Surf's Up

Crazy little album for the beach boys

4. its not all essential, but two of my favourite ever beach boys songs on here, Surfs Up and Feel Flows.

I, like many others, generated this album the day after Brian Wilson’s passing. I’ve heard it before, and am biased as a huge Brian Wilson fan. This is a fun album, contains the classic Beach Boys harmonies, but some different sounding arrangements that make this a fun listen.

Crazy timing of this with Brian Wilson’s death. Great album though

Interesting. Strange. Fun. RIP Brian Wilson 😔 4

Had to keep reminding myself this was from the early 70s because there is a newness feel of this album that was surely inspiration for many artists

Not what I thought of The Beach Boys. Some really catchy stuff.

I really liked this. Upbeat and old school.

What the chances of the generator coming up with a Beach Boys album the day after Brian Wilson dies? I think the algorithm might not be completely random. The album though, it's not their best, but there's good in there.

A very nice album. Soothing melodies and very relaxed vibes. I know it’s supposed to be more about reflection than melodies but I have no knowledge about what they were reflecting on..chords are nice, and overall it’s really nice for a 70’s album.

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.

I get that they were older and trying to go for a little more mature sound but this just feels kind of like a Beatles-experimentalism rip off. The harmony in that middle section of Disney girls is some true Brian Wilson genius but other than that was kind of bored with it. It’s interesting in the wiki article they were like “oh it’s cool listening to The Beach Boys again” but idk how cool it is singing about the day in the life of a tree….but maybe I’m just a square.

So different than the poppy surf sounds you’d expect from The Beach Boys, but was still a great listen. It was strange to hear social commentary coming from the band that’s known for singing about girls and cars, but eventually I was digging it. It’s definitely no Pet Sounds, but still pretty good.

Not a lot subtlety in these lyrics, huh? I did enjoy this album. It's like seeing a friend from highschool for the first time in 15 years. They've changed and matured, but they're still the same person deep down. Never would have expected this album art from The Beach Boys either. I'm glad this is on the list, and I can now reference more than "Surfin' USA" from The Beach Boys.

What a crazy time to get this album. Brian Wilson died yesterday. I really liked this album. It was a little darker than The Beach Boys usual stuff, but I really enjoyed it, especially Student Demonstration Time.

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.

What the holy hell? How do you have an album called Surf’s Up and first song is Don’t get in the water!?! I guess that’s irony 🤷‍♂️ This was….fine. I just didn’t really get it or felt that moved by most of it. It sounded very dated for someone who wasn’t around at this time. Like I’m supposed to like it because it’s The Beach Boys. Meh. Disney Girls has a moment that sounds like Gravity by John Mayer (or rather gravity sounds like this). That’s a fun fact that my ear (probably incorrectly) picked up. And then student demonstration comes in and sounds completely out of the blue. As do the rest of the songs. 2.5 and I’m rounding down b/c I’m not a sheep.

Didn’t love this but you’re out of your mind if you think I’m giving it any less than a 4* the day after Brian Wilson died. I don’t want that bad juju in my life! 3.25/5

This album was totally unfamiliar to me and sounded much different from The Beach Boys music I know. I liked it a lot, especially Take a Load off Your Feet and Student Demonstration Time.

This has always been kind of a weird album to me. Some of the best tracks on side 1 have almost no input from Brian Wilson, and the last three tracks where he’s heavily involved are just so-so. Van Dyke Parks was always a weird influence on him, IMO. Student Demonstration Time is on my 500+ song playlist of faves. A 3.5 rounded up in honor of Brian’s passing.

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.

Amazing that they decided to put the worst Beach Boys album on the list. The protest song is pretty great. The rest is depressing and boring.

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.

Really interesting and different. Beach protest music of sorts.

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.

Brian Wilson died yesterday so this is very timely. I had never heard this record before and there's a chance I haven't even heard any of the songs on this record. I didn't know they had anything this weird or psych sounding. I very much enjoyed it.

This record is sweet. I love kind of psych "wet" sounding elements in the music. I also really like how they kind of switch up vocals and singing throughout. The lyrics are kind of cheesy, not all of them land, but others are really cool and timely. I like this version of The Beach Boys, where they care about social issues. Feels Flows is a high point, the feet song is a low point. Either way, this is really cool and fun. I wish more records sounding like this.

Im not a beach boys fan but take a load off your feet has been a favorite song of mine for many years. It’s the best song on this album. I get they have a huge catalog of work and it’s not all bubblegum surf and they really try to hammer out the fact they were rockin experimental. This is the only Beach Boys album that I would ever consider buying but just for that one song.

Classic

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.

han das album ener komisch in erinnerig hahaha ABER ich lieb til' I die jaa don't go near the watwr nöd min favourite long promised road I like!!! es isch so e lustigi mischig us chli "erwachseneri" musig vode beach boys aber immerno die schöne/nostalgische gsäng etc. aber s ganze findi schochli "schwerer" als anders s gfalltmer aber scho, au wenn nöd alles glich griifbar isch für mich feel flows isch au iwie recht cool aber weird till i die findi echt sooo coool!! ja surf's up isch whatever zwar chli weird mengisch aber hans grundsättkich scho gnosse, chli andersch als wie ich mier suscht amigs beach boys vorstelle

Take a Load Off Your Fee and listen to this. Fitting album the day after Brian Wilson’s passing.

I took far too long to listen to this. I couldn’t get off this wave despite drowning in the 1001 list. Everytime I got in the car, I relistened.

Mjög góð plata. Ekkert stórkostleg en mjög góð engu að síður. Skemmtilegt sound og rúllar vel. Eitt leiðinlegt lag. RIP Brian.

Mjög áhugaverð plata. Allt öðru vísi en eldra stöffið þeirra en fín lög, nema Student demostration. Harmoníurnar þeirra eru alltaf ótrúlegar. Ekki Pet sounds en grillir alveg í snilldina. RIP Brian Wilson.

To be clear, this is my Heady Music Dweeb part giving it a four. Pop Guy is with the other Americans who didn’t much care for it. But fucking hell did Brian Wilson have it.

Cool weird album

I had vaguely heard about this side of the Beach Boys, but this is my first time hearing it myself. Kind of weird because I don’t think I would have ever guessed jt was the same band without knowing it, but also sort of felt like running into a buddy from high school who’s all grown up now.

A better album than Pet Sounds. I don’t especially like The Beach Boys, but this album showcases everything about them they qualifies them as genius. A winner.

At first listen my reaction was "this sounds like the Beach Boys are trying hard to break out of their stereotype and sound like later-Beatles" and the only song I really liked was Surf's Up, which is also in Smile. Then after additional listens I started to like more of the songs, primarily the ones that still had more of the traditional Beach Boys sound. And after some more listens I ended up spotify-liking about half the album.

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.

