The Smiley Smile Message Board

Al just added a bit of a cryptic post to his Instagram account, that would seem to indicate new music is coming from him soon! Just a pic with him at the keyboards, with the cryptic commentary! That would be awesome, fingers crossed!!!

He's putting the finishing touches on those 2011 songs?   :)

Yes, I would love some new music from him.

He should turn loop de loop into a concept album….

New version of Waves of Love please...

Don't give Larry Dvoskin any ideas, please.

I'd love that!

I’d love to think he’d put out a new album or EP or even a new single with a song he hasn’t released before. But I can’t see it. Nonetheless, my guess is that if it is a new album I’d expect it to have “Waves of Love”, “PT Cruiser”, “Loop de Loop” and maybe a version of “A California Saga” or something. And a new version of “Help Me Rhonda”? Probably.

I’m kidding. But yeah, at this point in time I feel we’d be lucky to hear his “Islands in the Sun” (which would be hilarious if it were based on “Islands in the Stream”) or “My Plane Leaves Tomorrow” (which Al apparently doesn’t even sing lead on).

^  Amen!  I will welcome any and all new music from Al with arms wide open. 

I wouldn't mind a collection of stuff as good as his "Crumple Car":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsUPhTnNMFs&pp=ygUKYWwgamFyZGluZQ%3D%3D

He could sing "Islands in the Sun" with Dolly Parton.

Al could do a really good new album with the touring band he has right now along with Carnie and Wendy. I'd love to see it happen!

The Wilson Jardine? :)

Wait... that could be a real idea!

DO IT! DO IT! (no irony, only borrowing from McGrath)

I read on Facebook that Al is supposedly working with Brian and Mike.

From whom? Where? A reliable source?

What? MIU reunion?

I hope it’s a new song and not don’t fight the sea 2.0.

Working with Brian and Mike sounds... aspirational. But some nice comments here from Al.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dokqg1aOs-I

Looks like a June release date for Al’s new recordings, via https://www.aljardine.com/bio:

Until the thing is actually in our hands (or streaming in our streaming hands?), I never assume a date is going to be hit. This latest blurb about an EP has enough specificity and is being promised in a short enough amount of time that I think it's sounding like it will actually happen.

Not sure "a followup to Kokomo" is what I'd like to hear from Al Jardine in the year 2025, but let's see what's on this EP.

From looking around on Al's website, plus what we already know, we can expect four songs: "Islands in the Sun", "Highway 101", "Crumple Car", "My Plane Leaves Tomorrow"

For a guy as spiritual, sustainable and environmental~friendly as our AL, it's ALL about cars and planes !  What gives ?

I've heard Crumple Car already, that's not a new song per say, it's been around for at least 20+ years, maybe even longer. Its ok, nothing special.

I don't know what a crumple car is, but I used to have a band called Per Say. People would look at that and say "percy?"

I've heard one version on YouTube as well; it's a nice vocal from Al, but I think the lyrics were a little strange (or at least the title is) if I recall correctly.  I wonder if he'll be replacing his vocal or if he'll just release the old recording as it is (or maybe with some overdubs here and there).  Supposedly, Islands in the Sun dates to the late 1990s, and Highway 101 might date to the early '90s.  I believe HeyJude has said elsewhere that the Neil Young collaboration is a little "more recent" than Islands in the Sun and Highway 101 (and maybe also Crumple Car?).

It’s out!!

Pretty much everything on this new EP is varying degrees of old. "My Plane Leaves Tomorrow" is probably 20-ish years old from the "Postcards" era. "Crumple Car" and "Islands in the Sun" are from the 90s. Not sure about the "Highway 101" Smokey Joe re-write.

I think Al's voice sounds very good on these tracks, and the production and mixing is solid as well.

Literally a ZILLION times better sounding on every level than that "Wish" track.

The bummer is that the songs themselves are all just okay. Beyond the admitted covers, there's the usual "spot the riff/song" going on through a lot of the material. Which I realize is just Al's deal, but it's still a bummer there isn't like an A-grade killer track here.

It's not a super high bar, but this is much, much better than my worst fears in the aftermath of that "Wish" track.

So is there a physical release for these songs or just online streaming/downloading?

According to a Variety interview, Al claims he originally offered "Islands in the Sun" for the "Stars & Stripes" sessions. Huh.

https://variety.com/2025/music/news/al-jardine-beach-boys-ep-islands-in-sun-tour-interview-1236413758/ (https://variety.com/2025/music/news/al-jardine-beach-boys-ep-islands-in-sun-tour-interview-1236413758/)

I agree with HeyJude's overall sentiment that this is a very pleasant surprise -- certainly way more listenable than "Wish" was/is... I also confess to letting out a sigh of relief when I saw that the tracklist didn't include "Waves of Love 4.0 Baja California Mix" or something like that... Don't get me wrong, I like the song enough, but it is certainly not Al's magnum opus... On that note, is Larry Dvoskin credited for anything on any of these songs? Maybe that's a good thing... All in all, the biggest problem with this EP is that there aren't really any jaw-dropping, heart-stopping or even attention-grabbing moments. It is a nice listen with plenty of moments that signal Al's influences, so between that at outright reaching into the past (old recordings/updated re-recordings) there is a feeling of laid-back nostalgia that permeates the EP. All that said, 'A Postcard from California' also had plenty of that nostalgic vibe, but managed to have some really impressive moments/arrangements. I don't quite get that same feeling here. I am glad that Al is still doing his thing, and glad that Matt, Adam and even Bruce are featured (not to mention Neil Young and Flea!). Maybe Al should record some of the shows on his upcoming tour for a potential live album...