Surf's Up

Nothing too marvelous imo. Some pretty neat vocal harmonies

I didn’t actually hate this, which I fully expected to. Some of it really works - Long Promised Road, Take a Load Off Your Feet, Disney Girls. A lot of it is twee though and deeply outdated. Low 3.

Hmmm. Unlike a lot of albums I've gotten lately, I am glad to have heard this one. But what a weird collection. Until we get to the Brian Wilson productions at the end, it's almost a sine wave: Long Promised Road, Disney Girls, and Feel Flows are good; Don't Go Near the Water, Take a Load Off Your Feet, and Student Demonstration Time are not. And the last three - the production is reminiscent of the glory days, but the songs feel like excuses for recording, rather than the point of it.

nem rossz. kicsit indifferens vagyok ezzel

Like the song "'Til I Die", the vocal harmonies sound too retro to me.

Some songs I really liked, overall gut composition but not my favorite and only saved 2 songs to my playlist

Hmm. Some really good (‘Til I Die and Surf’s Up), and some really really bad (opening track, the one about feet, and the Tree song). Never really understood the critical love for The Beach Boys, but did a bit of deep dive once this album popped up and now I understand better the musical genius of Brian Wilson, even if I don’t love all of the music. There were spots on this record that were sonically beautiful, but some of the lyrics are just putrid. So this one for me was a mixed bag. At times during the listen, I was thinking a “2” at best, but then there was some truly genius tracks, and I was thinking 4. Guess I’ll have to settle in the middle. The 2-3 great songs save this for me and I’ll give it a 3, bordering on a 2 for a third, bordering on a 4 for a third.

Lowkey mid. As a beach boys fan, idk how I haven’t heard this album. Only like 2 decent songs. The 70s were a time I suppose

When I think of The Beach Boys, I think of their classic surf rock sound. This was something else, a combination of pretty good production, near psychedelic vibes, combined with the idea of summer or islander energy. I was pleasantly surprised when I heard effects popularized in dub or other Jamaican genres, giving me that gringo-beach feel. I wasn't very impressed with the social pieces, they felt overproduced and in that sense, not genuine either. Still! Pretty decent listen, I'm glad I heard this other side of the band. I'm not gonna actively look for this record, but if I spot it at a good price, I'd buy it.

Ok.

3.5/5 - really liked Feel Flows but rest were just ok for me. Maybe I would have more appreciate if this wasn’t my first beach boys album?

Something different than their big hits. But not for me.

Meh

dont touch the water?

Ei niin hyvä mitä aikaisempi Beach boys levy. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Still Sunflower for me 5/10

good compositions and harmonies, but not my favorite. Too manufactured trying to find the right slot.

A couple good songs but really kinda cringey or corny.

Another album that's meant to be a classic. I've never got any further than quite liking it.

Listened in the truck via YouTube music. This was an interesting album and sounds like a band trying to be The Beach Boys. The vocals are not in full swing with all the harmonies. Some tracks do feature their signature vocal sound but others are way more sparse. Subject matter is environmental and political and kind of funny. Till I Die I had heard before. Really solid song and interesting artwork for the album compared to the name.

what if the beach boys were moody?

A few days ago I was discussing with my brother how I think I just don't get the Beach Boys and the Beatles. He concluded that maybe I just don't like the 60's sound. Strange, because I like Cream, Hendrix, the Doors, Zeppelin, Zappa... But I will now contend that when people claim that these two bands competed to be the best, it's trying to be the best in something I have no space in my heart for. This kind of music was a race in what is something of a tech demo. Who can layer the most impressive soundscape, the most complicated harmonies? Does that yield the objectively best music? To people invested in that race it does. That would not be me.

Some experimental songs really hit hard. The lyrics are really well written. Great work, Mr Wilson and crew. Just not completely convinced by the album as a whole. 6,5/10 fav songs : Student Demonstration Time (which is just the BB version of Revolution) & Surf's Up

It's OK but not earth breaking.

This was actually one of the strangest albums in this project. It felt like a psychedelic children's album. I kind of liked Don't Go Near The Water and Lookin' at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song). I found the first half of Surf's Up annoying but then it gets good at around the 3 minute mark. Strange vibes.

I know the 60's were gentler times, but there's a lot of PSA in this album that feels a bit silly at times. It's OK, but I was looking for a riot.

I appreciate all of their experimentation with sound and melodies, but it never really comes together for me.

Gentle, surf tinged pop with great vocal harmonies

-second Beach Boys album i’ve heard. really good, i’d say it might even have more variety and range than Pet Sounds -it did have a less cohesive feel than Pet Sounds however which made it kinda tough to connect with every song? still glad i listened, it expanded upon my Beach Boys knowledge -Favorites are Don’t Go Near The Water, Long Promised Road, and Student Demonstration Time

Dare I say the album art might be by far the best thing about this album.

If anyone mentions the Beach Boys, you automatically think of sun, surf, sand and girls (in roughly that order) sung by fresh faced, smiling Californian dudes. Alarm bells already start ringing with the cover to this album depicting a defeated spear carrier on a dying horse, looking like a Scandinavian death metal illustration. Whilst the music sort of sounds like the Beach Boys of old, the subjects include death, student riots and pollution with only a couple of moments where Brian Wilson’s genius shines through (notably in the title track which was a hold over from the legendary lost Smile album). It’s the Beach Boys Jim, but not as we know them.

That is interestingly different from the other Beach Boys albums I've listened so far, it feels "darker" and less "Oh hey I love the sun in the sky and girls on the beach". Maybe it is linked to the time when it was recorded (early seventies). They don't play doom metal either, don't get me wrong.

Ethereal and very mellow.

interesting

Even mid level beach boys is better than most of the other stuff out there

Enjoyed it more than expected

Save the trees! And the water!

a nice chill album but sorta empty. probably good for the time but it's missing something now

3/5. Not as subtle or beautiful as some of the other Beach Boy music I like more. The harmony work seems less ambitious.

3/5

Okay...

Best goed, niks bijzonders

An enjoyable experience from an artist I've never really checked out in any capacity. This very much has proto-progressive rock tendencies without being clearly identifiable as such, falling into a strange stylistic category of psychedelic pop rock which is that bit more challenging and unconventional than you'd expect. The songs take on a bittersweet, high-key yet bordering on melancholic approach, which is always a welcome juxtaposition. My main criticisms of the album would be that the production is somewhat suspect in patches - the vocals can become a bit scratchy/overbearing in the mix, and it does hit a bit of an impasse in its mid-section - "Student Demonstration Time" is a minor dud with these production issues becoming quite glaring.

Another Beach Boy album. I can see their place in history, but nothing very exciting or interesting time personally.

Surprisingly creative music, almost more like the Beatles or Donovan type of sound compared to the early Beach Boys.

This is really not my favourite Beach Boys record, but even their more lacking ventures have some real highlights.

