I'm not sure if it's Newman's voice or the loungey, easy-going vibe throughout the record, but Sail Away was not an experience I could get into. My appreciation for some of the instrumentation and lyrical themes helped elevate it, but it still failed to stick with me in an endearing way.
Brian Wilson fell in love with this album when it came out, and as someone who thinks Brian Wilson is one of the best artists of the past century, I also love this album. The vibe is exactly the type of 60's beatlesque pop rock that goes straight to my soul. Not the most profound thing ever, but well worth a listen if you like The Beatles or (especially) The Beach Boys. Favorite Tracks: "Sail Away", "Lonely At The Top", "Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear", "Old Man", "Political Science", "Burn On", "Dayton, Ohio - 1903"