Which is their most coherent fully-rounded album?

[Disney Boy (1985)]

...outside of Pet Sounds. And Smile wasn't finished, so it doesn't count.

As with most bands - or at least those who were/are as profilic as the BB's - the Beach Boys had albums which were consistent, perfect flowing records and then albums which were clearly just a random selection of songs. So, leaving Pet Sounds aside, which would you say was their most full-realised, consistent, perfect flowing album (and not necessarily which is your favourite)?

I'd say All Summer Long, Today!, Wild Honey, Friends, (Sunflower?) and Love You are all obvious contenders, but i'm going to go with Holland. All the songs on Holland flow into one another perfectly and the entire album has a consistent 'home-y' feel (ironic since they were so far away from home) and a lovely flow which remains in place throughout the entire album.

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

I think Holland is a good choice. I think Friends is the best choice though.

[Cabinessenceking]

Love You and Wild Honey could be candidates. I mean one could argue that the only albums which are not coherent to be C&P, SU, 15BO,LA,Smiley...

[rab2591]

I have to pick Friends too.

Love You and Holland being close 2nd and 3rd place.

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

Love You and Wild Honey could be candidates. I mean one could argue that the only albums which are not coherent to be C&P, SU, 15BO,LA,Smiley...

Don't forget 20/20. That album is all over the place.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

...outside of Pet Sounds. And Smile wasn't finished, so it doesn't count.

As with most bands - or at least those who were/are as profilic as the BB's - the Beach Boys had albums which were consistent, perfect flowing records and then albums which were clearly just a random selection of songs. So, leaving Pet Sounds aside, which would you say was their most full-realised, consistent, perfect flowing album (and not necessarily which is your favourite)?

I'd say All Summer Long, Today!, Wild Honey, Friends, (Sunflower?) and Love You are all obvious contenders, but i'm going to go with Holland. All the songs on Holland flow into one another perfectly and the entire album has a consistent 'home-y' feel (ironic since they were so far away from home) and a lovely flow which remains in place throughout the entire album.

+ 1

[phirnis]

Love You all the way! Other than that, Friends, Little Deuce Coupe, Holland, All Summer Long, Today...

[phirnis]

...and I forgot to mention Summer Days, which has an incredible flow to it. Sound-wise it's every bit as coherent as Pet Sounds.

[Sheriff John Stone]

Today!

[NHC]

Little Deuce Coupe, Surfer Girl, All Summer Long, Today

[Chocolate Shake Man]

When we say Today!, are we counting Bull Sessions or not?

[SBonilla]

Party.

[Amazing Larry]

All Summer Long, Friends and Sunflower to me are the most complete albums they ever did, excluding Pet Sounds and Smile.

[wantsomecorn]

I have a hard time considering Love You to be coherent when it shifts to Good Time in the middle of the album, a seven-year old song with Brian's youthful voice, and no synths at all. Great song, but a pretty jarring change.

Not counting Mama Says, Wild Honey flows really great as well.

So does Holland. I love how a lot of the songs on Holland have to do with Sailing and exile. It could make a pretty good musical if arranged properly, or at least a nice suite of songs. You've go the Trader who Sails on a Steamboat to California, who sees the error in his actions, and isolates himself until he falls in love with a (Funky Pretty) girl. (And then he gets stoned and writes a Fairy Tale.)

[EgoHanger1966]

Lately we seem to be having this conversation over and over and over, worded a little differently each time.

Friends.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

I'd say Good Time very definately spoils the flow of Love You, it was clearly recorded during a different period to the other songs on the album. Also, re Friends - yep, i hear ya with this one, and had the album concluded with We're Together Again then it'd arguably claim my top spot, but TM - regardless of whether you think it's a worthwhile song or not (I don't particuarly) - really does end the album on a discordant note and doesn't 'go' with the rest of the album. 

[Sheriff John Stone]

I have a hard time considering Love You to be coherent when it shifts to Good Time in the middle of the album, a seven-year old song with Brian's youthful voice, and no synths at all. Great song, but a pretty jarring change.

Great point, wantsomecorn. Why did they do that?

