The Smiley Smile Message Board

I say: YES!

The new album is definitely “mellow”!

So, I’ve been obsessively listening to TWGMTR.  Have to admit, for the first 2 spins, I was wondering, what is going on?  But after spin 3, I was totally hooked, and I’ve not played any other CDs for the past 3 weeks.  (I’ve not had any time for Neil’s new one or the remaster of RAM.)  Every morning when I wake up, there is a different TWGMTR tune in my head.  (Today it was “Strange World”.)  I won’t go all insane and say that the album is their best ever.   But to me it sits quite nicely along with their best.

I love the arc of the album, how it starts with an almost a cappella piece that they do so well, followed by the title track.  It proceeds through several sunny, light songs.  People have criticized “Spring Vacation” or “Beaches in Mind” as being “fluff” but they are meant as light, sunny songs, perfect for what they are. And when it comes to those final 4 songs, well we are into some serious business.

Strange World / From There to Back Again / PCH / Summer’s Gone

I simply cannot say how gorgeous and amazing these 4 tracks are, and what a remarkable ending they provide, similar to an Abbey Road suite, but, of course, much more serious and beautiful.  FTTBA could easily sit on Pet Sounds, with its low, loping guitar fills and snare fills instead of a constant beat.

“You’ve been thinking about some things we used to do
Thinking ‘bout when life was still in front of you.”

Well, golly!

I love how the BB’s are all close to or over 70, and how some of these songs deal with looking at one’s life, retrospectively.  That alone makes this album special.

To me, they didn’t get a single thing wrong with this album.  Drop-dead gorgeous in every way.

Definitely, to me, among the best of an already-stunning catalog.

-- David S.

I whole heartedly agree with you! Too many of their early albums contained what can only be seen as annoy filler at times (Shut Down Vol. 2!), while TWGMTR, in my mind, doesn't feature any of the intentional sort. SV and BIM are two very enjoyable tracks, and who said it's all about the lyrics? We enjoy I Get Around don't we, and you could hardly call those lyrics a work of art.

Also, as you said, the closing suite is pure perfection, although sometimes I find SG drags on a bit - the other three are undeniably perfect though!

With the exception of Love You, I think it's their best album since Friends. Definitely in my top 5. I still can't believe how great it turned out.

I think the album has some solid moments, but with stuff such as Spring Vacation or Beaches In Mind (and even Bill And Sue, which is very meh..aaand Strange World doesn't do much to me), all the terrible effects on the vocals and the VERY FLAT production, plus all the guest singers taking a huge spot (Jeff Foskett on the chorus of Shelter, ect) i can't really say it's among their best stuff... but honestly, if you change the tracklist and give it a better sound, i would definitely agree tho that it's one of their best stuff.

I think the production is a little inconsistent, but I don't hear the *very flat* that you do.  Mostly on FTTBA, the drum/bass combo sounds so good. Even the bass on the title track sorta pops out of the speakers, i'm diggin it. Actually i'd say overall the bass sounds on this album are quite good.  Even shelter starts out with that same muddle production of please let me wonder lol

I'd say it would be in my top half if I rated them. I don't know if I'd say "very best" but it's pretty damn good!

Except for maybe Surfin' Safari and M.I.U. Album I definitely prefer all of their 60s and 70s work over TWGMTR. That said, still a very good record with some incredible high points.

Well, some songs sounds better than the others, but even then they had to add some terrible effects (talking about FTTBA, and even Summer's Gone! song is incredible, production sounds just good with the song, but no they had to do something with the voice..)

And some performances are meh, Brian sometimes sounds sleepy, and the effects doesn't really help (anyone in the band actually) to sound better.. i mean listening to his solo stuff, he sounds far better! so i guess i can blame Joe Thomas here for that, tho i'm not a h8t3er, since i don't even know the guy.

