Surf's Up

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

Rating: 7/10 It's a solid album, and maybe the perfect recommendation for a Beach Boys record in the winter, moodier rather than sunnier. I'm not the biggest fan of this band but literally can't be anything other than a good listen

Something about these wispy backing vocals really gets me dude. I'm clearly missing something about the "best album ever created by mankind" but nah we're just pretty boring and a little annoying out here. I think I could actually fall asleep to this album 3.2/10

I went in expecting to hate this, but honestly wasn't that bad. 6 winter beaches out of 10 lizard wizards

fantastic album

So much weirder, darker, interesting and political than I expected

Day in the life of a tree had me chuckling. Sent it to Hunter

Ok 2/5

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.

Brian Wilson sucks ass on this album. His falsetto always makes the songs worse. Any track where he's involved as a writer or lead vocalist is bad. A lot of the tracks remind me of the Beatles but not as good, and I'm already not a fan of the Beatles. Long Promised Road and Lookin at Tomorrow are the only decent tracks. The musical compositions on this album are interesting, but overall it's a bad album. The album cover is sick though.

7th album with group. Before anything else I want to say that this is one of the best album covers of all time, up there with When the Pawn… and Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea. This album is pretty good but not as good as Pet Sounds. I will say though that Surf’s Up stands out as pretty good and wouldn’t feel out of place on Pet Sounds. Good Songs - Don’t Go Near the Water, Long Promised Road, Take a Load Off Your Feet, Disney Girls (1957), Student Demonstration Time, Feel Flows, Lookin’ at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song), A Day in the Life of a Tree, ‘Til I Die, and Surf’s Up. Bad Songs - Nothing.

Enjoyed a different sound than what I know of from them

Surprisingly, it really didn’t sound so great. It was a superficial take on The Beach Boys and really didn’t make a ton of sense.

I didn’t know they could do all that!! hell yeah

I just don’t like the Beach Boys

Poor

this is not what I expected beach boys to sound like. a lot "grungier" than I thought. pretty good

meh

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

There are some beautiful tracks here but I just don't think it works as an album. The message and theme unfocused and disparate, and the tone is all over the place. Consequently, the stand-out tracks (I'd say Disney Girls, Take a Load Off Your Feet and the title track) did not elevate the album, but lamented how great the Beach Boys could be. Alas!

Title track is pretty good, the rest is very uneven. Not all bad, but surely not a classic.

Okay so...how do i be nice about this... The Beach Boys have literally never interested me. My main knowledge of them is basically from Full House and whichever songs I've heard here and there throughout my 20+ years on this planet. Their whole vibe is just...meh imo. Needless to say, i wasn't exactly excited to listen to this when i was picked for me. I actually ended up missing the past 3 days, oops, but I wanted to get back into it which means diving into this. Overall, it was okay...I guess? My main issue is honestly the singing voices, it doesn't vibe with me at all for the most part. It feels like I'm being held hostage by a barbershop quartet. I cannot say my life has been made better by listening to a song about feet. At the very least, I now understand why my very conservative dad hates them. Some quick positives: I can genuinely see myself coming back to Long Promised Road, I really liked that one. There are a few other I might come back to individually like "Til I Die", "Feel Flows", and "Lookin' at Tomorrow". It's just very hard for me to stomach a whole album of theirs at the moment.

I'm not sure if this was quirky or downright disturbing. It's a pretty lacklustre album either way. Two stars, with one star for the absurdity of some of the songs, otherwise it would be a one.

Artwork is absolutely sickening, really strange choice for The Beach Boys and I love it. I like the Beach Boys, but they’ve never quite reached the heights for me personally that the Beatles do, if we’re going to open that old chestnut. Honestly I think a lot of it comes down to the fact that I find their voices annoying a lot of the time. First few songs are an example of another thing that loses me about the Beach Boys sometimes, I just find the songwriting can be a little meandering, there are cool things happening in the chord changes and the production, but it just doesn’t stick for me. I hear how they influenced Fleet Foxes output heavy on this record though. I hated Student Demonstration Time. This brand of white guy blues music is the worst. The Beach Boys voices are way too soft and vanilla to deliver in this context. A Day In The Life of A Tree has some beautiful organ work, it’s in a really cool space, vocal arrangements near the end are gorgeous. Lead vocal I don’t really care for Chord changes are always so interesting and unexpected, wonder where that influence is coming from? Suspended harmonies in Til I Die are so sick. Brian Wilson is the vocal harmony master. Closer title track is a highlight. Record vastly improves on Side B. This was an interesting turn. I’ve only ever listened to The Beach Boys up to Pet Sounds, and honestly didn’t really think there was much of note beyond that. But this is definitely of note, granted not all notes that I like, but I’m intrigued by it. I think I might revisit this out of curiosity, it might have grower potential (except Student Demonstration Time, pretty confident in that one).

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.

another cool album cover aha except not my favorite sounds... Beatles did it better

That's not my taste in music - But ok

Ik kende geen enkel nummer van dit album. Het is best een leuk album. Wel een vrij typische sound voor die tijd denk ik. Of in elk geval kwam het mij vertrouwd voor. Ik merk wel dat het niet muziek is die mij bij blijft. Ik vergeet het al snel weer

Weird. Lyrics sounded like they'd been written by an 8 year old.

Did not particularly enjoy this album Feel Flows as the highlight of these 35 min

Doesn't quite sound like the Beach Boys. Still has some good tracks though

favorite song-long promised road best song-don’t go near the water deep cut-a day in the life of a tree hidden gem-surf’s up

I am not sure how i feel about this album. It wouldnt be the first, second, possibly even the third BB album i would choose in a list of greatest albums. On the one hand, the absence of Brian is notable in the production. The vocals are not prominent, the harmonies and complex arrangements are absent except maybe in the last two or 3 songs. On the other hand, it is not the album i would have expected without Brian at the helm (in a positive way). I think i need more time with this. Another album I am not sure if the mix is muddy or my headphones are shit. Two stars reserved for a hivher ranking later.

