Reviews (page 7 of 13)
The Beach Boys on acid.
Don't need to listen for boring music and complaining lyrics
Really good melodies!
I do not appreciate Beach Boys music. I do enjoy some songs, mood setters for a scene (their hits I suppose). But even with those I like, more than one or two is plenty. This album was dull.
Wow, I never would have guessed that the Beach Boys could sound like this. There's a sorrow behind these tracks that gives them more power than the playboy goofiness I associate with this band, and a lot more musical depth than their early outings as well. Perhaps I am influenced in my interpretation by the recent passing of Brian Wilson, but even the album art conveys a great heaviness. Favorite tracks: I liked most, but "Long Promised Road" and "'Til I Die" stood out to me.
It’s not what you’d expect when you spin it, and fans of their poppy hooks will be disappointed. I’m not a fan, never have been. The fact that this one is so different is the reason why I kinda like it.
An inconsistent album that doesn't really tie all its songs together in any way. It does capture bits of the Beach Boys sound but lacks solid lyrics and focus overall.
This isn't your cleancut Beach Boys, this is your animal style fries Beach Boys. This album kicks ass. Listen to it until you get it.
Beach Boys, an American institution. Not their best album, but a different sound from their norm.
title track is amazing, rest is mid to awful
Not in love with this version of The Beach Boys. Maybe I was in a weird mood but I mostly hated this.
Might have even liked this more than pet sounds idk
</3 :'( brian wilson we love you!!!
the beach boys are certainly no strangers in my listening endeavors even before this list; i've already familiarized myself a bit with their album "pet sounds" (realistically who hasn't by now) and i was already looking forward to listening to this one. and holy hell, is it something else. probably a good time to review it after the recent unfortunate passing of brian wilson. the sheer aura that these white men exude is absolutely mind-blowing. even the most serious music theorists will be on their knees in shock as they listen to these harmonies. it's one thing having good songs with good instrumentation, but these guys sing at such a level that is absolutely unmatched. haunting songs of collapse, innocence and culture... it feels like standing in the ruins of a once-great cathedral, hearing echoes of a choir that’s long gone. it’s probably the most emotionally and artistically ambitious thing they ever released. on another unrelated note, can we talk about that album art? good lord.
I liked it
The sounds of a band struggling to stay relevant and in doing so, forgot who they were. With the exception of Feel Flows, this was forgettable and not great.
Positivt överraskad, fina låtar o catchy melodier
I'm not a fan of the Beach Boys. Too hokey, cheery. This one wasn't entirely awful.
Rest in peace to Brian Wilson. I wish this life had been kinder to him. What a legacy to leave behind. I hadn't heard this in full before and was surprised at how exploratory, weird, and dark it is. The Beach Boys do prog and it's pretty interesting, but the closing three tracks are the real kickers here. What a staggering closing run of songs. Could do without whatever Mike Love is up to on "Student Demonstration Time". The production is fine, but his vocals sound terrible and his, like, history report is embarrassing and feels insincere. Insincerity and Mike Love are often holding hands. Anyways, whatever about that guy. "Surf’s Up" steamrolled me.
Gear: Focalman Cleardara Artwork: 🐎⚔️💀 Production (Remastered 2009): 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🌊🏄♂️⁉️ Rating: 🐴🐴🐴(🐴)/5
great! would listen again
A great, if not classic, album by this band. R.I.P. Brian Wilson.
Damn weird timing. Or is it? RIP Brian Wilson Feel flows is a vibe
Rating: 7/10
6.5/10 Not at all what I was expecting Higlights: Surf's Up Day in the Life of a Tree Long Promised Road Looking At Tomorrow
This album was surprising for me - I was used to being annoyed with the Beach Boys for different reasons than this one annoyed me. Long Promised Road and Disney Girls were quite enjoyable, so 4 songs in I thought I might be a big fan of this. The quality really dropped off after that, though. I just couldn't get into this. I was particularly surprised by how not into their protest song I was (Student Demonstration Time). That felt like the biggest strange departure from my expectations.
I don't really vibe with the beach boys, but it is nicely made Will I listen to again: 21%
already heard, good stuff
Crazy timing the day after Brian Wilson's death. I've never been a Beach Boys fan but this strayed far from what I understood them to be. Interesting evolution of the BB sound if nothing else.
This was fine, but the Beach Boys are overrated.
Rip Brian
Dang, rest in peace. Brian Wilson absolutely shaped music to come.
Could tell that this was where the Beach Boys started to get their signature sound. Bright, flowy vocals with significant harmonizing.
Ok
Odd that this came up the day Brian Wilson died. It doesn’t evoke the same feelings for me as the earlier albums did. It feels a little all of the place, which I normally love. But I guess it’s hard when it’s just not hitting that classic mark for me. I also think that’s what makes it a fun journey. I’d never heard this album, so it’s a pretty amazing experience to hear them do something so unexpected consistently. The consensus is correct. Student Demonstration took me out of it completely. Otherwise, psychedelic Beach Boys making a 70s album.
Not what I was expecting from a Beach Boys album. This is much more serious and mature than what one would usually associate with Beach Boys music. It is mostly good, but does lack some real standout songs. Side note: Brian Wilson passed away yesterday, so this album seems a little serendipitous. 3/5 Might listen again
This was quirkier and more interesting than I expected. It hasn’t left a lasting impression though. A bit all over the place. RIP Brian
Who the heck decided to put Student Demonstration Time after Disney Girls??? In fact, who decided to put Student Demonstration Time on this album AT ALL??? Not going to stop me from giving this five stars because every other track is basically perfect, especially the songs written by Brian Wilson. Rest In Peace Brian
Never heard this one! Very cool I think a 3.5 for me…
After Pet Sounds the second masterpiece by the Beach Boys. RIP Brian Wilson.
This was a fun and trippy album to listen to. I am only familiar with The Beach Boys mega hits so this was a pleasant surprise.
knowing the story behind this album's production it feels like it may not be very authentically 'beach boys' (at least as that is generally understood, especially in terms of lyrical content) but as someone who isn't a huge fan of vocal harmonies and loves Student Demonstration Time I'm okay with that also i don't know if the generator specifically gave me this because of Brian Wilson's death but RIP buddy
3.6 Interesting. The sound of a band clearly trying to reinvent itself, but doing it well. Opener sounds like classic beach boys but there's something different about it. Then it rapidly descends into a slightly sombre, proggish sound of a band that knows it has to move with times. Highlight is the closer, sums up the album quite well. Only gripe was student demonstration time. For some reason, it felt so out of place. Instantly skippable.
RIP Brian Wilson
The Beach Boys have a varied history and sometimes too much emphasis get put on Pet Sounds, which admittedly is their most impressive release but they do have other excellent work in their catalog. Surf’s Up is a very strong release, with writing credits and lead vocals spread out, yea Student Demonstration gets some hate but I don’t even think it’s that bad. Bookended by two really strong tracks in Don’t go Near the Water and Surf’s Up, I really enjoyed this. 4 stars
Welcome everyone. Rip brian wilson. What a great crop of songs. Dude knew how to write some good music. Very very somber and very fitting 1001 album generator person. Its just good and varried. Its what you want. Its what you need. And its a nice send-off, in our time, for a brilliant music man.
