are thematically inconsistent, as to me, the theme of the album seems to just be general grievances and struggles, and a back and forth between cynicism and optimism, which can be seen in both songs. Best Songs: Long Promised Road, Disney Girls, Surfs Up Worst Songs: Student Demonstration Time Score out of 10: 9
A more mature beach boys record, not just about girls and beach days. Still has those great harmonies. I think I really enjoyed this and considering it is only 35 minutes long I am going to listen again. Also I am giving this 4 stars.
the dreamy atmosphere pulled me in and never let go. it was a very fun listen with catchy songs. a little too much choir but idk. it is one of the underrated the beach boys albums. it was beyond love and much more about our society. loved it
I’m ashamed to say that I’ve never listened to this one—only Pet Sounds. I’ve heard this is their second best album, though. The cover is absolutely hilarious. It’s like this guy in anguish with SURF’S UP 😎 written over his head. The Beach Boys have always been interesting to me in that way—they’re this band famous for writing about surfing and girls, but then they also had a member who horrifically drowned, they were managed by their incredibly abusive father, and Brian Wilson was in and out of mental hospitals. He also was absolutely obsessed with being better than The Beatles—and the two bands actually mutually inspired each other. The complexity of their songs is also insane. Good Vibrations, for example, is so basic on surface-level, but it actually has an insane amount of layers to it. This album wasn’t as good as Pet Sounds, but it is certainly fantastic. The songs are deeply thoughtful and introspective. The opening seconds immediately hook you in and refuse to let go. I’m just wondering wtf Student Demonstration Time is. At first it sounded like a hollow attempt at a protest song, and then like it was making fun of the four students who died at Kent…and I honestly can’t tell, it was written by Mike Love though, and he’s reportedly a jerk. The sirens were kinda cool but they were so out of place. Anyway, yeah. Bad sticks out more than good. So even if my main comments are about that song, the rest of the album is genuinely great.
Første gangen æ hørte på det tenkte æ «ka E det her???» men andre gangen æ hørte på det tenkte æ at det ikke e så verst. Det e ikke akkurat sånn æ hadde sett for mæ at The Beach Boys skulle høres ut, men æ like det likevel.
Very different, but very good. I enjoy their music no matter what they do.
Very solid. Great lyrics and bursting harmonies. I tried to think that they were overrated in their earlier days, but I undeniably get it. Better to be in on it than be a hater
Okay okay okay this is good right off the bat! Yeah, this is tight, better than the last Beach record I had easily! Fav tracks: Don't Go Near the Water Long Promised Road Disney Girls (1957) Surf's Up
Nice
Favorite Songs: 'Til I Die, Disney Girls, Feel Flows Least Favorite Song: Student Demonstration Time So different from their usual sound, but in the best way. The dreaminess, the vocal layering, the psychedelic production, and that damn flute solo?!
The tracks pass me by but leave me feeling so cosy
Such a different experience listening on headphones (lossless) ❤️a day in the life of a tree
Some good stuff on here. Liked Feel Flows in particular. And Long Promised Road and Till I Die were strong. Till I Die like much of the album not the cheery Beach Boys of old. Surfs Up also great. That student demo track was bad. Not sure on the water, tree or feet ones. Will revisit this. Going to go 4 (just).
Really enjoyable. Long Promised Road Disney Girls and A Day In A Life Of A Tree (did it inspire Spiritualised?). Better than Pet Sounds?
A bit more of a mixed bag than its superior predecessor Sunflower, however there are enough flashes of Wilson's simplistic genius to ease this to well above average status. Has something of the feel of a musical equivalent of Kerouac's Big Sur - the end of era, the world weariness, the comedown.
On the first listen I thought "meh, beach boys." I listened to it again and it's pretty impressive. I did skip Take a Load Off Your Feet and Student Demonstration Time because those songs suck. The tracks are pretty layered and intricate and in a lot of ways this feels like a Beatles album. I also like the ironic "Surf's Up" title paired with the darker themes and music, at least by the beach boys' standards.
pretty dope, pretty vibey. didnt know the beach boys fucked like that. favorite song is probably Surf's Up, maybe Long Promised Road
So much weirder, darker, interesting and political than I expected
Haven't listened lately, but got into it in the early aughts through the magic of internet piracy. Never would have bought it... it really had very little critical or popular esteem until this century. But it's very enjoyable. Not up to the standards if Pet Sounds... but what us? And being a sleeper record, it has the strong benefit of not being played-out and overhyped. I dig it.
Imagine a group of 13 year olds who were given the task to create an art project about environmentalism. It’s not always focused. It’s mostly kinda dumb. But these kids have crazy musical talent. That’s what Surf’s Up sounds like to me. I’m not likely going to listen to this again but audacity in art should be rewarded.
Enjoyed a different sound than what I know of from them
I didn’t know they could do all that!! hell yeah
this is not what I expected beach boys to sound like. a lot "grungier" than I thought. pretty good
First listen Saved 7/10 Top track: Surf's Up
First time listening to the beach boys. My impression - Beatles at seargent pepper vibes. Pleasant to listen to. Fav: long promised road
Love this album, the Beach Boys were on the path to Pet Sounds, you can hear the genesis of Brian's genius in this collection.