Good and of its time. Easy listen. Nothing here particularly memorable for me.

Hadn't really heard much Beach Boys beyond Pet Sounds and the greatest hits fodder. This was unexpectedly great. In particular, loved Disney Girls and Student Demonstration Time. 228.

Ni surf ni up porque qué es este BAJON de album😭 osea esta bastante bien pero es muy raro el combo Beach Boys con introspección... creo que, una vez mas, tenía otras expectativas y eso me tiene biased. Me gusta la combinación igual de las voces de ellos con las canciones mas tranquilas, pero no me veo volviendo al album

Atmospheric, some brilliance and some half-assed notions. Hard to call it a great album, as it has one defining track and a couple other interesting listens. I can't imagine telling someone, "Hey! You got to listen to this record!".

I didn't like it on first listen, but it grew on me. Would be better listened to on a speaker.

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.

Listened to a bit of it; definitely different, but enjoyable.

Decent album, with some catchy tunes. But alot more serious subject, and delivery, which is not what i was expecting when i popped on a beach boys album.

Just some boat music boomers enjoy. Not the worst, not the best

Existential, ethereal, haunting.

I always found Surf's Up to be overrated. It's experimental and psychedelic (for Beach Boys standards, at least), but Sunflower is literally just that but fun. Shoutout to the last two tracks, 'Til I Die and Surf's Up, for being perfect songs.

Non mi ha detto nulla, ma non è brutto

Love this album!

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.

Good but not great. Overrated because they are beloved.

> the Beatles

Hat mich leider viel weniger gepackt als gehofft. Dachte immer, dass The Beach Boys genau mein Ding sein könnte. Aber nun ja.

Kurzweilig, aber ohne dass viel hängenbleibt.

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.

Stabil, aber nicht mehr

Hätte ich von den Beach Boys so nicht erwartet, aber hittet zwischendrin immer wieder. Würde ich nur das Coverartwork bewerten wäre das eine 5/5, so rechts aber doch nur zur starken 3

Good interesting album

I really don't know what to do with The Beach Boys. Sometimes I think they're better than The Beatles and other times I think they only served to deliver Brian Wilson into the world to bring us Pet Sounds. Surf's Up is a weird one. It has moments of sheer brilliance like Long Promised Road and the titular Pet Sounds castoff track but also Mike Love message-music slop like Don't Go Near the Water or the jarring and incongruous Student Demonstration Time. I guess it ends up falling in the middle because of the very high highs and terribly low lows.

Decent! More psychedelic than I expected.

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

This is such a disappointing album because the artwork makes it seem like it will have a much darker tone, and then goofy light-hearted beach boys starts playing. Also Student Demonstration Time is so hard to listen to. I actually went back and downgraded it on rym to 35 after listening to this

This isn't The Beach Boys album that I would have expected. Instead, it's The Beach Boys grown up and trying to grapple with the issues of the late 60s and early 70s. Or, it's them trying to keep their work relevant as the world grows up around them. I'm not sure which it is, but it's interesting enough if you can gloss over some of the weirder plays they have in this market.

Not really sure what they were going for there

These white boys need a wellness check

noice

I felt nothing really

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.

it sounds like if you were a student in the seventies when these campus riots were goin on with fascist cops killing kids, this might be a good album to listen to. or if you were on drugs. or if you are a musician now looking for ideas, like a film maker looking at Goddard or avant guard modern art, you might find some great inspiration. Maybe Pavement would listen to this and go oh shit i got an idea for an album. but for us plebs 50 years removed, its weird af. Might listen again, but will give a 2.

I don't get it.

My understanding of the Beach Boys' music falls into two camps: good-time pop claptrap ("Little Surfer Girl," "Surfin' USA," etc.) and ambitious, insanity-inducing epics (Pet Sounds, SMiLE). Because I don't care for their music, I've never thought about what lies between those points until Surf's Up. What a thoroughly strange album, starting with the completely incongruous album art and title. Even if it had a different cover, Surf's Up does not suit the music and themes here. In continuing with precedent, I didn't like it and actively hated "Student Demonstration Time." It has nicer moments, but none I plan to revisit.

Surprisingly enjoyable

loved the sound - especially Feel flows

Wow this is sad. Not to mean the music is sad necessarily, it’s just sad to hear how far the band falls in this stage in their career. Apart from the title track I don’t think there’s any strong song here. The lyrics are juvenile and the production is flat and boring. I mean man this is the Beach Boys I was psychedelic pop extravaganza. This is a very dull record which dos a disservice to the band’s catalog. One star.

Somehow the music meets the high bar set by its cover art.

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

This was interesting to be a Beach Boys album. No the usual Surfin Safari but not for the better

Yeah it’s becoming evident that I don’t see the appeal in this era of the beach boys. And I’ve invested hours trying to figure it out.

J'aime beaucoup les Beach Boys mais peut-être pas mon album préféré

Je ne connaissais pas cet album, je le trouve vachement moins jovial que ce qu’on connaît des Beach Boys. On en parle de la pochette mega obscure ? Sinon; les voix sont toujours aussi cool ! C’est un peu triste

J'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé! Plein de pistes sympa, j'ai même hésité avec 5/5. Totalement ma came je pourrais réécouter

The title track is an undeniable masterpiece. Probably the last one Brian Wilson ever wrote, when you consider where things went for both him and the band in the 70s, 80s, and 90s. "Til I Die" is every bit its equal, too. On the other hand, it's fascinating that Mike Love, of all people, has the two overtly "socially conscious" songs here. Even though they're not very good, the uncontroversial politics of each is comically to the left of where he is today. The whole thing is a wildly mixed bag that feels funereal in a way. The Beach Boys never really struck gold again with original material until the deservedly derided "Kokomo" in the late 80's. This was the beginning of their transition to beloved legacy act, in retrospect.

Excellent songs of the current events of the time and the POP culture of that era. In my opinion their best LP. Although Pet Sounds is a technical masterpiece. I find Surf"s Up to be more enjoyable.