But in general yeah, i maintain that the production is far too flat, that really is the key word for me i believe, even on the worst songs such as Spring Vacation, without all the terrible effects it could decent much better, and Beaches In Mind is also a good example, i don't think the song could get anywhere better cause it's just poor, but that clean production definitely doesn't help, also Bill And Sue, i don't even hate the song, it just doesn't do much for me.. but man, everytime i hear the intro i think it hear some ringtone or some tv spot music, that's how flat it sounds to my ears.. it's like if they added some MR. Clean product on all the record, there's just no... colors, you can hear the feelings, but really.

Look, as beautiful as Think About The Days is, it couldn't sound more cheesier.

Yeah, it is interesting to note that if the production values were different, it might be regarded even higher than it already is.

However, while also a great album, That Lucky Old Sun isn't any better on a production/sound quality basis. I guess Gershwin is the closest we can get to a natural sound...but even then.

One thing I really like about Summer's Gone is that it is mixed much wider than the rest of the album. I would love to see a BW/BB album with a wide stereo mix. And also, one where the kick drum isn't too loud - I hear that in a lot of modern music, and especially with the title track on TWGMTR. I shouldn't be able to hear the kickdrum louder than the snare - and it shouldn't sound so flat and dead!

Tracklist also seems to be an issue, which is a shame cause it was just Capitol who had the final word... if they did let the band do as they wish, there would have been Waves Of Love somewhere at there, and in the best case scenario, it would have been out there instead of a not-so-great-song such as Spring Vacation.

ALL the guest singers? Aside from Daybreak Over the Ocean, Jeff is the only non-Beach Boy to sing on any of the tracks. what are you talking about?

"Spring Vacation" is the necessary (/generic) fun-in-the-sun tune on the new LP... Mike would have made sure it finds its way onto the album in any case. N'est-ce pas?

Also, Spring Vacation is my favorite song on the album. I would love the album a lot less if that song were not on there.

Hell i don't know, i don't own the cd, so i can't check the credits.

But i know there's at least Christian Love on it, so i guess there's a bunch of other guests from Brian's band or whatsoever helping on the background vocals, ect.


Is it necessary, at that point? i think songs such as Waves Of Love, That's Why God Made The Radio, Isn't It Time, are great upbeat and catchy songs, without going into the cliché stuff and all (well, some of them does goes into the cliché, but not as far as Spring Vacation or Beaches In Mind does, and it was proven that it isn't really what the people in general seem to want from the band).


Well, that's pretty sad.

First of all, "ect", doesn't mean anything. the abbreviation for "et cetera" is "etc".

And you don't need to read the liner notes (which have been posted on this board multiple times), I just told you. Christian (and Adrian Baker) are on Daybreak Over the Ocean, on the other tracks, it's just Brian, Mike, Al, Bruce and Jeff.


well, you're a jerk.

lolololol, serious business man, serious business.

edit:

(http://images.sodahead.com/profiles/0/0/1/9/7/5/2/5/3/OhThe-Drama-63652096665.jpeg)

I think the real trick is if this album still holds up several years down the road.  I remember everyone gushing over Imagination when that first came out, but the album didn't exactly age well.  That's Why God Made The Radio is a strong album and is definitely the best album they've put out since the 70's.  Now let's see if it has lasting appeal.

Ziggy seriously, you were called out, the least you could do is take it like a man instead of insulting Aegir's taste of songs (I'm also a fan of "Spring Vacation") and proceeding to act like a child.

Seriously, why have so many immature jerks joined the board this year???

---

Anyway, I made a ranking of the albums and I think, for me, TWGMTR sits alongside "LA" and maybe "CATP", so I'd place it in the top half (15), heck maybe even top 10. It's a very good album.

Hahhahahaha, holy moly you're right dude, how dare you Ziggy! give pointless opinions and joke around on a board about The Beach Boys?!

This conversation is super important yo, don't dare troll around! military stuff here, bro.


..jeez come on, chill guys, my god.

Yeah, pretty much figured I'd get a response like that.

