The Smiley Smile Message Board

About a month ago, I lead the discussion about musical genres of albums, but I'd like to discuss a slightly different topic in which, for some albums, it's a very obvious answer such as Little Deuce Coupe's theme is CARS, the Surfin' USA album is mostly about surfing, partially about girls, a little bit about cars, the Shut Down Vol. 2 album is encompasses the ultimate high school album, or All Summer Long/Summer Days are the ultimate summer themed albums.

If possible, I'd love to hear responses from every album (including solo albums), some are very easy to decide on (just one major theme or a couple themes in one album.)
I'm looking more forward to hearing what people wanna call the themes in: POB, Love You, Holland, or Surf's Up...I have a feeling ecological might be the word to describe the theme to more than one album...Heck, let's make it real interesting and throw in unreleased albums; you could use Mr. Andrew Doe's website as a resource.  I'd love to hear what we think the themes to Smile and Adult Child are.

Smile for me is Americana mixed with a dash of health and ecology with humor sprinkled throughout.

Wild Honey- Obviously this is their white-band R&B album...but strangely enough, when I first heard the track of Wild Honey, I heard psychedelic...and listening on to the album, I heard an on going theme of R&B mixed with psychedelic, sprinkled a lot of pop and a bit of soul. Most of the themes on this album are great love tunes that aren't as in depth of Pet Sounds but are matured past their Summer Days. Country Air and Let the Wind Blow help make this a little environmental friendly themed along with Mama Says, adding more health pop songs to the list of Brian's eccentricities. Had Can't Wait to Long been added to the track list, I would call it a little studio experimental pop.

Holland- The themes on this album are pretty connected as opposed to Carl and the Passions. Obviously, environmentalism/eccological are all present throughout the California Saga, but the bigger theme at hand, and I don't really know how to express it through a single word but historical. Steamboat, The Trader, Funky Pretty, the California Saga, Mt. Vernon and Fairway (whole EP), and parts of Sail On Sailor seem to me to be very historically influence lyrically. Some may think the addition of Funky Pretty may be odd with the others but I see it has something regional to it, lyrically.  An obvious theme of fantasy and history are incorporated throughout Mt. Vernon and Fairway. The backing track, vocals, and lyrics are very fantasy like and the fact that it was influenced by the history-driven Randy Newman album: Sail Away...Funky Pretty also has a fantasy like sound/theme to it. Obviously: Leaving This Town, especially Only With You, and We Got Love have a love theme to them.

I've come to see Surf's Up as a very ominous farewell to the Beach Boys as a Brian's band, much more so than Smile. Yes, I know that Holland had plenty of inspired moments, but it is a a very different band on those albums. Holland and In Concert are records of the mid 70s, Ricky and Blondie, Carl-led Beach Boys. Surf's Up is for me the send off for Brian's Beach Boys, especially the second side. Disney Girls tours the past with a bittersweet eye, then is slapped hard by Student Demo Time and harsh present reality.

Feel Flows finds the Boys strung out, confused, floating in space. And the final trio of songs from Brian find no hope for the future as past glory falls behind. Surf's Up paints the picture of the Boy's empire crumbling at their feet. A message of renewal in a children's song should be encouraging, but the chanting behind it covered by Brian's ghostly wail into the abyss chokes out all hope.