Pretty good, not as good as pet sounds though

The simple title of this one made me think it might be a straight-forward early Beach Boys album. But this early 70's release has some interesting minor key arrangements and psychedelic touches alongside the always beautiful vocal harmonies. Some fairly lame lesser tracks drag this rating down compared to the strengths of its better songs. Standouts: Surf's Up, 'Til I Die, Feel Flows

3.5 Kinda getting a sad clown vibe from this one. Very, very cool cover. I always thought of the beach boys as sort of a pop band without a whole lot of substance (and it always seemed they (or some form of the band) would play any venue in their later years to get a paycheck). The more listens I get in, the more I can appreciate the great songs they have written, pioneering production and a bit of a darker side to keep things interesting. Will check this one out again

I think this is my first listen. I may have heard it once before but I am in no way familiar with it and don’t really know what to think about it. It is both awful and brilliant at the same time. The vocals, the harmonies and the production are so stripped back and don’t have that fat sound that the Beach Boys usually go for. Although Feel Flows has that fatter sound. The songs are ridiculous: Take a Load Off Your Feet, Student Demonstration Time and A Day in the Life of a Tree. Disney Girls (1957) is an unexpected slow waltz which jars the flow of the album. It gets a bit psychedelic for my tastes on side two and dips into that Pet Sounds vibe. It also has the fatter sound that I associate with the Beach Boys. I really can’t decide if the album is genius or junk but I would listen to it again.

Inoffensive. Needed more Brian and less Carl Wilson. I sorta liked “ Take a Load Off Your Feet” and “Student Demonstration Time.”

74/100. Feel Flows is great. A few other good songs

Ha! get it.... like surfs UP

I actually liked this better than any other Beach Boys album I’ve previously listened to. Getting out of their cornball wheelhouse did them a real favor.

3/5

It was ok

Some of the best Beach Boys songs with a lot of filler in between. 7/10

A "too many cooks" record, the 10 songs here pull in a number of different directions, leaving the album with no cohesive center. There are a couple of terrific Brian Wilson co-written tracks ("'Til I Die" and "Surf's Up") and pair of Carl Wilson co-written tracks ("Long Promised Road" and "Feel Flows") that represent a step forward for the Beach Boys sound. On the other hand, it also contains a number of clumsy attempts at social commentary (including the bizarre 50s-ish throwback "Student Demonstration Time") and some corny tracks that should have stayed in the vault ("Take A Load Off Your Feet", "A Day In The Life Of A Tree"). The band deserves credit for trying to move forward but this album contains just a few too many missteps.

This is record that I own. I don't listen to it often. The songs that I most familar with are the last two. Til I Die and Surf's Up. Long Promised Road is great one. If I heard this out in public, I don't know if I'd ID it as a Beach Boys song. There's a couple clunckers in the middle.

Is it just coincidence to get a Beach Boys album the day after learning that Brian Wilson passed away? Or is this site less random than it appears? Something to ponder while listening today. I feel like this album can be summed up as "the Beach Boys get dark." Visually, I was struck by the imagery of the album art and its juxtaposition with the seemingly upbeat "Surf's Up" title. From what I know of the BB's music, they're generally happy, chill, and good-vibe-based. But this makes it look more pessimistic, or at least like dark times are ahead. The music was in this vein as well. Mostly melancholy, versus the generally cheery songs I otherwise would know. I wasn't familiar with any of the tracks on this album prior to listening to it today. It's interesting that the group shifted to this sound, which felt much more band focused (as in fewer harmonies, more instrument-heavy) than I have heard from them before. They also seemed to have more topical mindset, since the lyrics often dealt with societal and environmental problems. While I appreciated this approach from this band, I didn't love the album. Most of it was fine, but none of it really seemed better than good. It's hard to pinpoint anything in particular wrong with it, other than to say it just didn't reach the level of being great. Overall: 3.2/5

Weird for BB. Not terrible with a couple good songs

A day after the death of the great Brian Wilson...really good album, especially the last 3 songs

Meh.

It's alright. Pretty dull to be honest. Won't be revisiting

With a title like that, you'd probably be expecting songs in the vein of California Girls and, yes, Surfin' USA. But you'd be wrong. These are deeper, more introspective ballads rather than cheery bubblegum pop. It's an interesting diversion.

One of the most beautiful album of the 70's.

Getting this album the day after Brian Wilson's passing, and I'm a little disappointed to get a Beach Boys offering that has such minimal influence from Brian. And it shows. Particularly the first half of the album, which is mostly forgettable and uninspired. The second half is really in a different league, but it's not enough to save this rating for me. Especially after reading about how the record was basically part of a PR campaign to rehab the Beach Boys image. Hard to get stoked about something that's mostly disingenuous. Still…RIP Brian. 3/5 Highlights: Student Demonstration Time Feel Flows Looking At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)

Better than I had expected. Very fun

I got this the day after Brian Wilson died I knew nothing about this album before this morning. I see it as groundbreaking in 1971. It's good. Just not for me.

Unique, innovative, etc., but not my favorite thing ever, personally.

Really good melodies!

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.

I liked it

I'm not a fan of the Beach Boys. Too hokey, cheery. This one wasn't entirely awful.

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

I don't really vibe with the beach boys, but it is nicely made Will I listen to again: 21%

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.

Could tell that this was where the Beach Boys started to get their signature sound. Bright, flowy vocals with significant harmonizing.

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

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.

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.

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

They should have just made a pop punk skate album

Good, but not very special..

Beatles rip off in places. Less cringe than some of their stuff but overall not too bad.

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.

The vocal harmonies are always beautiful but I don't think this is one of my favorite beach boys albums

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.

Cool album art, the song about taking care of your feet was pretty weird.

Hints at future Brian Wilson music, very interesting and cool moments but nothing amazing for me

Rätt nice. Inte den typiska beach boys-upplevelsen. Bättre än väntat.

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.

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

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

In which The Beach Boys take a new direction. Environmental issues and lost innocence are the main themes. Patchy and often naive sounding.

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

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.

Getting The Beach Boys on the day that Brian Wilson passed away.

This was better than the other album.

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!

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

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.

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

Important stepping stone in the band's story, but far from essential

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

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.

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

R.I.P. Mr. Wilson.

This was given to me the day after Brian Wilson died. Not what I’d have expected, but enjoyable. Topical themes.

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.

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

Not my favorite Beach Boys album.

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

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.

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.

not bad but I don't understand the hype

Short and sweet (necessary though?)

Beach Boys that isn't Pet Sounds. Fun!

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.

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

Yawn, beach boys

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

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.

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.

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.

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

enjoyed this very short trip, kinda different from their normal which was nice too see. 3.5/5

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.

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.

Favorite Track: Student Demonstration Time

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.

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.

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

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.