Anything that shares DNA with Smile is ok in my book.
Kinda boring and kinda sounds like shit
Boring and somewhat forgettable. A different sound than I had heard from Beach Boys, but not sure I see the need for it.
Mér finnst Disney girls skemmtilegt, en flottara með Art Garfunkel en hér. Þetta er annars áheyrilegt en lítið eftirminnilegt. Gaf þessu þrjár hlustanir og gef henni jafn margar stjörnur.
when you realise that albums generator dropped this on the day Brian Wilson's passed.
Starting to hear some yes-type sounds; interesting
Very hit or miss. Some great ones, some absolute trash
This was bizarre, and not in a fun way. Feel Flows and Til I Die were the only songs I could stand. Student Demonstration Time was corny as hell yet sadly very timely. Otherwise, I couldn't wait for this already short album to be over. RIP Brian. 2.5 rounded up
1) Don't go near the water: Fun, catchy, and vaguely psychedelic. Great instrumental, odd lyrics, somewhat repetitive melody. 3.5/5. 2) Long promised road: Cool loud/soft pattern, nice vocal performance, neat synth (guitar?) solo. Cliche lyrics and chorus melody. 3/5. 3) Take a load off your feet: Novelty-esque song. Odd and catchy. Great lyrics and colorful production. 4/5. 4) Disney girls: Nostalgic ballad. Beautiful, evocative lyrics. Gorgeous vocals. 5/5. 5) Student demonstration time: Awkward social commentary, awful lyrics. "Bachelor of bullets" is simultaneously inane and genius. Nondescript blues backing. 1.5/5. 6) Feel flows: Bland psychedelia, meaningless lyrics. Salvaged by fascinating instrumental section near the end. 3/5. 7) Lookin' at tomorrow: Brief song about being destitute. Interesting. 2.5/5. 8) A day in the life of a tree: Strange, beautiful, and disquieting. Evocative and imperfect vocal performance. 4.5/5. 9) Til I die: Haunting lyrics, dull instrumental backing. 3.75/5. 10) Surfs up: Beyond words, perfect in every aspect. 5/5 Overall: A varied and quirky set of songs. Atmosphere is slow and contemplative. Incredibly high highs mixed with low lows. Disney girls, a day in the life of a tree, and surfs up are standouts. 3/5.
Oh man. Those vocals at the end of 'Don't Go Near The Water'. I'm a sucker for that and boy does it hit here. 'Sew up the wounds of evolution And the now starts to get in my way So what if life's a revelation If the mind speaks of only today?' Bars man. First two songs are really, really atmospherics. The vocals in the background and the soft instrumentals and the subtle na-na-nas... feels like something out of here. I need to listen to this with headphones. Random object noises never get tiring. The car horn is delightful. I love the Take a load off your feet! (du du du du) The lyrics are really really well written. What on earth is this song. Lookin' At Tomorrow has immediately hit me. Wow. The themes of this album are really interesting. While it's not a concept album per se, as the title suggests, they're clearly trying to break out of their shell. A beautiful album certainly. Deserves a relistening to, but it hasn't gripped me like a 5/5 should. 4/5 album. Highlights: - Long Promised Road - Lookin' At Tomorrow - Til' I Die - Surf's Up Edited on 17 June. 3/5.
Pas plus fan que ça
Will not listen to it again; they have way better albums
They should have just made a pop punk skate album
Good, but not very special..
Solo me había escuchado el mítico y este me gusto
I was listening to this today unrelated to the challenge, because we got the news of Brian Wilson's death yesterday. The title track is one of the most beautiful pieces ever written. May one of the most gifted musicians to ever do it rest easy. (Also fuck Mike Love and Student Demonstration Song. A lot about him can be summed up by how stupid this song is.)
Beach Boys. What else can I see: "Don't Go Near The Water", "Student Demonstration Time", "Lookin' At Tomorrow", "and "A Day In The Life of a Tree".
This is undoubtedly The Beach Boys. But darker and edgier. Think of it like if The Beach Boys made an album of songs for the Garden State soundtrack.
Engrossing, very mature and interesting. A bit patchy.
Didn’t realize how corny The Beach Boys are, but there’s certainly a time and place. I really liked a day in the life of a tree, of course
Beatles rip off in places. Less cringe than some of their stuff but overall not too bad.
I mean it’s alright
Dobbie
Not very good, especially for a Beach Boys album
Fantastic
Kitsch, dark and beautiful. Even though others rave about the last 2 songs, Day In The Life Of A Tree moved me immensely. The album cover is exceptional.
Brian Wilson died yesterday. This is an album I hadn't heard before. Not quite a 5 star album but right below it. I definitely could see myself revisiting this and more of their catalog.
While Pet Sounds wrote the book on melody and harmony, this didn't hit the same. Some of these songs are so Charmin soft they could be kid's songs. If I could some the album up in 2 words it would have been, "lacks complexity". The highlight is the song Student Demonstration Time leaning into the ragtime blues style but other artists at this time did it so much better.
Brian Wilson only lead the title song? Strange but really good. It was an awesome listen Rip Brian Wilson ❤️
I love The Beach Boys. RIP Brian Wilson. This is definitely not their best album. No songs stick out much. I didn’t know any going in to listening. Still a very pleasant listen.
Back to back Beach Boys was rough. Didn't like the old sounding campy kiddie pop songs right off the bat, then student demonstration time came on and I was thinking who even is this and what is this album. Sort of redeemed it though. Then Brian Wilson's songs came on and right after listening to smile I couldn't take anymore.
The vocal harmonies are always beautiful but I don't think this is one of my favorite beach boys albums
Not the Beach Boys album I would have chosen, this was a revelation. Especially today. I can see why in 1971 this album was not well received. My young self would not have been impressed. Listening to this today, the songs sound fresh and relevant. Complex and Beautiful.
This was a fun listen. A few gems - I liked Disney Girls, Student Demonstration Time, and Day in Life of a Tree. The take care of your feet, watch what you eat was a little too campy but it’s apparent innocence reminded me of childhood. I don’t see this becoming an album I’d put in rotation making it 3/5.
RIP
Never heard anything besides Pet Sounds. I was pretty blown away to hear the direct influence on bands like The Pixies and Weezer. Really great album, prompts me to listen to their entire catalog.
awww RIP Brian Wilson. Nice album.
Cool album art, the song about taking care of your feet was pretty weird.
Well, that was a trip - not just the music and its obvious lyrical influence, but getting this straight after Brian Wilson passed. musically its quite good, lyrically it sounds like a 14 year old's ramblings in a notebook of poetry. highlight was Long Promised Road. Sometimes you need to be grateful for Vinyl's limitations when it comes to length.
Hints at future Brian Wilson music, very interesting and cool moments but nothing amazing for me
⭐️⭐️ I don’t think this is the best beach boys album. Listenable, but not great. RIP Brian Wilson
Despite the minimal involvement of Brian Wilson, Surf's Up is one The Beach Boys greatest albums. There's enough psychedelic stuff here to remind people just great these guys here. I even liked Student Demonstration Time even though its by far the weakest track on the album. The Long Promised Road is a reminder that as a band this is a band who are able to create memorable songs that demand to be revisited. This is an album that fans of psyche will love and even if it's not your style of music this is still a collection of great songs.