You're one very smart dude! ;)

(http://smileysmile.net/board/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=2797;type=avatar)

The future of this world depends on this conversation (and the people that dares to make a little typo, something like "ect" instead of "etc", go to jail man).

Back on topic, I would rate That’s Why God Made The Radio higher than everything post-Holland and place it above Wild Honey and Friends, I like it that much. Like the original poster, I have snippets of different songs from TWGMTR percolating around my head during my waking hours, yes even Beaches In Mind and Daybreak Over The Ocean. Time will obviously be a factor in how well it stands up but for now I am truly grateful for this gift we have been given by the boys.

Jesus christ, i can't believe this man.

Believe it dude, some peoples opinions and tastes differ to yours, deal with it.

Well lol, i'm not the one making a big deal out of this, am i? did i call you a jerk? nop, that wasn't me.

I think TWGMTR just misses being among their best. I swear this has NOTHING to do with Mike Love, but, for me, the album lacks just one (more) classic rock & roller. I know that wasn't the intended vibe for the album, it's supposed to be mellow. But, it sags slightly in the middle. I've digested it now, and I would replace the OK "Beaches In Mind" with a faster, David Marks-driven rocker.

Ummm, what? I have no problem with you Ziggy and I no, you didn't call me a jerk and neither did anyone else. Do you really want Brian's scary piano hands to visit you in the night, I can arrange for that you know...

 ;D :lol

Nah i wasn't saying you did, but some others did called me jerk for such insignificant reasons, i was just pointing this out, how sad this board can be sometimes, between this and the guys from the "Mike & Bruce" threads who always has to say harsh things about people who don't feel like going to their shows.

Its hard for me to say yes to this because all the other albums have a bit of nostalgia (or in the 80's albums cases nausea) attached to them. This is a new one, so it's hard to say this is as great as the other one. But if i had to rate it on quality, i'd say easily in the top 10. So far its getting better with each listen and even Spring Vacation is starting to sound a little better (when compared to things like Our Favorite Recording Sessions and Cassius Love that i've looked past).

I agree. I love the album, and rank it right up there with Wild Honey and perhaps Holland, but would have loved to have one rocker thrown in there.  I'm hoping the next album, which every day seems closer to fruition, has that.  That being said, I think the album is darn near perfect for what it tries to achieve.

This is how it plays out for me:

Worse than:
Today!
Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
Pet Sounds
Friends
Wild Honey
Smiley Smile + Smile
Sunflower
Love You
Little Deuce Coupe

Comparable to:
All Summer Long
Surf's Up
20/20
Carl and the Passions
Shut Down Volume 2 (I'm iffy on this one)
Holland + Mt. Vernon & Fairway

The albums I rank That's Why God Made the Radio comparable to have a few BBs classics and then are rounded out by some decent tunes. Well, except for Shut Down Volume 2, which is an incredibly uneven album full of incredible highs and insipid filler. For me, an album like Wild Honey rocks from start to finish in a way the new doesn't quite pull off.

True, but Imagination did age well with me, I still love it.  GIOMH, not so much.

That would be ME!  Lots of interesting comments here.

 :hat


I am enjoying Spring Vacation and Beaches in Mind a LOT, and I didn't expect to!

But Strange World is a killer ear worm!  I love the "da doobie doobie do's" in that one!

At this point, I'd rank it among my favorite BBs albums. As time goes on, it may slip a little, but right now, it's so fresh and I just can't stop listening...I skip tracks 4-8 for the most part, though each of them have little moments I enjoy...the first three and last four songs definitely rank among their classics, IMO.

My favorite albums, in order (this could be different tomorrow):
Sunflower
Pet Sounds
Smile Sessions
Surf's Up
Today
TWGMTR

And I don't care if you don't count TSS as an actual album. It is.

What I can't believe is that you dont own the album and you make generalised, ill-informed sweeping statements about said album.

I can still listen to it you know, and far as i know, my generalised, ill-informed sweeping statements aren't false, are they ? isn't there Jeff Foskett and Christian Love singing on the album?!