Buzzy and mellow

A very chill if occasionally melancholy listen

I love the album cover because to me it shows a usually powerful figure looking weak and defenseless under gloomy, dark blue cloudy skies, the silhouette of the rider on the horse, holding a spear but without the grit to continue, perfectly showcasing the “End of the Trail” sculpture and it couldn’t be more fitting. Using a defeated, weary rider on horseback creates a strong contrast and represents exhaustion, disillusionment, and the end of an era. It’s not the carefree surfer image I expected from The Beach Boys actually, it’s the complete opposite of their earlier songs, and it matches how mellow and depressing the album feels. This is one of the most interesting albums in The Beach Boys’ catalog because it comes from a time when the band was shifting away from their surf-rock identity and moving into something much more reflective, political, and emotionally complex. You can really feel that transition all over the album. Everything carries a sense of maturity and melancholy. Overall, this album is a heavy listen. Not everything hits for me, but some songs are really nice to listen to. It feels like the sound of a band trying to rebuild itself, sometimes falling apart in the process, but still managing to create something meaningful.

Have a hard time to the cause off why this album is on this list! Maybe it’s just me.

way more depth sonically & lyrically than anticipated

War gut, aber auch schon wieder vergessen? c

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.

нормалек, без негатива.

this one is pretty hit and miss. the trademark harmonies are still in many of the songs, but some of the songs fall flat. in fact much of the songs don’t sound like the beach boys at all.

2 stars

Armonías encantadoras, y divertidas. Definitivamente no es mi estilo, pero puedo entender el gusto que la gente le pueda tener. Kinda sounds like the beatles Mi fav Lookin at tomorrow

A very refined version of what people know and love...I am not one of those people.

Why did they record this album???????

one of my favorite albums of all time.

Didn’t realize The Beach Boys had range like that, enjoyed the album

Enjoyed this. Having never listen led much to Beach Boys this was more than I expected.

ooof. noen middels sanger som gjør det til et album som dessverre ikke er 5/5. men har en av tidenes sanger - surfs up

Don’t care for it it that much. A 2.

Very cool album. Album art is off the charts, music is arranged and crafted so tastefully and the vocals are fire

Bumbabumpbum

Better than I expected. Not a typical Beach Boys album.

Eh

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

I found this album strange. It’s dark and serious compared to the Beach Boys songs I’m used to hearing. Student Demonstration Time was the most interesting track on the album. Overall, didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, and it was interesting to hear a new (to me) beach boys sound.

What a weird, great album.

Did not enjoy

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.

This could be the album that insufferable Beach Boys fans will fawn over as the Masterpiece that Pet Sounds isn't. What people like Andrew Hickey don't see or get is that this album is one of the Beach Boys lesser quality albums. This album suffers from the lack of awareness that Brian Wilson required to keep The Beach Boys floating, but since he was in his depression era the boys moved out on their own and tried to create multiple solo-style singles instead of BB records. You don't catch a glimpse to what shows as a glimmer of good production until the last three songs of the album where the wonderful harmonies of the BB return and remind you of what made them so great. This is an okay album. For the Beach Boys. 3/5

I don’t know The Beach Boys’ music very well, but Surf’s Up seems full of well-crafted songs. Still, for some reason, it doesn’t really leave a strong impression on me. I do like Student Demonstration Time, though it feels quite different from the image I had of the band. Maybe this is the kind of album that only longtime fans can truly appreciate.

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.

I was surprised by the tone of this album. It wasn’t bad, just not what I expect from The Beach Boys.

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.

Just because Brian Wilson exists doesn’t mean everything he ever did needs to be on this list.

Brian Wilson is a genius.

Good listen

Hey! Student demonstration talks about IV! This is so different than the sound I usually associate with them. There are a few beachy jams on here but there’s a lot more variability and musicianship on here. The sound is dripping in California vibes with lyrics to match.

The biggest disservice to The Beach Boys is having the worst name ever. If they had any other name I think I they’d be way more successful. I get the marketing and stuff but got damn they can’t make this hippy bullshit and be called Beach Boys. The sounds are so interesting that they make. I love the production. Every move feels so intentional. I don’t know if I’m actually hearing that or just buying into Brian Wilson mythos. They’ll make an amazing song and follow it up with something that sounds like it belongs in a Skyrizi commercial. Take Care of your feet. Disney girls is really cool. This feels like a band trying to shed their old skin and come into a new decade… apparently it kind of is according to wiki. This is another band that feels so steeped in the American songbook that every little shift in their history led to massive changes and overhauls. Overall, solid listen.

Last three songs are 5/5, the rest of the album is 3/5

I thought I knew the Beach Boys, but this album showed me a whole new side of them. I liked the slower, more thoughtful songs and lyrics.

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.

I didn't think it was bad, but it didn't really grab me. Maybe this needs a second listen sometime for me to get it.

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.

Not really my style of music, but the production is nice (apart from the ear-piercing Student Demonstration Time.) Maybe I could find more to enjoy from this if I listened a few more times, and the detail makes it seem like that might be rewarding. It manages to do a 'generic sound' in a less predictable way that I anticipated.

Better than expected

okay, I see the appeal but not for me

é um álbum gostosinho, só achei que não tem nada aver com a capa

- beach boys ei oo koskaan ollut erityinen suosikki - suurin osa tän bändin biiseistä kuulostaa tosi naiiveilta - albumitaide on ihan siisti mutta ehkä turha rajun olonen tälle bändille/albumille - tän levyn parhaat osiot oli niitä jotka ei kuulostanut perinteiseltä beach boysilta - ei sytyttänyt

This one is not bad. I actually like a lot of these songs I haven't heard more than their popular ones.