There are some very good songs here, but also some clunkers. As the Beach Boys tried to stay relevant in a fast-changing society, the socially-conscious tunes come off as ham-handed. Brian Wilson's diminishing role as leader of the group is felt throughout the record. We've already heard enough Beach Boys and Beach Boys-adjacent albums that better and more essential than this one.

This maybe the least beach boys beach boys album which is why I dug iy

didn't know the beach boys ever sounded like this. kind of enjoyed it. Student Demonstration Time has me thinking about LA rn. RIP mr wilson

Listening to "Student Demonstration Time" in 2025: 🫣

None of the hits, but good album. RIP Brian Wilson

I like the concept and the music in this album, not really my cup of tea but I can appreciate it 3/5

Love the Beach Boys, this album is an interesting one. The chillness of it makes this album repeatable compared to other music of theirs.

Kinda unremarkable for the beach boys, but they do have rather a high standard

Darker that I expected, I guess that happens when you shack up with Manson

Presumably a coincidence that I got this the day after we lost Brian. Not heard the album before … love the cover art and only knew the first song (from the late great Kirsty MacColl version … had no idea it was a cover until today). Overall, it’s not Surfin USA .. but I enjoyed it.

An odd no-hits Beach Boys album that left me thinking it was kind of forgettable. Still some good writing and production though, as is customary from the group.

It’s the Beach Boys. Nothing against them, just never hooked me.

Some good songs on here, had to listen twice. Some are not my favorite but I would listen again.

Good writing, not their best musically.

Dans l'immense et complexe océan qu'est la discographie des Beach Boys, "Surf's Up", sorti en 1971, flotte comme une embarcation de fortune à la fois magnifique et précaire. Ce n'est ni le yacht luxueux et parfaitement agencé de "Pet Sounds", ni la planche de surf insouciante des débuts. C'est plutôt un radeau assemblé à la hâte, fait de planches sublimes et de débris flottants, portant en lui les espoirs et les fantômes d'un groupe en pleine crise existentielle. Tenter de le juger comme un tout cohérent est une entreprise vouée à l'échec. C'est précisément cette nature fragmentée, cette collection de fulgurances et de faux-pas, qui en fait une œuvre fascinante mais profondément imparfaite. L'album est un champ de bataille stylistique où les différentes âmes du groupe s'affrontent et cohabitent difficilement. D'un côté, nous avons les vestiges du génie torturé de Brian Wilson, des trésors repêchés des abysses du projet "Smile". De l'autre, les contributions de plus en plus affirmées de son frère Carl, l'émergence d'une conscience écologique portée par Al Jardine et Mike Love, et les élans nostalgiques de Bruce Johnston. Cet assemblage hétéroclite donne l'impression d'écouter plusieurs mini-albums compilés en un seul, sans véritable fil conducteur pour les lier. Le sommet absolu, la raison pour laquelle cet album restera à jamais dans les annales, est bien évidemment le morceau-titre, "Surf's Up". C'est une cathédrale sonore, un poème baroque et énigmatique mis en musique. Issu des sessions maudites de "Smile", ce titre est une symphonie de poche en trois mouvements, un voyage onirique porté par le piano mélancolique de Brian et les paroles surréalistes de Van Dyke Parks. L'entendre, c'est toucher du doigt ce que "Smile" aurait pu être : une œuvre d'une ambition et d'une beauté vertigineuses. La performance vocale de Carl Wilson sur la seconde partie, superposée à la démo originale de Brian, est un moment de grâce pure, un passage de flambeau symbolique et déchirant. Dans la même veine de chef-d'œuvre introspectif, " 'Til I Die" est une autre perle noire signée Brian Wilson. C'est peut-être la chanson la plus désespérément belle et la plus honnête de toute sa carrière. Sur un lit d'orgues et de synthétiseurs Moog qui ondulent comme une marée funèbre, Brian contemple sa propre insignifiance face à l'immensité de l'univers. "I'm a cork on the ocean / Floating over the raging sea". Les paroles sont d'une simplicité désarmante, la musique est d'une complexité harmonique sidérante. C'est une plongée sans fard dans la dépression d'un homme, un moment d'art si pur et si vulnérable qu'il en devient presque inconfortable. Face à ces monuments, les compositions de Carl Wilson, "Long Promised Road" et "Feel Flows", brillent d'un éclat différent mais tout aussi intense. Elles représentent l'avenir du groupe, une voie plus ancrée dans le rock progressif et psychédélique de l'époque. "Feel Flows", avec sa flûte envoûtante, son saxophone déchaîné et sa production aérienne, est une exploration psychédélique magistrale. "Long Promised Road" est un hymne à la résilience, une chanson pleine d'espoir qui montre un Carl Wilson au sommet de son art en tant que compositeur, chanteur et producteur. Ces deux titres sont la preuve que le groupe pouvait encore créer une musique pertinente et puissante, même sans la supervision constante de son génie aîné. Hélas, c'est là que le radeau commence à prendre l'eau. Le reste de l'album peine à maintenir ce niveau d'excellence et accentue la sensation de patchwork. Le principal coupable est sans doute "Student Demonstration Time". Adaptation lourde et maladroite du "Riot in Cell Block Number 9" de Leiber et Stoller par un Mike Love en mode commentateur social, le morceau est un blues-rock bruyant et caricatural. Ses paroles politisées à la truelle et son énergie presque agressive détonnent complètement avec la subtilité et la mélancolie des titres de Brian. Le choc est brutal, et ce titre agit comme un véritable mur sonore au milieu de l'album. Dans un registre différent, les chansons à thématique écologique, "Don't Go Near the Water" et "A Day in the Life of a Tree", sont bien intentionnées mais artistiquement inégales. La première, signée Jardine et Love, ouvre l'album sur une note presque enfantine, avec des paroles un peu simplistes sur la pollution de l'eau. L'harmonie vocale est certes magnifique, comme toujours, mais le propos manque de la profondeur poétique du reste de l'œuvre. Quant à "A Day in the Life of a Tree", chantée par le manager du groupe, Jack Rieley, c'est une curiosité. L'idée d'un arbre se lamentant sur son sort est audacieuse, presque théâtrale, mais la performance vocale, fragile et non professionnelle, la place dans une catégorie à part. C'est une expérimentation qui divise, ajoutant à l'étrangeté et au manque de cohésion de l'ensemble. Enfin, il y a la magnifique ballade de Bruce Johnston, "Disney Girls (1957)". C'est une chanson parfaitement ciselée, une madeleine de Proust baignée d'une nostalgie douce-amère pour une Amérique idéalisée. La mélodie est somptueuse, les arrangements sont d'une grande finesse. Le problème ? Elle semble appartenir à un tout autre album, peut-être un disque solo de Johnston ou une comédie musicale de Broadway. Sa perfection même souligne les fractures du disque. En conclusion, "Surf's Up" est une œuvre frustrante et attachante. C'est le journal de bord d'un groupe à la dérive, capable du meilleur comme du plus discutable. Il contient au moins deux des plus grandes chansons jamais écrites par Brian Wilson ("Surf's Up", " 'Til I Die") et deux des meilleures compositions de Carl Wilson ("Feel Flows", "Long Promised Road"). Pour ces quatre titres seuls, l'album mérite d'être écouté et chéri. Cependant, l'incapacité du groupe à trouver une direction artistique commune, les clashes stylistiques violents et la qualité inégale des autres morceaux l'empêchent de se hisser au rang de chef-d'œuvre unifié. C'est un album schizophrène, un instantané poignant d'un génie en lambeaux et d'un groupe qui apprend à survivre sans lui. Un 3 sur 5 pour un trésor incomplet, un radeau magnifique qui nous laisse entrevoir le paradis tout en nous rappelant constamment la tempête.

