The Smiley Smile Message Board

We all know great Beach Boys records are filled with perfect, magical moments where everything seems to come together in pure musical and thematic bliss.  The closing harmonies of God Only Knows and You Still Believe in Me, the coda of Surf's Up, etc.

What moment on the new album left you with chills down your spine?  I'll throw out 2:

1. The breakdown on 'Isn't it Time' (And when the sun goes down we raise a glass to kindness)

2. When Al sings 'Back where you belong, our favorite song/Won't you listen?' and the following set of harmonies


The second one really gets to me.  It's such a beautiful and simple statement, both musically and thematically.  Brian is telling us that this is the music of his time, the music he loves.  And he implores us to take some time to listen.  It's hard to explain but the moment just leaves me breathless.


What do you guys think?

The chords preceding "I want to go home" from PCH.

I agree about From There To Back Again. Al sounds just as he did in the 60's.

All of Pacific Coast Highway is perfect for me.

And Summer's Gone. The wind chimes, and the rain take me away. The perfect way to end what could be the Boys' very last tune together. Perfect.

"From There To Back Again"

2:47 to 3:15....kills me every time

http://youtu.be/LaDiwoACJ2Q?t=2m46s

Your #2, yes, I agree and share the feeling.

Your  #1 is the part of the song that needs re-doing (and has been re-done, though we don't know to what extent, for single release); Jeff is off key and sounds terrible--like a beach-bar cover band singer.

From There To Back Again.  The whole song.  Puts everything else in the shade and shames about half the album.

Chills down the spine factor:

Think about the days - what an opener, first song in and my ass is kicked.

Magical Moment:  over time Shelter and it's intricacies has grown on me, despite initial resistance.

But, Pacific Coast Highway is it for me.

All of Pacific Coast Highway and Summer's Gone.
Highlights of those songs:
0:17 of PCH
0:25 of PCH-- BW singing "Sometimes I realize my days are getting on." Spine-chilling. And sad for us all.
2:43 of Summer's Gone.

As a whole, Spring Vacation, PCH, Strange World, FTTBA, TPLOBAS. By bits Shelter tag, TWGMTR acapella, Summer's Gone guitar work and every specific sounds. Now i've got a ? does anyone have a dislike for IIT or liked it then it faded. Cuz that's what i'm at.

The choral "Goodbye" on PCH. Dashes all expectations, however you interpret that explanation.

For me it's the "If you just call, just fall, just fall" part of "From There to Back Again".  Something about Brian's voice in particular alongside the rest of the guys that makes the hair on my arms stand up every single time.  It's breathtaking.

1.  You've been thinking bout some things, we used to do.

2.  The last quarter of shelter. 

If only one single moment, it would be where the harmonies swell up around the middle of Summer's Gone from the interlude into the chorus. Perfection.

Right at the exact moment DOTO is finished  and we can get on to hearing the good stuff without any additional interruptions.

In "Isn't it Time" in the line "Remember those nights we spent just you and I" - the stress and transition between "spent" and "just" is something I really like. Quite specific but it's a really nice thing.

The harmony just before the final chorus of "Strange World".

"Don't you understand the words, are singing in the wind, I wish that we could get from there to back again" -- "The clouds are breaking it's a beautiful day for a wonderful Pacific coast getaway" -- "Sun is shining, can we just find a way" --- heck, the whole darn song.

The vocal stacks on "Daybreak".

Mike's "More to saa-ay" and "Yes-ter-da-ay" on "Summer's Gone" -- a great echo to a great Brian lead.

The harmonies in the beginning of PCH.

When Brian sings 'my life I'm better off alone, my life I'm better on my own' in Pacific Coast Highway, just stunning.

The whole album.

"Don't you understand the words
Are singin' in the wind
I wish that we could get from there to back again..."

Actually, the whole damn song.

The "My Life" suite. The whole thing..

Incredibly beautiful. The Bands harmonies, Brian's vocals, everything.

Pacific Coast Highway is so brief it counts as a moment, doesn't it? What a magical track. So sad, yet in peace with the whole universe. So much emotion in such a short time. No one does it better.

"Think About the Days" - The vocals are stunning and such a great way to open the album, like saying "hey, we can still sing, and this proves it."  Also, the little subtle french horn line at the end is gorgeous.

"Pacific Coast Highway" - I love the piano and backing vocals here...the choral "Goodbye" is THE highlight of the record, in my opinion.

"From there to Back Again" - Alan Jardine's lead vocal is wonderful, the backing vocals stellar, the instrumentation is the best on the album, imo, and the way it draws you in again after you think it's over." 

Those are the magical moments on the record, to my ears, though there are other really nice to almost great moments as well. I really enjoy the album as a whole, though I probably will skip TPLOBAS and SV most of the time.

In multi-colourful lines we run, to catch a glimpse of the setting sun.

You can drive your car to the county fair, or ride your bicycle anywhere.



Pure Brian Wilson genius.

I agree with this one and it's an interesting one because that pre-chorus kind of promises so much, then chorus kicks in and is a bit of a let down.

Can't really add much more to the many highlights people have mentioned, except I love the 'Sometimes, life can be so strange...' part up to where the sax kicks in Bill and Sue...that line really speaks to me for some reason in a way that is completely separate from the overall meaning of the song.  Quite profound and I guess a pre-echo of what is to come in 'Strange World'.

I must say that I love the chorus on spring vacation. The whole song has a cool groove going on that is not heard too often in the BBs catalogue. The lyrics are nothing special but the song as a whole gives me a really great feeling.

"I'll give you shelter from the storm"... just reminds me too much of "gonna love you every single night" from Darlin'. Too much Foskett on that one for my taste.

Must say that so far the album, although very new, is aging nicely so far.

No doubt.  I think it's an absolute miracle that 50 years down the road the BB are putting out top quality songs.  Just goes to show that BW never lost his touch. 

I agree with this.

I second this. There's many great moments, but this one stands out for me.

Gosh, you're right! It's almost the same melody? How could I miss that? Well, it's still a-okay song.