Did not find this at all interesting

Overall, I enjoyed the sound and the somewhat experimental vibe of the album. For a first discovery of The Beach Boys, I really loved their vocal harmonies, which are as polished and recognizable as ever. The themes explored give an insight into the social and cultural climate of the time, offering a sort of time travel back to the 70s. It also helped me understand what pop music was like then, although this is a more artistic and introspective form of pop than a commercial one. The album cover is incredible — perhaps even visually too perfect, as it doesn't entirely reflect the diversity and inconsistency of the musical content. Indeed, Surf’s Up contains some very beautiful tracks, both profound and accomplished, such as 'Til I Die or Long Promised Road, which stand out for their sincere lyrics and intricate arrangements. However, the album also suffers from a few weaker tracks. For example, Don’t Go Near the Water tackles an interesting subject but does so with an almost simplistic, caricatural approach, which makes the message less impactful. Other songs like Take a Load Off Your Feet seem a bit anecdotal or out of sync with the rest of the album, lacking the depth present in the most successful tracks. Despite these irregularities, Surf's Up remains a significant and ambitious work, marking a period of transition for The Beach Boys: between their lighter past and a quest for more mature artistry.

I lived it

Best Song: 'Til I Die. This has that ethereal, wispy vocal quality that I expect from a Beach Boys song. Worst Song: Student Demonstration Time. The one thing the Beach Boys are good at is their clean vocal harmonies, so why put the vocals behind a buzzy radio filter? Overall: Based on the view count, this isn't even a popular album amongst Beach Boys fans, so why am I listening to it?

had no idea about this album before listening. i love the idea of an evil beach boys album where they still go to the beach but this time its bad. helps that it was like 30 minutes and the music was decent too

I really don’t get the Beach Boys. And there is whistling. No thanks.

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

I enjoyed it. Different from what I expected from a Beach Boys album. Good, but not enough to push it higher.

It was ok. Inoffensive.

Quirky album. Harmonies are always spot on and can carry even subpar melodies. Feel Flows is a classic. Not their best effort as a band.

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

Pretty great! Liked this one a lot.

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

This is an odd album. After Pet Sounds — still one of pop music’s great miracles — the Beach Boys somehow stumbled their way here, five records later, to Surf’s Up: uneven, intermittently brilliant, and often baffling. Brian Wilson was still around, but mostly in spirit; the lush harmonies and meticulous production that once defined the band are largely absent. His presence flickers to life in the final three tracks, though — and when it does, you remember just how far ahead of his peers he once was. The title track remains magnificent; “A Day in the Life of a Tree,” sung (rather alarmingly) by their manager, is merely… memorable. Still, there’s much to enjoy. “Long Promised Road” is a genuine highlight, full of that bittersweet Californian glow the band once bottled so effortlessly. Less successful is their sudden bid for social relevance. Manager Jack Rieley apparently urged them to tackle serious issues — an odd idea for a band that built its empire on surfboards and sunshine. The result, “Student Demonstration Time,” is a clumsy blues-rock detour, complete with sirens and moral confusion, crashing through the album like an uninvited guest. Oddly, its message — penned by the now-MAGA-inclined Mike Love — seems to be that it’s better simply not to demonstrate. In the end, Surf’s Up is a curious mix of beauty and misfire — flashes of the old magic, shadowed by strange choices and the growing sense that the world, and the band, had both moved on.

More like The Blech Boys. Seriously. What am I missing? Critics and listeners alike seem to adore the Beach Boys; I don't get it. Their early stuff is just "Waaah-waaah-waaah" saccharine surf shit, and the rest is electric, psychadelic racket. I absolutely hate it. 1 star though I'd give it much less if possible.

They've matured and are experimenting, with decent results

обложка обещала многое, в итоге это очередные недобитлз

Solid listen! I respect what they're going for, though it didn't quite bite for me.

Classic.

The Beach Boys never miss. Their vocals are next level

I can see where it might've been the early 70s version of alt /indie rock . I respect their exploration and experimentation with different musical genres, but the music sounded very dated, and a bit hokey at times.

Mike Love’s Student Demonstration Time might have been well-intentioned at the time or might have been a preview of his right wing future. Either way, it’s a jarring song. Brian Wilson’s A Day in the Life of a Tree is maybe the worst thing he ever wrote. Don’t Go Near the Water isn’t great either. The pro-environmentalist songs on this record just come off as lyrically clunky. And then there’s ’Til I Die and Surf’s Up, where Brian achieves transcendence. A real up and down, all over the place record. 3.5 stars but I don’t think I can get to 4.

Very political. Kids were surprised they were singing about the same things we are protesting noe

Great album

This album was way too heavy for me for Beach Boys’ fare. Call me basic, but I’d take Good Vibrations over this any day. Hell, I’d take Little Saint Nick over this! I didn’t love the vocals although some of the harmonies were nice. I think I suffered from expecting traditional Beach Boys and getting whatever this was instead. Chalk that up to my ignorance of Beach Boys’ lore, but I still don’t think I’d like the album even if I was prepared for it. Definitely looking forward to The Beach Boys redeeming themselves with Pet Sounds!

I Much better than I expected. Had a jam-bad feel for parts of songs, sang of the Kent state incident and anti-war, more relevant than I realized.

Gloomy and a little dreary, an end to the innocence. More experimental than earlier works, more stretching and expanding. Enjoyable

Oddly interesting. Sometimes sounds unfinished, other times perfect.

me gusto y no lo conocia

nunca dejan de sorprenderme

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.

3.5 Certaines chansons étaient vraiment hyper chouettes ! C'est juste que le rock /pop psyché c'est pas trop ma tasse de thé alors quelques chansons par ci par là carrément avec plaisir mais un album entier c'est trop pour moi. Mention pour les harmos dingues (qui sont un peu la signature du groupe). J'espère juste avoir autre chose que du rock pour mon prochain album car ça fait 4 de suite

The boy band grows up.

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 too bad, a lot slower than I expected form the Beach Boys 2/5

Good album. The Beach Boys sound like they're trying to move on from the Surfin' USA sound that they were known for. Not entirely successful, but it's fine

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.

It's still quality pop, but somehow not at the level I expected. Lacks the "happiness" of other Beach Boys albums. That's not necessarily bad, but I wanted to hear some Beach Boys :)

I hadn’t heard a single song!