Not bad. I like the Beach Boys. Brian Wilson died yesterday so I had the opportunity to listen to one of his contributions to the world. It's cool, but I'm not converted, I'm afraid.

5/10 Brian Wilson was cool. 6-12-2025

No está mal pero lejos de pet sounds y el año 1971 tuvo unos discos cojonudos.

Definitely not what I was expecting from the beach boys. Sounds like general pop rock, with some good musicianship and songwriting. Good stuff. Getting a little slow for me.

not the beach boys I know

***an ok album, not one of there best but easy listening.

This album changes the narrative on the “beach boy” name and vibe it implies - much more interesting themes and concepts than one might expect

The Dark Side of the Beach Boys

Having never really sat through this album I was surprised by the progression into what I consider their defining sound. The earlier tracks do fit with the nice, clean boy charm it distracts a little from the call to action from the college / politically active youth. That being said, as the album does progress it's clear that the cheap thrills of easy writing fade away into soemthinging far more moody and intense.

Good

Not the typical Beach Boys sound that I expected, especially with an album title of "Surf's Up". Seemed a lot more mellow and bluesy. Decent album. Not something I'd come back to, but it didn't offend my ears.

It was an odd coincidence to get this album generated the day after Brian Wilson died, so I was naturally interested in this record. Sadly, it did not live up to my expectations. Do not get me wrong, I still think of this as a great, mellow album. However, I got bored with half of the songs on this album. An uneven good record nonetheless.

This is not really a typical Beach Boys album since it is light on the lush harmonies that they are known for, but it is an interesting album nonetheless. Student Demonstration Time in particular is a pretty stark departure from most of their other material in both sound and lyrical content. I'm not sure I would pick this album if I wanted to hear the Beach Boys, but I did not mind listening to it. I would listen again.

BEST SONGS: - Take a Load Off Your Feet - Student Demonstration Time

Not my favorite Beach Boys album, but not my least favorite either

This sounds so far removed from what I understand a Beach Boys record should be. It feels way more expansive, and kind of weird and unusual. A much darker tone, with typical Beach Boys notes punctuating it at times. The production is quite interesting as well. There's some good tracks in here, but the overall to me is merely 'quite good'. The album cover is badass. RIP Brian Wilson.

Very of it's time, but loved it

It was fine

I tend to enjoy the less California style works of The Beach Boys. I'd much prefer In My Room to Surfin' USA. Fortunately for me, this was more off-beat than the usual offerings I've heard from this famous group. Long Promised Road, Student Demonstration Time, and 'Til I Die were my favorites on this album. The layered harmonies and their beautiful voices are still so, so good. While I don't think I'd go out of my way to listen to the whole album again, I enjoyed my time with it. Also, RIP Brian Wilson.

Very serious Beach Boys! For some reason, very serious Beach Boys reminds me of very serious Coldplay. Not really a fair comparison, as Coldplay started out serious and got way more poppy and light, the Beach Boys vice versa. Anyway, I don't think all these songs work, but the best tracks stand up with anything else in their catalogue. Favorite: Surf's Up Side note, The End of the Trail is a hilarious choice for the album cover.

Ci sta come ricorrenza, ma non mi ha particolarmente colpito.

Pretty much exactly how I thought I'd feel about it... And how I feel about most Beach Boys. There are a couple really striking and cool compositions in here, but I find I still don't really vibe with the songs. That said, some very cool and obvious bits of influence on here. For example, they have a protest song on this album and it sounds startlingly like the Black Keys. I also didn't know they were the type to do a protest song!

This is an interesting one - the lyrics often seem kind of obvious, cheesy and forced (eg: Student Demonstration Time, A Day In The Life of a Tree) and yet I liked it? Definitely catchy if nothing else.

Kinda liked it Bit psychey

“Lookin’ at Tomorrow”

7/10

Odd for the band, experimental.

I dug it, if maybe a bit forgettable. Had the fun "buh buh buh" backing vocals, classic Beach Boys, but actually a bit darker than I normally expect from them? Which is a good thing in my book. Probably a 3.5

Conheço pouco The Beach Boys. Não empolgou.

Rip Brian Wilson. Not bad, but has aged a lot

Good, but miss the harmonies

Enjoyable album but far from their best. Lack of harmonies but some awesome riffs

Not bad! All the songs I liked are ones other people didn't like, but its because I didn't know the Beach Boys could sound like that. RIP dead BeachBoy

Melancholy drive to the beach anyone? Nice consistent beats! Rush Hour 2 Movie reference!

I’ll be honest, when I saw the album cover, I thought I was going to be listening to some prog metal band from Europe. Instead I got…the beach boys? The album itself was decent. I appreciated the somber tone, as it really felt like this was the journey of a care free surfer bro that had grown up, and gained awareness of the realities of the world around him. I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to this again. It’s totally in offensive, but an extremely mellow album. Nothing outside of the first track really stuck with me after a full play through.

It is so interesting that without looking at any of the album's credits it is immediately clear to me which songs have greater involvement by Brian Wilson versus those that do not, despite the fact that I'm not a big Beach Boy Head; obviously the stronger songs on this one are few and far between since he did not have the same creative input as with previous albums. Experimentation is fun either way. Oh... As I am writing this I just learned that Brian Wilson passed yesterday... Fly high angel :)

The lyrics are cryptic and sad, the music is peaceful and 70s, no question about age here. I would probably say more about some songs, but got lulled to sleep in the middle.

Since I'm not a big fan of the Beach Boys' surf sound, I got into the album very well when I heard it for the first time. Catchy melodies and the Beach Boys' signature vocals are still present on "Surf's Up," though they're no longer fundamental. Compositionally, Brian Wilson is no longer the only one playing a decisive role, which adds variety to the album. The Beach Boys are straying from their familiar paths...I like it.

