Reviews (page 9 of 15)
great stuff but did not move me
Pearl clutchers get a grip… 5 stars
As a fan of Panic at the disco's Pretty Odd album, this is a masterpiece.
All timer for sure
Klassiker. Ujevn, men bra. Noen hiter.
I’ve heard different people and music critics reference Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys as a definitive album in history. I’m not a big fan of the band myself but I was interested to see what this album was all about. Right off the bat you notice the sound quality and production. And I do like Wouldn’t It Be Nice. Good album opener. A little rocky with songs 2-4. Although I did enjoy That’s Not Me. The sweet spot for me on Pet Sounds is from I’m Waiting For The Day to Here Today. That little stretch is quite good. The last three songs are okay. I think I can understand why this album receives so much praise. I would listen to this again. A 4 rating from me. 4/5
Nice to get this one to review a few days after Brian Wilson died. It's timeless.
Classy, classic and historically significant.
One of my favorite band. Some great tunes including the great "Wouldn't it Be Nice". Great album.
Good stuff.
beautiful songwriting
SO fitting for the day. This sparked a chat between the crew of favorite beach boys song of all time. Mine is Forever. I appreciated this celebration of the band and its members, and some new saves.
God only knows is really good
Way more appreciation for The Beach Boys after listening to this album. I always thought they were a 60’s version of a boy band.
Not a big Beach Boys guy, even though I know that heaps of indie hipsters praise their perfect pop symphonies and this record is always in the top 10 all time lists. The album really is sugary but longing and sad, richly overlapping, soaring, baroque. Some hugely great single songs (I really like Sloop John B and Wouldn't It Be Nice), but some very skippable others. It's like a tiramisu: lots of layers, complexly sweet, with a darker underlying bitterness. And like tiramisu, I would not want it everyday, and there are some empty calories.
Some great songs but some snoozers too
Such a game-changing album. Harmonies are incredible. Just a few slow areas to not make this a 5.
So hoist up the John B's sail... 8 year old Chub classic. Don't generally listen to The Beach Boys but always feel good tunes. Abersoch journeys etc
I understand why this is such a tremendous musical achievement, but it just didn't click all the way for me. RIP Brian Wilson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
On comprend que ce soit un classique mais y'a besoin d'un peu plus de percus quand même
Really set the bar for music production innovation on a pop album. 'Wall of Sound' really comes through with everything so densely layered. Just never really liked the barber quartet style of singing and the cheesy harmonies so it loses a point purely on that. Songs like God Only Knows are pure magic though. 4/5.
This album is absolutely haunting and has such a visceral effect on me. It’s the strangest thing I listen to all kinds of genres and all kinds of freaky weird music but something about Brian Wilson’s songwriting and composers give me a sense of dread and pending doom. Which I guess is the sign of great art. Real emotional response. Creeping aside, his album is really interesting. It hits all the Beach boy tropes but from a different angle like mostly pop or mostly surf but also very psychedelic and a very strange way. On this album, Brian Wilson was exploring the concept melding unique voices into one instead of layering or stacking them. Like sewing different body parts onto one body and calling it whole. Definitely a weird way of looking at composition. In a video I saw he described it as taking a piano and a guitar and making them one instrument and the same would go for vocals, etc. etc.. Listening to this album you can definitely hear that everything kind of becomes indistinguishable like your lost this barbershop Wonderland in Brian hunting for your head. I’m waiting for the day is a standout for me. It has the Phil Spector drum parts which were made famous by Phil Spector‘s Christmas album. This song is the best example of this Frankenstein methodology. You can hear Phil Spector‘s production for sure you can hear the other members of the Beach boys chiming in here and there, but the body is Brian Wilson and everyone is so to him and he calls it one. He is Frankenstein and he’s coming for you. Anyways, I heard that this album inspired the Beatles to write Sergeant Pepper. That’s kind of cool that they were exploring and challenging each other musically overall great album, but I probably won’t listen to it again heebie-jeebies
Rest in Peace, Brian. This album has so many delightful songs. Wouldn't It Be Nice is a classic and an excellent opener, Sloop John B is great as well, and God Only Knows has the honor of Paul McCartney calling it the greatest song ever written.
How convenient this album n the wake of Brian Wilson's death. I knw there's an answer is a great exemple of the melodic genius of the guy. But let's face it, it got old. While they were groundbreaking at the time, greatly influencing th elikes of the Beatles, their sound is dated.
Probs would have been a 3/5, but was reminded what a masterpiece ‘god only knows’ is.
Served on the day Brian Wilson died, which seems a common theme and which I think is a terrible idea given it opens up the potential for positive bias through sentimentality. This is likely to lead to less objective reviews than would otherwise be expected resulting in a higher average rating. We didn’t get a Sly Stone album this week, why not? He also died and has albums on the list. Anyway rant over. I like Pet Sounds but have always considered it one of the most overrated albums of all time. For context, I’m not a beach boys hater, I consider good vibrations to be one of my favourite songs of all time, appreciating its creativity and musical layering which is also present throughout Pet Sounds. It pre-dates peppers FFS, it’s a landmark album no doubt. My issue is that as collection of songs, it’s just not that strong. Theres a lot of filler tracks on the album that drag and go nowhere in particular. I mean two of the opening three tracks are just “meh” and there’s plenty of mediocrity throughout, admittedly interspersed with some absolute gems. The originality and thought raise it above the norm and its historical importance give it weight. Does it deserve a place on this list. Absolutely! 5/5 Is it one of the greatest albums of all time? No, far from it. If it wasn’t for Wilson’s death I may have given it a harsh 3. As it is, I’m feeling sentimental, so it gets a 4.
Pretty hard not to enjoy this. Weather is warming up and I got the beach boys, 4/5.
i suppose they were kinda the platonic ideal of the “cheery melody + melancholy lyrics” dynamic which i frequently enjoy so i do like that aspect of their music. I <3 FEELING BAD. the production is very lush and expansive but that combined with the vocal harmonies results in a music hall choir type effect which i found grating after a while especially on an album like this where there isn’t a huge contrast in overall sound between each song. well i’ll always cry listening to ‘i just wasn’t made for these times’ anyway. fav tracks: god only knows; don’t talk (put your head on my shoulder); that’s not me; sloop john b; wouldn’t it be nice; i just wasn’t made for these times
Groovier than I thought this would be. God Only Knows is one of my all-times - bumps this up a star.
one of the GOAT albums but some tracks don't quite hit
I actually listened to this at the beach which has to count for something? I remember thinking this album was a little greater when I first heard it. I know it’s pretty legendary but upon listening again many years later I didn’t find the same draw. Still good, but not a timeless masterpiece. Definitely a couple legendary tunes, but the whole album doesn’t entirely hold up.
I know this is considered one of the best albums ever, but this really does require context to make that claim. When listening to it as a solo album with GenX or later ears, it’s a good album with some classic hits. Sloop John B, Wouldn’t It Be Nice and God Only Knows, the last song played in Love, Actually in which everyone wanted to confess our love for Keira Knightly via cardboard, are all standouts. But when taken in context of the evolution of the original B-Boys, from beach kings to embracing both the psychedelic age and their own fame in a changing musical/social landscape, this album was huge. If I had grown up with The Beach Boys listening sequential order with baby Boomer ears, I would have either loved or hated this album because it was so different. Being honest, it probably would have been the latter. This was a passion project rather than a Beach Boys album. Brian Wilson pretty much did this album with the Wrecking Crew (shout out to Carol Kaye’s bass work!) because he didn’t think his own brothers were talented enough. This album was his Sgt. Pepper or Cloud Nine. The problem is the B-Boys turned a corner and wouldn’t see the same commercial success until Kokomo in the late 1980s. So the question is roused: though great, was this album actually the beginning of their end?