Pound for pound there’s more genius in the Beach Boys than the Beatles

Probably revolutionary music for the time. Makes for excellent grocery store songs in California.

Album 29/1001 Never heard any 70s stuff from the Beach Boys before. While not hitting the heights of Dennis' solo work later in the decade, this still has some interesting stuff on here. Favourite song: Feel Flows 🧘‍♂️🧘‍♀️ Honourable mention: Long Promised Road 🛣 Disney Girls 🐭👧 'Til I Die 💀🪦 Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) 🔎🗓 Surf's Up 🏄‍♂️⬆️

Not their best work

Why am I not listening to one of the good albums that The Beach Boys made? Some ok songs, but I expect more from this band. Not their best work.

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).

The Beach Boys are sooo cute and cool. Wow I really love the song Disney Girls. And I want to start a riot. And I want to save the trees. And I need to give my feet a break. It’s all just so true!

I listened to this on the train back from Boston looking out the window having existential thoughts about life, relationships, the demise of society, raising children, the inevitable implosion of the earth into the sun, and it was a surprisingly good soundtrack for that. I may have listened to Long Promised Road 10 times but who’s counting. I had always avoided The Beach Boys and now I know I was wrong. 5 stars for conversion!

To soft

1000 albums to listen to before you die they said. That doesn't necessarily mean they're good! A car crash is unpleasant, but you feel compelled to look at it! There are some really good songs on this album - Long Promised Road, Feel Flows, 'Til I Die are really diverting and demand repeated listening. Surf's Up is bonkers, but intriguing. Songs about dirty water and student demonstrations are well meaning but the songs are difficult to listen to, and I lost interest on songs about feet and trees! Not a complete waste of time, and I'm glad I listened to it, if only to realise how beautiful and how bad the Beach Boys can be on the same album.

top

Beach Boys but interesting. A little campy, and the end is lacking, but it is still good. Only 33 minutes

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...

Not as good as their other stuff

What an album, what a band.

This one has their harmonies but overall it really doesn't do much for me. I had all weekend to listen to this one and didn't listen more than once:

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.

The Beach Boys are consistently overrated. This is not their best work by a far shot. But it's not a terrible album. I'm glad I listened to it before I died, I just don't know that I needed to. Influence 3. Quality 3. Hits 1. I wasn't mad at it, but I really just didn't care 3.

A lot wilder than I expected, in a good way. I was expecting an entire album of Surfin' USA but it was nothing like that. Lots of avant-garde pieces. Not all of them were hits, but more than I would have imagined going in.

Mieć taką piękną okładkę i nagrać płytę bez żadnego wyrazu to trzeba jednak umieć

'Til I Die and Surf's Up are sufficient for this album to qualify as being rated 5.

Decent, definitely not the BB I grew up on. Would give it a relisten

Some good tracks, but a bit disjointed.

Vibes!

Quite a dark, moody, and crazy over the top variety of sounds/instruments from a "typical" beach boys album, so in that sense its a bit refreshing. Unfortunately it didn't really resonate much with me. Lots of environmental references and it comes off a bit chintzy. Fave track was "Surf's up", and least fave is "student demonstration time" -- da fuk was that?

Love it

Day 82 First listen- The album was enjoyable and I liked the harmonies. I probably need to listen again because I got distracted a lot. (3/5)

Sonoridade interessante do beach boys, uma versão deles que não conhecia, essa mais blues e rockabily. Mas definitivamente não mudou a minha vida

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.

Næææh... Hører at det her er noe, meeen ikke noe for meg.

Never been a Beach Boys fan. Mid.

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.

1. Don't Go Near The Water - 1 Lyrically this track is awful. It's so unpleasant the rest of the track, which is very light and melodic, cannot make you look past the terrible writing. 2. Long Promised Road - 4 It's overall a bit better that Don't Go Near The Water but the lyrics are still a little weak at parts and instrumentally this is almost more like Buddy Holly & The Crickets 1950s style than 1970s style rock outside of the bridge, which has a solid guitar solo in it. 3. Take A Load Off Your Feet - 1 Really poor. Instrumentally not great, lyrically poor, it's a completely forgettable and uninspiring track. 4. Disney Girls (1957) - 2 The bubblegum pop I've come to know The Beach Boys by. The thing is, it's not a particularly great style of music. An absolute lullaby. 5. Student Demonstration Time - 6 Guitar solo in the middle of the song is the best part about it. Lyrics aren't horrible but aren't great either. The pace and tone are way too dated. Still the second half of the song is much more enjoyable when the background choir comes in. 6. Feel Flows - 3 Instrumentally odd. It's not bad but it's not instrumentally fantastic. Vocally it's a little bit of that bubblegum pop or do-wop style that I don't tend to enjoy about The Beach Boys. 7. Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) - 5 Instrumentally very enjoyable and lyrically so at the beginning as well until the lyrics just fade into onomatopoeia. I love the sound of the lead guitar on this track and it's paired very well with the bass, which really lead the song on well. Just felt the ba ba ba and bip bip bip part of the lyrics are so unnecessary. It killed the enjoyment of the track for me. 8. A Day In The Life Of A Tree - 1 Incredibly boring track. Lyrically boring, instrumentally it sounds like a track you'd hear at a county fair. The worst track on the album so far. 9. 'Til I Die - 1 A lullaby. Lyrically extremely weak and repetitive. 10. Surf's Up - 2 Like two songs in one, the second of which is very melancholic and contains gibberish for lyrics. It's very cookie cutter barbershop quartet like Beach Boys, which I have never been a big fan of. Not a great track to end the album. Average Rating: 2.6 Adjusted to 5-Point Scale: 1.3 Rounded Down: 1 Star

This album started quite promising, but towards the end it sounded too much like the same old Beach boys

This doesn't fit into my idea of Beach Boys. Happy joyful nonsense is my basic picture of Beach Boys and even artwork of this album goes off from this image. Basic concept can be found throughout this album but takes band to rather different direction. Not bad, not good.