Yeah mad. Beach boys

R.I.P. Mr Wilson. Unfortunately, surfin‘ ain‘t my type of sport. Fav: A day in the life of a tree

A very different Beach Boys album. It feels like they were trying to shed the bubble gum surfer pop style and transition to a Rock band, but just don't fully have it in them. Every song on here feels like it has a little bit of a different influence, from Sgt Peppers to The Doors and on and on. They never fully nail it, and they never seem to settle on a specific style. The harmonies are still there, just adjusted. It's not a bad sounding album, but not a single song on here is quite a hit. It's sad to hear "Student Demonstration Time" and realize that the world is just repeating patterns that should have died off decades ago. The more things change, the more they truly do stay the same. If this wasn't a "Beach Boys" album maybe I'd enjoy it more...but it doesn't fit what I expect from them and I feel like that's probably affecting me a bit. It's fine. Just not what I wanted going in.

Not what I expected but ok.

This album found me on the day that Brian Wilson passed away. I hadn't listened to The Beach Boys prior to this album, but hearing them made me understand the impact of Wilson's passing. This album was quite good with Student Demonstration Time being my favorite track by far. I found this album to be pretty enjoyable. RIP Brian Wilson

Not my fav beach boys

Completely different tone of the Beach Boys than the popular stuff I know. Sounds great. The last three songs starting the Life of a Tree - sad as hell. Ends on a super somber note with those tunes. Loved it.

I did not like the song where they said protesting is dumb and inconvenient

I prefer Pet sounds, but it was an experience to listen to this the day after Brian Wilson passed. RIP

I feel like this was around the time that they thought they were better than Brian Wilson and tried to be successful on their own. It’s flat compared to other albums by them. There’s less overpowering harmonizing than what I’m used to. This doesn’t even seem like Mike Love on vocals. Everything about this seems less like the Beach Boys and more like the Land Teens…. Whatever. Rating wise, it is actually decent. Sure they sound sleepy and disinterested but the songs still deliver enough to make me understand why this album is on the list. Surfs up, the song, did not hit like I thought it would. I’m sure that was intentional Choice cut: Disney Girls

Don't Go Near the Water 3.6 Long Promised Road 3.6 Take a Load Off Your Feet 3.2 Disney Girls (1957) 3 Student Demonstration Time 3.1 Feel Flows 3 Lookin' at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) 2.8 A Day in the Life of a Tree 2.5 Til I Die 3.2 Surf's Up 3 Score: 3.1

Probably one of those things that were super influential when it came out but is just okay now. No need for the album art to be so hard for the barber shop quartet. Fav track: Feel Flows or A Day in the Life of a Tree

Inconsistent. Great Brian Wilson material, but some dire material from other members.

Oud forumgenoot, ja echt ja, poneerde regelmatig de heuristiek dat de Beach Boys slechts op twee niveaus werkten: afgrijselijk als het over surfen of auto's ging en anders goddelijk. Kon niet goed gaan met deze albumtitel. Mijn smaak werkt toch minder binair blijkt. Het is bij lange na niet hun beste, maar zelfs middelmatige Beach Boys heeft genoeg om te boeien. Strafpunt voor Disney Girls, wat verdacht veel weg heeft van een Michael Buble avant la lettre. Bonuspunt voor Student Demonstration Time. RIP Brian Wilson en fuck Eugene Landy trouwens. Pet Sounds op met een Who's My Eugene kicker vanavond.

Not at all what I expected.

Parts of it sound like surfer Pink Floyd. Not your typical Beach Boys. I really enjoyed “Student Demonstration Time” though.

Imma give this one another spin but it has some tunes!

So many bangers on here.

Sleepy. A little wierd.

Didn't know the beach boys had an environmentalist/political album. Here it is. It is...a lot. Highlight included student demonstration time, which felt like a Beatles song. This album made me feel weird.

An apt album for the day after Brian Wilson’s passing - not a coincidence, I assume. I’ll admit I didn’t have a chance to give this a proper deep listen but I enjoyed listening during my work day. Don’t Go Near the Water made me realize the Beach Boys were a key influence on Animal Collective. Student Demonstration Time was…not good. Anyway I need to listen to Pet Sounds again.

This is one of those cult albums that doesn't deserve the hype. It's not bad. It's a perfectly solid album. I just don't think it's this buried treasure people claim it to be. It's not consistent enough. The Brian Wilson songs are good... but the rest is a mixed bag. Sometimes the best album is the popular one... the one everyone likes ...cough....Pet Sounds... cough. Sometimes the generic take is just the best take. We don't need to have a hot take on every band. The classic surfy Beach Boys songs are awesome. The Brian Wilson magnum opus is incredible. Both are way better than this album. And that's okay. Let it go Beach Boy hipsters... let it go. And rest in peace Brian Wilson, thanks for all the beautiful music. And thank you to the random algorithm gods who selected a Beach Boys album for the day after Brian's passing. The 4 Brian Wilson tracks on the album are interesting and seemingly very sad (mainly the final 3 tracks). Which makes sense since this album sits after his mental health started to decline (as far as i know - post the smile sessions). A Day In The Life Of a Tree is a very sweet and pretty song about a tree. Love the instrumentation. The pro environment/anti-pollution angle aged very well. 'Til I die (the only song that's fully credited to Wilson) is sad and existential. He is insignificant and then he will die. Aren't we all. It's a downer, but very good. Surf's up is this sprawling, multiphase devastating piano ballad about endings and beginnings (i think anyways). It feels like the end of the surfing 60s era of the band. I love this one falsetto line in the "chorus" in the first half of the track. Haunting. And then there's Take A Load Off Your Feet which is just good silly fun (not sad at all). The rest of the album is a bit of a mixed bag... Don't go near the water is pretty cool. It's a moody, kinda dark beach boys song. Like you were having a bad acid trip and listened to a happy surf beach boys song but it got twisted by the drugs. It's neat. I'm a fan. Long Promised Road is a good, catchy rocker. I'm also a fan. Feel Flows feels like some Beatles worship? It's whatever... and also the most popular song on the album on spotify? Not sure why. Lookin' at tomorrow is fine? Forgettable. Disney Girls is weird... I'm not into it. I don't like. Something off about it. Student Demonstration Time... woof. Are they sort of siding against the Vietnam protesters on this song? It seems like they're saying... ya that happened, and it was dangerous and people should stay away... but ya there's problems in America, but don't get involved in a riot.. how dare they say mean things about cops... and those cops shouldn't have shot them... but they shouldn't have been there in the first place. A weird bad guys on both sides take here. Did not age well. I'm gonna blame Mike Love... his conservative values are well documented... he had them play one of the Trump inaugurations (Brian Wilson did not attend) [googled it and he did write this shit track]. It also kinda sounds like Revolution by the beatles or some other Lennon blues rock song... but way shittier. Fuck Mike Love. The wrong Beach Boy died the yesterday... that's all I'll say.