This one hovers between a 4 and 4.5 for me, as there are absolutely amazing songs on here, particularly both of Brian Wilson's songs, "Til I Die" and "Surf's Up," which are both two of my favorite Beach Boys songs. And several other songs are good, too, but there are a couple less substantial songs such as "Don't Go in the Water," which starts the album. However, I do feel like the album deserves 5 stars on this scale for the accomplishment of how they were able to build a cohesive, exploratory album.

Festa meg ikkje ved nåke særlig her

This is the darkest Beach Boys album I've ever heard. It's not the same stuff I grew up listening to. You can definitely tell that Brian Wilson took a backseat to the production of this record, but that doesn't mean it suffers because of that. The sound is the same, and the harmonies are there, but it's not the same as their earlier material. More melancholy and definitely more mellow compared to their earlier work, but not in a bad way. This was still really good, just SO different, which is why I understand why it's on this list. Best tracks on this album "Student Demonstration Time," and "Feel Flows."

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

Highlights: Student Demonstration Time, Disney Girls Leave Em’s: Take a Load Off Your Feet, A Day In the Life of a Tree Overall Thoughts: I think the nature of The Beach Boys is just not for me. Their music feels whimsical as if it were the fantasizing of a child with an advanced vocabulary. I see the allure of the pleasant and bubbly songs the band creates, but there is an edge missing that makes me enjoy music. Even the back to back songs that I did like on the album had lyrics that made me raise an eyebrow as if to say “you can’t be serious.” Aside from those two songs there is nothing else here worth coming back to, and the bad songs really drag the whole album down in my opinion. Score Breakdown: 2.580 & 2 -> 2.290

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.

Nice and short. Student Demonstration Time was quite good, very different, but the rest of the album did not stick. Perhaps an easier-to-listen-to album (i.e., not sickly sweet) but it was quite boring.

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

RIP

Not really digging this one. The lyrics seem so forced, right?

Kyllä nää vaan laadukkaita ja muuntautumiskykyisiä on! 3/5

Brian Wilson kuoli eilen/tänään -- sattumaako? Kantaaottavampaa Beach Boysia, ja genrellisesti monipuolisempi kuin aiemmat levyt. 4/5

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

It's funny... As I'm listening, I was browsing other reviews and noticed a general disapproval of Student Demonstration Time. This was the only song that caught my ear. The lyrics are a little ham fisted, but it's got a good groove. Idk what you're all talking about.

I can't tell you how much I hated this album.

3/5

2.2

Why the hellos this here. The Beach Boys got big in spite of this- certainly not because of it.

Mostly think I dont get it

Surf's Up is my fave Beach Boys song.

beach boys

Beautiful

An excellent more mature side of the band with just some amazing songs across the brief tracklist

Honestly surprised by this record. I generally like the radio hits from The Beach Boys, but have never been a big fan. Remember listening to Pet Sounds and not really caring for it. But this is an extremely strong record. Some really interesting, unique ideas all over this record, particularly the song Long Promised Road. Take A Load Off Your Feet and Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) are also highlights. Student Demonstration Time is probably the weakest song, but that's mostly due to the sound effects and not the song itself. The album is a tad top heavy, but generally the whole album is strong. Probably one of the better psychedelic rock records (outside of Pink Floyd) I've heard.

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

Honestly, this is probably my least favorite of the Beach Boys albums I've listened to.

It was fine. Bit tame. 2.5 stars.

I really do like this album. It’s another path forward for The Beach Boys, a more “adult” album that’s not influenced by Pet Sounds. Of course, they pretty quickly just decide to become a silly nostalgia act and ignore both this and Pet Sounds and any evolution as a band. Some of the political songs are a bit goofy and naive but at least they were trying something!

Ok nothing amazing Page stole a riff from here

Sonically dense and creative, a thoughtful departure and rebirth from what people tend to associate with The Beach Boys. The album is political and a bit progressive, with a tendency to explore things in a lyrical, as well as instrumental fashion. The songs are delightful and enjoyable, with some of that lovely falsetto we enjoy.

I had never heard of this album. The cover art alone let me know that it wasn't going to sound like the Beach Boys that I'm familiar with. The album opens with Don't Go Near The Water, which tells you to take care of the oceans. Maybe not a surprising thing for a band that built their image on California surfing. It was a little harsh to be honest. I really liked Long Promised Road. Take A Load Off Your Feet sounded like it could be a jingle for a podiatrist. Disney Girls was just kind of meh. Student Demonstration Time is good, and being from Ohio, I wasn't aware that there was another song that mentioned the Kent State shootings of 1970. Feel Flows, Lookin' At Tomorrow, A Day in the Life of a Tree, 'Til I Die and Surf's Up kind of all blended together. Told my fiance that the album sounded like the Beach Boys but they grew up and were suffering from depression.

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.

I love this album. It was fun and weird and a little goofy in some parts; I’ll absolutely be revisiting it. Lots of strange tracks, especially on the back half, but I enjoyed all of them. I agree with others who have said a lot of the lyrics weren’t especially nuanced, but it didn’t take away substantially from the album for me. I thought hearing the Beach Boys style of arrangement in this new and interesting context was enough to keep me hooked from start to finish.

Madly experimental, politically conscious. A Beach Boys that I didn’t know existed. Even the big risks work - I really like this. It’s all over the place, but it just has so so much heart - it’s incredible Strong 4 (one to buy)

such a good, strong album. it’s really special for a band to be able to make a pivot like this and have it work so well

aurf's up

I don't think I had ever heard any of these songs, but there are some real gems on here. Interesting reading the context of this album (at least as explained by Wikipedia). This direction definitely seemed to be a marketing direction, and it's impressive how well they pulled it off.

Liked this way more than I thought I would. It's not the poppy Beach Boys you have in mind when you think of the Beach Boys.

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

This is the first full Beach Boys album I had ever listened to start to finish and, wow, not at all what I expected. The highs on this album are some of the absolute best and most inspired music I've heard on this list so far. First off, this is way more melancholy, somber, and fearful than what I expected from the Surfin' USA crew. Very environmentalist, and while a bit on the nose, it makes me revisit what they meant by the album name, where Surf's Up is maybe talking about a climate crisis. And while Don't Go Near the Water isn't the best (or even close) to what this album offers, it opens the foor to what will be a pychadelic trip for the next 30 minutes. What I really want to focus on is the three song trifecta at the end between A Day In the Life of a Tree, 'Til I Did, and Surf's Up. Such an incredible grouping of songs. I'm back Nd forth on which one is my favorite, but the last minute of Surf's Up is truly special.

Listened to this all the way through 2 times. First listen it just made no sense as a Beach Boys album 2/5. Listened again as if it were an album by just any unknown band. Still terrible. Lyrics sound like a 5th grader. Vocals are weak and scattered. Music is forgettable.

Oof. Is this on the list as an example of what not to do??

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.

End of an era statement from the boys who's identity was bound to sunshine, optimism and the American dream.

This means nothing to me.