Zufall? Am Tag nach der Nachricht vom Tod von Brian Wilson das entsprechende Album. Auf alle Fälle grossartig!
My most controversial music take is that this is the most overrated album of all time. For me personally, it's somewhere between a 3 and a 4 - I have given it the benefit of the doubt because the highlights are so incredibly strong ('Sloop John B' and 'God Only Knows'). Beyond them, there's a couple of good tracks, but I never understood the appeal of this whole sound.
Good album , never really dates
Not my favourite. It’s a mess. It’s inconsistent and it has some brilliant songs but it doesn’t hang together like smiley smile or cabinessence. Love you is a better album. It is the one most people love though. 3.5
Quack.
Great album by a great songwriter and producer. RIP Brian
Rip Brian. Its a weird album from the concept to the songs. I find it odd that they were such a big pop hit with their faceleto harmonies and their kinda spaced out sound. This had some classics on there.
Undeniably good, even if I'm not the greatest fan of the Beach Boys. RIP Brian.
Album art:2
We agreed to a break on the day we got Pet Sounds – I had things to do, you had things to do. Then Brian Wilson died. I thought it would be easier to come back to the album after a few weeks. My initial thoughts were all over the place. Perhaps, after some reflection on Wilson's significance, I would have a better idea. Once, a radio producer invited me onto a radio show to talk about Pet Sounds. I didn't realise it was a panel show, where the guests talked about their favourite albums. I'm still not sure why he thought Pet Sounds would be one of my favourites. Maybe there was a space to fill. Regardless, I had less to say about it than the albums chosen by the other two guests: Purple Rain and Forever Changes. Historically, I've had troubled articulating much of anything about Pet Sounds. I've never owned a copy, although I've had copies of and enjoyed the record that proceded and followed it: Today and Smiley Smile. It's hard now to discuss it, knowing that in the deficit of reviews to catch up on, I've to write about Today as well. A review of that album can't ignore what we now all know was coming. There is no dispute that Pet Sounds is a great album – beautiful sounding, confidently pieced together, challenging but accessible, eccentric but average. However, it never speaks to me the way that other great records do. Brian Wilson's teenage symphonies to god are specifically to a distant god and teenagers from long ago. He was twenty-four when he wrote all this, but it has the emotional complexity of someone younger writing for people younger still. Except for God Only Knows, where the simplicity horse-shoes round to profundity and universality. That songs shows what Wilson can achieve with great lyrics, but the truth – not a hidden truth by any stretch - is that the words have little to do with the success of Wilson's – not the Beach Boys' – records. The emotional depth and artistic curiosity is solely in the music and Wilson is constrained by the sentimental conventions of pop music – which he couldn't challenge himself, so relied on collaborators – and even by the idea of a band itself. How much closer to Wilson's vision – and therefore his true personality – we would be if the Beach Boy group vocals were replaced by a faceless choir, no longer the product of a pop brand of which Wilson is only a part, but the tool of Wilson the composer. Imagine Beethoven had to write for the boy band of which he was also a member – the Gary Barlow problem. The elements of Wilson that we might relate to, the human understanding that we might uncover, is in that strange music: sunny, but sad; explorative, but homely; short, but all tangled up with each other. As this project goes on, I am forced to concede that pop music is, predominantly, a charismatics medium: a force of will and personality, an artform of individual tastes pieced together for sale. Brian Wilson's genius, then, had to come second to his charisma. And he had none. Charm, perhaps. But not charisma. In the final product, his facility is too often subservient to other people's concerns. There are musical forms in which facility is paramount, but mid-twentieth century pop music wasn't one. Quite accurate, he just wasn't made for those time. 4 “Now tell me who's gonna hold your precious hands?/Who's gonna kiss your ruby mouth?/And who's gonna talk your future over/While I'm out there workin' like a dog way down in the south?” (Solomon Burke ‘Hard, Ain’t it Hard’) Brian Wilson! Brian fucking Wilson, Solomon that’s who. Listen to the lyrics of ‘I’m Waiting for the Day’ - the tale of a woman who doesn’t actually want the song’s protagonist but, having been hurt, is exposed to attachments by this sort of barnacle. Perhaps it was the unlucky precedence of Solomon Burke’s lively, virile record but the Beach Boys’ album struck me today as nothing if not flaccid. The barnacle analogy is unjust I dare say - unlike the noble, hermaphroditic barnacle, there is an utter sexlessness, musical as well as lyrical, about Pet Sounds. It has no genitalia. This is an effect of the music as well as the lyrics. That big reverb wash, a sickness of American pop albums in the 60s, positively castrates the drums. The Beach Boys vocals I have always winced at; performances like Wouldn’t It Be Nice? are the very soul of whiny, wet, nasal, vocal manchilding; little conviction and no passion, only a somnolent sense of correct notes being dutifully oozed out lest the baby wake up. And who is that baby? The grown women that the Beach Boys are so conspicuously interested in never having an unchaste thought about before marriage (before which neither can ’be happy’) ‘Goodnight my baby/ Sleep tight my baby’ Ugh. Now what about the ‘genius’ of Brian Wilson’s musical architecture? Chord sequences wandering off from key centres like a boy wandering the dance floor in search of his prom date. No final resolution. Every track ending the night back home by 9, alone, unsatisfied. Since writing the above Brian Wilson has died. Rest in peace Mr Wilson, you were a brilliant songwriter. I was going to write more above anyway. There would have been a ‘turn’ in which I acknowledged that I actually think Pet Sounds is very, very good and that God Only Knows is one of my absolute favourite records; a song almost worth castrating oneself to have the honour of having written. I was going to give Pet Sounds 4/5 but I will bump that by half a point now because I too am basically soft and sentimental. And I didn’t even go to my school formal. 4.5/5
So much good music on this one.
I know it's iconic and everything but honestly it's hard for me to understand why. Still, not bad though. 7/10
хорошие, столько хитов я отсюда знаю оказывается. странная версия с 27 песнями
I know this is a 'should be 5 stars' album based on what so many people say, but there are a couple tracks that are just kind of there. I'm comfortably at a 4.5, but just can't quite give it the 5 that it seems like it's supposed to have.
Great album! Especially loved the opening track "Wouldn't it be nice". They're classics for a reason.
Nice catchy stuff. 4 stars
Some of the B-sides were surprisingly cool like Sloop John B. Some of it is sort of corny but you can really see the influence it has on stuff that comes after.
decent
Undeniably one of the most influential albums of the rock era, but what struck me most on this listen was how really just three songs here managed to seep into the consciousness of the general public and remain more than six decades later. As revolutionary as it was for its time, most of the tracks here seemed to serve as pointers for what others (most notably the Beatles, of course, on Sgt. Pepper) would quickly be doing much better.
