Can any Beach Boy album be considered truely flawless?

[Chris Brown]

Today (if you remove "Bull Session"), Pet Sounds and Smiley Smile.  Many others are close, but those are the only three where I never skip any of the tracks.

[Beach Boy]

Today (if you remove "Bull Session"), Pet Sounds

I second that and would like to add these:

Christmas Album
Sunflower
So Tough
Holland
Light Album

I'm surprised no one was mentioning the Christmas Album. Not the best christmas songs ever written but as a whole it sounds great and gives you that warm-hearted, special feeling which christmas music should give you. Sunflower was a tough one, because of "Cool, Cool Water". It is not a bad song but after all these gems it just wouldn't fit whenever I listen to that album. Kind of like "When Girls Get Together" on KTSA. It just takes the drive out of it, if you know what I mean.

Still Cruisin' and Shut Down Vol. 2 are the exact opposite of a "flawless" album, there are worse for my personal taste but some songs completely ruin the listening experience to my ears. And don't get mad at me for including LA.    

[drbeachboy]

If you don't mind me asking, what makes Shut Down Volume 2 one of their worst albums? I understand it not being flawless and all, but worst seems strong considering there is some real classic tunes on it.

[SMiLE Brian]

If you don't mind me asking, what makes Shut Down Volume 2 one of their worst albums? I understand it not being flawless and all, but worst seems strong considering there is some real classic tunes on it.

Its not the worst, its the most uneven album with some greats and some clunkers. KTSA or SIP are the worst by far..

[hypehat]

I'm surprised no one was mentioning the Christmas Album. Not the best christmas songs ever written but as a whole it sounds great and gives you that warm-hearted, special feeling which christmas music should give you.  

See, I disagree - but I love the 2nd Side so damn much. The clunky band performances on side one really ruin what could have been a great, great album - that blend was made to sing those sort of standards, and they give a side to some filler level material... But if you just had some of that Dick Reynolds stuff...

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

If you don't mind me asking, what makes Shut Down Volume 2 one of their worst albums? I understand it not being flawless and all, but worst seems strong considering there is some real classic tunes on it.

I think it's one of their best. I suppose the odd 'Love vs. Wilson' into 'Warmth of Sun' transition doesn't sit well with some. But I can overlook it. It's a great record, loaded with many of my favorites. 'This Car of Mine' is one of my favorite Denny songs.

[JohnMill]

Pet Sounds:  One of the few albums that has never worked it's way out of my cd player.  I can listen to it start to finish almost any day of the year.

[Mr. Wilson]

1} Pet sounds 2}Smile 3}Today 4} All Summer Long 5}Sunflower 6} 93 box set

[Newguy562]

1} Pet sounds 2}Smile 3}Today 4} All Summer Long 5}Sunflower 6} 93 box set

good list but ur missing wild honey :/

[Austin]

It's interesting to read how many albums are on people's lists. "Flawless" is an awfully strong word, and "I don't skip it" is pretty light criteria. A flawed song is not necessarily a bad song; I know plenty of albums with a flawed song or two that I'll still happily listen to in sequence -- especially from the BB's.

In my mind, the only album that is not just tolerable, but which I would not change anything about, is Pet Sounds.

[Eric Aniversario]

Friends!

Orange Crate Art came close...but Movies Is Magic is on there! 

[JK]

"Flawless" is an awfully strong word, and "I don't skip it" is pretty light criteria. A flawed song is not necessarily a bad song; I know plenty of albums with a flawed song or two that I'll still happily listen to in sequence -- especially from the BB's.

Agreed on all counts. What exactly is a flawless album? One that is all peaks? If I listen to Surfer Girl I don't skip "South Bay Surfer", same as I don't skip "SDT" if I play Surf's Up----tremendous albums both. I wouldn't change either of them for anything. Perhaps that is the criterion for a flawless album.

As for the much-maligned "Bull Session": I think it's the perfect way to end Today!----how on earth do you follow "ITBOMM" with another song, or even an instrumental? You can't close the album with it either. So for me, it's the perfect solution. :=)

[NHC]

For me, it's SUSA, Surfer Girl, Deuce Coupe, All Sumer Long, Today, Pet Sounds, Party, maybe Sunflower and Wild Honey, most of SD(&SN) and SDII.

[Aegir]

the only songs I ever skip are "Bull Session", "Cassius Love vs. Sonny Wilson", and "Our Favorite Recording Sessions". aka, not songs at all. I don't even skip anything on Summer in Paradise.

[SMiLE Brian]

I listen to bull session just to hear Brian say, "you stepped on my french fries"

[Zander]

SD&SN, All Summer Long & Holland - all amazing...

[JK]

the only songs I ever skip are "Bull Session", "Cassius Love vs. Sonny Wilson", and "Our Favorite Recording Sessions". aka, not songs at all.

I've always made a case for "BSWBD" (see 6 posts earlier) and "OFRS" (not least because Brian's "note" is the first note of Mike's vocal on "Don't Back Down") but "CLvSW" is filler pure and simple.

As I see it, speech is part and parcel of the BB's recorded canon: think of Party!, "Wonderful" SS-style and "TM Song", to say nothing of the cringeworthy likes of "Prune Time"...       

[Newguy562]

As far as an album i can listen to from beginning to end without skipping
I'd have to say Pet Sounds, The Smile Sessions, Wild Honey & Today.

[Andrew G. Doe]

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmm... no, not one that I wouldn't change a single note on: in fact most, I'd change one or more songs on. The one that comes closest in my book is Surfer Girl... [quick mental sprint through the band's canon]... nope, that would be the one, with All Summer Long and Today a joint, and close, second.