Who knew that the words “surfs up” could be read negatively? It sounds like The Beach Boys stretching themselves creatively, looking at what is developing in music of the era and thinking about the state of the world. Some of the experiments work better than others, but the lasting impact is a far broader definition of what this band sounds like. It’s dark, energetic and actually pretty deep. ‘Til I Die stands tall amongst the tracklist. It has me on the edge emotionally as it seamlessly transitions, dips and dives from section to section. The Beach Boys using their well known skill of harmony for a new and different purpose. One that is sad but no less impactful. 8/10

One of my favourite Beach Boys records and a VERY strong 4.

1. uuater - 1 2. road - 0 3. feet - 0 4. girlz - 1 5. time - 2 6. feelz- 1.5 7. tomorrouu - 1 8. tree - 1.5 9. die - 2 10. zurfz - 2

goddamn I need to listen to more Beach Boys. Great harmonies as expected, and man, some really great song writing here too. They've always been aroune peripherally in my life but I've never sat down and listened to a full album before. Also this seems a bit more serious toned than I expected. Front to back fantastic. Mike Love might be a dumb dickhead but guy can sing.

This has always been an interesting piece of the Beach Boys discography. It’s always felt like the “last” Beach Boys album despite not being so. Starting with the cover image “End of the Trail” coupled with the opening song. It very much feels like they’re saying goodbye to the carefree days of “Fun Fun Fun” and heading towards the environmental devastation we currently face. There’s still room for goofy shit like “Take a load off your feet” though! “Feel Flows” and “Till I Die” are the standouts but surprisingly I even enjoyed “Student Demonstration Time” and the blues usually sucks ass!

I love the late Beach Boys sound but what are these lyrics? You open with a track that sounds like it was the winner in a middle school earth day contest? Just give me Smile.

For sure their magnum opus. More than the sum of its parts.

Favorite Track: ‘Til I Die

Good one, but not their absolute best

I love the Beach Boys sound, but this album was kida weird. Only real standout was Student Demonstration Time. That one was really fun. The rest of the album was forgettable. Best song: Student Demonstration Time

Wonderful album

The best beach boys album to date but that's like calling something the best root canal. 2.

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.

It was fine. Adult contemporary I guess?

Solid album.

i just dont like the Beach Boys man...

The Beach Boys are really the American Beatles - this album sounds like the late Fab Four (think post-Revolver period) even after they had dissolved. Which is not neccessarily a bad thing; the album sounds quite mature and has some 70s sprinkles in it. This, for one, really belongs on this list. 3.5/5

take a load off your feet pete

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

beach boys with the doom metal album cover. I think this is the second beach boys record ive listened through, outside of Pet Sounds. I'm excited to hear them get weird and its funny to jump right into their...17th album. Feels out of order and disorienting. Surprises so far. Wiki tells me of the thin vocal arrangements, and I noticed that immediately. This isn't what you think about when you think about the beach boys, and I dig that. LONG PROMISED ROAD with the fuzzed out boops TAKE A LOAD OFF YOUR FEET feels like familiar ground (hah), but more irreverent. Vampire Weekend bois had this shit on repeat. Im not listening to the lyrics of DISNEY GIRLS but i chooses to believe that they are making fun of them. like the tune, chill, but has lil wah wah guitars underneath which is a little spicy STUDENT DEMONSTRATION TIME with the bigger fuzzed out riff. rad. trippy. i like. song is a little corny with the bluesy breakdown but im probably just damaged goods. FEEL FLOWS is a standout for me. free wheelin and meandering, sweet solo over a piano bed with some noodly flute. dumb burpy synths. sign me up. LOOKIN AT TOMORROW is a vibe. ba ba boop boop boop A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A TREE sounds like what a tree would listen to. I'm preferring side B on this bad boy. My affection is growing. Really pleasant listen. Solid 4 for me. Not a 5, just because I'm not sure ill be revisiting frequently.

I've read lots of other reviews, and I'm not sure what I'm missing! For me, it's a collection of mainly pleasant, but rather dreary songs, arranged and produced in an uninteresting way. Apparently it's their 17th album, which might explain why it sounds like they're going through the motions; I can't imagine them racing to the studio to capture this stuff. I know they have a complex history and a deserved place in the annals, but this seemed quite insipid, especially if you consider what else was exploding around them in 1971. Some nice harmonies and melodic moments, as you'd expect, but ultimately, it did nowt for me.

I’m not sure whether I found this twee, earnest, irritating, dated or all of the above. Either way close harmonies couldn’t save it.

Really enjoyable and will be listening again

uninteresting to me

Good unique album

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

when i initially put this on, my first thought was "well, it's no pet sounds." after 4-5 listens i'm inexplicably transfixed. all these songs* sound so unique and poetic. they* perfectly establish a mood and convey their messages of environmentalism, nostalgia, and working-class struggles. just a beautiful half hour of off-the-beaten-path but great and passionate songwriting. *not you, student demonstration time favorites: everything but student demonstration time lol

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

Probably my favorite Beach Boys album out of the three that we've gotten. The songs are easier to listen to when they are not all singing together. Album cover is so dramatic, it reminds me of the Famous Trick Donkeys illusion.

lowkey boring not a fan. its not bad but j wasn't feeling it

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

I find this album cover hilarious and I love it. This album was really good; liked it a lot more than other beach boys stuff we've had. It was still nice sounding, but a little weirder, which made it more interesting

Listened! Enjoyed

Do not know much about late Beach Boys work. Have a soft spot for the early surf pop - but not quite sure what to make of this album. Really liked Feel Flows and wish the album had been more like this. Student Demonstrations is embarrassingly awful - with take a load of your feet not much better. Lyrically a lot of the album is pretty trite "I'm a cork on the ocean". etc. Not sure if its my hifi set up but I thought production was poor with it sounding pretty flat/ muffled. I like the idea of a darker beach boys and wanted to like this more - but apart from Feel flows and long promised road I thought this was disappointing.