My first time listening to The Beach boys, really enjoyed the sound and will keep on listening to some other albums The social and political critique, specially “student demonstration” feels very fitting to our current times. It closes with two very powerful songs: 'Til I die and Surf's up
Never listened to The Beach Boys before, so have nothing to compare it to with this album. It's different from anything I've ever listened to before, with the opening track "Don't go near The Water" being an almost... Psychedelic... Country feel? Following up, "Long Promised Road" is more classic Rock n Roll, but still twists into something less conventional with the synth/keyboard sound around it's half way mark. Already, after only two tracks, I like this album for it's pure novelty factor, blending various sounds and genres to make for something that feels both experimental and grounded in conventions. An album like this wouldn't be complete without a Ballad like "Disney Girls", which has many of the conventions of a song like this: slow drums, rising and falling guitars and soft supporting bassline all dreamily pulled along by the lyrics. "Student Demonstration Time" is a huge change up straight after Disney Girls and I really liked it. [I read other reviews regarding this song and was shocked to find it was widely hated, understanding that the sirens and lyrics themselves is what has caused the hate. As for it's sound, I did enjoy it, but it's lyrics and the political view's of Mike Love are easy to condemn.] Another album that has a lot of twist and turns in it's tone, I really enjoyed this one still. A further reflection: It is more than possible that, even though I have listened to lots of different music across the modern era, I still do not know enough to pick out the bad from the good, whether that be individual tracks or whole albums. Still, I continue to listen with optimism with each new album.
Existential, ethereal, haunting.
Despite what the title may suggest, this is far from the "cars and girls" early-60s sound of the Beach Boys. Instead, it's thematically very dark by Beach Boys standards, despite musically sounding fairly light. "Student Demonstration Time" isn't that bad, it's just far heavier and louder than everything else on the album. I won't say this is a bad album, but it's not the best thing I've ever heard, either.
> the Beatles
Überraschend moody für Beach Boys-Verhältnisse. Nicht jedes Experiment hat für mich funktioniert, aber gerade wenn sie mit ihren Harmonien spielen, ist das schon ziemlich groß.
Good interesting album
The second best Beach Boys album right after Pet Sounds. Consistent all around, but there are a few weaker tracks on the A side. Overall very nice, and often overlooked. 8/10
These white boys need a wellness check
this is not the chamber pop/choir sound that i associate with the beach boys so i found it a lot more engaging and enjoyable. fav tracks: feel flows
I actually really enjoyed this. A lot more psychedelic rock oriented than the other beach boys I’ve heard which felt much more pop. My gripe is usually that the music sounds too childish for me to ever choose to listen to it but this didn’t have that feeling at all really.
Much more rock and roll than I thought The Beach Boys were. An album about environmental conservation, self-care, and protesting the Vietnam war and the treatment of anti-war protesters could easily come off as preachy in the wrong hands, but thankfully these hands are just right. Layering haunting and beautiful vocal harmonies throughout, this album gave me a much better appreciation for the depth of The Beach Boys as musical artists. Some excellent standout tracks for me include Feel Flows, Student Demonstration Time, and A Day In The Life Of A Tree.
Can't say I've heard many of these, but I was really digging the vibes. Will listen to a lot of these tracks again, especially A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TREE.
Surprised I’ve never dabbled in this album. Like a few of their other albums and the cover looks familiar enough so it’s odd this one snuck past
J'aime beaucoup les Beach Boys mais peut-être pas mon album préféré
J'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé! Plein de pistes sympa, j'ai même hésité avec 5/5. Totalement ma came je pourrais réécouter
Buzzy and mellow
A very chill if occasionally melancholy listen
way more depth sonically & lyrically than anticipated
The Beach Boys making a "Can we talk about the political and economic state of the world, right now?" album was something I never knew expected and it wasn't too bad.
Didn’t realize The Beach Boys had range like that, enjoyed the album
ooof. noen middels sanger som gjør det til et album som dessverre ikke er 5/5. men har en av tidenes sanger - surfs up
Very cool album. Album art is off the charts, music is arranged and crafted so tastefully and the vocals are fire
Better than I expected. Not a typical Beach Boys album.
Very nice. Not the sound I expected but still proggy and interesting. The Beach Boys always surprise me and they deliver.
Cant go wrong with the beach boys! Though i wouldnt put most songs in my playlist but i can admire the charming touch that they can bring. Favourite song: Feel Flows HM: Student demonstration time, Take a Load Off Your Feel
What a weird, great album.
This was full of underrated Beach Boy hits. Didn't know a single one, and mostly had thought the Beach Boys were strictly surf rock, but this far different from what I typically know them for. Great record.
A fun day at the beach and no I'm not kidding
It appears that the beach has been replaced by acid…
Nice tinniness. Easy listening.
This was the most 'Beatles' that I've heard the Beach Boys. I've only ever listened to a couple of their albums all the way through. This one I wasn't even aware of. Much more ambitious and experimental than what I knew by them. Have to admit I prefer a little less of Brian Wilson on the vocals. There are some kooky tracks but also some real quality too.