Can't i JUST say how i feel about the album, the way it should have been -IMO- without having people telling me i'm a jerk, ETC??
why does this have to take a whole important and ultra mega super serious direction? why do you care soo much, i'm just another random BB fan posting random messages, far as i know this isn't some contest or something.

Answering the question, no way it's among their best of the best. Except for Spring Vacation, Isn't It Time, TWGMTR and Summer's Gone, nothing stood out to me.

I don't know what qualifies as being among their very best- top 3? top 5? top 10? It's their best album in 41 years, but not as good as the 60s stuff which is just stone classic material.

I like it far more than anything else since, but it doesn't touch 1963-73
My order as of today

Sunflower
Pet Sounds
Today
Wild Honey
Summer Days
All Summer Long
20/20
Friends
Shut Down 2
Surfin USA
Holland
Surf's Up
So Tough
Smiley
Surfer Girl
Little Deuce Coupe
Live In London
Party
Concert
In Concert
TWGMTR
Surfin Safari
Christmas
MIU
15 Big Ones
LA Light (would rank far higher without HCTN)
Love You
KTSA
Still Crusin
Stars
85
Summer In Paradise

Back to topic, and I know I have said the same I think in at least 2 other threads, but I rate this as their best overall since Pet Sounds, slightly above Sunflower. And I agree with what someone else said too, give this a few years to garner the respect and see if it has legs. Im sure it will.

Even Pet Sounds at the time gained many mixed reviews and wasnt a huge commercial success, and every album since that time has been panned by some (including those who consider themselves hardcore fans).

Might as well attempt to rank them all since I've never tried it before...

1. Pet Sounds
2. Smile ("The Smile Sessions")
3. Sunflower
4. Today!
5. Surf's Up
6. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!)
7. Holland
8. Wild Honey
9. All Summer Long
10. Surfer Girl
......................................................................
11. Friends
12. 20/20
13. Shut Down, Volume II
14. Carl and the Passions  - So Tough
15. Little Deuce Coupe
16. Christmas Album
17. Love You
18. That's Why God Made The Radio
......................................................................
19. Surfin' USA
20. Surfin' Safari
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
21. L.A.
22. Smiley Smile
23. Party!
......................................................................
24. 15 Big Ones
25. M.I.U
26. Keepin' The Summer Alive
27. The Beach Boys
28. Still Cruisin'
29. Stars and Stripes
30. Summer In Paradise



Grouped into Perfect, Good-to-Great, Decent and Abominable.  Big dividing line in bold is where I do/don't have the complete albums included in my iTunes library.

Discounting Christmas, live and "live" albums, this is how I rank the albums:

1. Pet Sounds
2. The Smile Sessions
3. Today
4. Love You
5. Sunflower
6. Friends
7. Smiley Smile
8. Surf's Up
9. Holland
10. All Summer Long
11. Carl and the Passions - So Tough
12. Summer Days
13. 20/20
14. Wild Honey
15. Shut Down 2
16. Surfer Girl
17. That's Why God Made the Radio
18. Surfin' USA
19. LA Light
20. Little Deuce Coupe
21. Surfin Safari
22. 15 Big Ones
23. Still Crusin
24. MIU
25. Stars
26. KTSA
27. 85
28. Summer In Paradise

Short answer:  no.  But it's a very good album overall, and better than anything they've done since Love You.  The major flaw is the heavyhanded nostalgia and kind of pop-rocky jive of songs like "Beaches in Mind" and "Spring Vacation."  But ALL of the more 'serious' songs are very-good-to-brilliant, as is stuff like "Isn't It Time" and the title track.  I even really enjoy some of the more lightweight songs like "Bill and Sue" and "Daybreak Over the Ocean."  The album's trump card is that the melodies and harmonies consistently kick butt--in that respect, it really is at least one of their better albums. 

