Shut Down, Volume II

[Mike's Beard]

They're both good songs, just not on the level of The Warmth of the Sun or Don't Worry Baby. What can I say, I'm a harsh critic. Plus I 'hate' Brian Wilson so the deck's always going to be stacked.

[Lonely Summer]

I used to think of the early instrumentals as filler, but now I see them as a chance for - mostly - Carl to flex his guitar playing chops. Love 'em! So maybe not every song on this album is an A+ effort, but how can you dislike an album that contains Fun Fun Fun, Don't Worry Baby and Warmth of the Sun? And Carl's first lead vocal?

[petsoundsnola]

Several classics and fantastic songs:

Fun, Fun, Fun
Don't Worry Baby
In the Parking Lot
The Warmth of the Sun
Why Do Fools Fall in Love

...but unfortunately outnumbered by filler tracks

Cassius Love versus Sonny Wilson
This Car of Mine
Pom Pom Play Girl
Keep an Eye on Summer
Shut Down Part II
Louie Louie
Denny's Drums

[thr33]

Shut Down Volume 2 (Mono, 2015 AP release)

Side 1:

1. Fun, Fun, Fun - *****
Classic song, would become a closer for concerts. The fade is incredible.

2. Don't Worry Baby - ****
Absolutely immortal. One of Brian's best vocal performances to me.

3. In the Parkin' Lot - ***
Not much meat to this one but still a fun song.

4. Cassius Love vs. Sonny Wilson - *

5. The Warmth Of The Sun - *****
Another legendary song. No words.

6. This Car of Mine - ****
Solid song to close out side 1. Decent vocal from Dennis.

Side 2:

7. Why Do Fools Fall in Love - *****
Great cover, love the high notes and bass vocals here.

8. Pom, Pom Play Girl - ***
This one is okay. Would prefer a stronger song here.

9. Keep an Eye on Summer - ****
Pretty strong song. Love the lead and harmonies here.

10. Shut Down, Part II - **

11. Louie, Louie - **

12. Deenny's Drums - **

Overall Rating: ***
There are a number of truly great songs on here, but it closes with such a bad trio of songs that kills any momentum.

[Julia]

I rate this, Surfer Girl and Little Deuce Coup 3/5. These are the early "Brian as producer" albums, before he really hit his stride with All Summer Long. (A genuine masterpiece overshadowed by what came after.)

These three early albums are good, competent but not exactly earth-shattering. Probably great for their time but looking back they're primitive and uneven albums that non-fans wouldn't get much out of. What I mean is, completionists would appreciate this look at how the band developed and grew into the knock-out album artists who made All Summer Long, Today!, Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!), Pet Sounds, SMiLE and the "lo-fi trilogy" (SS, WH, Friends) to close out the 60s. But if you played any of these early albums to non-fans, would they convert skeptics like PS, SMiLE or Today would? Almost certainly not, and for me that's why they're 3s and not a higher score.