Maybe I’m being harsh I’m not finding this album very memorable and the general style isn’t really my taste.
Another great Beach Boys album but somewhat uneven. I feel like the B side of the album had much more cohesion with one gorgeous song after another. Definitely, a great listen. My highlights are Brian's songs near the end as well as Carl's beautiful Free Flows with the great Charles Lloyd on the flute.
Prefacing this by saying I love The Beach Boys and they are, in my opinion, the greatest American band of all time. Brian Wilson is a generational talent and a musical mind that will never be replicated. Dick sucking aside, this is a great record. It blends genres but keeps a lot of the harmonies and pop sensibilities that make The Beach Boys so fun to listen to. I hesitate to call this record more mature than some of their 60s records but maybe it’s more refined?? It’s less psychedelic and more structured maybe? Either way we are well past some of the wackiness of Pet Sounds and cherry picking a lot of what makes them so fun to listen to. Favorite tracks include Long Promised Road, Feel Flows, ‘Til I Die and Surf’s Up (a track recorded during the Smile sessions I’m pretty sure because it was the only one I’d heard before)
Fine but nothing stood out personally.
so much cooler than past albums, as much as i love all their music. instant classic. RIP Brian Wilson
Wow this was recommended on the day Brian Wilson died. Its a more mature sounding band, but it also seems thinner, the harmonies are not quite right. Still a great listen
זה נשמע כאילו הbeach boys נחטפו ובמקומם הביאו מוזיקאים ממש טובים שעשו beach boys בדיכאון זה כל כך טוב
The Beach Boys went psychedelic on this album. Never heard it before. I think they tried writing music criticizing what they were living at the time. “Student Protest“ was not my favorite song but the rest of the album was fine. I read somewhere that the art cover suggested the end of the band. At first glance, I thought the album would be a sad one. Still, great voices beautiful talent. 5
Rätt nice. Inte den typiska beach boys-upplevelsen. Bättre än väntat.
Not my favorite genre but musicians are obviously skilled.
Good in places.
Loved it
𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘧’𝘴 𝘜𝘱 isn’t sunshine and surfboards. It’s the quiet sound of California’s dream fading into introspection, melancholy, and maturity. Tracks like ’𝘛𝘪𝘭 𝘐 𝘋𝘪𝘦 and the haunting title song show a band far removed from their teenage image — reaching instead for something deeper, more fragile, and timeless. This is not the Beach Boys most people expect, but perhaps the one that mattered most. Brian Wilson’s genius is etched into every note of this record, even in his absence. His emotional fingerprints remain unmistakable: lush harmonies, heartbreaking arrangements, and the sense that music can say what words can’t. With his recent passing, albums like 𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘧’𝘴 𝘜𝘱 feel less like relics of the past and more like open windows into his beautiful, troubled mind. Rest easy, Brian. The waves you created will never stop reaching the shore.
The Beach Boys have been accused (by me) of recording the same song dozens of times. I stand by this accusation. However, I readily admit that I haven't ventured into the Beach Boys discography beyond Pet Sounds. This, I'm starting to think, was a mistake. This album showed me that giving the Beach Boys another chance might not be the worst idea in the world.
On the day of Brian Wilson's death... Iconic for a certain support base, however not my cup of tea. Too sweet. Easy listening California vibes though.
Not at all what I expected. I enjoyed it, but the song s didn’t feel to meld together into a cohesive album for me. “ Student Demonstration Time”, “Long Promised Road” and “‘til I die” are the best song on this album.
A Beach Boys nerd's Beach Boys album. If you're looking for more cars and surfing, this isn't it. But it's got amazing contributions from Carl (Long Promised Road & Feel Flows) and some of the best songs Brian Wilson ever wrote ('Till I Die & Surf's Up). Mike Love's cheesy Lieber & Stoller ripoff (Student Demonstration Time) is a definite skip. This album has some of the best Beach Boys songs that most people have never heard. Rest in peace Brian.
M/V
Well, some songs had the traditional Beach Boys harmonies, but the songs themselves were pretty terrible. It is amazing how far they can go from Pet Sounds.
this was just brilliant. succinct. marvellous. rest in peace brian wilson we will never look upon your like again.
A moody and psychedelic album that I happened to be assigned the day after Brian Wilson’s death. The music is filled with both longing and reflection, and despite being over 50 years old, many of its themes still feel strikingly relevant. Tracks like “’Til I Die” and “Feel Flows” carry an almost meditative weight, and the album’s climax, the magnificent “Surf’s Up,” is a true masterpiece. Even the often-criticized “Student Demonstration Time” feels eerily timely in light of the current protests in L.A. A mature, melancholic, and deeply introspective album that presents The Beach Boys at their most serious and artistic. A powerful farewell to innocence and in some ways, to Brian Wilson himself. 5/5
O album melhora no decorrer das faixa e depois acaba. Tangzu Wan'er 2.
Easy listening but nothing really drawing me in or leaving much of an impression. Surfs up is nice but this isn’t going to be revisited anytime soon
Am I the only person who likes Student Demonstration Time?
Cool
Kind of blah
Estoy desconcertado. A primera escucha esperaba las clásicas melodías pero todo sonaba como depresivo?!?! Tuve que escucharlo 3 veces para entender de que se trataba y vaya, que camino por recorrer. Un gran álbum!
Great album with songs I hadn’t heard before. Very different sound from what you generally associate with The Beach Boys.
4.5
not at all what i had imagined for beach boys, but that’s definitely a good thing in this scenario. Songs like long promised road and a day in the life of a tree are really really great. However, songs like take a load off your feet (so cheesy) and student demonstration time (Jesus Christ) and feel flows (stop the flutes) make this a hard album to listen to straight through. Overall, more bad than good bops imo.
Wilson dies, and this is the next album I get served? Coincidence? I think not! Album is alright, but I've never been able to get into them. Tera Melos is influenced by them, so I appreciate that. 3/5
First real time listening to anything other than the main beach boy hits.
Idk if this was chance but i got this the day after Brian Wilson died. Simply put surfs up is the best Brian Wilson song
Surf’s Up (the song) is my favourite song of all time since some times now. Of course I’ll rate it 5/5. 💔
Good tracks, just not my kind of music.
Who knew The Beach Boys could suck this bad? I was surprised when I saw this album pop up today because I’ve never heard of it. After listening, I know why.
Очень классно, нравится.
Fitting that this popped up after the announcement of Brian Wilson's death. This is one of their best albums. Even if Student Demonstration Time is total ass it still works with the rest of the album as a whole. Surfs Up has to be one of the best closers to an album and one of the best songs in the world. And given our current climate I believe that it's more important than ever that people listen to this.
In which The Beach Boys take a new direction. Environmental issues and lost innocence are the main themes. Patchy and often naive sounding.
A lot drearier than Pet Sounds. I don't mind.
The most ominous beach boys album. Sometimes feels like an anti sunshine pop record. Very immersive.