1).  Smile Sessions
2).  Pet Sounds
3).  Today!
4).  Wild Honey
5).  All Summer Long
6).  Smiley Smile
7).  Friends
8).  20-20
9).  Surfer Girl
10).  Holland
11).  Love You
12).  Summer Days
13).  TWGMTR
14).  Surf's Up
15).  Sunflower
16).  So Tough
17).  Shut Down Vol II
18).  Little Deuce Coupe
19).  Surfing USA
20).  LA
21).  Surfin Safari
22).  15 Big Ones
23).  Beach Boys
24).  MIU Album
25).  Keeping the Summer Alive
26).  till Cruisin'
27).  Stars and Stripes
28).  Summer in Paradise

Can't - resist...

Regular studio albums only!

Love You
Today!
Friends
Pet Sounds
Summer Days
Holland
Surf's Up
Sunflower
Carl and the Passions
Surfer Girl
Smiley Smile
20/20
Wild Honey
All Summer Long
L.A. (Light Album)
15 Big Ones
Shut Down Vol. 2
Little Deuce Coupe
Surfin' USA
That's Why God Made the Radio
The Beach Boys
M.I.U. Album
Surfin' Safari
Still Cruisin'
Party!
Keepin' the Summer Alive
Summer in Paradise
Stars and Stripes

Keep in mind, for me this is all good stuff except for the three ones at the very bottom!

Top 5? No.
Top 10? Maybe.

Yes. It's moving its way up the charts in my heart with each listen.

1.   Pet Sounds
2.   Love You
3.   Smiley Smile
4.   Surfer Girl
5.   Summer Days
6.   Friends
7.   Sunflower
8.   Shut Down Vol. 2
9.   Today!
10.   Little Deuce Coupe
11.   Wild Honey
12.   Holland
13.   All Summer Long
14.   That's Why God Made the Radio
15.   M.I.U. Album
16.   Carl and the Passions
17.   20/20
18.   Surf's Up
19.   15 Big Ones
20.   Surfin' Safari
21.   L.A. (Light Album)
22.   Party!
23.   Surfin' USA
24.   Keepin' the Summer Alive
25.   Still Cruisin'
26.   The Beach Boys
27.   Summer in Paradise
28.   Stars and Stripes

I've never known another album (other than smile perhaps) which places so many random snippets of melody in your head throughout the day. By the way I finally got to the Ram reissue and the Neil Young album this week. Your in for another treat!

I'd put it about average for the band (below average if you count Brian's solo work too), but best since LA.
My own rankings would be (off the top of my head):
Smiley Smile
Love You
Smile
Friends
Carl & The Passions
Pet Sounds
Surf's Up
Today
Summer Days
Wild Honey
20/20
All Summer Long
Sunflower
Shut Down Vol 2
Little Deuce Coupe
Holland
LA
That's Why God Made The Radio
Surfer Girl
15 Big Ones
Christmas
85
Still Cruisin'
Keepin' The Summer Alive
Party
MIU
Surfin' Safari
Surfin' USA
Summer In Paradise

I'm not going to rank the records but I will say this much: It's hard for me to compare TWGMTR to any work they did during their heyday in the sixties.  Back then they were young, energetic and out to conquer their field.  Add to the fact that as a band whose legacy is largely based around their vocals back in the sixties they could probably out sing anyone on planet.  I don't think you can say any of this is true in 2012.

They still can manage some of the most beautiful vocal blends out there and I think Brian has proved once again with this new record that he's still the master when it comes to arranging vocals perhaps still better than anyone in the industry.  I think the record has a bit of a theme to it which mirrors some of the classic Beach Boys records where you have some "fun in the sun" music juxtaposed with Brian's melancholy tracks.  So that in enough of itself was pretty cool to hear.  Overall I think the songs on the record are pretty strong (I love "Spring Vacation" and consider it The Beach Boys' "Creeque Alley")  and it certainly stands among some of their strongest post sixties work.

