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Has anyone ever listened to any of the three Mike Love solo albums?

I just heard the 2004 one, Mike Love, Not War (Unleash The Love).

Here is my official, unofficial review.


Unleash The Love
This is actually a really cool folk, hippy kind of song. Literally, he is trying to get us to love everything, and the upbeat tempo and cool gospel choir in the background really gets you feeling good. This is a well produced track and is overall a good song.

Cool Head
Starts off with one of the most beautiful a cappella pieces I have ever heard, then immediately proceeds to go into that upbeat, mellow vibe. But this song is better than the last with a great bridge and a catchy chorus. Of course, the whole thing is based on a saying by Transcendental Meditation leader Maharishi. But honestly, this is a great track, with great singing and some clever changes in the song to keep it interesting.

Anything For You
Another upbeat tempo tune to keep you soaring, this one has some cool keyboard thrown in throughout and a neat saxophone solo. Maybe Mike played it himself! It gets a little repetitive, but I still like it, definitely a good song.

Happy Birthday (Thank You) [featuring the Beatles]
I assume this is from 1968 with the Beatles in Rishikish. Even if that isn't right, I want to think that. This is cool just for its rarity.

Pisces Brothers
This is the part of an album that experts call the "Ballad". Another TM influenced song (he even says Rishikish, Maharishi and enlightenment). This is pretty cool, especially when the other singers come in, but something about this song doesn't thrill me. I think it might just be too melodramatic for me, especially considering hes singing about TM again.

Everyone's In Love With You
Better than the version on 15 Big Ones. A lot better. 'Nuff said.

10,000 Years
Sounds like an 80s reject. But once you get past that little detail, this is actually a pretty cool little funky song. Good guitar playing and cool singing. If you're in the right mood, this song could hit the spot. I'm not sure what mood that is, but I think white men in their 60s get it a lot.

Glow Crescent Glow
This begins with an acoustic guitar and quickly develops into a slow, tropical song. This is a beautiful song and really very heart warming. I really enjoy this one a lot, this song continues in the pattern of giving me a smile from this album.

Too Cruel (featuring Christian Love)
Mike Love's son can sing, very well, and this is a very cool song. Another uplifting, fun pop song. Some cool organ fills in it as well. It also feels a little funky, which is good.

Brian's Back
Remember this song? Yeah, it got better. A ton better. The acoustic guitar has been replaced by a very beautiful sounding organ and stays consistent throughout. This has always been one of my favorite Mike Love songs (especially the version from the From The Vaults album with the amazing orchestrated introduction). This song always makes me remember the interview when Mike tells about when he showed this song to Brian and he was almost crying. Yeah, Mike Love has a heart, and this song is amazing. Also, he ends this version with the vocal line from "You Still Believe In Me".

I Don't Wanna Know (featuring Christian Love)
Another interesting poppy, R&B sounding tune from Mike Love's son. Also a great beat and some cool instrumentation all around. It's also an interesting change of flow in the album, a bit more upbeat after Brian's Back. That's another reason why this album works so well, the songs are arranged in a great order that enhances the songs.

Love Foundation
This song again features that awesome gospel choir and a cool guitar riff that makes this an extremely catchy song. This really is kind of like an anthem in it's own way. I haven't heard a song like this in a long time, its very cool to hear a song like this after the 70s, this really is a great mix of genres and it just works. After listening to this, you will most likely be clapping along with it. (also features a silly rap by Christian Love, hahahaha)

Daybreak
More great vocal harmonies and a good buildup through out the whole song. This is another very relaxing, tropical sounding song. Also, surprisingly features good lyrics, not about TM! I really enjoy this one a lot. Sometimes I think I can hear Carl Wilson in this track, thats a little bit heart breaking in it's own way.

Only One World
Begins with some interesting spoken word about Grandfather Great Spirit and some other Indian stuff. I don't get it, but it makes me feel good, and I think that's what counts. Anyway, as the last song on the album, it features a lot of the same, gospel choirs, great singing from Mike Love and a very friendly message about loving people. Heaven on Earth, etc. Not the strongest ending of all time, but it works for this album.



Now some of you may be reading this in disbelief. But Mike Love's solo album from 2003 is very good. Probably the best Beach Boy solo album since Pacific Ocean Blue. I really enjoyed this album, especially the tracks Cool Head and Brian's Back. But probably the best thing about this album is that it really proves that Mike Love is talented, very. And is capable of displaying a lot of love and emotion that he is willing to share with the general public. And honestly, this album sounds more like the Beach Boys than The Beach Boys.

Keep in mind, this album is not the greatest album of all time, but it definitely is good, in fact its listenable. No, not just listen once out of morbid curiosity, it is good enough to be listened to numerous times and enjoyed. I wish this would get released, it really does deserve it.

I don't know if I would say it is better then the best of Brian's solo albums or anywhere near Dennis' but it is better then Carl's albums and anything Mike has done since the 70's. The 1978 First Love was even better, but this is a good partial remake. I wonder why his crap got released and his good stuff sits in the can. Too Cruel could be a hit if real drums replaced the drum machine. 10,000 years was co-writen with  Dennis.

i agree its a great album. Dont know why this isnt released commercially. I suspect that the Marahisi Yogi says to Mike that the time isnt right. I f thats the truth than he is wrong.

I like that album too. Some very nice moments.

I wonder if Dennis would get credit on !10,000 years" if that album will be released.

First Love[/i] (two different mixes exist) is a good album. Country Love is like GIOMH, only slightly worse. Yes, it is possible.

Pisces Brothers is hardly about TM. It's his memories about George Harrison, who he met in Rishikesh. They both celebrated their birthdays there (which is why Happy Birthday Mike Love precedes it).

To be honest, there';s some stuff on Country Love that's no worse than Jagger in hillbilly mode.  I actually prefer it (except for Wrinkles) to LBWL.

First Love is a decent album.  Why he opted for covers and that clunky rinky-dink sound on LBWL is beyond me.  Dreadful mess of an album.

First Love - 5 out of 10 (on a good day)
Country Love - minus 5 out of 10 ...
Looking Back With Love - 3 out of 10 (or less ...)
Celebration (Soundtrack to 'Almost Summer') - 6 out of 10 (for Mike's 3 contributions)
Celebration - 4 out of 10
Celebration ('Disco Celebration') - If you like disco then maybe 2/10 - I don't, so minus figures again ! (Note Mike only contributes backing vocals to one song, but co-wrote most of 'em)
Catch A Wave - 3 out of 10 (the 'hits' rehashed)
NASCAR - 3 out of 10
Summertime Cruisin' - 4 out of 10 (for the 'bonus' Baker/Love inclusions)
Mike Love Not War ... 5 out of 10 (I actually quite like it !!)

then do we include Rock'n' Roll City, Scrooges Christmas Party and all those other little oddities ? Best not ...

Borrowing the above and adjusting it to what I have heard
First Love - 7 out of 10
Country Love - 3 and a half  out of 10
Looking Back With Love - 2 out of 10
Soundtrack to 'Almost Summer - 6 out of 10 side one
Celebration - 5 out of 10
Celebration ('Disco Celebration') - 1/10 -
Mike Love Not War ... 6 out of 10
Rock'n' Roll City 3/10,
Scrooges Christmas Party 1/10

A brave man indeed would award 'Country Love' higher marks than 'Looking Back With Love' ... and even 'R&R City'' ...  ;)

Country Love only gets a little better rating because of it having 70's as opposed to 80's production values. Mike's voice is also a touch better then on the R&R City tracks.

How could one man produce such a body of work such as this?