Fun time party band gets serious. It doesn't work for me. If you are a fun time party band, be yourself. Plenty of others lamenting about the world, and quite frankly, plenty of others do it better. 2
Highlight Song/s: Don't Go Near The Water and Long Promised Road I got this album on the day Brian Wilson died; I thought that was kind of funny(not him dying per se,) but the mopey album cover and the album name alongside the sad news of his death. But then I found out shortly after it was scripted (which my opinion on was mixed.) Anyways this is my second Beach Boys album, last time was Pet Sounds (not a fan of) back in August apart from that I just listened to their hits like Good Vibrations, Surfin' U.S.A and I Get Around. So It's good to listen to them properly again. I like the melancholy on this album, it sounds like its the end of an era; very bittersweet. The fact that this album is when Brian Wilson was stepping back from a leadership role, makes it a bit heartbreaking. Godspeed Brian.
This album really changed my opinion of Beach Boys albums. It’s definitely a must listen. Surf’s Up! Rest in peace, Mr. Wilson.
Sounds nice without being in any way interesting.
Dad- 4 Mom- 5.5 Mike- 7.5 Lori- 8 Michael- 8 Miles- 7.5 Cole- 5.5 Avg- 6.57
Enjoyed this quite a bit. Almost a 4, and could be after a few more listens. Not what I was expecting. A bit darker and more socially conscious
Brian Wilson's vocal harmonies age like fine wine. RIP.
Not their best. The political nature of some song’s lyrics really highlight a weakness in Brian’s writing. The introspective nature of some of his other songs show these to be very pale in comparison.
Seems way too on the nose for this to be a coincidence, but I guess I’ll see if a number of other people got this album today. Or maybe multiple Beach Boys albums were sent out today. (The day after Brian Wilson’s death if someone reads this in the future for some reason) I never heard this one in its entirety and it’s so good. I saw Brian Wilson live in 2016 and he did the entirety of Pet Sounds. It was a great show and I did not take for granted I was in the presence of such an important figure.
Interesting that I got this the day after Brian Wilson passed away. I liked this so much more than I was expecting to. A lot of it is different than the Beach Boys typical sound, and the subject matter is so progressive and deep. I'm familiar with Pet Sounds of course, but I think I like this more.
One of the odder beach boys albums
I liked this one, it's very accessible but at the same time, feels well crafted. I liked how diverse the songs are, but at the same time, they feel consistent. It's also a bit more elaborate pop, more progressive and more insightful. I liked how they mix topics, specially how political they get for "Student Demonstration Time", particularly for a pop record. The vocals are excellent, and the instrumentals work well to complement them. The production was pretty interesting ("Take A Load Off Your Feet" is excellent), mixing some innovative sounds. That being said, the mixes feel a bit lacking. My favourites were "Long Promised Road" and "'Till I Die" which has absolutely stellar vocals". "Disney Girls" was very pretty too.
I'd never heard of this one. It's a very well designed album. Good to listen to, like a prog album. Highly recommend with headphones.
Super self aware album for the late Beach boys. This one really suprised me and I found it really good. Disney girl a highlight. Between 4-5 but thinking 5. Cool range to this album
fantastic
I worked at a concert venue years ago. I was never star struck so I worked the green room most of the time. The beach boys played there and were not good to work with. This album reconfirmed wy bad taste for them.
Like many of us I’m listening to this the day after Brian Wilson’s passing and it’s a sad day for music history, RIP Brian Wilson. The Beach Boys for me had a very specific moment where they were great and this solidified that for me. Starting the record the first song was a huge mixed bag, certainly not “bad” but not very good either. The next three songs were actually quite good but they give off the vibe of trying really hard to remake that Beach Boys magic and falling just a little short, honestly that’s the vibe I get from the whole record, trying to recapture that sound they had in 65-66 and partially succeeding but falling just short. This whole record is a little odd in sound anyway. However easily the closest the record comes to touching that classic sound was “Til’ I Die” with wonderful harmonies that make a truly haunting song and the closing title track, that had been around since the Smile sessions. This album is an odd, “trying to recapture”, and kinda disjointed album, but as much as I’ve mentioned them attempting to remake that magic they largely come very close, despite its lulls the 2-4 tracks and especially the final 2 songs really make this one come together, I’ll give it a 3.5/5 that gets rounded up to a 4
Getting The Beach Boys on the day that Brian Wilson passed away.
Sorry, but I've never really gotten the appeal of the title song here, which works much better on Brian's version of Smile as a culmination of a movement than as a standalone song. The attempts at writing political songs tend to fall flat too, either being way too corny like "Don't Go Near the Water" or actively reactionary like "Student Demonstration Time", which seems to be blaming the students at Jackson State for the police shooting at them. I do like "Disney Girls", though; Bruce is a pretty underrated singer for the band. But overall, this has got to be the weakest of the albums that get a good bit of critical acclaim, despite maybe having their best cover art.
This was better than the other album.
Mostly weird songs. Hated the “riot going on” rendition. Brian Wilson’s touch is noticeably absent
This album is insane. Not bad insane, more like intriguing insane……kind of like the ending to 2001: A Space Odyssey. Why is there a baby space? There just is, man.
I enjoyed this album and I do love me some Beach Boys! My only criticism is that I didn’t find any of the songs particularly memorable. Like most Beach Boys songs they have a great melody and their voices blend well together but I can’t recall what any of these songs sound like. But I would listen to this album again and recommend it to others!
There's a riot going on. It's student demonstration time.
Ironc that I get a Beach Boys one day after the death of Brian Wilson containing a asong called Until I die and that there's a song about Riots Anyway I didn't know a single song from this album but i liked it.
Rest in peace Brian Wilson got this album the day after he passed
Elevated version of earlier Beach Boys, but nothing special in the sense that it belongs on this list. As beautiful as there harmonies can be, they are a re bit dated and can become tiresome. The Beach Boys know how to put together a good catchy song, and even enough to fill an entire album, doesn't make it an album you must hear. 6.5/10 77/1001
this album was really good. this band really does have more depth than some of their happy-go-lucky songs would suggest. a stand out is “disney girls” which is such a cute song. other than that i forgot what i was gonna say because i meant to write this like 5 days ago. whoops! still a 5/5.
A far cry from the ubiquitous pop jangles of their early years. Really good, beautiful music.
A very sombre album compared to Beach Boy's other efforts. I love the darker atmosphere on this album i think they pull it off quite well. The songs are also really catchy and have some really good production attatched to them 8/10 Favourite: Surf's Up Least Favourite: A Day in the Life of a Tree
A lot of great songs on it. But Pet Sounds is still my favorite, 4 stars for Brian Wilson.
The melancholy is amazing here!
The last great Beach Boys album before Brain's mental health started nose diving already bad since before Pet Sounds, in the first half of the 1970s things came to a head. There would be great songs on uneven albums after Surf's Up both with The Beach Boys and as a solo artists & near great albums The Beach Boys Love You (1977) is an odd, gorgeous album that just misses being a five-star album and certainly some would strongly disagree with me & call 'Love You' the last truly great Beach Boys album but so it goes. A melancholy optimism is all over Surf's Up at times beautifully comforting and on occasion unnerving. In many ways Surf's Up can be seen as a goodbye letter to the brilliant at times overwhelming waves of youth.
Not for me.
Insane getting a Beach Boys album the day after Brian Wilson died, did the algorithm do that on purpose or is it a crazy coincidence??? Anyways it's not Pet Sounds. It's okay but it's not Pet Sounds.
Never understood why they so popular, I just find it very mediocre.