Amazingly catchy and fun. Very ahead of it's time. I do think it's a tad bit overrated considering some say it's the best album of all Time. And in comparison I feel it's a little dated in comparison of sgt peppers and not quite as good. Very strong 4* could grow towards a 5*
Truly an album that needs to be on this list. The concept of this album seems to be how a person views the theme of "love" and how it changes as they mature (or at least just different view points on love). I really appreciate what this album is expressing and how it advances The Beach Boys sound from previous albums. A few duds in here but overall a revolutionary album which changed the music scene. Liked songs: Wouldn't be Nice, That's Not Me, I'm Waiting For the Day, God Only Knows, Here Today, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, Caroline, No.
Lots of songs I already knew and liked - coincidentally had listened to the album a few days ago when a friend put it on. Really enjoyed it but not sure I would listen to the whole album again - although I wouldn’t object to it being on. Fav song: God Only Knows - a classic Least fav: Here Today - it’s fine just didn’t like it as much as the others
A nice chill morning vibe! Very good for a cup of tea and relaxing
Revolutionary for its time. Not necessarily my favorite music to listen to, but the depth of the songwriting is shocking for music that seems so saccharine at first glance.
Jako jako dobro. Mrvicu monotono, ali God only knows sve nadoknađuje
jako fora. neke su pjesme izvrsne, a neke su trunčicu lošije jer su tipične ljubavne pjesme. al ipak vrhunski izvedene
The bangers are bangers and the meh songs are meh. Averages out to a 4, I'd say.
Loved this album! Some solid songs on here and pretty great production consider the release year!
Nice
Listened to the Mono versions. Wow, what a classic. Highlights like Wouldn't It Be Nice, Sloop John B, and God Only Knows are surrounded by some of the greatest sounds of psychedelic rock. I'm finding that I really like prog and this is certainly an early exploration of that genre.
Probably more of a 3.5, but round up to 4. Some big hits on here and also some songs that were probably first listens. Good mix, easy to listen to, all around enjoyable album.
i really really enjoyed this. it kind of gave beetles vibes . the first song all i could think of was that one tv advert. SOOOOOOO summery . such a lovely chill vibe . i loved the guitar. these albums have really started becoming one of the highlights of my day . unless its metal . FUCK METAL
absolutely banging album with a couple of my favourite songs ever on there (god only knows and thats not me). really liked "here today" which i hadnt heard before buy bit of a shame the rest of the album disappointed me a bit, i was really excited because of the songs i already knew and unfortch it just didnt deliver, still incredible though, i just had high expectations! love their sound
Loved it, and especially learning about it. Will revisit even if it’s not an album that blew me away. Was a very enjoyable listen and appreciated all it meant for pop music as I read about it
Brilliant pop from the 1960s about coming of age in a more innocent and puritanical time. Complex harmonic structure and melody are combined with unusual instrumentation. Unfortunately, Brian Wilson's bizarre, perpetual falsetto has aged poorly. To modern ears, it's a weird affectation. Still a great album.
Better than Coldplay.
I listened to most of this album but I love me some Beach Boys. This album has some great tunes and vibes. I would definitely give this a listen again and recommend it to others!
Det her matche på ingen måte været og på få måter humøret, men det e ganske fint likevel, og æ kan skjønne koffor folk like det. Æ like det, men æ kommer jo ikke til å høre på det med vilje igjen.
really good album with some outstanding songs to carry it. I (obviously) liked Wouldn't it be nice & Slop B john, but I also really enjoyed Here today
Based and Hawthornepilled! Previously listened to 4 songs off of this album (Wouldn't It Be Nice; Sloop John B; God Only Knows; Caroline, No) This is one of those albums where I feel like I probably should have waited for the perfect moment to listen to it, but this was still an amazing experience. I'm from the same town as the Beach Boys, so I feel as though I generally have this sort of love for them that stems from a perceived "chance at making it big someday." Something could indeed come from good ol' Hawthorne, CA. Another thing I'll briefly add is that I thing aside from a few songs, there aren't many I'd listen to as "stand-alones" this is truly best experienced as an album. I feel like the music on this album gently caresses you and then twirls you around. It's an intimate, but fun dance. I imagine bright colors and trippy scenes. I often wonder what the trajectory of my music exploration would look like had I delved deeper into my interest for the Beach Boys vs my interest for other 60s bands. I can see so much of myself--or perhaps a different version of me--in these songs and yet it's not the Sterling I know now. It's part of me, for sure, but a much lesser component. All of this is to say, I adored this album. I will have to wait for the perfect day to put this on. I can almost see it now... Favorite Song: I Know There's An Answer
Fav tracks : Wouldn't it be nice , sloop b John , God only knows, here today Great music throughout some do sound quite similar but the floor is quite high for most of the album
Some of my all time favorite songs are on this album. There are songs that are skippable though.
Legends. Excellent "old sound" and thick taste of 60th music.
I didn’t know of any of their songs other than surfin USA so this was a pleasant surprise.
9/10
Rating: 4.5/5 | Favorite Track: Wouldn't It Be Nice --- Obviously this is an icon and influential album and popular music wouldn't be the same without it. I don't love it nearly as much as others, but still a great album.
Total classic. Production and harmonies are outstanding. Content is a little shallow, but they're just some boys at the beach right?
7/10 This, on first listen, sounds like ancient swooning pop. But there is a wistful sadness is some of these songs and I like me a sad song, even if it's bittersweet. 4-27-2025
Blind album, know the hits and the artist and have heard countless songs. Plenty of catchy tunes that can warm your heart and make you feel good. Great album that stands the test of time.
Sound of cool
the beach boys are SO CUTESY!!!!! this album screams sunshine and rainbows and i am here for it. “wouldn’t it be nice” is a CLASSIC. this album is in apple music’s 100 best albums for a reason. 4/5 but only because this isn’t my usual style.
Pretty good. Lived up to hype…almost.
Nice jangly sounds and catchy songs
Booming. Ethereal. This thing ate my last review even though I saved it, I thought. Listened to this like 5 times through. Very good Easter music.
Iconic
Algjört meistarastykki. Feel-good er alltaf gott.
Drag mi je ovo album, iznenađuje me na trenutke jer odlaze u neke polupsihodelične spike, što mi ide čudno s njima. U svakom slučaju dobar album i zaslužuje pažnju. 🫶🏻 4/5, 8/10
I always see this on those greatest of all times lists, and it was really good. A bit less surfery, and more creative on this one. Easy to listen to
deus abençoe as experimentações em estúdio dos anos 60
Album is a 3, God Only Knows is a 10, so 4??
Genuinely great, but I feel so distanced from it. I find myself admiring it rather than enjoying it.
first half lowkey got me wondering what all these 4chan music freaks are on about with this album but the second half starting with sloop john b picks up and was far more impressive imo
A really good album - probably their best.
Yup, a really great album.
I am not a particularly big fan of The Beach Boys. And I probably have never listened to a whole album before. But I must admit I found it quite good.
I know this is considered one of the greats, the best of the Beash Boys, the foundation for so much that came after… and it was good… but there was a lot more “filler” than I was expecting. A couple massive hits here, but many tracks were quite similar to each other, and that dragged down the listening pleasure. 4/5 for me today
Way groovier than anticipated
Für 60er Jahre Rock klingt es noch sehr modern. Bekannt sind Sloop John B, Wouldn't it be nice 4/5
Always find it hard to get into this, feel like I'm on the cusp of "getting it". 4*
The undeniable genius of Brian Wilson doesn’t quite make up for the plunky-plonk annoyance of some of these songs. But the good ones, there’s little better.