Surf’s Up I used to listen to quite a few albums from the Wild Honey to Holland period, when I was in Japan for the 2nd stint a friend of mine was very into them, particularly this period, and I kind of got into it via osmosis. I bought most of the albums on CD, when they used to put two albums on one disc, but I haven’t revisited them that much recently. This period is definitely interesting, if a bit inconsistent, but there are some real gems and this is definitely one of the best, even if it’s just for the fantastic Feel Flows, the superb title track and a nice sense of amiably directionless eccentricity. There are undoubtedly a few missteps. Musically I really like Don’t Go Near the Water, but you can tell Mike Love wrote it, as the lyrics are characteristically bad. And Student Demonstration Time has a very unhip Osmonds rocker feel to it, and again you can tell it’s a Mike Love composition from the fact it isn't very good. Take A Load Off Your Feet I like for its oddness, but it does feel a little inconsequential. I can also see how some might find Disney Girls schmaltzy and saccharine, but rather than cloying I find it has sweet and affecting sentimentality. But outside those there are some superb songs, Long Promised Road, the utterly fantastic Feel Flows, one of their greatest songs, and the superb closing trio of A Day in the Life of a Tree, ‘Till I Die and Surf’s Up. Fantastic melodies, atmospheres and themes across those tracks, I love the idea of a song from a tree’s perspective, and the moving melancholy of Surf’s Up is superb. But Feel Flows really is a fantastic song, the phased Moog and veiled lyrics combing brilliantly. As much of a visionary as Brian Wilson is, I don’t always find I enjoy many of the songs from his dominance of their post-surf era. While I admire Pet Sounds, I’m not sure I truly love it, and I find in this period, where Carl and Dennis come to the fore a little more, it’s a bit more relaxed and less controlled, and little oddities, naiveties and eccentricities are allowed to come to the surface, and we get some variation from Brian’s melodic style. As on this album it doesn’t always bear totally convincing fruit, but there is a loose, warm charm to it that I really like. It’s right on the cusp of 4 and 5, some great songs, some flaws, so I think it just falls shy of a 5, a high 4 it is. 🌊🌊🌊🌊 Playlist submission: Feel Flows

Had no idea what to expect of this album. Now I've listened to it repeatedly I still don't know what to make of it. An ironic title I discovered; this is far away from their surf-pop days. This really feels like songs thrown together rather than an album - but it has a bit of charm of something like the Beatles Anthology as a result. A fascinating insight into the different sounds and motivations of each Beach Boy, and their meddling manager. It's good moments outweigh the bad (Feel Flows' and Long Promised Road are excellent) - and the bad isn't so bad to drag it down. I think it clambers to a four, and feels like one that may grow over time.

It was alright

I had never heard this album before, and I didn’t recognize any individual songs, either. It wasn’t what I expected (in a good way). The album cover image is amazing, and I was immediately struck by the contrast between the somber painting and the cheery “Surf’s Up” title. That contrast is reflected in the music, too, if not quite as dramatically. It’s much less chipper than “Pet Sounds.” Pretty interesting, and I’m glad to have heard it. It’s a little cheesy and weird in places, but I have to give it credit for creativity and defying expectations. Favorites: Lookin’ At Tomorrow, Surf’s Up

great listen, definitely a different side of the beach boys I know

I didnt like this one as much as Pet Sounds. Honestly didnt care for this one at all lol

I think this album gets off to a rough, boring start, but really picks up in the middle of the album. If the first four tracks were dropped, this could be a flawless EP. As an LP, it's good, but not super incredible.

First impression was pure amusement by the cover, I guess they wanted something not surfer at all? Which I found cool. Also, the record is nice, but on a single listen didn't leave a mark on me. I may or may not come back to it.

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

The whole album is worth it for the titular song.

Pet Sounds is one of my all time favorite albums, but I'll admit I haven't thoroughly explored the rest of their discography, so I wasn't sure how this would compare to the other albums I have heard. Surf's Up really clicked for me after the second listen, and while it may not be complete masterpiece status, it's still a solid 4.5 to me. And of course we round up for The Beach Boys. The flow of the album isn't perfect - at times it's as though someone is interrupting a conversation, but not in a terribly obnoxious manner. I prefer the second half of the album, which has some really gorgeous moments. Feel Flows, Surf's Up, and A Day In The Life Of A Tree are my favorites, but I also really like opener Don't Go Near The Water. My project has been on pause as I fell behind, so I didn't get an album from Brian Wilson / The Beach Boys after he passed like other users did. But I had both this and Pet Sounds in my queue already and had listened, just getting around to rating now. I'm so sad he's gone. RIP to a true creative legend and eternal inspiration for so many.

Surf's Up is an interestingly experimental Beach Boys album. I can't believe I've never heard of it. Of course, it's not Pet Sounds, but there are still interesting and innovative production choices. On top of that, there is a surprising political/counterculture tilt that I was not expecting. It sounds like that was a deliberate choice, but it still makes this album interesting. Best Songs: Long Promised Road, Surf's Up Worst Songs: Take A Load Off Your Fee

I was really blown away by this album. For some reason I've had some weird prejudice against the Beach Boys but that's probably just because of my strange 5th grade teacher.

Loved Disney Girls.

Do people really prefer Pet Sounds over this? Genuinely great songs with some crisp production.

pretty cool but nothing crazy standout

This almost sounds like... the Beach Boys trying to be serious? But they're missing the hypnotic close harmonies that make them endlessly listenable.

Not for me

The Good: We’ve got the Beach Boys! The Bad: Very little beach included here… The Ugly: Boys… what about aging men? I am not judging this album based on the lyrical content—I know one too many persons who don’t pay attention to lyrics, instead they listen to the music…—which means that this album, from a musical standpoint, is your basic “easy listening” you could expect to hear in a department store as you are picking out your next pair of socks. Is the album bad? No… and it contains some whistling, which is always preferred over crying… Is the album good? No… and that is just my opinion. Off to rate this album so that I can find out what joyful album awaits me today… hopefully The Black Crowes, because I need some serious rock and roll at the moment. 3* for run of the mill music that isn’t neither here nor there...

No real stand-out tracks and Brain Wilson's lack of participation in the album shows but it is still a very enjoyable album to listen to.

I love you beach boys but this was not too enjoyable

YES I LOVE THIS. I love the range of the beach boys

This is among the weirder Beach Boys' records, which is saying something. Is this when Brian started slipping away? But all weirdness should be so warm. First few cuts get off to a great start. The student protest song is unconvincing and a clear argument for staying in one's musical lane. Other quality cuts include "Disney Girls" and "Long Promised Road" and "Feels Flows" and "Take a Load Off" is classic BW – super odd, but well judged. Is there a better song about taking care of one's feet (or any other limb)?

The Beach Boys are so classic and their music is timeless. I feel like you have to dive a little deeper into their music rather than listen to their mainstream beachy top hits to get to the more psychedelic melodies and trippy songs (not that either side of them isn’t a total vibe.) The song about being a tree almost made me cry and I found some songs that easily were added to my oldies playlist. I’m glad I listened to this one.

Just a tick off the best Beach Boys, but still worthy of a listen or two. Carl is legit, the other guys not so much.

Never heard this kind of Beach Boys music. Nice, but kind of a bummer. 3*

Never heard this album. Not the energy I would have expected. Rather disappointed. 4/10

The contrast between the album title and its cover is hilarious. Never properly listened to beach boys but had heard a few of their hits before. This is very different to those and I think I prefer this slightly darker sound.