Three star with a boost for the best Beach Boys album art! If I want to listen to a weirdo Beach Boys album I’d listen to this.
Last three songs are 5/5, the rest of the album is 3/5
neocekivano
Good! Not Pet Sounds though. Surprisingly jangly and twangy.
A beautiful and distinct somber affair that remains recognizably Beach Boys. The music is very well composed and the lyrics are introspective and darker. It's not what you'd expect from the Beach Boys, but it's a really good album.
Slightly melancholic, dreamy, lovely arrangements.
Big surprise, another 70s album and you know what? I like it. It's interesting and creative, showing off what they are known for, and showing off what they are looking forward too. Solid 4* rating.
é um álbum gostosinho, só achei que não tem nada aver com a capa
I lived it
Maybe it's the recent run we've had but I found a lot to enjoy with this album. Most of the songs pretty catchy and the album felt consistent throughout
OoooooooOOOOoooOooooooh
I had never listened to The Beach Boys until I generated Pet Sounds earlier this year and it blew me away. This one doesn’t hit those highs but it is still really good and at times brilliant. Only two tracks let it down for me, Take A Load Of Your Feet and Student Demonstration Time. On the flip side it ends with two absolutely belting songs in Til I Die and Surf’s Up. Top Track - Surf’s Up
Wonderful album. The most adult version of the Beach Boys. It’s more complex and hits different to all the others.
Not The Beach Boys I’m used to at all - which I’ve never been a fan of but this was pleasant surprise. Some songs had sound similar to Ben Folds Five others had a Beatles vibe. Also liked different and new Beach Boys instruments - horns, woods or reeds? Enjoyable album
Solid listen! I respect what they're going for, though it didn't quite bite for me.
Classic.
Gloomy and a little dreary, an end to the innocence. More experimental than earlier works, more stretching and expanding. Enjoyable
You wouldn't pin the Beach Boys as Psychedelic music, yet they can be far more trippy than any psychedelic music I can think of: This album in particular is like watching a Disney movie on acid. This isn't my favorite of the Beach Boys but it's definitely an interesting work with very strong moments ('Til I die) I don't know what's going on with the mixing/mastering of the album, but some songs are really suffering from imabalanced mixes and inelegant distortion. Bordering on being bad enough to deduct a star.
It's no Pet Sounds, but it's actually a really good album, I had a good time with it. Doesn't overstay it's welcome. 4 Stars.
My doorway into the weird, wonderful world of mid-period Beach Boys. Worth it for the title track alone.
Not a bad album, glad I listened to this one. I might actually like this one more than Pet Sounds, which I've never really loved all the way through.
I hadn’t heard a single song!
Pound for pound there’s more genius in the Beach Boys than the Beatles
It's a bit of an uneven mess, but the highs are so high ("Feel Flows" and "Surf's Up" especially) that I can't help but love it overall
Woah this wasn’t what I was expecting even with the unusual cover for a beach boys album. This was super weird but amazing nonetheless, the messages of environmentalism were great for a start but musically it was so engaging due to how unique and psychedelic it was, it has the classic beach boys sound in there with the harmonies and obviously the distinct voice of Brian Wilson but it’s completely altered with the production and overall sound of the album, the effects on the vocals, the wah sounds I would never normally associate with the beach boys and the weirdness of some of the songs (like the tree one) really create a surreal environment. Honestly in some ways this is better than Pet sounds and is arguably better dated but it doesn’t have the consistency of pet sounds due to how experimental it is and I personally prefer the former anyway. This album as an example of not being consistent has songs like take a load off your feet and feel flows which a feel a bit too odd for my taste. However, when this album hits (and it does quite often) it hits hard especially for a first listen. Favourites: almost all other than the ones mentioned. Overall, 8/10 (maybe 9 but not quite from a first listen point of view).
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Best beach boys album I've listened to.
Good music, but BOY do those lyrics ever lack subtlety.
Echt een heel goed album! Mooie melodieuze liedjes en goede teksten. Meer diepgang dan ik had verwacht...
What an album, what a band.
A weird ass album full of good ass pop tunes that I can't quite put my finger on. I'm preaching to the choir here, I'm sure, but it should be said that The Beach Boys were way more than Pet Sounds and the early bring-your-babe-to-the-beach tunes.
Decent, definitely not the BB I grew up on. Would give it a relisten
Vibes!
Damn. My long review got eaten up by a reloaded page. Suffice to say that this is a pretty underrated album, grand in scope and theme, and feels like a true group effort with Brian mostly on the sidelines.
The Beach Boys are psychedelic on this one! Groovy.
Um belíssimo disco. Rico instrumentalmente com seus sons psicodélicos muito bem construídos, formando um painel que se encaixa perfeitamente com as harmonias vocais tão características da banda. Uma música ousada, comparativamente à predominância da surf musica ingênua dos Beach Boys.
I liked this!! Long promised road and student demonstration time in particular but probs need to listen to more again tbh