Latter day Beach Boys, I've not heard almost anything beyond Pet Sounds! Sadly this ended up being background music, couple of songs grabbed my interest, but otherwise did nothing for me. Good nor bad.

...

3.9

Better than their other material for me. Still not mind blowing

I liked this!! Long promised road and student demonstration time in particular but probs need to listen to more again tbh

Brian Wilson was/is a legend!

This was really fantastic. So ahead of its time. Fav Track: Student Demonstration Time 8.4/10

Not sure what I'm listening to here. Pass.

Beach Boys har været en stor inspiration til mange af mine favorit musikere. Det er derfor heller ikke en overraskelse at jeg er vild med deres album Surf's Up.

Добротный спокойный альбом. 7 из 10.

Dated

Die Beachboys mal etwas ernster.

Not at all what I expected. Interesting message. A bit far out there.

This is too dark and heavy for The Beach Boys. I guess this is what you get when you cross The Beach Boys with psychedelic rock and the politics of the early 70s. It ends up being pretty good. Even the cheesy songs like A Day in the Life of a Tree work well enough. Til I Die and Surfs Up are the best of the bunch. And yes, Student Demonstration Time really is terrible.

So who was gonna tell me this was better than Pet Sounds?? 4.5/5

Based on the artwork, this might be the strangest death metal album I've ever listened to.

A good album with some messages that are still very relevant today, not all of the songs were terrific but they were all pretty good.

The Beach Boys' production quality is out of this world

Way ahead of its time Every song is enjoyable. It may rival Pet Sounds. Loved it.

Good vocals and some catchy songs, but overall, not quite to my taste

This is an amazing, eclectic collection of sounds. Seems like the beach boys are of the other side of pet sounds. I feel like Ween listened to this album and got some inspiration. It's good, but is never think it was the beach boys. They are literally singing don't go near the water in the first song.

I think this might be the best beach boys album

What a departure in sound! This was the Beach Boys reinvented, largely without Brian Wilson and it shows. If I didn’t know that it was a Beach Boys album I would have had no idea. I primarily know and love their early to mid-60s output, so this was wholly unexpected and certainly not unwelcome. There are a couple of songs that were dated stinkers even at release, so I teetered on a 4 or 5 on this.

Yes, it's uneven, and yes, the misses here miss wildly - I can't tell whether "Student Demonstration Time" is an earnest attempt at a Doors song or a parody. And the production and related turmoil swirling around the group is constantly evident here, for better and worse (I'd like to take this opportunity to point out that Van Dyke Parks remains a fart-sniffer of the highest order). But the meaning of the Beach Boys has always been, like the sport they represented but mostly didn't actually practice, in moments of transcendence, and those are present in spades here - all the more impressive for being carried out mostly in Brian Wilson's absence. And if there's such a thing as "hitting wildly" then "Feel Flows" does it.

I have only passing familiarity with The Beach Boys ‘70s catalog, and this is the first time I’ve heard this album. In contrast to the often slight albums that came before it, this one has remarkable weight. And while the creative leadership has shifted from Brian (now engulfed in mental illness) to Carl, that shift seems to have reinvigorated the band. Carl’s numbers like “Feel Flows” and “Long Promised Road” are quite strong and affecting, Brian does not no-show, though, as he delivers two of the strongest songs on the album with “TIl I Die” and the brilliant title track left over from the aborted Smile sessions. These are surrounded by oddly curious and eccentric oddities that mostly work (Mike Love’s “Student Demonstration Time” is the notable exception). Pet Sounds is the Beach Boys masterpiece, but this album comes closer to those rarefied heights than I would have expected was possible.

Beach Boys funeral doom phase Am I the only one that likes Student Demonstration Time?

I enjoyed Pet Sounds more but this was an interesting breaking away from their signature, "Surfin USA" sound they got famous for. The topics were also broader. It was an interesting take and change for them!

Student Demonstration Time is one of the worst tracks I've ever heard.

The tonal whiplash I felt jumping from “Long Promised Road” to “Take A Load Off Your Feet” can not be understated. This is a much darker tone than I’m used to from The Beach Boys, with that one single goofy and more lighthearted song thrown in just completely randomly. Before I forget to mention it, that album art is absolutely Metal. I see it and think we’re about to start listening to Heavy Metal or something. This is the second of three The Beach Boys albums I’ve rated, and I feel about the same way ratings wise as I did listening to Pet Sounds, although I enjoyed this one more for sure. However, I do appreciate how tight this one was. No filler, which is always huge when I’m trying to pick a favorite song. That being said, I really liked “Student Demonstration Time” the best. Some of the songs on this album just straight up rocked, which surprised me. I really didn’t know they were able to sound this way, but I like it. The flute solo in “Feel Flows” is particularly noteworthy and stands out in a big way. This is by all means a darker The Beach Boys album, and it’s actually really good. A VERY high 3, nearing a 4.

For some reason I was unaware of this record; maybe I should have been paying more attention back in 1971. This is a departure from the typical surf/car music the group was famous for in the 1960s. Lots of social commentary here. Overall it’s pleasant listening, but nothing outstanding.

