The last GREAT Beach Boys song in your opinion

[Heysaboda]

"TWGMTR" is between almost & semi - it's a classic earworm, but doesn't quite tip me over the edge. "MAD", in contrast, made my mouth drop open even before the vocal came in: when it did my eyes fell out, and when Brian hit the chorus, I sh*t myself, died and went to heaven.

Would be cool to hear The Boys do a take on Midnight's Another Day.

[Alan Smith]

Good Vibrations  - is the sh*t, ever

Sail on Sailor - pretty close

Roller Skating Child - an audacious ass shaker by anyone's reckoning

[Magic Transistor Radio]

I am already kind of sick of  'Why God Made the Radio'. Who knows what I will think of it in a few years. As for Goin On, I agree its a very catchy tune. But I think the title track KTSA is even catchier. As for Carl's songs on BB85, I really don't like any of them out side of Where I Belong.

[adamghost]

I'd really tend to "That's Why God Made The Radio", before that "Somewhere Near Japan". Stellar vocal performance and who ever played guitar (maybe Ed Carter?)  did a nice job there.

If you mean That's Why God, Probyn mentioned to me he played guitar on the track.  I don't know which specific part, though the tasteful rhythm was what prompted me to ask him if he was on it.

[bcdam]

I'd go with:

written:
The Night Was So Young '77
released:
Good Timin' '74

special consideration goes to:
"you're still a mystery" '95 which is so damn close and I really wanted them to finish it for TWGMTR!

[buddhahat]

"TWGMTR" is between almost & semi - it's a classic earworm, but doesn't quite tip me over the edge. "MAD", in contrast, made my mouth drop open even before the vocal came in: when it did my eyes fell out, and when Brian hit the chorus, I sh*t myself, died and went to heaven.

Yeah MAD is a stunner and like all BW's finest it stands up well to repeated listens. Much that I like this new song, it's not one I'd personally want to listen to again and again.

[Ron]

Their last "Great" Song was Kokomo.  #1, very catchy, loved it when I was a kid, has a place in pop culture, etc.  Great song. 

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Their last "Great" Song was Kokomo.  #1, very catchy, loved it when I was a kid, has a place in pop culture, etc.  Great song. 

I think Kokamo was a solid song. Unlike others on this board, I can respect your opinion on this.

[absinthe_boy]

Classic is one that makes you go "oh wow" first time you hear it, usually with the first few bars.

Semi-classic is one that doesn't do that immediately, but given time grows.

Almost classic is one that sounds great, but somehow just doesn't have that vital spark.

Or so I say.

"TWGMTR" is between almost & semi - it's a classic earworm, but doesn't quite tip me over the edge. "MAD", in contrast, made my mouth drop open even before the vocal came in: when it did my eyes fell out, and when Brian hit the chorus, I sh*t myself, died and went to heaven.

I remember a review, though I do not remember which review, saying MAD 'is assuredly not the best melody Brian Wilson has written. However, it is the best he has written in over 30 years and he knows it, and it shows in the manner he sings it on stage' (paraphrasing).

MAD is a gorgeous song, and it has brought me to tears more than once.

Brian still has it within him to write astonishingly good music. I am convinced that, cheese or no, Mike can still write good lyrics. Between them they still have the capacity to write something truly great. And don't count out Bruce either.

[Bean Bag]

I am an unabashed fan of all sorts of music from say 1951-73. I get fussy about music after the early seventies and since say 1984 I can maybe pick a couple dozen records I really enjoy. The 1985 album is not one of the ones I go back to and it basically sums up everything wrong with the period to me. I tried to get into it but, other than the fact that Carl sang well, it's got nothing for me. The "Getcha Back"/"Male Ego"45 is all I ever feel like playing once in a while. No offense to those who do like it, but I just don't like the sound or the feel.

I can totally relate to what you're saying about Beach Boys '85.  It does not represent the ideal sound or feel of The Beach Boys.  Nor the ideal sound and feel of music in general.  It's totally synthetic.  Sterile.  Trapped in a TRON nightmare.  There's certainly nothing natural or organic about it.  Other than it's sh-t.