The Beach Boys are great and this sounds like summers riding in my mom’s car.
My favorite from them! It has a different vibe than their previous albums. The title track is cool, but my favorite is Sloop John B. 4.
Complex arrangements, intricate harmonies. Some beautiful melodies. Getting more experimental. Moving beyond the upbeat teenybopper attitude of "Fun Fun Fun" and "Surfin' U.S.A." to something more introspective and at times even melancholy. "Wouldn't It Be Nice," "Sloop John B" and especially "God Only Knows" are standouts.
Sloop Jon B, God Only Knows and Wouldn't It Be Nice, on their own put this album at a 3 or 4 for me. They are tremendous songs with well done performances and creative arrangements. I like others on the album too but those 3 are juggernauts. This is an era of analogue musical creativity and well thought out musical parts.
Listened to it before this site. Love it.
Before anything I should note that I listened to the original 30 some minute album and not the 120 minute remaster that gets linked in here, so I don't have any complaints about length or weird changes in sounds. I knew the classics (God only knows, wouldn't it be nice, Carline, No, etc) but some of the other one's I'd never heard. They are, as expected, very obviously Brian Wilson Beach Boys tracks. At the time this must've sounded pretty wild. The production level for a 60's album is insane as they must've used so many tracks on what I'm guessing was largely analog equipment. There is a lot of complicated instrumentation in here, including some very unexpected instrumental tracks. I think that's what kind of gave it away as a mostly Wilson album. Musically it's more complicated than the other stuff I've heard from the Beach Boys, though some of the lyrics now sound like incel complaining. I did like "Sloop John B", which sure sounds like the story of an ill fated small boat captain on the worst trip ever. If there's a metaphor there I didn't catch it. This album was better than the traditionally upbeat and/or shallow beach boys tracks (which are good in a different way) and I recognize the absolute momentum shift it played in music production. Plus it's nice to listen to. I don't think of it as the absolute masterpiece many critics do but I'm just a guy.
This is better than the The Beach Boys Today. The songs feel larger and the themes are generally more adult. There's less single potentials here but that's okay. Wouldn't it be Nice has been stuck in my head all weekeend.
wanted to do a haha joke about there being no pet sounds on this album but i forgot about the dogs barking at the very end yup it's still good though, kind of an album to be in the mood for for me and the mood this time was i was very very sleepy and it was nice for that. very very lush
Don't have a lot to say but thoroughly enjoyed this album front to back
I did not care for Pet Sounds. It insists upon itself. Just kidding, it's really good, but it's nowhere near my favorite album ever. Fun fact: you could cut out Mike Love from the album cover and nobody would bat an eye, they'd just say "yep, that's Pet Sounds" Anyway, uhhh... my favorite tracks are Trombone Dixie, Good Vibrations, Hang On To Your Ego, and Pancreas
Great songs I knew beforehand (Caroline, No. Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows), this album was inspired after Brian Wilson heard the US version of Rubber Soul that had a folk/rock sound, but mostly inspired by the use of Sitar in Norwegian Wood and how The Beatles crafted songs with unusual instrumentation. While this album is a great way of displaying that mindset in a full project. The album starts strong, but in the middle it falters, but ends strongly so I'll give it 7/10
this is not my favorite beach boys album but it's a really good beach boys album!
Not the biggest Beach Boys Fan, but Pet Sounds is a Classic and the record is quite coherent.
4/5
I was aware of the Beach Boys as most people are. But even though I have generally enjoyed their vibe, and even feel a bit compelled to learn their backstory, I never really spent too much time thinking about them. After listening to this album I am a changed mind. This is really nice. Today with the world turning upside down it is nice to reflect and here about the good and bad of ordinary life, and the Beach Boys really deliver that well. It may well be that one of my favorite genres, that kind of alternative surfer rock that bridges between so many other genres, maybe is rooted here. I actually think this was really good for me to hear, perhaps when I did, but certainly that should not mean only because I needed it now!
Really solid album with some great tracks. 4.5. Probably should be a 5 but let’s be tough today.
It's hard to re-evaluate megahits like Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows, but the remaining tracks are mostly pretty good too without any other real standouts. I like the production style, and the way it jams so many instruments and sounds in at once without feeling overwhelming. But to me there's something a little too clean, upbeat and artificial about this album when listened to as a whole that keeps it from getting a 5.
I have mixed feelings about this album. Every time I have listened to it before was after reading a review that made me think I was gonna see god after listening to this. Not life changing, but it was actually pretty good! The instrumentation was layered and interesting though the vocals still feel trapped in 1950s boy band zone. Overall I think this album is more historically significant as one of the first concept albums than some sort of sonic masterpiece. 4⭐️
really enjoyed it
I never understood how this album effected the Beatles so much. It's not anything like what they were doing at the time. Which is a compliment. The number of bands trying to be the Beatles and failing was shockingly high. This record is good, though not my style at all. It's historical significance is also really high. I'm taking a star off here due to the number of fade outs, which pull me out of songs in a really negative way.
have you seen the length of influence and legacy page of this album??? yea
iconic vo a–z! will dunschtig isch und ich gad wiedermal im kalte liebe fieber bin chani dem meisterwerk aber leider nöd 5 stern gäh, wär aber durchus dinne gläge darum abgrundeti 4 goodie goodies für die süessi ziegene
When they hit, they HIT. When they don't, meh.
This sound is so developed and innovative for ‘66. It’s clear that it made a huge impact on music at the time. The cacophony they’re able to create is amazing and paved the road for every chamber pop album to come after it. There are so many bangers on this, and very few misses. The grooves are always tight and sound really special. What keeps this from a five for me is the lilting vocals, the type taking center stage in “god only knows”. If they could embrace the magic of the final 30 seconds of “I’m waiting for the day” I would be all over this.
Classic!
A pleasant relaxing experience from start to finish. Loved the rendition of sloop John B as well and sent me down a sea shanty thread. Also has two of the most essential Beach Boy songs.
Classic, and all with that sat, but little outdated for my taste
that cover is worth getting banned from the zoo for bouncing a carrot off a tiger's nose. Partly pop-changing, decade-defining bangers, partly psychedelic choirboy bizarrity.
Incredibly influential, shaping many other albums including the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's, which then went on to influence so many others. The songwriting and production still holds up, even in the remastered version I listened to today. It's no surprise this album is so highly regarded, but I find it surprising the individual tracks do not receive more recognition. Paul McCartney once called "God Only Knows" the perfect pop song, and it's tough to argue with his expertise in song craft. Definitely worth a listen.
Sounds harmonic and very sweet and calming. Despite the impact it made I wuld rate it 3 but I fucking love Wouldn't It Be Nice and its feeling of nostalgia.
7 Simple, yet effective.
Definitely see the influence and some songs that I want to come back to + explore more of their albums
Some great tracks, but I'm more of a Beatles gal.