The Beach Boys? Creators of my first 5, "Pet Sounds"? This is a pretty dark album cover for those guys, based on what we've heard so far. I didn't know they took a detour into activism. It starts off with a bop, though ('Don't Go Near the Water'), even though there's an unpleasant lil interlude. 'Long Promised Road' is basically a proto-'Tubthumping' (mixed with 'The Heart of the Matter' - which I like). Then comes an 'I Can't Help Myself' style boppin' PSA about feet*. Sure, OK! You haven't lost me yet! 'Disney Girls (1957)' was covered by Eurovision superstar Alexander Rybak! I found it a little boring otherwise, though. Not sure what to make of 'Student Demonstration Time' lyrically, but musically I don't love it. Bring back the songs about feet! 'Feel flows' is pretty good. ('Feet flows'?) I like the alliteration, but I could do without the flute interlude. 'Lookin' at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)' is no good - the instruments overpower the vocals. But that guitar part is definitely in System of Down's 'Aerials', right??! Strong ending because I like System of a Down's Aerials. 'A Day in the Life of a Tree' is a delight. Very Magnetic Fieldsy. 'Til I Die' is OK, a little depressing. 'Surf's Up' is good; it's almost like a parody of a Beach Boys song, possibly somewhat intentionally. More good sounding lyrics, which is always of value. I had heard exactly none of these songs before, and it's no Pet Sounds, but it was a pretty good album. I didn't know they had it in 'em! Highlights: 'Long Promised Road', 'Surf's Up' *Wiki says:: Jardine explained, "It's cute, but come on ... for some reason Jack Rieley liked it too and said, 'It's got to be on the album. That's definitely an ecology song.' 'Ecology? A song about your feet?' It's personal ecology."

Not what I expected, but interesting. The first song felt like a pushback against the fun beach music they were known for. The protest song didn't work for me - it felt like they were making light of serious issues.

What is this shit? Take a weight off your ears and give this one a miss!

Fun

Je m’attendais à détester au final ça va c’est ok même un peu sympa pour certaines

Would have played Surf's Up sooner had I known it was relatively somber for the Beach Boys. But then again, I ultimately preferred Pet Sounds.

'Feel Flows' is an amazing song, but the rest of this record is just okay. Enjoyed the ride, but won't be revisiting.

Feel Flows is such an evocative song, one of my favorites. this album, like many brian wilson joints, is pretty uneven.

Album cover made me think this would be a lot darker than it was. Good album. Beach Boys intrigue the fuck out of me. Sonically interesting and shit. Last 4 songs bang

This is not your Dad's Beach Boys album. Quirky, socially conscious, punchy, different. Written while Brian Wilson was dipping hard into chemistry and dperession, so the rest of the band is trying to fill in. Nothing hooked me to bring me back to it, but it's weird enough to listen to again. My Rating: 4/5

More like Surf’s Down… not cuz it’s bad cuz it’s sad.

4/5 The Beach Boys or the Blues-Rock Boys? - The social record isn't their forte, but it's refreshing to hear them step into the protest song space. - Interests in the environment, students, the marginalized, and others show up in these tracks. - The record was originally going to be called "Landlocked" and this album certainly feels like a surfer with cabin fever. It ain't your mama's Pet Sounds, but it's a fun tape nonetheless.

This is not The Beach Boys I know and enjoy. This more experimental, melancholic style just isn’t that interesting. Student Demonstration is a highlight! ⭐️⭐️

More pure excellence

Perfect

It's like beach boys on acid

I liked it for what it is

I've never listened to this album (18). Some good melodies, but it's far from Pet Sounds.

Definitely a darker, more morose vibe than I would expect from The Beach Boys. I really enjoyed this album.

The Beach Boys always surprise me. I guess the name always evoked a sense of pretty boy pop, but there’s layers.

This is actually my favorite Beach Boys album. I think Pets Sounds is overrated. I think Smile is good but goes on too long. This is just weird enough and unpopular enough that besides a greatest hits of their early stuff, really hits. That being said, it's not my favorite album of all time.

I don't get it. I haven't heard of any of these songs. Why is it so bloody good? Beautiful melodies, gorgeous harmonies, heavy intent. Who knew the Beach Boys fucked?

decent. not typical beach boys, but elements - harmonising etc. not favourite album of theirs

Couldn't really get into this one.

Good listen, no particular favourite song.

It was a pleasant listen. For me, not overly memorable and wouldn't feel drawn to go back necessarily but overall enjoyed my experience.

It's hard for me to get behind anything but Brian Wilson's singular vision with the Beach Boys - particularly anything after the aborted Smile sessions. Surf's Up (the song) is obviously a highlight, and there are other redeeming moments. However, most of it feels a little stale.

Jeg visste egentlig ikke at Beach Boys lagde album etter Pet Sounds. Alle vet at de prøvde å lage Smile, men jeg trodde at det endte der fordi B. Wilson ble cuckoo. Vel, så feil kan man ta. Do your research. Og dette er faktisk dritbra. Litt som Pet Sounds uten forventningene til å lage en Copernican revolution av et album, men "kun" en gruppe dyktige artister samlet om å lage en samling gode låter. De får dette til å føles veldig effortless, liksom bare look ma no hands, vi kan lage tidløs psychdelic baroque pop i søvne. Dette her er den typen album jeg kjenner kan gro på meg til å bli en all time favourite, og jeg er ikke langt unna å si at det kanskje er et bedre album enn Pet Sounds.* Til tross for hvor bra og viktig Pet Sounds er både for popkulturen, så vel som for min egen musikkhistorie, er det ikke et album jeg ofte kommer tilbake til lenger; det kan føles litt langtekkelig, til tross for at det er under 40min langt og smekkfullt av legendariske tracks, har det en litt overkalkulert pacing. Hvis Pet Sounds er en novelle med en singulær visjon, er Surf's Up en late-career kunstutstilling av en kunstner som ikke har noe å bevise lenger; deres plass i kunsthistorien er allerede fastsatt, nå kan de lage kunst for _seg_. I stor grad er det den typen album jeg tiltrekkes av i dag, se feks. min kjærlighet til The White Album, 69 Love Songs, og Double Nickels on the Dime. Surf's Up stiller naturligvis ikke i samme klasse i den grad det ikke er et "overlangt" album som en midwit sier hadde vært perfekt om det var en enkel-LP, men i mine ører spiller skiva på de samme kvalitetene. Og kanskje er det nettopp derfor dette treffer så bra som det gjør for meg. Skiva har én svak låt: Student Demonstration Time. Stilmessig føles den datert ut, i stedet for en moderne og fresh take på en klassisk stil som de sikkert håper at det var. Beatles klarte dette mye bedre, og starten kan minne litt om et misguided forsøk på å lage sin egen Revolution 1. De sterkeste låtene er til tider frysningsgivende. De tre siste Brian Wilson-skrevne låtene har en dybde til dem som de fleste artister bare kan drømme om å aspirere til. Første albumet i prosjektet som får full uttelling fra meg uten hadde jeg hadde hørt det fra før. *Jeg har nå hørt det i helhet to ganger på rappen, pluss B-siden en tredje gang, og er allerede villig til å si Surf's Up > Pet Sounds. Fight me.