But if you can accept it for what it is -- which is 80's to the MAX -- it's actually a pretty solid album.  (Are you still with me?  )

I started by allowing myself the guilty pleasure of trying to enjoy the 80's nostalgia of it.  80's nostalgia ain't my thing either -- but I do like nostalgia.  And nostalgia worked wonders for me on some of their lesser 70's stuff, L.A. and the others.

Now I love it (more or less).  Behind that (unavoidable) digital TRON veneer, there's actually a lot of good material.  They really tried hard to come up with solid songs, I think.  I only wish someone simultaneously recorded it to analog tape.  Damn.

It took me a long while to get into.  But I think it's on-par (or more) with much of their later 70's stuff.  It's certainly more consistent than some.  But again, it is what it is.  And if you have zero connection to the 80's (i.e.; lived in cave) -- then it will be lost on you.

[Heysaboda]

Does "Goin' On" remind anyone else of Queen? That's not a bad thing, but it was a connection I made the first time I heard the song.

I reminds me of Queen too.  I think that's an interesting connection.  Great song!

[filledeplage]

this live rendition of summer in paradise minus the lead guitar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avqh4xukkuo

Great video!!!

Summer in Paradise

Where I Belong

Don't Fight the Sea

[meltedwhiskeyinmyhand]

Their last "Great" Song was Kokomo.  #1, very catchy, loved it when I was a kid, has a place in pop culture, etc.  Great song.  

I think Kokamo was a solid song. Unlike others on this board, I can respect your opinion on this.

Thats a song I got really sick of hearing but I must say that I was tapping my foot and singing along to it at the Atlanta show. The "Cocktails and Dreams" image that they were showing during the song was almost enough to make me take a beer and bathroom run :douchechills

[EgoHanger1966]

I wouldn't have said this yesterday, but...

I don't think we've heard it yet.

 

[pixletwin]

I would say that for Brian as a Beach Boy, it would be Goin' On. For Dennis, Baby Blue.

This is exactly what I was about to post.

[Cabinessenceking]

Pardon my utter ignorance, but MAD? 

[Craig Boyd]

Pardon my utter ignorance, but MAD? 

Midnight's Another Day from Brian's That Lucky Old Sun album. I much prefer the version from the AOL sessions.

[Magic Transistor Radio]

Pardon my utter ignorance, but MAD? 

Midnight's Another Day from Brian's That Lucky Old Sun album. I much prefer the version from the AOL sessions.

I will agree with you on this song along with several other from his solo career. But I didn't count it because it isn't the Beach Boys. I would also include Love and Mercy, Lay Down Burden, The Waltz, Live Let Live and Oxygen. Oh, and the Flinstones song (forgot what its called). Can this be found anywhere other then Live at the Roxy? Like a soundtrack?

[Lonely Summer]

If we're gonna cheat and include Brian's solo material, then I'd say the entire TLOS album. His best collection of new material since BW88 - but with much better production. i'd also throw in Carl's I Wish For You and Like A Brother.

[buddhahat]

If we're gonna cheat and include Brian's solo material, then I'd say the entire TLOS album. His best collection of new material since BW88 - but with much better production. i'd also throw in Carl's I Wish For You and Like A Brother.

Well in that case ..... Message Man, hands down!

[37!ws]

Last great Beach Boys song?

"Karate."

[EgoHanger1966]

If we get to count BW solo material...."Southern California" I consider a masterpiece, much better than Midnight's Another Day (IMO).

[Aegir]

this live rendition of summer in paradise minus the lead guitar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avqh4xukkuo

That's funny, that's taken from their appearance on Baywatch with David on guitar, I thought he did a terrible job.

[pixletwin]

If we get to count BW solo material...."Southern California" I consider a masterpiece, much better than Midnight's Another Day (IMO).

I like this very much. Southern California always sends a thrill down my spine.

[Andrew G. Doe]

this live rendition of summer in paradise minus the lead guitar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avqh4xukkuo

That's funny, that's taken from their appearance on Baywatch with David on guitar, I thought he did a terrible job.

Nope - that's recorded in London, June 29th 1993. No David. I'm on there, though - the dude in Block D, row 17 singing along word perfect. My gf at the time was freaked that I could know the lyrics to a brand new song.