A great example of untapped potential, showcasing how creative and dark the group could get. Far from perfect, but it is hard to say it's not at least interesting. RIP Brian Wilson 6.85/10 Favorite Song: Surf's Up

I have a perverse love for squeaky clean vocal groups making their psychedelic record (see the Beau Brummel's' Triangle) and this, is the corny old Beach Boys trying to make sense in a time (the 1970's) that has passed them by. It half works. "Feel Flows", one of the first written by Carl Wilson, is low key one of the Best Beach Boys songs ever. "Disney Girls" also touches that place where my heart should be. The Brian tracks, the last three culled from the styled Smile sessions, stand out for his brand of lysergic pudding and the fairy-tale EP he insisted they add as a bonus single is a goofy pleasure. The rest is as cool as your parents trying to rap.

I imagine the disorientation I felt when approaching this album — it’s called “Surf’s Up,” in typical Beach Boys fashion, yet it bears pretty dark cover art, and it’s filled with songs addressing social and environmental issues — was shared by many when this came out in 1971. This album is thick with AM radio vibes, and there are some really good songs, like “Disney Girls” and the title track, but also some bizarre and heavy-handed ones (“Student Demonstration Time” is the weirdest protest song I’ve ever heard). It seems like a reflection of how the group was fracturing into distinct and warring personalities.

Not sure I've heard anything from this album before. It's good. Some really interesting sounds on this one. Not sure if there's a direct connection, but I can see some audio threads connecting this with Dennis' "Pacific Ocean Blue" solo album release later in the decade.

Weird feel for a Beach Boys album. A lot of drugs going around back then.

• 3/5 • a few enjoyable tracks, but overall impression is of The Beach Boys self-consciously trying not to sound like The Beach Boys

Not their best.

RIP Brian Wilson but this wasn’t their finest work.

Moody beach boys— pretty good stuff, just no standouts

I must confess, I’ve never really had my breakthrough moment with The Beach Boys. I do like this a bit more than their average offering though.

Konnt man gut anhören, aber jetzt auch nicht ein Weltwunder das Album

Gute weghörbar, aber nichts was im Ohr bleibt

Uhhhh Beach Boys? Are you ok? I just borrowed my dad’s Cadillac and Topher is meeting us at the beach with his dune buggy. We’re going to catch some waves and smile at the girls. Why did you bring this painting of a slain man atop his weary steed? You’re totally harshing my buzz. I, like the narrator of the initial exchange in my paragraph, always believed the beach boys to be slop, produced for rabid consumption by the lowest common denominator. I have learned much since then, and enjoy many of the beautiful melodies and harrowing oddity that this group produced on albums that will assuredly appear later on, like “Pet Sounds” and “Smiley Smile.” I was unaware this album even existed. Time to keep learning. And toph, pass that wacky tobacky, I want to think about the last heroes of Atlantis. Don’t Go Near The Water - Nice. Sweet melody with a strange, ominous message. This rules. Long Promised Road - This is like whiplash. From the beautiful, haunting atmosphere of the previous track, I am thrown head first into a dive bar where a local trio is covering “The Band.” We are able to gain some interest about halfway through, but this one isn’t as much for me. Take a Load Off Your Feet - An ode to podiatry. Ehh. I don’t care about this. Odd, but in a childish, unlikeable way. I like the soundscapes here though. The vocal effects are cool and the sounds that get inserted here and there are wonderful. Just a shame it’s on a song about taking care of your feet. Disney Girls (1957) - Was this written in 1957, or an ode to the Disney Girls of 1957? Oh boy. This is pretty cringeworthy. What does this even have to do with Disney. I think Disney might feel this was laying it on a little thick with the tootsie rolls, swellness and *shudder* Cape Cod. Student Demonstration Time - Hey guys. Gather round for a student demonstration. They’ll either be protesting America’s war crimes in Vietnam OR demoing their baking soda volcano. Either way, it’s a can’t miss event. Oh sweet lord. No white guy blues. This is a parody of a parody of Revolution. Also, this is gross. Hey guys, don’t protest because the government might kill you. Maybe criticize the government killing its citizens? Feel Flows - Alright. That was a slump. It seems like we’re back on a reasonable track now. Flutes soaring over an ok track. This is nothing to write home about, but at least the pen is back in the inkwell. Lookin’ at Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) - Besides the Jack Black a capella segment, this was pretty forgettable. It’s nice enough, but that’s about it. A Day in the Life of a Tree - You know this is very similar to the foot song. It’s cooler than that, but it’s just kind of beyond me. Or beneath me. Whatever my humble readership may determine. How about this; I think it’s just ok. ‘Til I Die - My phone tried to correct “‘til” to “TIL” which I believe is Reddit for “Today I Learned.” I truly wasn’t made for these times. This song was ok. Surf’s Up - What an insane pop adjacent song. I can’t believe that the group that brought you “Surfin’ Safari” is doing this, less than a decade later. This ain’t just drugs folks. Walk around any downtown of any city now. Lots of people do drugs. Not too many people are producing things like this. Interesting, beautiful, and ultimately surprising. Shadows dance across the blackened sea under a moonless sky. Are they there or an imagined whimsy in place of the inhospitable emptiness. The shape of a rider takes form, limping over the horizon. Waves crash at the feet of the besieged horse carrying the aquatic spectre. They collapse into the sea in a flash of light that leaves tremors rippling beneath you. At your feet a harpoon washes ashore, in the distance, a bloodcurdling scream. Mom? Can you come pick me up? These Beach Boys are weird. Uhh yeah this album was pretty cool. An easy listen for the most part with some minor stinkers to endure along the way. This is an above average release that continues to alter my perception of the Beach Boys and pop music in general. Rock on, Dead Sea horse man. May you liberate the souls of the sea bound. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Don’t Go Near The Water, Surf’s Up

Kind of a hodge podge but not terrible. RIP Brian

First..I love the cover art. Take a Load Off Your Feet, Student Demonstration Time...it feels relevant today. I also like those high notes. I'm surprised because I’ve never been much of a fan. I have a new respect.

Eerie that this was the album yesterday after Brian Wilsons passing.

Not at all what I was expecting when I saw that it was the Beach boys. But I was pleasantly surprised, I really enjoyed it.

Hit and miss. I don’t really see the big fuss about The Beach Boys. I can tell they branched out a bit with this album which is good, some interesting 70s sounds.

2007 film Surf's up is a mockumentary style animated film produced by SONY animations. The movie is a bog standard herculean rise of our plucky protagonist who picks up the wisdom of an old legend, both learning new things along the way. That isn't to say it isn't a solid story. The emotional beats hit both on the side of the rise to the top, but also the has been rekindling his passion for a sport he quit on. Tank is an excellent antagonist and there are enough great side characters to really flesh out the cast. The music is solid if dated but the visuals are the best part of the movie. Few animated movies make you want to be there to witness the action quite like this one. The colors are vibrant and the waves animation is gorgeous. Overall the movie tells a fun story in a compact hour and 25 minute package. Fun for the whole family.

Now here's an album cover. This is the worst of the three Beach Boy's albums we've had so far. It lacks the catchy-ness of "Pet Sounds" and The "Beach Boys Today!". I won't come back for seconds but it was an alright listen.