Sterkt album fra Beach Boys. Både "Feel Flows", "Till I Die", tittelsporet og "Welfare Song" er blant mine favoritter i BB-katalogen. "Student Demonstration Time" er cringe, selv om teksten kanskje kan føles litt dagsaktuell om dagen. Brian Wilson gjør en sterk retur på slutten, som de andre har nevnt her. Skulle gjerne hørt hvordan denne skiva hadde hørtes ut om Brian var mer delaktig i produksjonen.

"Oh reality, it's not for me" For meg er dette kanskje den perfekte beach boys plata. Det er ikke den beste, jeg regner med at vi kommer tilbake til den senere, men denne skiva eksemplifiserer alt Beach Boys er. Beach boys er dystert og kaotisk, og det er lite som er så dystert, eller ihvertfall kaotisk, som Surfs up, og dualiteter og paradokser er overalt. Det er kun Beach boys som kan slippe en skive med, etter min mening, den beste låta noen sinne skrevet (Surfs up) sammen med hva enn Student Demonstration time er. Akkurat som figuren på albumomslaget, så handler tematikken i låtene om å kjempe en tapende kamp mot noe nedtrykkende og større enn deg selv. Long promised road, kampen mot sine indre demoner. Dont go near the water, kampen for et bedre miljø. Disney Girls (1957), å overvinne illusjonene rundt fantasier om livet og kjærlighet. Take a load of your feet er tilsynelatende en optimistisk låt om å ta vare på kroppen, men om man kjenner Brian Wilson sitt forhold til dette og hans besettelse av helsekost mens han ødelegger seg selv, blir dette også en sang om å kjemp mot noe man aldri når. En person som glimrer i sitt fravær i denne skiva er Brian Wilson, vel, ihvertfall frem til tidenes trio kommer helt på tampen. A day in the life of a tree Until i die Surfs up En litt ujevn, men spennende plate blir transformert til noe annerledes, uforutsigbart og sublimt. Låta Surfs up blir rekontekstualisert, fra en optimistisk revulosjonær låt om omveltning av iddeer , strukturer og verdier, til en låt om tapte håp og kamper. Tittelen blir kynisk og sarkastisk. Nå tenker du sikkert, hvordan kan man bruke ordet sublimt om et album som inneholder spor som Student Demonstration Time. Og svaret mitt til det er, jeg vet ikke. Beach boys sine skiver er alltid komprommittert, av labelet som vil kommersialisere, av Brian Wilson som ikke klarer å fungere, av uenigheter i gruppa, og denne skiva mest av alt, et jag etter å kynisk treffe en tidsånd. Og denne skiva klarte på mirakuløst vis å være en av de mest autentiske Beach Boys skivene, med et av de minst autentiske bakteppene. Og jeg tror det er kaoset som gjør dette sublimt.

original

Some moments of brilliance for sure (Feel Flows). Interested to see Brian Wilson was becoming less involved here, especially in production. Long Promised Road feels like it could be so much better but something about the production is holding it back. A lot of those songs, plus one or two that are just bad. Need to go through the discography from Pet Sounds to this.

I loved this. Sincere, but with the kind of edge that comes w experi mce. Maybe less innovative than Pet Sounds, but that makes sense since it was 5 years later. Disney girls is so fucking good, as is Feel Flows and don’t go near the water.

Man, I dont know how to feel about this album. On one hand, Take A Load Off Your Feet was WAY ahead of its time. To my ears, I hear happy, dorky alt rock like this everyday. Surfs Up is another mega track that needs at least 5 listens to appreciate (err at least it did for me) and its clearly the critical focus of the album (not to mention the most meaningful as well) Shifting to the shitty side, Student Demonstration Time doesn’t hold a candle to 4 Dead In Ohio and IMO, this song sounds incredibly corny. I thought it was an ironic song - an attack on politically charged music. Nope, its serious. Pet Sounds and The Beach Boys Today were so much easier to digest at first. This is inspiring me to take a dive into everything after Pet Sounds to hear what the heck was happening here. A note to my future self: dude, I tried. And I think I understood some of this, but there were some genuinely awful tunes here that I couldn't look past

I had never heard most of this album (Disney Girls was one). I really enjoyed it. A very different, somber vibe from the Boys (much closer to Pet Sounds in tone than Surfin' Safari), which I think suits their strengths.

I went through this when Sean recommended Feel Flows a while back. Excellent song. The album has other bright spots - Long Promised Road, Surf’s Up - but overall hangs together a little less than PS or Today.

Uhhhhhh… Nice vibes? Not an absolute all timer 5/10 14/09/25

I like the harmonies, but it didn't have the blissed-out feel-good vibe of other albums, or fun psychedelia. Kind of a boring application of their signature sound.

Long Promised Road has always been a banger, rest of the album wasn't quite as inspired

Interesting songs I’d never heard by them. I liked it but not loved it.

Album déjà réécouté pendant le week-end, une très belle découverte!

50/50

Not very “beach” but definitely they “boys” not necessarily a bad album but definitely something that reminds me of being stuck at grandmas and she didn’t believe in air conditioning.

Like it! Nice harmony

hot take: surf’s up > pet sounds ? i really enjoyed this album! i’ve let it simmer for a while and after having returned to it on several occasions i conclude that this is a 5 and that i really love the darker sound to it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For a long time Pet Sounds was all I listened to of The Beach Boys. I think this was the album I listened to next several years later. A very different listen from a wearier sounding band. The title track and Feel Flows rank among their most beautiful songs.

decent