There's just something about the vocals that will never make it a 5 star for me personally, but it is a delight
The Beach Boys are one of the best and original bands of doing one thing, but doing it so well you are essentially a genre of your own. Are there other bands that do this beachy, barbershop, simple beach rock for 2 minute songs out there? Maybe but nobody knows them and they don't really need to exist. This is album 11 for the kings of that genre and anyone who can listen to more than 100 tracks of this is probably insane enough to have those 100 on repeat and not really tell anyways. I'll be honest in that I wrote that first paragraph before getting to far into this album. Pet Sounds was always synonymous with the Beach Boys but I only have heard a couple of these tracks. So while there may be more variety in the content of the songs, the style does not change all that much. It's weird how popular the album is yet there are only 2-3 songs that made it to mainstream. Also, there are several songs that are kind of depressing lyrically yet still are played in the same poppy upbeat style. It is unsettling. "just wasn't made for these times" is super relatable as long as the passage about 'trying hard to find the people that I won't leave behind' isn't narcissistic and more about depression. I always assume others would rather I not be involved so I'm doing them a favor by staying away. Well now that I'm sufficiently bummed out, time to go find some other Beach Boys tracks to get some good vibes back. Favorite track "God only knows" 4/5
A classic, of course, but too sugary sweet for my diabetic ears.
Solid 3.8.
Classic.
You know, it's good but I really don't get the fawning over it. Maybe when it came out, there was something super radical about it but it really sounds like a lot of other wall of sound stuff, which I do like. The album tracks are sort of bland and not catchy. I also never understood the hate Mike Love got as he could reel in Brian Wilson and keep him focused.
Classic.
8.4/10
Haven't listened to them much, but I do really like their sound and vibe.
Classic, obviously. Just very well done!
It's an uneven album for me, so my score is solely based on how much I like Sloop John B, God Only Knows, and Wouldn't It Be Nice.
Harmonizing is great, one of the best groups at doing it and this album is them at their best. Some great classic songs on here. 3.5/5 Would listen again
Pretty good. I adore the vocal harmonies from a musical standpoint, and there are a few standout tracks on here for sure. The non-single tracks are still good, but don't get stuck in my head the way the more well-known tracks do. Nice to hear them branching out a bit from straight surf rock.
very dreamy but no loves
Wasn't my thing back then and still not but I can appreciate it and they were all great musicians.
details a love affair that turns worse - I think I only knew the first song, 'Wouldn't it be nice?' in advance. I relate to 'You still believe in me' a lot, it's simple but hits hard and is very dreamy as well. The Beach Boys seem to have a theme were the music gets larger as the song advances and more instruments get introduced + we get really long outros. I would love to put on 'Put your head on my shoulder' during a trip, completely melt with another in the song. Love the bells in 'Let's get away for a while'. Oh I know 'God only knows' as well ofcourse, I did not realise how often their music really gets used in soundtracks. Also love the last song, 'Caroline, no'. Kind of want to hear the whole album again while on shrooms
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would! The songs that I didn't recognize were interesting and deep - makes me want to learn more about the Beach Boys & their history.
Iconic
Amazing highs, i'm not sure the entire album bops, but wouldn't it be nice and, more importantly, god only knows are......top 20 songs of all time? Gotta be. Does that make the album a 5? I don't know, maybe i'll come back and rate it as such, but some of the other songs are pretty forgettable. So for now, 4. God only knows......so good.
stop talking about love god damn. be hateful
Greatness. God only Knows
God Only Knows
3.5
Don’t love The Beach Boys but hard to give this less than 4
So it's Pet Sounds time. Groundbreaking, yes. Incredible harmonies and production, check? Why didn't I like it more? Maybe it's just a particular day in this world going to shit -- but it just didn't resonate with me. I got kinda bored in the middle stretch. All in all, I'd prefer listening to Smile. It's still a great album, sure. But it just wasn't what I needed.
This was fine. I love The Beach Boys, but I can't help but think I was expecting more. This was a bit underwhelming is all. I don't know what I was anticipating to hear, but from some reason, this was not it. Maybe it was just me. Strangely enough, I'm at a loss for words. I don't want to do the album a disservice by underrating it, but this was definitely not a five. But is it a four? ***More time has now passed and I've listed to track 8*** Absolutely, if only just for the song "God Only Knows." This song hits differently the older I get and now it hits me on an emotional and spiritual level deep inside my soul I didn't even realize I had and will often bring me to tears. Okay, Beach Boys. Okay. You got me. This is a four.
There are definitely a few straight bangers on this album. I appreciate the experimentation, but on some songs it was completely out of the blue and took me right out of the vibe. Some of the other instrumental songs were fine, but I'm not sure what their purpose was or why they were included at all. Those points lost it a star for me.
God only knows what I’d be without you.
Classics are classic for a reason.
Good.
Day 5: Pet Sounds - The Beach Boys. Pet Sounds is one of the most revered albums of all time. Almost everywhere you look for information regarding this album, it's listed as one of the greatest albums of all time. Unfortunately, I don't really understand why it's as beloved as it is. I'll give it a 5/5 in the second category because of how beloved it is. I suppose that it is nostalgic for the individuals who grew up in the 1960's. The Beach Boys are possibly in a similar vein as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Kinks. However, I prefer The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Kinks. It does feel like The Beach Boys had fun in this album. Gosh, I feel bad for not having much to say about this album. It has a lot of nice melodies, and nice songs. Thank you very much for reading my whole lotta nothing. Personal Enjoyment: 3/5. How Much It Belongs Here: 5/5.
A classic!
So fun. So cheery.
The Beach Boys are in a league of their own. I've listened to them since my dad would play their albums on long car rides, I mostly enjoyed singing along to Barbara Ann back then lol. I love the epic orchestral feel and innovative synthy production. Someone described their sound as church hymns for teenagers once. I would agree, minus the mind numbing boredom I experienced listening to hymns growing up (exaggerating a bit).
happy/embarrassed to report that wouldn’t it be nice still makes me teary
Good stuff. Aged pretty well.
classic beach boys fun music
Best Beach Boy album.
Classic, variable, intriguing harmonies
4 estrellas y media. Lo que no tiene en grandes canciones lo tiene en producción.
Der beste Titel fehlt leider. Good Vibrations.
dang that was pretty good
not my go to everyday sort of music, but an undeniable classic that shaped pop music and influenced countless bands and artists.
Great
I've been struggling all weekend to articulate why my gut reaction is to give this album a 4 instead of a 5. Obviously, it sounds amazing, the harmonies are spectacular, and it was hugely innovative and influential, so I have no objection to it being generally considered one of the greatest albums of all time (other than maybe to spite Sean). But something being objectively great doesn't mean I personally have to love it - and there is something about the Beach Boys I just don't fully connect with. For lack of a better word, I think it's a lack of 'edge.' I don't mean that the sound is too refined or over-produced - the sound manages to be both perfect and inviting. Instead, I think it's more about the songwriter's POV. There's a childlike quality to the songs, an innocence, I guess, that when sung by men in their 20s with beautiful singing voices, leaves my inner skeptic wanting more. I want these songs to hit a littler harder, to have some teeth to them, to sound like this music is coming from a man who has lived a little more of life instead of an extremely talented group of kids with great singing voices. With the innocent act, I feel like Brian's not giving me the whole truth - not that he has to, but if he isn't, he should lie a little better. I know this isn't a valid criticism, I'm just justifying my own taste.