Two things - 1. I know The Beach Boys are known for their super upbeat songs and summer whimsy. This album goes in the opposite direction of that. 2. I know that Brian Wilson struggled later on in life, and his songwriting got darker and more realistic. This album encompasses both of these things. You see TBB questioning things on this album, namely the role of activism and environmental change. Student Demonstration Time hits particularly hard, especially with what is happening this week. While I don’t know if I would go back to this album a ton, it was enjoyable and it’s super interesting to see how TBB evolved over their career

The music is pleasant, but nothing too outstanding. I was surprised by the “social awareness” of the lyrics, but it felt a bit forced.

This was one of the more confusing listens we have had. I really am not sure what to think about this. I know there is probably more here than I heard on my first pass. Yet another perfect example of why a 10 point scale is needed. 3.5/5

It seems sacrilegious to rate this where I did just a day after Brian Wilson’s death, but it just didn’t quite reach the level of what I had hoped. It’s cool to other members performing their own songs, but the absence of Wilson during some of the production is apparent. And even more so, the presence of vocals. The gorgeous 3 and 4-part harmonies that the boys were known for are either absent or thin at best. Til I Die and the title track are really nice, but overall this was an interesting listen and probably the beginning of the end for the Pet Sounds era of the band and Wilson’s involvement.

A protest album but make it Beach Boys sounds like a bad AI prompt. Def a darker shade of the boys than what I’m used to and prefer. Some likable stuff on here, firmly between a 3 and 4 for me, just lacked the song strength to get rounded up.

Didn't really feel like a Beach Boys album. It's like the boys got into a depression making this. Not bad music, but I wouldn't call it good.

Bizarro Beach Boys! I know this got a lot of love...but I'm partial to the classic Beach Boys. never heard of this one. It was fine and darker than usual. Probably won't listen to it again.

far less summer-y and more of a mournful offering from the beach boys that still incorporates their harmonies but leans more into the classic rock ballad sound - definitely sort of a pre-cursor to a lot of indie music.

Hmm, git besseri Albe vo de Beach Boys. Hät mi nüdeso überzüügt.

fuck es het alls glöscht mann. anyway de brian wilson isch hüt gstorbe drum das album. ersti drü songs schöni vocal harmonies und synths passed super id beach boys ästhetik. disney girls hetmer bsunders gfalle. student demonstration time huuere cool fuzzy. etz nüt neus afoch würkli rock n roll aber gfalltmer. feel flows cooli hinderschi abgspielti gsangsusschnitt wo alles chli moody mached.

I understand the Beach Boys desire to be seen as "not just a surf band" and explore broader creative space, like the Beatles were; but unfortunately, most of this, Pet Sounds and Smile all fall sort of flat for me. There are some inspired moments, but those are matched by some cringe moments, too. Not boring, at least.

Probably the least cloying of the Beach Boys albums we've had so far, but super weird to hear Beach Boys style harmonies on songs about environmental pollution, depression(?), and ... taking care of your feet? Some of it veers into near jingle territory (that foot song is seriously odd), but respect to the band for trying to evolve & embrace more serious topics - as uneven as the results are.

Unexpected sound and vibe from the Beach Boys. Slower, and more introspective. I dig it overall.

Ok album, not much interesting, but at least somewhat enjoyable to listen to. A little gloomy sounding for The Beach Boys in my opinion. 3/5

It was a nice album. And timely given Brian Wilson dying the day before this. The production is gorgeous. Nice songs too.

Not sure what this is, but doesn't sound like The Beach Boys. Seems like a forced transition and some clumsy attempts to copy the Beatles.

This is much better than other Beach Boys records I’ve heard. I know it’s not good to pour shade on Pet Sounds, but this is way better for me. Less sickly, poppy, a bit more substance. Doubt I’ll be rushing back but this has improved my opinion on them!

Probably the best beach boys album we've had I'd say, definitely the most interesting. Funny how it was marketed as a comeback cos theyd had a load of recent flops, you'd think they'd have made it more surf heavy in that case. First half was better, got blander as it went on. I'm still not sure I'd say it was good, but it was okay.

My favourite beach boys album we've had on the list so far I think. Less sickly sweet. Melancholic beach boys. Shows he had more range than the poppy harmonies. My favourite was long promised road. Student demonstration time feels a bit out of place but was decent. 3.5. still not a beach boys convert, but I didn't expect this album to sound like this. Didn't outstay it's welcome either

Kyllä nää vaan laadukkaita ja muuntautumiskykyisiä on! 3/5

Ik had de Beach Boys best hoog zitten vanwege hun vrolijke hits. Helaas valt dit album me een beetje tegen.

Student demonstration time and Till I die are my highlights

3/5

beach boys

Had some songs and styles I didn't expect from the Beach Boys

Really wasn’t what I was expecting when I saw the beach boys pop up! Really enjoyed ‘Take a load off your feet’ just for lyrics, little quirky samples and general playfulness of it. Enjoyed the album a fair bit. Didn’t bowl me over or maybe even something I’d go back to often, but it was enjoyable and appreciated what they had done. Value the originality of the focus on environment and different angle of songs (eg ‘a day in the life of a tree’). 4 years after. Close to 4* but probably 3.5

Doesn't sound like what I imagined a Beach Boys album sounding like. I usually think of them as saccharine '50's-early '60's pop or "Good Vibrations" pop-psychadelic rock, but this was a different. Certainly darker in a way, with way less of the falsetto vocals usually associated with the band. Disney Girls and Surf's Up were the highlights for me. Overall not bad.

Hey, I'm all in favor of a beloved band or artist making an album later in their career that is a bit dark, mysterious, or left-of-center. This ain't it though. It seems to me like they are grasping at straws to see what will work and none of it sounds genuine.

aurf's up

For me, this is the 2nd Beach Boys album on the list. I experienced a few surprises in the course of the project, so I thought I'd give the album a chance. I even had to cancel a block from my streaming provider. I like the album better than the other stuff I've heard from the band. Nevertheless, I just don't enjoy the Beach Boys. Maybe you have to live in California for that. 3/5

More mellow than I was expecting

If The Beach Boys decided to go out on a limb from their original sound, incorporate all of the popular music genres from 1971 and make an record, this would be it. I think they were trying to hard.