Om jag hittar den på vinyl så kommer jag köpa den. Intressant och spännande, men min lyssning var väldigt slapp. Så det blir svårt att betygsätta detta
Can't stand there cheese laiden, all American tripe, from our side of the pond American is a sad, prejudiced, rotten to the core dump. I genuinely feel for the poor souls who have to live their, with an **** (fill in as appropriate d,c,f,t) for a leader along with the rest of his playground gang. It's not like we are much better but we do elect intelligent individuals and we don't treat minorities like shit or allow guns. Right now time to give it an unbiased and fair listen to. How does anyone have the nerve to talk about these in the same breath as the Beatles. I know the Americans wanted their own Beatles but fuck me these lot! This sounds like a bunch of junkie musicians who put out the shit they recorded while high instead of binning it and recording some proper shit when straight It's a bit like us and Elton John we feel we have a duty to love everything he does, when some is great and some is shit. To sum up finely with Stevie Wonder I have tried to like him but I can't The Beach boys I have tried to like but can't Difference is Stevie Wonder is a musical God and The Beach Boys are shit A day in the life of a tree fucking hell guys sounds like a guy coming of a ten day bender! Were the lyrics taken from LOTR
Important stepping stone in the band's story, but far from essential
This is depressed beach men. Give me The Beach Boys.
To be honest, I'm a little torn on this one. I always go into pop albums with cautious optimism since most pop records, even the highly regarded ones, tend to disappoint me, but I'm happy when I find something unique in this tired genre. I like how, unlike most pop albums, this one is not at all generic and, while still being on the calmer side (mostly), not minimalistic. But it is too inconsistent, both in terms of quality and style. I really like half of the songs here, but the the other is whatever. It feels a bit all over the place, with the tone constantly changing not only between songs but even within the songs themselves. I like the Wall of Sound production, though. It is a lot more interesting than the typical approach most pop albums go for where the instruments are only there as a background for vocals and don't stand out. The only thing I knew about this album before going into it is that people hated Student Demonstration Time. But after listening to it, honestly, if you ignore the lyrics, it's kinda great. Yes, the lyrics that either try to tell that protesting is useless or urge to only protest peacefully are obviously problematic. And if it's not that, then it's been exceedingly poorly communicated. It is also a lot more loud and heavy than the rest of the album... but that's why I like it. Yes, I'm extremely biased. I like heavy blues rock and metal, a genre that it birthed, and I think Student Demonstration Time executed it extremely well and turned out to be very catchy. But yeah, the lyrics are cringe. I feel like this album had a lot of potential but came a little undercooked. But overall I still enjoyed it. 7/10
Love vocal harmonies in the back. RIP
Charming
Just no
This is a Beach Boys album I was not familiar with and it wasn’t my favorite. Such a weird collections of songs about the environment that reminded me of songs from an after school special or something. I could picture the rudimentary animation that would go with it. Had to listen to pet sounds immediately after as a palette cleanser.
There are songs I didn't hate, but on a day when the president is sending marines to LA, Student Demonstration Time just makes me angry.
Very different vibe for them
Kam tatsächlich an dem Tag, an dem ich erfahren habe, dass Brian Wilson verstorben ist. Gutes Album.
This seemed to be trying to be different for different sake and therefore forced and hacky.
bruv... i know that brian died yesterday but are you sure that its ok to give us this in memory of him? 6/12 is literally my fav's birthday and i need to be very happy. yes to keep my true identity a secret i'd like to call myself a Robyn fan. i mean, "Dancing On My Own" is such a banger. I especially like the david byrne collab version on SNL50 although ppl says that its shit asf cause they are all out of breath and other problems. its really fun. anyway back to surf's up. it makes me anxious. maybe its because im always anxious this week due to my finals. and there's some political messages. like, who the fuck cares about ocean except ppl that are associated with the surfing subculture? i think im becoming more tense and nervous than yesterday because of the bit of disturbing nature of this. maybe its because brian died and i cant see it in a objective way. anyway here's a 3.5. Please, take it. Also please don't adjust the algorithm to give us Pet Sounds tomorrow, dear site mod. we dont need a wake that lasts half a week long. give us some good old beatles, ok?
Kind of feels like it could be a totally different band, I don't really recognise any of the singers except maybe Brian Wilson (RIP by the way, crazy I got this the day after). Its pretty good, but overall kind of lacks what made them so revolutionary, but that's ok, I quite like the more conscious themes on here, like the environmental stuff. The production/mix is also really weird, it might be partially in mono or something, some parts just feel so tinny and thin. I also quite like some of the early synth stuff on here. Its definitely more introspective, but lacks some of the depth, just read that Brian Wilson didn't really produce this, so that could have been why. Favourite songs: Don't go near the water, long promised road, feel flows, a day in the life of a tree, 'til I die, surf's up. Overall around 6/10 (close to 7 ig)
Not as up beat as I anticipated. Felt like a different side of the beach boys than what I was used to from radio play but I enjoyed it
not my fav album from them, but still really really great stuff on here.
Different to anything Beach Boys I've heard before, still has the harmonies but they maybe aren't as prominent, it's a little trippier and more psychedelic. Overall enjoyable and worth another listen
R.I.P. Mr. Wilson.
RIP to Brian Wilson. Amazing album here. Just unbelievable experimentation and a change of sound that was great. Also Student Demonstration Time is a jam idc what people say. 8/10
Well, it's not their usual glorified barbershop quartet stuff but still not great. I give them credit for trying to stay relevant moving into the 70s but this is incredibly dated, honestly feels like they were just screwing with fans
I really like the sombre, laid-back sound. Discovering how The Beach Boys evolved beyond surf rock has been a highlight of the project for me.
Surprisingly good and I really liked it!
Fun weird album. It isn't pet sounds but it's still magical on its own terms.
Disney Girls and Day in the Life of a Tree
This was given to me the day after Brian Wilson died. Not what I’d have expected, but enjoyable. Topical themes.
Hasn't really made me change my mind about the majority of the BBs music.
Get this album on 12.06.25 Listened instead most of Beach Boys discography for a whole day. Especially “Smile Sessions”. I wasn’t a big fan, although always admired their craft and inspiration for others. But Brian was a true genius. As Sean Lennon called him “American Mozart”. Rest in piece. And album is great. Eclectic, swift, sophisticated. And I truly believe, if “Surf’s Up” (single) actually realeased in 1967 (with “Smile”) we would have different music scene today.
I knew this couldn't be a coinkidink, so on this Brian Wilson Memorial Day(June 12th, 2025), it's time for us to all relish in a Brian Wilson album. Unfortunately, I may have just generated the worst album he was ever involved in. In a way, there is a sentimental sound throughout the album that wraps me up like a warm fuzzy blanket. On the other hand, this isn't much of an album; it's a...mood? A vibe(not vibration)? I'm not sure how to describe it. Favorite Track: "A Day In The Life Of A Tree"
I wasn't going to be very positive on this review, but I got this album just after Brian Wilson passed away at the age of 82, and this album became eeriely fitting for today. This is probably the most (if not the only) downbeat Beach Boys record, a odd direction for a band known for good vibes and sunshine, but one that reflect its state in the early-70's. Personally, beyond the amazing title track, nothing really sticks with me, but this is already a recurring problem I find with the Beach Boys. Probably will re-listen at some point, as I do enjoy this type of artsy baroque pop. Key tracks: Surf's Up
RIP brian wilson this my first beach boy. its pretty good.
