|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 15, 2019 14:16:48 GMT
Since I already spoke my initial heresy by saying I prefer Surf's Up to Sunflower, I may as well go all the way and discuss this one: I think Sunflower might be the most overrated album in the Beach Boys' catalog, at least among fans (because let's be honest, nobody but fans knows it exists...).
Don't take that the wrong way: I think it's a good album. If we were ranking it, I'd probably give it a 7/10 or so, and put it in the 5-10 range overall among the band's albums. That's not bad at all. I love how it sounds. Desper and the guys were making great sounding recordings even when the songs weren't up to par; when they were, it was just great stuff.
The big drawbacks for me are Dennis's songs. Each of them has something I like, but I don't like all of any of them. I try not to even think about lyrics when it comes to Beach Boys songs, but some of these are especially stupid. "It's About Time" is the worst for me. "Got to Know the Woman" is competing for the honor. And "Slip On Through" has a tree-boner reference. I don't need to hear about a tree-boner.
On the other hand, "This Whole World" is one of my five or ten favorite Beach Boys songs ever. I also really like "Our Sweet Love," both of Bruce's contributions, "All I Wanna Do," and (when I can ignore the lyrics) "Add Some Music."
Anyway as I said in the Surf's Up post, I think a combination of the best of these two albums plus some of the better outtakes from the era would make for an unbelievable batch of songs, probably one of the few double albums I wouldn't incessantly complain needs to be edited down!
|
|
|
Post by kds on Mar 24, 2019 4:06:39 GMT
Easily the best Beach Boys album that's not been performed live 2,632 times.
Also includes Aunt Becky's wedding song.
|
|
|
Post by sebevedomy on Mar 24, 2019 8:01:56 GMT
Greater than the sum of it's parts: I abhor "Tears in the Morning" and "Deirdre" ain't too great either, but otherwise, it's very pleasant album of very sweet, sunny songs: it's a hot summer's morning, before it get's too hot.
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Mar 23, 2020 22:59:09 GMT
I was very surprised to see 'Reactions To The Classics' review this album. Previously, they had only reviewed Pet Sounds. Despite only being casual fans, they really gave this album a serious shot. It's refreshing to hear their take on it. They aren't bound by any of us!
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 23, 2020 23:59:05 GMT
Interesting, indeed. I've seen various "first listen" videos being recommended and rarely listen.
Some of their lack of music knowledge slapped me in the face a little (like saying "Got to Know the Woman" had "waltz-like piano") and their fascination with storylines of (let's be honest) pretty unremarkable lyrics struck me as odd. But it truly is interesting and fun to hear first impressions and thoughtful consideration from people who haven't really paid all that much attention to that music before.
That's one thing I acknowledge I've long-since lost: perspective.
Thanks for sharing this, B.E. I enjoyed it.
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on Mar 24, 2020 0:09:34 GMT
I was kind of chuckling thinking that their lyrical analysis of "Tears In The Morning" surpassed any such attempts on any Beach Boys message boards alive or dead! In all seriousness, I've been following that channel for about a year and their recent Dylan fandom has definitely had an impact. It also makes sense that untrained music fans might focus more on lyrics.
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Mar 24, 2020 0:16:20 GMT
It's definitely enjoyable regardless, because any lack of sophistication (and I don't mean that perjoratively) is superseded by their lack of snark. So often, especially online, people just talk crap about whatever it is they're discussing (said the guy with some number of posts that probably fit that description). For them to just be honest, neither snarky nor gushing, it cool, whether they were music majors, former bar-band musicians, or (as it seems) just regular guys who listen to music.
Again, glad you posted it!
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on May 23, 2020 15:26:28 GMT
Well, this is sad to hear.
|
|
|
Post by B.E. on May 23, 2020 15:29:16 GMT
Charming, quirky Brian ratcheted up to 11!
|
|
|
Post by Kapitan on Jun 7, 2021 16:30:43 GMT
Sunflower [Brother/Reprise, 1970] If you can feature the great candy-stripes grown up, then this is far more satisfying, I suspect, than Smile ever would have been. The medium-honest sensibility is a little more personal now, soulful in its Waspy way. Maybe they weren't really surfers or hot rodders, but they were really Southern Californians, and that's what their music was about. It still is, too, only now they sing about water, broken marriages, and the love of life. Still a lot of fun, too. A-
|
|