Favorite Track: ‘Til I Die

I just can’t listen to The Beach Boys without hearing that awful squealing “round, round get around, I get around, oooeeeeeeoooo”. The album started like I presumed it would and I then assumed it would continue that way, but I was wrong (kind of). Somehow became a more Beatles like attempt. “Student Demonstration Time” was certainly a lot better than their usual drool, “Feel Flows” wasn’t half bad. I’d forgotten I was listening to The Beach Boys until I was brought back to reality with “‘Till I Die” and the title track. Listenable, just about.

sonofabitch. I really wanted to review that Richard/Linda Thompson album. Missed it on album day then Matt showed me how to put in the review retroactively and I hit five stars without realizing that would lock it in... So I'm going to do it here. Holy moly. That was new to me. I didn't know the name Richard Thompson. Listened through and it turns out I know Bright Lights - my wife has been playing that song a lot. There's one other song from his post-divorce solo stuff from the 90s that I play for one of my kids. But other than that this was a fresh listen. It was great. 1001 Generator I thank you for bringing this to me because I'll be listening to it for a long time. It belongs in the permanent rotation now. I agree with everything you guys already said - first half stronger than the second, but the second is still really good and worth listening to and maybe even good in its own different more subdued way. Nothing's stopping me from listening to it all the way through. It's crazy how modern the sound is. Bright Lights is so catchy and Spotify is already trying to ruin it for me by playing it every time my queue runs out. I listened to the whole album 4 times yesterday. I'm at risk of ruining myself for it immediately. I dug in. I listened to some of his stuff from Fairport Convention. Also good. British folk. I know nothing about British Folk. I know that it was influential on American rock. Or maybe country. Dylan. I don't know if they're typical of the stuff or innovating in some way. I love stories. Liege And Lief is a bunch of folk tales set to music. I know it wasn’t on the generator but you should really go out and listen to it. I'm sure they're harking back to the tradition of traveling minstrels, which in itself is a thousands of years old tradition. I love that. Pop music in its original incarnation. Bringing news. Entertainment. People together. It's what Homer was doing and the whole tradition before and after him. They had a drum called a timbrel and they'd play it while they sang. There was this guy around the turn of the century who was a musicologist or ethnologist or anthropologist or something like that and he went to at the time it was Yugoslavia into the mountains where there was still a living bardic tradition and he found one of these guys who made his living this way. So he told the guy the story of the Iliad and then that night the guy repeated it word for word in his own song. The next night he did it again except that he added or changed over a thousand lines of the poem because this tradition is about the retelling and these bards get their reputation by making the story their own. (Incidentally that anthropologist died a few years when he accidentally shot himself in the heart.) So obviously recording changes that but I think that's some of what's going on here. Except they're singing about ordinary people and the shitty things that kings or lords do to them because they're rich and can get away with it. So it was cool that Richard Thompson was part of this and I listened to that album a couple of times. On to the beach boys What a weird album. I didn’t even get a good look at the cover until now. Checks out. Beach boys occupy a weird place for me. They were essentially a kids band when I was growing up. At some point in college their image was rehabilitated and someone convinced me that Pet Sounds was worth a re-listen, and there are some good songs on that album, but I've always thought they could have been a better band. Case in point is Good Vibrations. I'm not saying anything new, but the way that song opens is incredible, and I want that to be the whole song, or a whole album or band with that sound. I thought Grizzly Bear got close to doing that, and they were ok but I think their sound tired out pretty quickly like a lot of bands from that era (TV on the Radio the other clear example). This album was not something i'd ever heard. The opening song was bizarre and it accurately set the tone for the rest of the album. It's not that I didn't enjoy it. I like weird stuff. Don't go near the water does have a good sound. What they do at the 1:00 mark. It's a cool song. I like it. I just can't tell if the lyrics are supposed to be ironic or if it's a hamfisted attempt at raising social awareness. The other one like this - Student Demonstration Time. A jaunty tune about riots and Kent State? Was this some kind of CIA sponsored project to get students to think protesting was really not cool? This song is insane. Then Take a Load off your Feet. "when you sit in a chair think about what got you there... you better take care of your feet." What? Is this a joke? Maybe the joke's on me because I can't figure out if they're taking this seriously or not. Feel flows is great. They figured out on that one. The classic Beach Boys vocals (is it harmonies that they're so good at?) mixed with the spooky sound that I think is their real enduring gift to music. Lookin' at tomorrow also good. based on the name I'm thinking maybe it's part of whatever social awareness thing they're getting at? But I can't really hear the words as well as the other songs so I'm just listening to ghost music. This whole album is insane. It doesn't have a lot of the saccharine 50's beach pop sound that made me not take them seriously for most of my teenage years. I actually like the sound on a lot of the songs. It's cool and it's different and it's weird. Weirdness is good for a lot of bands. It keeps them from being too cool, which isn't super interesting in rock music. But I'm not sure if they got the mix right here because it keeps throwing me off. I'm glad I listened to this. Who knows if I ever will again. I do like it.

I have a really strange relationship with the beach boys. I really tried with them, but something has always creeped me out about their music when my kids were younger. I would put on the beach boys because it was easy for everyone to listen to and every time I would put them on This weird vibe would happen throughout the house and the kids will start acting out so I made it a rule that we couldn’t listen to the Beach boys. So I was really surprised when I didn’t get that vibe from this album. I looked up on Wikipedia that Brian Wilson didn’t really contribute much to this particular album. He was so burnt out from smile and so fed up with the group he just took his hands off the controls. I think Brian Wilson is the source of my creepy. Vibe smile is a really fucking weird song so I guess this album kind of spawned from the last song which is the title track from the album surfs up, it was supposed to be on smile. Brian Wilson talked a lot of shit about the recording process being a democracy on this album but I felt it was actually kind of a fresh take on what they are capable of. I don’t know if I’d listen to it again but overall it was kind of a celebration of instruments and music and love. Seems like no pressure. Anyway, this album was really interesting. It was kind of like their eulogy for their past selves. I like the beginning track talking about something happened to the water. I thought it was cool that they took on an agenda started talking about things that matter to them. Loved all the random noises in the background of all the songs and the way everything was recorded not polished seemed like anything goes in the recording studio

lovely, will listen again during donauinsel hangs

This album was not what I expected from The Beach Boys, and I mean that in a good way. It’s a far cry from their early surf-pop sound, and I appreciated hearing them stretch into more introspective, heavier themes. That said, I’m not entirely sure how well they pulled it off. At times it feels like they’re aiming for depth but don’t quite hit the mark. Still, it’s a fine listen overall. Feel Flows is easily the highlight, with Long Promised Road coming in as a strong, if distant, second.

is this... the beach boys? are we sure? this feels like an avril lavigne replaced by melissa situation because those are #notmybeachboys. the first song gave me a little ironic chuckle, and there were a few nice tracks in here, but none of it (besides the backing harmonies) sounded remotely like the beach boys. i'm baffled. who did this

It's The Beach Boys (so it's ok music), but it has like 10% of the flair and musically interesting things Pet Sounds has.

Jah, je kan veel van the Beach Boys in deze lijst plaatsen, maar deze moest misschien niet per se. Wijze sound wel, zoals ze wel meestal klinken, maar zonder echte klassiekers op. 2.9

5/10 - It was less happy as pet sounds by the beach boys but the same sound. I feel like it did not work as well. But it was still ok

It was alright

very different sound for the pet shop boys than what i'm used to! not mad about it!

Loved Disney Girls.

pretty cool but nothing crazy standout