Al parecer 1001 albums generator le puso a sus usuarios, al azar, un disco de o con Brian Wilson el día siguiente de su fallecimiento. A mí me tocó Surf´s Up, que aunque me gustó, me pareció extraño; melancólico pero con algo que no me dejó conectar del todo. Raro. No mal, pero necesito darle un par de vueltas más.
How odd to listen to a whole album that definitely sounds like The Beach Boys but I’ve never heard any of the songs. This was good and having read the reviews, I wish it held my attention better but after four listens I don’t think it quite makes it to 4.
First of all RIP. This album was really good
++*: Don't Go Near the Water ++: Long Promised Road, Take a Load Off Your Feet, Student Demonstration Time, Lookin' at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song), A Day in the Life of a Tree, Surf's Up +: Disney Girls (1957), Feel Flows, 'Til I Die 8,5/10
I was not expecting this, and it showed up the day after Brian Wilson passed. It's truly beautiful. The music of Student Demonstration is a bit cheesy, but it was well-timed given current events. Really a great album from front to back.
I’d never heard of this album or of any of the songs on it. It’s kind of weird to be honest. But I liked it. Not your typical Beach Boys vibe, but it just goes to show that they were more than just singing about surfing and girls. Not bad.
Beautiful, but fluffy, which might as well be the Beach Boy's motto. Talk about an overkill poster—it's hard to live up to that one.
Low 3 Side A was a lot of fun, side B wa slower
I’m giving The Beach Boys’ Surf’s Up a 4-star rating, mainly for its bold departure from their earlier surf music sound. The album’s musical aspects are truly enjoyable. However, I have mixed feelings about its social activism themes. Some lyrics come across as opportunistic and a bit sleazy, almost like reaching for low-hanging fruit. Despite this, I appreciate the album’s overall musical direction, which is why I’ve rounded my rating up from a 3.5 to 4 stars.
Way more melancholy than I expect a Beach Boys album to be but I really enjoyed it. When I got Pet Sounds I stupidly gave it a 4 not realizing how much I'd be going back to those songs. Even if I enjoy that album more, I'm giving this a 5 just because I really vibe with it. It's really consistent with deep messages and amazing harmonies.
Sad to see the maker of such good music go :( 4/5
I’ve always liked The Beach Boys, but I never even heard of this album. Very confused at first because it doesn’t have much of any of that classic Beach Boys harmony. Part way through I got the vibe this is something Beck listened to as a kid. Once I was finally able to disconnect my expectations for a Beach Boys album from what this actually is, I rather liked it. Will most like listen again. Side note, this album dropped on me the day after Brian Wilson died. Weird.
Different from other Beach Boys albums I've heard
RIP Brian Wilson.
It’s no Pet Sounds, but there are some cool tracks. RIP Brian Wilson. He died yesterday! Can’t be a coincidence.
The beach boys make heartless, dull, boring music.
Not my favorite Beach Boys album.
I think that it took Brian Wilson's death for me to really be able to properly get into The Beach Boys, and after having revisited a few of their albums today, I'm really starting to hear their music differently. Surf's Up is absolutely beautiful, being so short but managing to cover a lot of ground in that time. The classic sunshine pop that they are known for is of course still very present, but the slightly darker side of this album isn't afraid to show itself in moments that it fits in super well.
It was haunted in tone, in theme, and in timing. Not the surfy sunshine of old, but something heavier, more introspective. The sound of a genius drifting out to sea, one broken harmony at a time. Perfectly eerie for the day Brian Wilson left the planet.
Quite a stark contrast from what other albums sound like. Great album nonetheless.
Nice harmonies
Thought this was too much of a coincidence with Brian Wilson unfortunately dying yesterday. RIP. However, saw on Facebook page many fellow 1001’s also got a Beach Boys album so that was a lovely touch and fitting tribute to a great musician. I had this album once upon a time but somehow cannot trace it now. It wasn’t an album I played a lot. In fact now that I’ve listened to it again today there are only two tracks which I rate. That is the title track and Feel Flows which for me is the best track by far and worth the purchase price alone. That said don’t think I’d purchase again but thanks for the timely reminder of how good Feel Flows which is now a ‘loved’ track on my favourite streaming service. Thanks for the music Brian. Better things will be said when Pet Sounds comes my way but this is also a great way to celebrate your life and music. 3/5 12/6/25
Got this right after Brian Wilson’s death, the music world lost a real genius. I know a lot of the Beach Bous hits but was nice to hear another side of them with this album. 3.5/5 rounding up for the legend that we loar
This was a very nice moment in this project from the dev, given the recent news of Brian's passing. I'd never heard a single track from Surf's Up before so it was a completely fresh spin, but I appreciated it.
I want to like them, but it’s just so sappy.
6.5/10
I'm not much of a Beach Boys fan. Everything I would ever care to hear from them could probably be heard in less than an hour. It's probably saying something when the songs I liked the most on this album were those that sounded less like the Beach Boys. This was OK at best but I doubt I'd ever revisit it.
5/5 RIP Brian Wilson
not bad but I don't understand the hype
Short and sweet (necessary though?)
Beach Boys that isn't Pet Sounds. Fun!
I remember touring with Brian and the boys back in 1957 with Houmous & Chutney. Back then they were called The Bitch Boys. They introduced themselves to Len. Back then Len Houmous was also the stage announcer. He misheard them due to their thick Glaswegian accents and announced. the Beach Boys. They moved to California and The rest is history. Still to this day, very few people know they are Scottish. 3.9 1/10 Don’t Go Near The Water
Very topical for multiple reasons, this is quite a departure from what I'm used to from the Beach Boys. Very political, verh conscious. I like it. Rest in Peace Brian Wilson.
Ei jatkoon ei jatkoon älkää alottako musiikkiuraa loppu seis tähän
Honestly could have been a Ween album
Not my favourite of The Beach Boys albums. It is likely more original to their early music influences and the sound that was in at that time.
I’m torn on this album. It’s definitely an album of its time and maybe I was expecting more Pet Sounds than psychedelic Beatles. It felt all over the place from one song to the next.
Very good
Not for me.
It’s The Beach Boys. It’s awesome.
Know this album well. moody, heavy while lighthearted, beautiful.
I vibe with these kinda albums. Soild listen.
Had not listened much beyond 'Pet Sounds' but really enjoyed this album. The first 4 songs especially are among my favourite Beach Boys songs. For a 17th album (!!!) it's a great listen.
Good stuff Favourite - Disney Girls
Beautiful vocal harmonies
A solid record that only kind of sounds like The Beach Boys you’ve heard before. The harmonies are still here, but lacking fullness without the full involvement of Brian Wilson. And the musicality and ambition is still present too, but sometimes misguided or hazily mixed into a cacophony as in the muddled “Feel Flows.” “Student Demonstration Time” tries for socially conscious blues rock, but is much less successful than it aspires to be. However, the first four tracks are effective both lyrically and musically, the album closes strong as well. Worthy entry in the canon of a legendary band.