Aside from their super popular songs like "Surfin' USA", "Good Vibrations", etc., this was my first time listening to The Beach Boys. This album was not what I expected at all. It addresses environmental and political issues and was more depressing than what I am familiar with from The Beach Boys. There are a variety of cool sounds and details on this album, and I think there may have even been some backmasking on a few tracks. Definitely worth another listen. Favorite Songs: "Feel Flows" and "Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song)"

Pet Sounds is one of the greatest albums ever recorded. And Smile (and even Smiley Smile) are up ther for me too. But admittedly, I haven't gone too deep on them beyond those and their earlier radio hits. Reading the background of this one, I'm curious how much Brian Wilson was involved (since accounts vary). For this record, I had to do a double take on the cover and title. Surfs Up? With that artwork? What is this?! The songs have a different feel to them. Psychedelic, darker in tone. Orchestrated but missing the BW high notes in places. Gives other members voices a chance to shine. After listening to the whole thing, my assessment is (not that I'm an expert) but BW has much less input than was publicized. Til I Die and Surfs Up sound like a classic BW songs. But the rest are missing his presence. Which isn't to say they aren't good. If anything, it shows the rest of the band can do weirdness pretty well. This isn't on the same tier as the best BW led Beach Boys projects, but it's still really good. I will be definitely returning to it.

A mostly well done “later” BB album. I have to imagine this sounded pretty dorky compared to all the other cool stuff coming out in 1971. Standouts: “Long Promised Road”, “Disney Girls”, “Surf’s Up”

Pretty good. Not what I expected. Needs further listens.

Kinda weird

Thoughts before listening: Post Pet Sounds album from the Beach Boys. I've always thought of this as being hit or miss, but I've never actually heard it. Review: Yeah this is definitely a little all over the place. The Beach Boys are in their late 20s/early 30s when this album was released so the lyrics and musical arrangements are more mature. That being said, you can still hear the harmonies and pop songcraft that made them stars in their heyday. There are some psychedelic aspects thrown in here that I am really enjoying, but again filtered through a decidedly Beach Boys vibe. 4-stars

Bof

...

Not my favourite, I like a few songs of theirs but this album is a bit dull

This is the Beach Boys? THIS? If you'd played me this, I never would've guessed. I mean, it still retains a lot of their original sound, and even some of the Spector wall of sound production elements. And of course, the harmonies are there. But beyond that, I wouldn't have necessarily thought this was them. This is more experimental, more loose, more adventurous than I would've expected from them. This is kind of what I thought "Pet Sounds" would be, and I was really disappointed by that album. This is much better than any other Beach Boys album I've had so far, honestly. And the name, honestly, really sells it for me. Not a surf song to be found here, really. The change in genre is welcomed. I can imagine that they eventually got bored of the surf rock pigeonhole they were stuck in and finally got a chance to branch out further than before. Like, way further. There are some clunkers ("A Day in the Life of a Tree" for one), but you're always going to get those, especially on an experimental album. With the departure from their earlier sound came another departure - lyrical themes. They wrote about social issues ("Don't Go Near the Water" and "Student Demonstration Time") nostalgia ("Disney Girls (1957)"), and overcoming personal struggle ("Long Promised Road"). It's such a departure from their previous work, even further than "Pet Sounds" ventured, and I really appreciate it. This is the best Beach Boys album I've heard so far. Four stars. Standout Tracks: Don't Go Near the Water, Take a Load Off You Feet, Long Promised Road, Student Demonstration Time

Fine, but not my favorite Beach Boys. Still impressive for it being 17 studio albums in as a band.

Oh this is a little gem of a record. Beach Boys doing life! doing politics! ,doing social justice! Doing pedicures. Moments of transcendence on feel flows and surf's up. Just sublime

There are definitely flashes of brilliance throughout. Overall, I find it pretty good but not excellent.

Beach boys are such a classic band, pretty groovy for ‘71, and the vocals have really beautiful sounds effects on it

A different sort of album than I was expecting from the Beach Boys. A more mellow but also, very refreshing album. Did appreciate them doing Student Demonstration Time as a nod to the Vietnam War protests. Interesting stuff.

Not at all what I expected, but really enjoyed this.

Wowow amazing voice sound

Fine

Love their sound but this isn’t their best stuff

I never have a bad listening experience with the Beach Boys, which I believe speaks volume about the band's quality. But this isn't anything to write home about.

B+ Don't Go Near The Water 3 Long Promised Road 4 Take A Load Off Your Feet 3 Disney Girls (1957) 3 Student Demonstration Time 3 Feel Flows 3 Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) 5 A Day In The Life Of A Tree 5 Til I Die 5 Surf's Up 5 After I saw woofmeow's scathing review of Surf's Up, I was motivated to act. How could she? Better yet, how dare she? I immediately started reviewing. I even own the vinyl for this. Honestly, I thought I'd give it a respectable 3, but it's even better than I remembered. A Day In the Life of a Tree is my favorite Beach Boys song of all time, and Lookin At Tomorrow was in the first screenplay I ever wrote, so it holds a special place in my heart. Then, obviously Surf's Up is an all time classic. All in all, it's a great album and woofmeow can go kick rocks.

If I am consistent, I need to give the most sincere, most weird albums full marks.

This ain't your mom's Beach Boys! It's dark and edgy. Not very good... But dark and edgy.

Cool

Its aight

Back half was a lot better than the front. Didn’t even feel like the beach boys at times. Good though

urf’s Up was a surprise for me—I didn’t recognize most of the songs going in, but I ended up really enjoying it. You can definitely hear the Pet Sounds influence in the arrangements and harmonies. It’s moody, reflective, and has that emotional depth that the Beach Boys started leaning into during their later years. It’s not their best work overall, but tracks like “’Til I Die” and the title track really stood out. The album has a more mature, melancholic vibe than their early stuff, and I appreciated the shift. Definitely worth a listen if you're a fan of their more introspective era.. Favorite song: Student Demonstration Time

I listened to this a week ago and all I remember is that I thought it was mid.

Really neat. It’s diverse, and heck, just downright cool throughout. I didn’t realize the Beachies had this in their bag!

Not my thing.

Great album

Just ok.

Some unexpectedly heavy-hitting lyrics from a band with such light-hearted branding. The boys continue their trajectory into a more sombre, thoughtful mood that began in 1966 with Pet Sounds. In fact, I find it difficult to assign a genre to this sound. The light orchestral touches, the unpredictable melodies, Brian Wilson's haunting soprano... It's a stark contrast to most of the other big records from the same year (including the monumental Led Zeppelin IV, Hunky Dory, Who's Next, Tapestry, and Imagine), which all take approaches that are more obviously rooted in a specific genre. I'm torn between a few ratings here. The music is hard to "get into", but clearly a ton of thought was put into it (lyrically and musically) and it's such an oddity for the Beach Boys that I have to give it some credit. I'm going with a 4/5. All of my chosen key track fall into this genre-indeterminate category, but there are a few others that are easier to put my finger on. Long Promised Road is a relatively upbeat tune for this era of the Beach Boys, incorporating some group harmonies reminiscent of their early-to-mid-60s sound. It's exciting, and an interesting choice to have it come second on the album (after the sobering Don't Go Near The Water). Disney Girls (1957) is a surprisingly complex track that I definitely see myself returning to. Student Demonstration Time is certainly jolting and I agree with most of the reviewers that it doesn't really belong on the album. Swap it with some introspective track off Wild Honey or Sunflower and you'll have yourself a deal. The title track, Surf's Up... man, it's just excellent in every way. The lyrics are equal parts nonsense and revolutionary poetry, with odd rhymes and melodies that swivel everywhere you don't expect. The backing vocals are intense, harrowing, and yet create an almost lullabye-like atmosphere. Plus, multi-part songs are pretty much always a win. Proto-prog rock at its finest. 4/5 Key tracks: Feel Flows, 'Til I Die, Surf's Up