1. Sunflower
2. Pet Sounds
3. Smile
4. Friends
5. Today!
6. Wild Honey
7. 20/20
8. Smiley Smile
9. Surf's Up
10. Surfer Girl
11. That's Why God Made The Radio
12. Holland
13. All Summer Long
14. Love You
15. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
16. Shut Down, Volume 2
17. Carl And The Passions "So Tough"
18. LA (Light Album)
19. Little Deuce Coupe
20. Surfin' USA
21. MIU Album
22. 15 Big Ones
23. Still Cruisin'
24. Keepin' The Summer Alive
25. Christmas Album
26. Party!
27. Surfin' Safari
28. BB '85
29. Summer In Paradise

1.   Pet Sounds
2.   Smile
3.   Sunflower
4.   Friends
5.   Today!
6.   Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)
7.   Wild Honey
8.   20/20
9.   Surfer Girl
10.   All Summer Long
11.   Love You
12.   Holland
13.   That's Why God Made The Radio
14.   Surf's Up
15.   Christmas Album
16.   LA (Light Album)
17.   Surfin' USA
18.   Smiley Smile
19.   Shut Down, Volume 2
20.   Party!
21.   Carl And The Passions "So Tough"
22.   Little Deuce Coupe
23.   15 Big Ones
24.   MIU Album
25.   Still Cruisin'
26.   Keepin' The Summer Alive
27.   Surfin' Safari
28.   BB '85
29.   Summer In Paradise

My order

20/20
Friends
Holland
Sunflower
Wild Honey
Pet Sounds
So Tough
Surfs Up
Smiley Smile
Live In London
Summer Days
All Summer Long
Today
In Concert
TWGMTR
Shut Down 2
Surfin USA
Surfer Girl
Little Deuce Coupe
Christmas
MIU
Love You
15 Big Ones
 85
LA Light (Full Sail and Goin' South kill this album for me, along with the vastly inferior  version Shortenin' Bread)
Party
Concert
Surfin Safari
KTSA
Summer In Paradise
Still Crusin
Stars n Tripe

So, I put TWGMTR towards the middle. It's not a knock against it, but rather a testament to what I rank above it. I don't rate Today as highly as most others mainly because I don't like 'Don't Hurt My Little Sister' at all (one of the few BB songs I actively hate), and has the inferior version of 'Rhonda'. That talking track kills it for me as well.  I actually think Summer Days is much better, minus 'I'm Bugged At My Old Man' (which I like the 1977 version MUCH better) and 'Salt Lake City'.

Well, if this thread is all about lists now i might as well give it a try, heh :

1. The SMiLE Sessions
2. Pet Sounds
3. Sunflower
4. Love You
5. Surf's Up
6. Carl & The Passions "So Tough"
7. Today!
8. Holland
9. Friends
10. Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)

11. 20/20
12. All Summer Long
13. Wild Honey
14. Surfer Girl
15. Shut Down Volume 2
16. Christmas Album
17. That's Why God Made The Radio
18. Surfin' USA
19. Surfin' Safari
20. Smiley Smile


21. Little Deuce Coupe
22. LA (Light Album)
23. Party!
24. 15 Big Ones
25. Keepin' The Summer Alive
26. MIU Album
27. The Beach Boys (1985)
28. Still Cruisin'
29. Summer In Paradise

Oh hell, I completely didn't count the Smile box.

D'oh

1. The SMiLE Sessions
2. Smiley Smile
3. Pet Sounds
4. All Summer Long
   Today
6. Surfer Girl
7. Little Deuce Coupe
8. Friends
   20/20
10.Shut Down, Vol. 2
11.Surfin' USA
12.Sunflower
    Surf's Up
14.Party!
15.Summer Days And Summer Nights!!!
16.Christmas Album
17.Surfin' Safari
18.Wild Honey
19.Love You
20.Holland
21.That's Why God Made The Radio
22.15 Big Ones
23.Keepin' The Summer Alive
24.M.I.U. Album            
25.Carl & The Passions "So Tough"   
26.Still Cruisin'
27.The Beach Boys
28.L.A. (Light Album)         
29.Summer In Paradise