3.5
I like that one song Disney girls thank you glenn Kim I love you to the moon.... and even all the way back
Don't Go Near The Water: Immediately sets the tone of the album, with a slightly darker tone compared with other Beach Boys albums. A good cautionary tale about pollution and it's effects on living. Long Promised Road: Compelling track to inspire action against the destruction of our world with an amazing chorus. Take A Load Off Your Feet: I love the mixing and singing on this track. I think this song is about keeping your roots in mind in life and to not skip on the simple things in life. Nice message. Disney Girls: A song reflecting on the nostalgia of a lost love and trying to cope with that loss, ultimately resorting to "fantasy worlds" to feel happy. Really sad song that I connect with a lot. The bridge changes to tone of the song to a childlike innocence trying to hold on to his perfect world. Highlight track of the album. Student Demonstration Time: Perfect blues track. More of a "discursive" song about protesting, with the message being avoid violence when possible, and also to call out excessive force from the government. Nice usage of a megaphone to sing. Feel Flows: An almost interlude about death Lookin' At Tomorrow (a welfare song): a song about trying to find a job and failing. I think it also makes reference to attempting suicide. A Day In The Life Of A Tree: the combination of church organ, pipe organ, poetic lyrics, tree metaphor, bird calls, choir, and venerable singing make this the Magnum Opus of Surfs Up. It made me cry so hard, honesty beautiful. This track along sums up all the concepts found in the album. 'Til I Die: A reflection on the fragility of life as it comes and goes. Surfs Up: The title track, and a playful jab at their early surf rock, saying it's "up." Signalling of a new era with a new person. Overall, a perfect album, and probably my favourite. 11/10
Yawn, beach boys
Interesting and more dynamic than their usual stuff.
Apart from the obvious singles, I think this is my first proper listen to The Beach Boys. Gonna take a wild stab that this wasn’t the best album to start with. The songwriting is good, but did not live up to the hype I have endured over the 29 years of my Beach Boys-less life. I wonder what Don’t Go Near The Water is about? If only the lyrics had been more obvious. Credit where its due because some of the production is absolutely sick on this, and being that the band self produced I think that’s where a lot of their influence on popular music lies. Favourites - Disney Girls (1957), Feel Flows, A Day In The Life Of A Tree, ‘Till I Die, Surf’s Up
Album’s fine. Vocal melodies and harmonies are nice as always with Beach Boys, but nothing in the track listing here really stands out. None of it’s bad, none of it’s great. Perfectly listenable. Don’t Go Near the Water (7/10) Long Promised Road (7/10) Take a Load Off Your Feet (6/10) Disney Girls (1957) (6/10) Student Demonstration Time (7/10) Feel Flows (6/10) Lookin’ At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) (6/10) A Day in the Life of a Tree (6/10) ‘Til I Die (6/10) Surf’s Up (7/10) 6.4/10
Aldri vært noen stor fan
Litt mye surr
Ikke den sterkeste i min bok.
Just a couple of days after Brian Wilson's death, this is a very appropriate one to come up. Ironically, Wilson didn't write or sing on much of this album except for the last 3 songs which are the best on the album. This one is a strange, eclectic group of songs with some great psychedelia ("Feel Flows"), a political sensibility, and much goofiness. Though "Pet Sounds" is their masterpiece I really enjoyed this one.
Holy shit. What the hell is this? Had only ever heard Pet Sounds, and while I think its a great record, always felt like it was a bit overrated. But this is something else. They go full psychadelic on this, and I love it. Listening to this felt like watching a David Lynch movie, with the sunny, clean cut American pop veneer and layers of gloom and darkness underneath. The juxtaposition of the amazing album cover with a title like Surfs Up really sums that up. Definitely planning on repeat listens. RIP to the original king of pop
Really enjoyed this
The Beach Boys attempt to show they are beach *men* by singing Serious Songs about... water pollution, not getting fat, a tree and... the Kent State Massacre? Oh, lads.
It was okay. I was actually surprised at the style and enjoyed it. I could see that Ben Folds may have gotten some inspiration from this.
Wanted to hate it more than I did, it was also really short and didn’t draw me in much.
Not what I was expecting from the Beach Boys. It was alright.
This slaps, loved student demonstration time. Lots pretty unconventional harmonic parts manifested by beautiful arrangements. RIP dude
RIP Brian Wilson. Really good album
Imagino que esse álbum tenha sido gerado manualmente devido à triste morte do Brian Wilson, que ocorreu ontem. De qualquer forma, Beach Boys é um grupo que eu conheço bem pouco. Sou um ávido Pet Sounds believer, mas fora isso, conheço basicamente nada da banda além de umas faixas soltas e o que a galera falava sobre o Brian. A primeira coisa que me surpreendeu foi a capa e o nome do disco, ambos ironizando o começo pastelão que a banda viveu na década de 1960. Além disso, me chocou descobrir que esse é o décimo-sétimo álbum da banda, eu não tinha noção do escopo desta discografia. Me deleitei com as melodias e harmonias nesse disco, mas não esperava menos que isso dos criadores de Pet Sounds. E essa vai ser a última vez que vou dizer o nome desse disco nesta review! Prometo. Esse álbum merece seu mérito próprio. Tematicamente, ele é bem mais sombrio que o trabalho passado da banda, com temas mais conscientes. Admito que senti um pouco de falta daquela inocência e despreocupação do disco que-não-deve-mais-ser-mencionado, mas as letras não atrapalharam em nenhum momento minha habilidade de desfrutar das canções. Com exceção da faixa Student Demonstration Time, que por si só é desagradável suficiente pra tirar uma estrela inteira da nota! Skip total… Uma pena! Uma coisa que eu notei enquanto o ouvia é quanto esse álbum influenciou aquela onda indie dos anos 2000. Flaming Lips, Spiritualized, MGMT... etc. Interessante. 4/5
Not my favourite Beach Boys tracks. Some are downright awful (Student Demonstration Time). Brian Wilson died yesterday so I'll be kind and give a 3. RIP Brian.
There was some great work here, but also a fair bit of the not-so-focused noodling (especially lyrical) that has kept me from being a solid fan.
I feel like I should be grading on a curve just because it's the Beach Boys and because of Brian Wilson's death...but I really did not like this at all. Weird.
RIP Brian Wilson, who seems to have had very little to do with this album. I liked his songs quite a bit but found all the rest extremely weird.
aside from the dreadful "student demonstration time", this is pretty great. the best songs are the brian ones of course, plus disney girls (1957).
Felt pretty same overall. Don’t get me wrong I like the Beach Boys but I didn’t need an hour of this. I’m going to go listen to Pet Sounds now
Not what I expected from a beach boys album but excellent nonetheless
enjoyed this very short trip, kinda different from their normal which was nice too see. 3.5/5
Beautiful and tragic
It starts with subertion of what the Beach Boys are in the public mind(boys enjoying the beach, d'oh) and it gives you an enviromental curveball. I kinda enjoyed the album. RIP Brian 4/5
this is the closest we get to Smile being on the list, huh? felt like a real mishmash of things and really just made me want to go listen to Smile. still a fun listen tho.
Not a Smiley Smile, but leaves you smiling.
Nice timing dropping this the day after Brian Wilson died. I hadn't heard any songs off this before, but it's decent. "Student Demonstration Time" rules. The rest was fine.
