Here's my way to honor my favourite band of all time. Click on the album covers for a link to RateYourMusic! Inspired by this :D
Released on 1 October 1962, Surfin' Safari is their debut. While it's technically very crappy and does not come near later Beach Boys records, it's still a fun record because its charm lies under its unpolished and rough sound! There are songs about root beer, being horny about dresses, and cars! How impressive! My most urgent question is: Why did Capitol make Ten Little Indians a single?
So, they made another album where the title begins with "Surfin'"! Surfin' U.S.A. was a total hit, writing surf lyrics to Chuck Berry's 'Sweet Little Sixteen'. This is also the first album where iconic co-writer Gary Usher shows up in the credits. Isn't it crazy how the first song Brian and Gary wrote together was Lonely Sea? It's a damn good song, as well, even with a spoken word part! Surfin U.S.A. is a definite improvement over Surfin' Safari, especially with the double-tracked vocals.
Hooooooooooooooooooooly crap. This one's a GOODIE. The title track (Surfer Girl) (obviously) is amazing and In My Room is praised a billion times over by legends for a REASON. It's the perfect example of the teenage experience because all your hormones and crap are on fire and anda nd oh my God man.
To be coherent, the record's great because the introspective ballads are amazing and the surfer tunes are good too! What the hell! This record is a warm, comforting meal that you could eat whenever you want. It's also the first album that Brian Wilson is officially credited as a producer. A giant highlight in the Beach Boys' discography and in my opinion their best early-period album!
And now we're back to mediocrity! I mean, it's considered one of rock's first concept albums, so... a win is a win? Anyways, lots of car songs in it from Roger Christian, THE Beach Boys hot rod writer? My favourites include Ballad of Ol' Betsy, a ballad about a car, and A Young Man Is Gone, an acapella about the death of James Dean using the melody of Their Hearts Were Full Of Spring that was written by Mike Love. Always nice to hear their harmonies!
Shut Down Vol. 2 is a little trickier to judge. Sure, it's still extremely lazy with a truckload of filler in a 27 minute album but it also has Don't Worry Baby, Fun, Fun, Fun, and The Warmth of The Sun on it. The name is also a little weird: Shut Down Vol. 1? That isn't an album from the Beach Boys, it's a compilation released by Capitol Records!
An more obscure Beach Boys song I love is the bonus track I Do, which isn't on any streaming platforms. That's insane behavior from the distributors because I love the Christmas-like bells in it!
This is where we're starting to get really good. Obviously there's filler, but I Get Around is the first track, so that makes up for it. I recommend this to everyone who loves their surf hits and wants to hear an actual album of the Beach Boys. Girls on the Beach is so beautiful and We'll Run Away is a 2 minute song that's extremely easy to overlook but still shows Brian Wilson's music genius! It's the Beach Boys album that feels the most like summer to me.
An incredible album. I can't describe it because you just have to listen to it for yourself. The A-side is full of cheery hits and the B-side has amazing heartwrenching songs on it. Phil Spector has a very clear influence on this record. The only downside is Help Me, Ronda, it being massively inferior than the version on the next album.
Thank God Bruce Johnston asked for another version for Help Me, Rhonda. Yes, they made a new title for it. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!) (And The Exclamation Marks Are Needed!!) is much better produced than Today!, also including much more hits. Summer Means New Love is the perfect instrumental and I love it. Sadly I have to give it minus points because Al isn't on the cover. I know he was sick, but couldn't they reshoot it!?!?
The Beach Boys are partyin'! This one's some other kind of concept album where they record songs in the studio and overdub it with talking and giggling, almost as if they're recording for little old you! Wow! So special! It's full of covers from the Beatles, Bob Dylan, etcetera! It's basically padding so they could work longer on Pet Sounds, but plenty enjoy it more than I do!
It's Pet Sounds. I don't need to say anything. Listen to it if you haven't, and listen to it again if you have. I'm giving you this cool picture. As a gift.
Some people are pissed at Smiley Smile because they prefer SMiLE and some love it in all of its lo-fi glory. I think it's great but I can never listen to the album fully. Their version of Good Vibrations sucks in comparison to the unreleased versions. And I can't skip Good Vibrations. That's just sad. It's also really creepy and scary and freaky. It's good though!
Brian makes another record in his home studio and they try out the soul genre. It's the shortest album of the Beach Boys at just under 24 minutes. It's fun, it's playful, just plain nice! If you love RnB and Carl Wilson's voice, give it a listen!
1968. The Beach Boys are broke and we've got more lo-fi Brian Wilson production. Except, this one's a little different. It was influenced by the Maharashi and wasn't the biggest hit at first (flopped HORRIBLY), ignoring trends in current music. It's one of the more underrated Beach Boys albums. There's the bossa nova Busy Doin' Nothin' on it and Dennis steals the show with Little Bird. C'mon! However, most songs do feel unfinished so it isn't quite perfect. But it's cozy!
The most inconsistent album... EVER.