I was slow to come around to this one just like critics and fans when it was originally released. It was a revelation at the time it was released. Good record
Heart warming stuff! So iconic. Amazing musicians, and to write orchestral stuff too. Really wonderful
Pretty cool stuff. Love the harmonies and classical affectations. Never got the contingent that puts these boys on par with or even ahead of the beatles, cause they ain't tho.
Not quite what I expected. Alot more mellow then you think of, when you think of the Beach Boys. A good listen, but it's not for me. Still worth a listen.
This one has held up well.
It has complex harmony that wasn't common at the time, but his voice grades on me after a while. 7/10
Not really my vibe; has a couple of good songs but as a whole I think some of the songs sound the same. Definitely understand the cultural impact and how it affected music as a whole
I liked this album better on this revisit. It sounds less annoying than I remember. I better understand why everyone always praises the production on this albulm. There are some moments where the song writing and vocal style really work for me, some where it just doesn’t. Favorite song: God Only Knows Least Favorite: That’s Not Me
La primera canción no sé si estoy aburrida de ella o por fin la entiendo, no importa. De todas formas es un gran disco hace mucho tiempo me costaba escucharlo pero me parece que ahora si lo entiendo.
It’s a seminal album for sure. The highs are very high. But there are a couple of duds on this. 4.5/5
Nice
Great album, know it well
Really awesome. Solid songwriting and exceedingly easy to listen to. The Beach Boys are a project that never fully disappoint. They are also responsible for making the only christmas song that doesn't annoy the fuck outta me so extra points there.
Well it’s a massively regarded album for good reason. I’ve heard Pet Sounds several times and it always felt more like something I’m supposed to love than something I actually love. This time I definitely appreciated its scope and its craft, especially for 1966 and especially coming from a teen-pop band of surfer dudes. There are a couple all-time classics, especially the heartbreakingly gorgeous God Only Knows. But I feel like, I dunno, some of the songs are just not really cutting it? The album’s production is super overpowering and it does all the work in the weaker tracks, and I don’t love the effect of that. But whatever minor criticisms I can toss at Pet Sounds, its place in pop music history is assured. Best song: God Only Knows
bark bark meow meow
Not for me but I can recognize high craftsmanship
I love The Beach Boys, BUT it was a little tough listening to this entire album because some of the songs sounded too similar to each other. I generally enjoy their musicality, but I like to mix it up. Overall, their album is great for including in a PCH road trip which I hope to do one day. Just shuffled in with other albums.
I see what they were going for, and it truly is an amazing execution of Brian Wilson's ideas. Groundbreaking sonically and I like Apple Music's quip about it: "Of all "Pet Sounds'" legacies, the most profound is the idea that pop music -- something accessible and extroverted -- could be used to express deep, internal worlds. Definitely a must hear, especially this cluster of songs from the end of side one to side 2 - Sloop John B., God Only Knows, I Know There's an Answer. Very highbrow.
it deserves its place in the pantheon of great albums. we wouldnt have a ton of delightful modern voices like, say, the shins. atmospheric and lovely. elegant and moving. a solid album.
I love their use of vocals and layered background vocals. Their musical flow throughout songs and their innovative and unique sound for the era. I quite enjoy the old feel these songs have, the way they were and not remastered. Sadly I cannot enjoy it in the fullest sense, blasting these tunes from an old car radio.
It's the beach boys, they r good
Never tonight I’d like this whole collection. Great stuff. Took me a long time to appreciate this stuff. The melodies and harmonies are great. I’m a sucker for the song god only knows.
This is a great album
An album I was very familiar with beforehand, so can't compare to my other ratings really. I took this as an opportunity to listen to the mono mix for the first time and I liked the punch it has. Of course a fantastic and classic album but for me misses out on the fifth star just due to the amount I replay it compared to the albums I love most.
Not enough bands with good vocal harmonies in 2024, but the Phil Spektor reverb obsession is maybe a little overboard.
Have had some false starts with this prior but never been able to get into it... this time (or rather times) I was quite taken. I like many of the songs but I like the album even more as a one giant orchestral piece with many movements. It's just so luscious and multilayered, like a harmonic trip for the ears. And all this for what? For aw-shucks Americana, simple boy-meets-girl (or boy-pines-after-girl) mawkishness. Quite funny. (Pretty incredible that I almost got this, Sgt. Pepper's, and Rumours in a row, interrupted only by Eno's Music For Airports. Would it be blasphemous to say that I like Eno's ambiance album as much as the others? Well, that's the case anyhow.)
I don't know that I would go back and listen to the while thing again. But the hits off this are really, really good - Sloop John B, Wouldn't it Be Nice, God Only Knows. God Only Knows has a special place in my heart because it's the bedtime song I sing to my kiddo. 4/5
The BeachBoys moving on and reinventing themselves but without losing their early legacy. Brian Wilson's production, the songs and their performance make this an innovative album for its time and it ages well. 'Sloop John B' and 'God Only Knows' are the stand out tracks to me, particularly the latter.
*animal noises*
A landmark, revolutionizing album so incredibly ahead of its' time - and I still don't quite get the hype. There is A LOT going on vocally, instrumentally, and production wise, and I just think it's quite clear that it works better on some tracks than others. The highest highs are stellar though - 'Wouldn't It Be Nice', 'Let's Go Away For A While', 'God Only Knows', 'I Know There's An Answer' and 'I Just Wasn't Made for These Times'.
I liked this album. It is safe
Just a good feeling album, I already knew I’d like this one.
Iconic. What a great pick-me-up. It's like a warm sunny hug. It's a very easy listen.
Listened to this album a million times always thought it was good but not great no matter how many times I tried for it to click. This time it kinda did, felt more than just some good pop of its era, a lot more emotionally resonant, a really sad album tbh despite what it appears at a cursory glance. 8/10 Fav tracks - Wouldn't it be nice, you still believe in me, don't talk (put your head on my shoulder), I'm waiting for the day, God only knows, I know the answer, here today, I just wasn't made for these times, Least Fav - None really
I enjoyed this album overall. It does sound very "beach boys" to me though, which is hard for me to describe except you know the beach boys when you hear the beach boys. I knew "Wouldn't it be nice" from the album before listening to it but nothing else from this album. I was pleasantly surprised by how many songs I did like even though they did tend to bleed together. Overall I'd listen to this album again, but probably not anytime soon.
Overall, a pleasant album to listen to while I was studying. 3 real winners with Sloop John B, Wouldn’t It Be Nice, and God Only Knows. Their harmonies are always so beautiful. This album proves how little I know about music. Had no idea it was so influential.
Det var en kort omgang, som fik et smil frem. Jeg skal høre den igen, men nåede det desværre kun 1 gang idag.
Huh ja, wat moet je hier nou weer mee. Het is een beetje het 'Citizen Kane'-effect: kennelijk was deze plaat destijds heel innovatief, maar doordat alle slimmigheidjes zo vaak door andere artiesten zijn gekopieerd, horen onze moderne oren hier niets bijzonders meer aan. Dan blijf je zitten met een paar wereldhits, en een paar andere nummers die veel minder indruk maken. Ik vind het altijd knap als je een heel eigen geluid weet te creëren, net als bijvoorbeeld Queen en REM. Niemand klinkt zoals de Beach Boys. Maar de plaat is ondanks de hits toch wat sloom, het geluid wat gezapig, en dan is er nog die debiele hoes met de foto van de kinderboerderij. Het zal wel mijn onkunde zijn, maar ik hoor geen 5 in dit album.