Als ik de reviews eens voorzichtig doorblader lijkt het alsof ik de enige ben die dit album niet helemaal begrijpt ofzo. Ik weet waarschijnlijk gewoon te weinig over De Strand Mennekes, of het muzikale en politieke landschap van de Verenigde Staten in de jaren '60, ook prima. Ik mis ironie, of ik bespeur juist een ironie die er niet is ofzo. Wat niet weet wat niet deert. Ik hoor een prima geproduceerd album met een combinatie van best aardige liedjes. Redelijk veel variatie. Niet helemaal wat je verwacht bij 'The Beach Boys', maar dat was dan een beetje de bedoeling geloof ik. Een ontzettend lang Wikipedia artikel voor een wat mij betreft eenvoudig drie sterren album. Gewoon aardig.

Solid but underwhelming

An odd little album from a band far removed from their prime. Filled with some great songs and probably their best since Pet Sounds.

Riktigt bra

Melancholic and quiet album by the Beach Boys. Happy times seemed far away.

A weird one. Some really strange lyrics with the beach boys trying to be socially relevant, and sometimes failing miserably. Also had one of the few pop songs about looking after your feet. Still has enough of tr beach boys sound, and at least it's memorable.

Can't stand this crap

Groupe connu par quelques tubes, en particulier 'good vibrations' que j'apprécie. Cet album est plus récent, je suis impressionné par le nombre d'albums à l'actif du groupe (c'est déjà le 17eme !). Par contre je suis beaucoup moins impressionné par la musique, pas désagréable mais plutôt quelconque et peu entrainante. Rien à retenir de cet album. =>2/5

Honestly, though there were no songs on here that were mind blowing, I was impressed by the variety and more serious topics. I guess I assumed most of the beach boys stuff was generally surface-level and vapid. Not bad. 3.4/5 -> 3/5

Excellent really good easy listening to album

8/10. Very good songs. Would listen to this at anytime.

The second half of this album really broke its back carrying the record.

Better than the last beach boys album

Fave song - student demo time Overall, harmonies are great as expected, found myself wanting it to be better, but it wasn't

Aside from one or two standouts, mostly a downtrodden album - very downbeat, even on songs called things like surfs up

I'm kind of surprised that it took over 15 months after Pet Sounds to get my second Beach Boys album (unless you count Brian Wilson Presents Smile). I haven't thought a ton about the Beach Boys since that one, at least in comparison to other bands like the Beatles. Still, I was quite excited to listen to their 1971 album, Surf's Up. Is it good? Yeah! It's great! Of course, it's not even close to being better than Pet Sounds, but the number of albums that are better than Pet Sounds is really small, so I wouldn't put that against this album. But Surf's Up isn't just another Beach Boys album. This album has more than enough of its own style to prevent it from standing in the shadow of an album like Pet Sounds. The thing that really makes Surf's Up stick out to me is the writing. This is not only because of how good it is, but also the fact that it actually gets very socially aware and even political at times. The opener "Don't Go Near the Water" is a pro-environment piece, and "Student Demonstration Time" makes explicit references to then-topical events like the Kent State shootings and the Berkeley Free Speech Movement. That's cool! The album's other songs take a more emotional slant, with some of the highlights being "Feel Flows" and the title track at the end. It's ironic because the album's name makes you think that this is just going to be haha fun surfing time, but then it hits you in the feels. The sounds is also pretty varied. The album's 34 minutes are very well-spent. Surf's Up is an excellent album that stands out as being one of the best in the Beach Boys' catalog, even if it doesn't top Pet Sounds. High 4/5.

My favorite thing about this is that none of it sounds like any other Beach Boys song I’ve ever heard. It’s refreshing to know they weren’t all about surfing, cars, and everything being a-ok! I’m not surprised that there are no radio-singles here that I’m familiar with. But this is easily my favorite work by them.

This is the sound of the world passing them by. Wilson seems to be throwing everything at the wall to see if it sticks. A few very interesting songs (and sounds) that made this one worth a listen.

Adult contemporary Beach Boys! Yay! It's pretty OK. I can see why it's well-regarded, but it doesn't do much for me. Largely forgettable.

Ehhh, I didn't mind a track or two, but, I guess it was more impressive in its day.

I used to know The Beach Boys as “that nostalgia band over THERE,” which had no connection to the real arc of great music. But I’ve come to respect them as innovators who couldn’t keep up with the Beatles, but dang it they tried, before throwing in the towel. This album is both post-towel and post-Beatles. The fight is over, no more competition. And like the solo albums by Paul and John around this time, there’s an unevenness and occasionally something cringe (“Student Demonstration Time”—no). But also like John and Paul at this time, and the very last few Beatles albums, there’s a “throw everything at the wall” approach to songwriting and style that I appreciate. Interesting that they keep up the ocean theme, but this time to lament the pollution and—in “Til I Die” and “Surf’s Up”—as a metaphor for personal lostness. Brian Wilson was struggling. When the album ended on Spotify, it took me over to early 70s George Harrison: “All Things Must Pass.” I didn’t mention George earlier because unlike Paul, John, and Brian Wilson he was in his stride at this time. Yet there is still a similarity between where all of these songwriters landed after music’s most innovative decade. Interesting times.

What a surprise! I really don't know a whole lot about The Beach Boys post Pet Sounds until the 80s, and the later work kind of makes sense to me. This album is full of interesting and diverse tracks that pack a punch I just did not expect. For the first time, I thought, "I need to explore this band further." Good job, Fellas!

Such an activist themed album from a surf rock band. I like the one about taking care of your feet.

This was a lot more than I expected. I knew the Beach Boys still did some stuff without Brian after Smile fell apart but I never heard it. This isn't the level of Pet Sounds but it's still got a lot going on. The album cover is also a really cool choice. The last three songs take this to a pretty interesting place. I'd listen again and am glad I heard it.

The album cover is way cooler than it deserves to be. These guys seem so confused as a band. It's unfortunate, because despite the identity crisis they manage to put out interesting music and albums. Unless it is basic on purpose this blues song about Student Demonstration is unfortunately kind of cringey. I know they have the potential to do better. The last bit of Til I Die is cool, I could picture Nirvana covering it. I listened to the album at least 3 times today. I found it moved fast enough that the odd duck songs were easily passed by each time. I almost want to give this album a 5. It is so interesting, especially with it being The Beach Boys. I'm thinking 4.8, but I'm going to round down. I hope to get back to study it more sometime.