5 Stars:
1.   Smile
2.   Friends
3.   Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!!)
4.   Pet Sounds
5.   All Summer Long
6.   The Beach Boys Love You
7.   The Beach Boys Today

4½ Stars:
8.   Surfer Girl
9.   Little Deuce Coupe
10.   Smiley Smile
11.   Holland
12.   15 Big Ones
13.   Sunflower
14.   Wild Honey
15.   Surf’s Up
16.   20/20
17.   Carl And The Passions: “So Tough”   
18.   Shut Down, Vol. 2

4 Stars:
19.   That’s Why God Made The Radio
20.   Surfin’ Safari
21.   L.A. (Light Album)
22.   The Beach Boys’ Party!
23.   Surfin’ USA
24.   The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album
25.   M.I.U. Album
26.   Keepin’ The Summer Alive

HUGE GAP

½ Star:
27.   Still Cruisin’
28.   The Beach Boys

Zero Stars:
29.   Stars ‘n’ Stripes
30.   Summer In Paradise

I haven't heard SIP or S&S.  I guess I'm really missing out.  No apolgies for Love You.  I'll count them down

26. Love You
25. 15 Big Ones
24. Surfin' Safari
23. Keepin' the Summer Alive
22. Little Deuce Coupe
21. Beach Boys
20. Still Cruisin'
19. So Tough
18. MIU
17. Surfin' USA
16. All Summer Long
15. Shut Down II
14. Light Album
13. That's Why God Made the Radio
12. Surfer Girl
11. Friends
10. 20/20
 9. Summer Days
 8. Surf's Up
 7. Holland
 6. Sunflower
 5. Smiley Smile
 4. Wild Honey
 3. Today
 2. SMiLE
 1. Pet Sounds

wow

I can't be arsed to do the whole rank thing, but there are three or four songs on it that I love but too much flippant stuff, often courtesy of the painfullly self-referential and downright dumb lyrics or the occasional heavy-handed production, to qualify it as a 'classic'. However, I think From There To Back Again, a least, is a stone cold classic. I'd go with AGD and say it's their best since Holland (excepting Love You). However, because of the lyrics, some tracks wouldn't be amiss on SIP, which is not a good thing.

I agree with those that rank it somewhere in the middle. It's not a masterwork but I do think it's their best effort since Keepin' the Summer Alive.

Well yeah that's pretty close to the truth i guess.

Well, TWGMTR is still too new for me to really say if it's "one of their best ever," but I do think that it's their best, most consistent album overall since The Beach Boys Love You.

About that... f*** Your Taste.

More like :quote taste :quote.

(http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m2i5onLs0K1r7mtpyo1_400.gif)

For me, it's probably in to the top fifteen.

RANK EM ALBUMS TNHREND

I like most of the album, but I just don't like the title track itself. I've noted that a lot of other people like it, but somehow it just doesn't sound real to me. I'm not a BB expert, but to me the song TWGMTR sounds like ersatz BB, while the rest of the album sounds like the real deal.

I think it's a middle of the road Beach Boy album. It's better than Surfin Safari, Surfin USA (IMO), and every album post-Love You. Might be better than 15 Big Ones too, although I'm not overly sure about which one I'd personally rank higher. However, it can't touch anything from their catalog from 1963-1973 (Surfer Girl through Holland).

I quite like the album but before today hadn`t listened to it in a week or so and hadn`t missed it at all. It`s a very professionally made album which is both a complement and a criticism.

I rank it as a 6/10 album which is about the same as Love You/M.I.U./L.A. but better than the other wilderness albums.