I've avoided this album for the longest time, because I thought the Beach Boys were just a little too cheesy. This album isn't as cheesy as I thought it would be, but it also wasn't as good as I thought it would be. It is a fine album and I did enjoy it, but a lot of the songs really do sound the same, and too many of them end with fade outs. I am definitely cutting this album some slack because it is historically significant and a beloved album. Also, I hate this album cover. It is iconic or whatever, but the green bar and the text are really ugly. Low 4.
Respect for it, but can't 5 cuz I don't enjoy it enough personally. Will I listen to again: 95%
83% Best: Wouldn't It Be Nice; I'm Waiting For The Day; God Only Knows; I Know There's An Answer; Here Today; I Just Wasn't Made For These Times Must-Hear? Sure
I'm not as into this as other people are. But I still think its good. 3.5/5
An all time classic, of course. I think that it does suffer slightly from having a few stand out singles and the rest of the album not really being all that memorable. But the singles are so good, and even the rest of the album is solid as hell, so it's really easy to forgive.
Wouldn’t It Be Nice for more of this album? God Only Knows.
amazing for me
Best Beach Boys album!
meow meow
This is clearly a classic, and hugely influential. I didn't really enjoy it though, and honestly I think it's a bit long. Did this album really need a version of a traditional song? It's obviously still a great album, but it could have been leaner and sharper.
Some absolute classics in here
It’s a classic. Love some of the songs, don’t care for others.
Brian Wilson wanted to make an epic album with no fillers, and for the most part, he succeeded. Its significance for the pop genre can't be questioned, but I've always felt it was a bit too overproduced in some places to become one of my all time favourites. I still love it, though. 4 stars
If you asked me before I started this project which albums on here am I definitely going to give 5 stars, this would have been one of them. Yet listening to it critically, I just don’t know. It’s very well done and I 100% get the acclaim. But it’s kinda… meh? when I listen to it closely. God Only Knows is still possibly my favorite song of all time. But the album as a whole doesn’t do it for me as much as I would think. One of those albums that I like the idea of it more than I like the actual album. Still, I have to give it the benefit of the doubt, it’s brilliant music. I just don’t personally love it as much as I thought.
One of the most beloved albums but sadly it’s never hit me that deeply. My highlights are classics for a reason but there’s plenty of material that exists to be well-executed with their usual killer harmonies but doesn’t excite me to the same (high) level. Maybe someday! There are Beach Boys albums I love, don’t worry. Highlights: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”, “Sloop John B” & “God Only Knows”. 4 stars.
It was good, I've never been a big fan of the Beach Boys overall (for absolutely no reason), but I found myself really enjoying listening to this album. They have a really distinct sound that I like a lot, and I'm happy I've finally listened to some of their stuff.
Thank gawd for The Wrecking Crew
Classic songs. Timeless hits.
Though I do like this album quite a bit, I've never been sold on the GOAT reputation it has. That being said Sloop John B. is a magnificent song! (7.75) ★★★½
Wouldn’t it be nice is a gay anthem. Also this album defined music for like the next 70 years. Gay.
yez no skips
I wasn’t sure I would like this album, but it managed to surpass my expectations. Pet Sound is a cohesive and melodic album from the 1960s, and while I don’t agree that it is one of the best from that decade, I get why many people think it is. Most of the appeal (at least, for me) comes from the melodies in each song, which are masterfully composed and performed by Brian Wilson. This is the first album I have been given in this 1001 albums thing that I am sure I will be returning to.
On a sunny afternoon there is nothing better than this classic album - not a 5 because it was pouring with rain while I was listening to it
I've "known" this album for a long time, but it's been a while since I've truly listened. The innovation was lost on me as a kid, but I hear it now. Theremin hell yes.
Classic. Did not expect this to be as epic as it is
A classic that never lets me down
solid.
STANDOUTS: Wouldn't It Be Nice Sloop John B **God Only Knows**, one of the best songs of all time I Just Wasn't Made For These Times OVERALL: 4/5; God Only Knows elevated this rating an entire digit
A great album. Some of my favorite songs ever on this one!
Me ha gustado para una mañana tranqui
4 - A bit too long, but apart from that I actually really liked this album. I thought the songs in between the big ones were gonna be filler but so really cool tracks
I know that ostensibly Sloop John B is about a rowdy crew of seamen, but it sounds to me like the sound of white privilege. It makes me feel something between guilt and cringe listening to it. God Only Knows is really an all-timer. I was suprised at how Wall of Sound-y this album actually is. Clearly this was a groundbreaking record, but hearing the Spectoryness of it made it feel less unique to me. Fave Tracks: Wouldn't It Be Nice, That's Not Me, God Only Knows, I Just Wasn't Made For These Times, Caroline No 4.2/5
Gran logro para su epoca. Todavía es un gran disco
Beautiful melancholy.
Seen one way, the songs here fit the Beach Boys stereotype - friendly, harmonious, likable. Seen another, the songs here are amazingly well-crafted, with profound and sometimes clever lyrics, changes in tempo, and beautifully layered vocals. There were only two songs I recognized on this album, but what great songs!
Meh, decent enough
Some great songs, the harmonies are in matched.
Notable tracks: Wouldn’t It Be Nice, Don’t Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder), I’m Waiting For The Day, God Only Knows, Caroline No
Wouldn’t It Be Nice // Don’t Talk // God Only Knows // I Know There’s An Answer // Hang On To Your Ego //
Hit songs are great, didn't get much from the others.
Definitely a classic. I’m just not sure I am a huge fan of The Beach Boys. The harmonizing is impressive though.
Classic
Strong Beatles influence which was fun to listen to but didn’t have as much of their more iconic vibe.
Just soothing and delightful. Takes chances, but sticks to the lovesick tone with excellent musicianship and exciting melody.
So good.
This is a very good album but I am clearly missing the connection between all that came before it and all that came after it. I'm a big fan of albums and so I know I have much to thank this album for that - making albums a true production. But just based on sound, it's very good yet not amazing. Wouldn't It Be Nice and Sloop John B are two classics that are just that - sonic genius, melodic and catchy as hell. You Still Believe in Me, That's Not Me, and I Just Wasn't Made for These Times also have some nice harmonies and show a ton of maturity in Brian Wilson's songwriting. I don't exactly love I'm Waiting for the Day but if you need an example of that chamber pop sound and the vast musical arrangement going on, this is it. God Only Knows is beloved by many in the music industry and it didn't grab me at first but on multiple listens I get why. Deep lyrics and tons of vocal and musical layering. When I step back and think about the vocal harmonies, it sounds so easy with how it's been produced but to try and get that if you just had a bunch of singers doing different parts would be madness. So you've got to tip your cap to that. I enjoyed the album a fair bit, but not quite enough for a 5.
Easy to listen to, chill songs. 4.5
Incredible record from start to finish. I'd listened before and most tracks sounded familiar, but something my ears took close notice of this time were the "cry" harmonies at the end of You Still Believe In Me, they work so well. Also, God Only Knows is one of the best songs of all time.
Lots of great tracks and clearly an influential masterpiece, but I do find some stretches dull which holds it back from perfection.
Essential album
The Beach Boys
Wouldn't It Be Nice Let's Go Away For Awhile Sloop John B God Only Knows
Love their harmonies! The best moment was probably when they sang the melody of the brass from the intro of God Only Knows.