I surprised myself and liked this one.

Fantastic album that was way ahead of its time.

I have so much to say! Guys it happened! I finally liked an album mainly for its lyrics! For LYRICS! This never happens! Also, have The Beach Boys GONE WOKE?!?!??? WOKE BEACH BOYS??? In all seriousness, I loved this albums messaging. It’s so strange to hear self-awareness in such an old album. I’m reminded of one of my favorite albums, “Plastic Beach” by the Gorillaz - much like Surf’s Up, it’s vibrant, colorful, and ear-wormy, with lyrics about a failing environment and other ethical issues. “Long Promised Road” has such a nice sentiment about positive determinism in the face of a great challenge - more music needs to be like that (like Nurture by Porter Robinson). “Take a Load Off Your Feet” spoke to me specifically as I am feeling more and more physical ailments after each work day/workout. Lastly, “Student Demonstration Time” is awesome for how blunt it is, just listen and learn. Loved everything I heard and learned, loved the messaging a lot here! Thats 4 BOOMS from me

I have never been a huge follower of The Beach Boys. I know of all their big hits. This album took me by surprise. Had I heard this without knowing who it was I might not have guessed. I like this and will listen to it again.

Far more enjoyable than I expected! I'm a long time fan of Pet Sounds and that album is a legit all timer and just the title of this album gave me pause thinking it was going to be some return to the campy, tiresome surfin in the California sunshine swill again. Instead it's a raw, more serious (at times), and rocking album. A little more stripped back than Pet Sounds, but in a good way. Headier and moody subject matter for the most part, but with some of that Beach Boys cheese still scattered around

Lo siento ecléctico, tímido y exento de fuerza viva como si no quisieran tocar sueltos. Rígidos y puristas con gran apoyo técnico y efectos sonoros, pero...

Weirder and more psychedelic than I was expecting. Didn’t recognize any songs on the whole album. Very odd Beach Boys record

It sounds like if a bunch of the Muppets ate some shrooms and made a record. That’s not a bad thing. This is certainly their most tolerable record. But it’s still too cutesy for me. It’s nice that they got socially conscious, though. Lookin’ at Tomorrow was pretty good until that guy started making noises. Was this when they were hanging out with Charles Manson?

Escutar mais the bicth boys

Such a ride! Super fun and experimental. The Beach Boys are just geniuses.

Kind of a weird one to be on the list.

Beach boys 17th studio album was hailed as a return to form after some lackluster releases. It's a departure from their early surfer sound but still has the harmonies although not as layered as before. It's a nice enough album to listen to and the songs carried some important messages back in the day when protest songs were popular. I probably won't listen to it again for no other reason that it's not really my thing.

For something called surfs up the cover is very doom and gloom. Honestly though the cover beats pet sounds so I cannot complain. Like disney girls and the day in the life of a tree for example perfectly suit the gloom of the cover. 4/5

Нейтрально, приятная музыка, но не понимаю почему она выдающаяся

This was an alright album. There were some great moments but there was just something off about it. 3 stars

This album cover is too cool for how corny this album is... Kind of a lame album, there is a decent moment here or there, but for the most part this is kind of a dud. Low 3.

I like The Beach Boys but this was meh

4.0

So like I said before in Beach Boys Today! that album is obviously rooted in the pop rock of its time but still had subtle moments of complex arrangements or just little weird things here and there that made me think "maybe these guys are onto something". It's cool to see though that the album with maybe their coolest cover art is also one that sound just as downbeat and hazy but not in an obviously dark and melancholic way, I guess more using the haze of psychedelia and distortion to make an album that sounds and feels more introspective and small but still having some of that pop magic that makes The Beach Boys well, The Beach Boys like how some of the ways in which they introduce those choir vocals with the music is so nice and manages to fit the atmosphere of the music so well, it's lovely. I usually don't expect to like this sort of stuff but once again, I've been impressed by seeing that these guys are better than I ever expected

Bizarre, but I enjoyed the trip.

Not a fan

Barely recognisable as the beach boys, fine for the most part, an interesting curio for beach boy fans more than anything I would say 3*

There were things I liked about this album. It's very ironic and strange coming from them. Does that make it sound inauthentic? The song about a riot was pretty bad.

this is kinda good but a little boring. I appreciate what he's trying to do though.

This, dare I say it, kind of sucks. And not in a sexy way. It’s a far cry from the big hits like Good Vibrations, Kokomo, etc. The song about feet? Garbage. The song about Disney? Tripe. Pretty much the only track I didn’t mind was Day in the Life of a Tree, and even that feels kitschy and crap (but put me a little in mind of Sufjan Stevens, who I love). Actually, Till I Die is decent too, mostly for the harmonies (and I could hear a tiny bit of Fleet Foxes in that one). But overall, a disappointment from a band I thought I liked but apparently don’t actually know that well. (1.5 stars)

This was a fine album. I really like some of the slower/faster paced songs (Disney Girls & Student Demonstration Time respectively) but as a whole it's not really my genre.

Not the Beach Boys I know. Slow and harmonic 2/5

Experimental for its time. Not as good as pet sounds.

Well… this is a strange one, and didn’t know what to expect. But crikey, what an album. Dark yet somehow airy, the harmonies the Beach Boys are famous for are there but the lyrical detail fights with the style, to great effect. It’s not Pet Sounds, but it’s a damn great album.

# Album Name: Surf's Up # Artist: The Beach Boys # Rating: 3/5 # Comments: Wasnt bad. Just OK to be honest. # Top Tunes: Lon promised road / Student Demo # Would I listen to it again? Hmmmm

Early BB was sweet pop. This was sweet but dark. Harmonies remain. Sublime.

Are the beach boys lefties heroes? Haunting ans beautiful

Definitely not like their older music. I actually like The Beach Boys acting more grown up and tackling modern day issues like the environment (still an issue), social issues (still an issue), and the overall contempt for the Earth that seems to be prevalent. Obviously, it's not Surfin' USA and Kokomo or anything like that, but it is a good album. Disney Girls is a pretty awesome song. Overall, I'd listen to this again. 3/5

Maybe my favorite Beach Boys album because not as many annoying vocal harmonies.

A little dull for me.

Better than some of the Beach Boys albums I've heard.

I can see where existing fans might have been confused or put out by this one, and I don't personally enjoy it nearly as much as Pet Sounds, but it's got some interesting stuff. I especially like the last few tracks.

so so, not a bad album but nothing special at all

Had a tought time classifying this. Listened to it mostly two times through. Some interesting songs but nothing really stood out. May revisit this later but will put this on the three side of a 3.5.

Not what I expected. None of the California surfers music. Lot more hippie laid back music. Not bad but too slow for me.