This was a very interesting listen as it deviates so much from what my perception of The Beach Boys is. I enjoyed some of the bluesier songs, but over all it was just okay.
Not a fan of The Beach Boys but this is a great album!
I’ve long deposed The Beach Boys but it’s only because I’m only familiar with their earlier work. This is a darker more mature band that should be taken seriously. “Student Demonstration Time” was a particularly powerful snapshot considering the current unrest in LA and a stark reminder that some things take decades to change for the better.
I don't think this was a coincidence - the day after Brian Wilson's death? This album is a very different sound than the tried and true Beach Boys sound, but that doesn't make it bad. Respect!
Interesting album. The whole thing is pretty good, sometimes dark, sometimes playful, sometimes dorky. But then you get to the last three songs, which are noticeably so much better and more interesting than the rest. I’m guessing these are the Brian Wilson songs. Anyway, very cool album with some strange and curious dimensions (the juxtaposition of the title and cover art? crazy) and I would say it’s a must-listen. (#155)
Favorite Track: Student Demonstration Time
Ugh. Throwback music, whose spiritual successors are the Wiggles. Except I don’t hate the wiggles.
Not what I expected from a beach boys album. It had a slower sadder vibe to it that I really liked. Lots of little touches to really elevate it.
Interesting album on an interesting day, the day after Brian Wilson died. I didn't know any of the songs and I'm not a big fan of the Beach Boys, but this was a consistent effort. 'Till I Die was especially poignant today.
Hits different
For an album without any obvious Beach Boys classics on it, this is pretty decent.
1971 reveals a much more mature version of The Beach Boys then the silly surf rock they had made in the previous decade. The production is slick, the variety is immense, the songwriting is clever, and the themes are overtly ecological and political. Combine all this with a succinct runtime and striking cover art and this is a fantastic album. 5.0/5.0: Iconic
i appreciate the site creator overriding the random nature of the algorithm to push a beach boys album in honor of Brian Wilson. it was a very interesting album. i didnt realize the beach boys had music that sounded like this. i was between 4 and 5 on this but the album art pushes me over the fence to 5.
got this the day after brian wilson died, it's no pet sounds but it's still great stuff
Amazing experimental album. A powerful statement as a band that is adapting to the music changes and help them remain relevant forever
Brian Wilson passed away today. Won’t be another like him in my lifetime. Listening to this album right now at this time hits hard. Title track is a masterpiece.
Coincidence this appeared the day after Brian Wilson died? I don't know how to rate this. This album has some of the very best Beach Boys tunes - songs that are so emotionally intense for me to hear that I would approve any of them to be played at my funeral (Surf's Up, Feel Flows, Til I Die) - and yet also some of the worst tunes that I can't stand to listen to and may permanently damage your sense of aesthetics in music - I mean, A Day In The Life Of A Tree can't be unheard, so tread carefully here. Feel Flows is a super strange song, I have no idea what Carl Wilson is singing about. I understand the words phonically but I do not understand them literally. Yet somehow the goofy synthesizer sounds hit just right and overall this tune has what I can only describe as a spiritual quality that can bring me to joyful tears. My eyes get watery even just thinking about how this tune makes me feel. Also, it was used to great effect at the end of Almost Famous (great movie!). 'Til I Die, the lyrics are pretty clear. Also, I believe this is the only Beach Boys tune Brian wrote all of the lyrics for? Apparently a straightforward articulation of a shattered man staring down a lifetime sentence of having to live with himself. Devastating, and with gorgeous singing all the way around. Surf's Up is probably the peak of Brian Wilson's songwriting talent. His magnum opus. Probably the peak of anyone's songwriting talent, actually. Again, no idea wtf they think they are singing about. Columnated ruins domino? What?!? Brian struggled for years to get to a point with it where he felt it was "done" and actually I don't think he ever felt it was done. Fun fact: the middle part where it's just Brian singing and playing piano was recorded live in Brian's living room as part of a TV special Leonard Bernstein made on him. Bernstein is I believe sharing the piano stool with him. Can you imagine? I think nowadays the Samaritans or some other anti suicide group would sue to keep this album from ending with the devastating combo of Til I Die and Surfs Up. I am giving this five stars because the three good tunes are to my ears some of the most powerful and emotionally compelling music ever made, at least ever made by humans, and on this five star scale easily merit 10 stars. However, I have owned this vinyl for at least twenty years and possibly never once played it all the way through because the shitty tunes are so shitty they merit no stars. So when I average them out, we get to five stars.
I'm not sure whether it was intentional that this album came on the day after Brian Wilson died (presumably for anyone who hadn't already gotten all of the Beach Boys albums), but I appreciate the timing regardless. I also appreciate that this is the least Beach-Boys-sounding album of the lot in this collection, as it makes the experience a bit more interesting. I'm not sure I can point to any great songs on the album, but I'm impressed at how they tried to be more relevant and modern and insightful on tracks like "Don't go near the water", "Long promised road" and "Student demonstration time". I'm not sure how successful they were in this effort, at least from the perspective of listening to it in June 2025, but I'll give them credit for trying. (And it felt like this was largely offset by more-classic and cringe-inducing numbers like "Take a load off your feet" and "Disney's girls", not to mention the painful dirge "A day in the life of a tree".) Although I didn't really care for "'Til I die", it was very poignant to get that track when Brian Wilson died at 82. RIP.
I'm three songs in and here are my thoughts in order of having: 1. omg I'm a-gonna give this 5 stars the way I'd give the Shaggs 5 stars 2. this is your brain on drugs Now I'm 4 songs in and I just feel sad, kind of like the cover of this album. This sadness, melancholia if you will, remained well past the music.
rip dont go near the water- 5 long promised road- 5 take a load off your feet- 5 disney girls- 5 student demonstration time- 5 feel flows- 5 looking at tomorrow- 5 a day in the life of a tree- 5 til i die- 5 surfs up- 5 sorry to give this a 3 a few days after he died but to be honest this album isnt all that
Is it ...like Beatles? Not very much beach music. I like Disney girls song
3.7 Great album cover and somewhat better content than I expected.
I’ve never been a beach boys fan. Too poppy for me. But I thoroughly enjoyed this, and I appreciate Brian Wilson’s genius. 4
Guessing its not a coincidence to we got this album the day after Brian Wilson dies (RIP). The Beach Boys getting deep and taking in their blue period. Its a swift departure from what they were so well known for. I think it is awesome that they tried to go this route and share more than the beach and the waves, but something about their style just doesn't lend itself as well to this kind of music. I liked Student Demonstration Time (eerily timely as well). I am glad to see they tried to change it up, but not surprised this is the first I am hearing of these songs and no real hits came off the album.
It’s very fitting that a Beach Boys album comes up just a day after legend Brian Wilson passed away. Not only a Beach Boys album, but one of their better ones. I bought this in a thrift shop almost 25 years ago and I never really gave it the attention it was due. Much of this album bypasses the beach and sun for darker topics and melancholy vibes, yet the sunny melodies survive. Student Demonstration Time is timely in today’s world environment and is also very clearly inspired by Revolution by The Beatles. Surf’s Up moves from sunny to meditative to eclectic creating a satisfying song that makes you feel like you’ve been given an unexpected super sized meal.