Love You has always been in my Top 5, maybe Top 3 BB albums, but the inclusion of "Good Time" always bothered me. I love how Love You is so Brian, so 1976, so Brian sitting down and cranking out a whole album. He never did it again. Even with "Love Is A Woman" (which has some merit), Love You is a fascinating trip and a direct look into the world of Brian Wilson. However, when "Good Time" comes on, it takes me back to 1969-70, away from that 1976 Brian. If they really felt that "Good Time" was needed, they could've at least done a 1976 vocal. Al or Carl could've used an extra lead vocal on the album...

[Disney Boy (1985)]

I have a hard time considering Love You to be coherent when it shifts to Good Time in the middle of the album, a seven-year old song with Brian's youthful voice, and no synths at all. Great song, but a pretty jarring change.

Great point, wantsomecorn. Why did they do that?

Love You has always been in my Top 5, maybe Top 3 BB albums, but the inclusion of "Good Time" always bothered me. I love how Love You is so Brian, so 1976, so Brian sitting down and cranking out a whole album. He never did it again. Even with "Love Is A Woman" (which has some merit), Love You is a fascinating trip and a direct look into the world of Brian Wilson. However, when "Good Time" comes on, it takes me back to 1969-70, away from that 1976 Brian. If they really felt that "Good Time" was needed, they could've at least done a 1976 vocal. Al or Carl could've used an extra lead vocal on the album...

All true, but what makes it extra irritating is the fact that Good Time isn't even a particuarly strong track. The album would've worked better without it and just skipped striaght from Johnny Carson to Honkin'.

[sockittome]

Christmas Album! 

[Letsgoawayforawhile]

I have a hard time considering Love You to be coherent when it shifts to Good Time in the middle of the album, a seven-year old song with Brian's youthful voice, and no synths at all. Great song, but a pretty jarring change.

Great point, wantsomecorn. Why did they do that?

Love You has always been in my Top 5, maybe Top 3 BB albums, but the inclusion of "Good Time" always bothered me. I love how Love You is so Brian, so 1976, so Brian sitting down and cranking out a whole album. He never did it again. Even with "Love Is A Woman" (which has some merit), Love You is a fascinating trip and a direct look into the world of Brian Wilson. However, when "Good Time" comes on, it takes me back to 1969-70, away from that 1976 Brian. If they really felt that "Good Time" was needed, they could've at least done a 1976 vocal. Al or Carl could've used an extra lead vocal on the album...

All true, but what makes it extra irritating is the fact that Good Time isn't even a particuarly strong track. The album would've worked better without it and just skipped striaght from Johnny Carson to Honkin'.

It's my favorite on there aside from Airplane. Haha.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

I have a hard time considering Love You to be coherent when it shifts to Good Time in the middle of the album, a seven-year old song with Brian's youthful voice, and no synths at all. Great song, but a pretty jarring change.

Great point, wantsomecorn. Why did they do that?

Love You has always been in my Top 5, maybe Top 3 BB albums, but the inclusion of "Good Time" always bothered me. I love how Love You is so Brian, so 1976, so Brian sitting down and cranking out a whole album. He never did it again. Even with "Love Is A Woman" (which has some merit), Love You is a fascinating trip and a direct look into the world of Brian Wilson. However, when "Good Time" comes on, it takes me back to 1969-70, away from that 1976 Brian. If they really felt that "Good Time" was needed, they could've at least done a 1976 vocal. Al or Carl could've used an extra lead vocal on the album...

Hmmmm, maybe Brian's even more of a genius than we thought and knew in his gut Love You was a spiritual sequel to Pet Sounds and knew it needed a "Sloop John B" on it somewhere???

[Alex]

Summer in Paradise?

The song quality is terrible, but the overall sound of the record is pretty damn consistent.

[donald]

Although I have found all of the records to be round, I guess Friends and Holland are the roundest.  However, some are warped.

[SunBurn]

similar thread:
http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php/topic,14136.0.html

I find 20/20 to be their least coherent, yet it's one of my favorites.

I wonder how much coherence is really a goal with the Beach Boys. Check out the way the gentle vibe of Friends is sabotaged by (ironically) "Transcendental Meditation". Even when Brian is in complete control, he likes to keep the audience guessing. Look at the instrumental "Pet Sounds": it stands out like a sore thumb (at lest IMHO), yet it's the title track!

[joshferrell]

Most Consistant
1.Friends
2.love you
3.holland
4.little duece coupe
5.shut down vol2
6.party
7.carl and the passions
least consistant
1.15 big ones
2.20/20
3.KTSA