Se nota la calidad y la novedad, la búsqueda. Pero no es para nada lo mío. Muy coral, rozando el pop y aburre un poco.

i was a bit worried at first, but those last five or so songs i was like okay there's the Beach Boys i know and love! i'm a big fan of the classical influences with the flute in "Feel Flows" and organ in "A Day In the Life of a Tree" and "'Til I Die" and "Surf's Up" are two Brian Wilson masterpieces. it is kind of evident that he wasn't as involved in the production of this album because the harmonies aren't nearly as interesting as they are in other albums like Pet Sounds, or even their earlier massive radio hits. i'm sure Pet Sounds is included too but it makes me wonder if this album's inclusion was mostly due to nostalgic purposes when honestly i think only about half the tracks on the album (on the B side no less) are worth writing home about

Surf's Up is imperfect perfection. Not every track here is technically perfect, but the non-perfect tracks are sandwiched in between so much amazing material that you don't notice their imperfections. Here we see the whole band offering creative input, and it just works so well, highlighting the importance of each member to the group. Still, Brian leaves the biggest mark here by reminding us what makes the Beach Boys special; vocal arrangements on top of unique chord structures that take you to a new world and have you scratching your head at just how someone can think of that.

As much as I can appreciate what people like about these sandy fellows (the songwriting, the harmonies, etc.), I just don’t connect with the aw-shucks mawkishness underneath it all, and they certainly aren’t suited for the kind of social commentary they attempt to make on this album.

there are some really great moments mixed with some awkward misses. Still, Top 7 Beach Boys, prob Top 5. 3.5

I'm into more sunny vibes from them

All the flashy Beach Boys production, can't say I loved the slightly half hearted attempts at the songs having real world meaning. Pleasant but nothing outstanding

Such a strange and beautiful record. Surf's up is one of the greatest songs of all time.

нее

Album most unlike any other Beach Boys effort both of previous conscious pop direction and the following Mike Love the Grand Douchebag era, and standing at the precipice between the two. It's almost as if the band knew they were ending one chapter of their careers (I haven't looked into the background of this album, for the record). "Til I Die" might be one of their best songs ever.

I remember my dad listening to the Beach Boys on LP discs when I was young. That album was a lot more up-beat than this one though. While I recognize the Beach Boys sound most of the songs feel almost depressing to me and perhaps that was the intention with this later album. The album has a consistent vibe throughout but a bit to sad for me, at least today when I am listening to it.

Excellent. Not what you’d attribute to the Beach Boy sound.

This isn't what I was expecting from the beach boys. But it's fantastic.very different to their usual surfer pop.

student protest time var goofy, resten var virkelig godt

Vi får bare Dark Side of the Beach Boys de her dage. Den her lyder også skøn, men det trækker lidt ned at de bare ikke kan finde ud af at skrive protestsange

Beach Boys: The PSA album

A bit different from the surfing vibe and Pet Sounds, but found it rather unremarkable. 3/5

The Beach Boys feel a little like a victim of their own success here. Surf's Up is fun because it (mostly) retains the recognised sound of The Beach Boys with a darker twist, yet the combination of the two makes it difficult to take this new moodier landscape in. The Beach Boys are telling me Don't Go Near The Water!? That doesn't seem like them at all, except it does because it sounds exactly the same as when they sang about being in the water. After getting a few songs in and taking them a little more seriously, I get hit with Student Demonstration Time and the tonal juxtaposition seems silly again. That being said, the latter half of the album seems to communicate the image of Surf's Up better. I do enjoy this album, but I think it deserves a few more listens for me to truly like it. Currently it sits in a strange zone where it's better than just being okay but not quite something I love.

This is where the Beach Boys became Beach Men

1/7/25. I'm starting to think the Beach Boys are severely underrated, especially looking beyond their most famous music (Surfin' USA for example). The production and structures used in this album are amazing! Not up there with Pet Sounds, but a great follow up later on.

Interesting pick! I’m old enough to know many Beach Boys songs but I didn’t know a single one on this album. Not as peppy as some of their earlier stuff, shows maturity. Easy to listen to in the moment but honestly very forgettable, because I’ve listened to parts of it 2-3 times today and I keep forgetting what it sounds like

GREAT.

i really liked this! not all the songs stood out to me but there were a few good ones in there. i enjoyed long promised road, disney girls, student demonstration time, and feel flows in particular

Changed my opinion of The Beach Boys

I like the Brian Wilson led, Pet Sounds version of the Beach Boys better. But still not bad.

It's better than any of the other Beach Boys albums I've listened to but they still aren't my thing.

This is one of my top two favorites from The Boys, Pet Sounds being the other. I feel like this was their final great album. Surf's Up hits different than their other albums. Seems more experimental for them. Disney Girls and Lookin' At Tomorrow are favorites. 4.

With a name like Surf's Up, you'd expect more of the innocent "Surfin' USA" beach songs. But no! Refreshingly no! Although some of the topics are bit odd ("Take A Load Off Your Feet"), there is some great production, vocal performances, and songwriting ("Long Promised Road," "Disney Girls (1957)"), proving that The Beach Boys are more than just Brian Wilson, which was a relevation to me. I really just picked up Pet Sounds and thought, "This is as good as it's gonna get." And though it was great, I didn't know this other side of The Beach Boys. And even now finding out that they have 29 studio albums, I realize I really don't know much of anything about them. Now I see some of what my peers see in them. I feel I've just scratched the surface.

Unfamiliar songs from a band I've heard a lot from. I knew nothing about this album, but I could immediately tell this was at least late 60’s if not later. Reminded me of many other bubblegum-hippy offerings of the era (ex. Mamas and Papas, Cowsills) but got a little more loose and jazzy as the album progressed. But it didn't seem to have that quintessential Beach Boys feel. I later read Brian Wilson wasn't very involved in production, so maybe that's the reason for the change in sound and vibe. I really like the album cover.

This was a pretty interesting album with lots of ear candy. Each song was layered and tried to paint a scene. I enjoyed it more than listening to Pet Sounds. I'm sure that this is the type of album that you listen to multiple times and continue to find interesting things about it.

I really like The Beach Boys. Somehow didn’t recognize any of those songs. It was okay

Disappointed by this beach boys album, thought it would be more interesting, but it wasn't

I am usually not a fan of the Beach Boy vibe, but this was kind of weird and eclectic and I was digging it.

Nice enough, but no songs stand out. I like that it’s not at all what I would expect from a Beach Boys album

This may bear some more looking into, but I just couldn't connect with this album.

Having given this album a couple of listens, I can say that I quite like it. Must admit that I know very little about their music, more about their sound. With respect to that this was something of a surprise, with quite a few different styles on the recording. I particularly liked the title track, which gave me pause for thought about some of XTC’s later out put. Gets the thumbs up from me

Carl Wilson starts taking the helm. It's not Pet Sounds but some great music. Long Promised Road, Don't Go Near the Water and Disney Girls are great. Take a load Off your Feet and Student Demonstration Time are bit weird.