VERY FLAT indeed.  I'm glad someone else mentioned this, because I've been complaining about this on my own Facebook page.  You have some wonderful arrangements (and some cheesy ones) and vocal performances that have no definition or dynamics whatsoever.  The mix is so murky and midrangey that I feel like I'm listening to the record through a wall.  I tried to do a little mastering with the car radio, but the tracks themselves all seem to be really processed and compressed.  I know this sounds like sound engineer talk, but it really blows the record for me, which I otherwise quite like.  Put it on next to any other Beach Boys record pre-1980 with the possible exception of HOLLAND and you'll hear what I mean...by comparison, just mushy, no dynamics or depth.  It really bums me out.  Mixed differently it could have been so much more vibrant.

It reminds me of a time I got a file in to my home studio from another place.  The engineer had taken every single track and put a compressor on each one, with the attack and release set to maximum.  Basically squashing the life out of each and every element.   At least that's the way I hear it. 

This album is a wonderful surprise and an amazing effort for a 50 year old band with a bunch of 70 year olds.

But can't rate it ahead "LA (Light Album)"  or any album before cause no Carl or Dennis in their prime.

A more interesting comparison would be to rate it based on Brian's song writing.  There it moves up the list some.

The EQ of the album bugged me so much I did a little remaster on "Summer's Gone" in ProTools.  

[edit] so busted.  :) [/edit]

:lol

;)

This pretty much says it all, couldn't agree more.

Only if you think those two are critical for a good BB album. To my mind, they're not.

LA strikes me as profoundly mediocre, Dennis's songs excepted.

Personally, until last month, I thought that L.A. Light was miles above any post-Endless Summer album the boys put out, Love You being the exception. I have to say, since TWGMTR came out, there's been a shift in the winds. Ranking the tracks of the two albums gives me a list that looks like this:

1. From There to Back Again
2. Baby Blue
3. Love Surrounds Me
4. Summer's Gone
5. Pacific Coast Highway
6. Angel Come Home
7. Isn't it Time
8. Good Timin'
9. Shelter
10. Think About the Days
11. That's Why God Made the Radio
12. Lady Lynda
13. Sumahama
14. Strange World
15. Full Sail
16. Daybreak Over the Ocean
17. Spring Vacation
18. Goin' South
19. Shortnin' Bread
20. The Private Life of Bill and Sue
21. Here Comes the Night
22. Beaches in Mind

That list echoes my gut feeling that objectively speaking, they're about as good as one another. However, when I take into account that for TWGMTR they are down a remarkable songwriter, their strongest vocalist and that they're 33 years older, I think TWGMTR edges out for the best album the Boys have put out after Holland (excluding Love You).

Don't get me wrong -- I think if you take the best the band was capable of in the LA period and put it on a record, you'd have an awesome album. But they didn't do that. You instead get this rather fragmented attempt at democracy that leads to some stunning moments, some ho-hum ones, and a couple of outright clunkers.

Whatever you say about TWGMTR -- and it's not a perfect album by any stretch of the imagination -- it sounds all of a piece. That is, there is a single creative vision behind it (mainly Brian's, but definitely with Joe T. contributions), and there is a fairly unified sound. To me, that makes it a better album, even if LA has a couple of tracks that are better than nearly all of those on TWFMTR.

I don't think anything here is as good as "Good Timin".  "Full Sail" is a great Carl vocal. "Sumahama"  beats Mike's "   "Daybreak Over the Ocean"  hands down.     "Lady Lynda"  is a great song (for Al).
All the background vocals beat the pants off TWGMTR.  And two great Dennis songs.

Conversely, LA (LA) is too short, and yes, doesn't highlight their best material.  Brian is mostly MIA and we have "the disco song".

To me, it's hard to rank "Brian Projects" vs. "Band Projects".  I agree that there is a creative vision here that LA (LA) lacks.

no way, nowhere near in my opinion. the only albums i feel it's better than are BB '85, Still Cruisin, Summer in Paradise and Stars & Stripes. So I guess you could say their best in 30 years, which is quite a feat. But that's only because they released so much $hit during this period ... and BW '88 & the Paley Sessions are better, so I'm not sure if that's entirely accurate.