Classic.
The good is really good, but the rest is just kinda fine. If you take out the two most popular songs, this album may not be on the list.
Decided to do this one as a stream of consciousness as I listened. - Can we start off by acknowledging that this album was largely inspired by Brian Wilson’s marriage to a literal child? Just … ew. - Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ, there are 26 tracks. - Oh no, I’m just an idiot and/or Tidal’s UI is terrible for marking the first half as mono but not the second half as *stereo* so I didn’t realize it’s the same songs twice. - I hate mono and I just listened to the whole album in it. God, I don’t want to have to do it again. - I hate wall of sound, and I think I just realized that’s why the Beach Boys always sound flat to me, even though there’s so much going on that it should sound dynamic. I always thought it was because of the mono versions, but it’s no different in stereo. It feels like listening to an album with a sinus infection. - Every single fade out is so jarring and clumsy, like someone is running over to turn down the volume knob. For an album noted for its revolutionary production, that just seems inexcusable. - There’s so much going on in every song that it often gets overwhelming (not in a good way). And it starts to feel like the Muppet Show sometimes because of all the bombast and chaos (which, I’m sure the show’s music was influenced by the Beach Boys, so that’s a point for their legacy I suppose haha). - Seriously, why are there so many fade outs? Why can’t you figure out how to end a song properly? - The random sounds are random. Why is there a bike horn in “You Still Believe In Me”? What are the train and the dog at the end of "Caroline, No" about? Is the implication that she jumps in front of a train? Like, what? - Also, Brian, if you didn't want your wife to change so much, maybe you should have married an adult! - I like most of the singles. I don’t know if that’s because they’re the most accessible songs or because I’ve been listening to them for literally my entire life (probably some combination of the two). “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” is a classic and, while I don’t agree that “God Only Knows” is the greatest song of all time, it deserves to be in the top ten. - The percussion on “That’s Not Me” sounds like something Simon and Garfunkel would do. I don't know why that felt important to mention. - I think this might grow on me with repeated listens, but it’s never going to be one of my favorite albums. I’m sorry if that’s blasphemous. I recognize the importance and influence of this album, and it’s a good album. It’s just not a 5 for me personally. And I do genuinely think there's a bit of mythologizing and hindsight bias in the way people view this album that makes people feel pressured to say it's perfect. Highlights: Wouldn’t It Be Nice, That’s Not Me, God Only Knows 4/5 But it's not a 5 on my list.
een plaatje waar je instant gelukkig van wordt...
It's a great album. Got a little sick of it after about the 5th loop through.
great tracks and great song writing. I don't see myself returning to it though.
This is proto emo. The album is infused with so much longing and misery and love, a tornado of youthful emotions. And then it mixes that up with crisp melodies and harmonies that probably felt nostalgic right from the moment it was released. It's also the kind of album that clearly spawned so many sons and daughters over the decades, a gift the keeps on giving after the heartache mends.
Unique sounds 😂
We won it five times
This album should be taught to show why your best song should never be first Wouldn't It Be Nice - 5/5 You Still Believe In Me - 4/5 That's Not Me - 3.5/5 Don't Talk (Put Your Head On My Shoulder) - 3.3/5 I'm Waiting For The Day - 3.8/5 Let's Go Away For Awhile - 3.5/5 Sloop John B - 5/5 God Only Knows - 5/5 I Know There's An Answer - 4.9/5 Here Today - 4.7/5 I Just Wasn't Made For These Times - 4.7/5 Pet Sounds - 3.1/5 Caroline, No - 3.6/5 Total - 4.2/5
SHEEEEEEP! The production innovations, song writing, harmonies, uniques sounds and influence all make this an important album. There are some iconic and great songs on it and it’s an interesting listen. But honestly it just doesn’t tickle my soul nuts all the way through. I’ve listened to this in the past and didn’t feel a strong need to go back. Gave it a fair shot and it just doesn’t cross that 5 threshold for me. Baaaaaa baaaaa mother fuckers!
20240614
Some stand out Beach Boys songs, Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows esp, as well as Sloop John B, and a couple of others.
Is It a solid 5/5 beginning to end? No. Do I understand why people don't like it? Absolutely. But it deserves to be on this list.
The actual sound palette of this album is truly spectacular. It's full of remarkable songs, a few I'd probably consider to be the best ever written. That said, I feel a couple tracks fall short of this very high standard and so, although I can see why people adore this album front to back, for me it's not quite one of my all time favourites for that reason. Totally brilliant sound for 1966 though. I think at its worst, it is really good, and at its best, it's one of the greatest ever.
The Beach Boys are quintessential when it comes to the conversation around American Pop Music. Brian Wilson is a hit-maker. They've become synonymous with "California culture" and their music has shaped a lot of American pop acts. The album itself is great. Easy, smooth, inviting, worth a few listens in a row.
this really does not sound like a rock album from 1966
An absorbing soundscape, with a band that really plays as a unit and never loses its vibe. There are a few songs, like Love is Here, with great lyrics that feel refreshingly different for such an old album. However, there are still parts of it which feel somewhat dated, and it does have this same-ish psychedelic rock vibe almost all the way through - there's not quite enough variation, layering and combination of different elements to warrant a 5 for me.
Appreciate it in terms of song arrangements and harmonies but didn't really care that much about it. Although "God Only Knows" is amazing.
Listened to this album before, but paid a lot better attention this time. Lots of innovative songwriting here. I don’t love it all, but you gotta give Brian credit.
Klassík. Fallegar melódíur og fallegar harmoníur.
Wouldn’t it be nice is obviously a banger. I also liked Sloop John B, God Only Knows, I Know There’s an Answer, Here Today, and that’s about it. I sort of like the overall sound of The Beach Boys. So many catchy bits. Upbeat. The songs are all good but nothing really great in my opinion.
I distinctly remember the first time I ever heard The Beach Boys. I was in the back of Andrew’s parents car coming home from the lake and the song “I get around” came on the radio. It was a type of sound that I had never heard before. Their harmonies were just so cool. Listening to this album brought a rush back of that nostalgia and appreciation. I mean “wouldn’t it be nice” is one of my top 50 songs of all time. I did enjoy even some of the other songs that I hadn’t heard before but I couldn’t give this one a five just because some of them were a bit toooo cheesy sounding. It’s not that they’re straight up bad, it’s just 60 years is hard for anything to age well, but especially The Beach Boys kind of sound.
Childhood music for me. One of the bands I listened to the most with my parents. This album has the two standout hits in “Wouldn’t it be Nice” and “Don’t Worry Baby” but I don’t think the rest of the album was on the same level. There was always a story my mom told me about her riding to a beach boys concert in a limo with The Beach Boys. I’m going to have to go back and get the retelling of that story.
I think when artists try to make an album that flows together, this is the album they’re trying to emulate. It’s only a little over a half an hour, but every single song flows into the next and the cohesiveness of the album is what really sets it apart. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great album, it’s just a little dated and it doesn’t have as many hits as you’d expect for how many greatest album lists it ends up on. I’d give it a nine out of ten if I could, but for now I’ll stick with four stars.
Iconic songs, and easy listening. Easily a solid 4.
It’s a gorgeous album and a joy to listen to after the previous offerings.
Doesn’t live up to the hype tbh