I recently ripped this album from my original vinyl pressing and it re-affirmed my love for Sunflower. I love it all, even Bruce's numbers. Love the production, such crisp, powerful sound! Faves: Our Sweet Love, At My Window, Add Some Music, Cool Water.

But, I think Holland holds up a little better than this as a cohesive album, IMO.

Why isn't 'the Trader' known as the greatest Beach Boys song of the seventies? That song absolutely blows me away.

Because your personal taste isn't the world's consensus.

was merely stressing the point of how much I love the song

Before I start...I just want to ask...Why isn't 'the Trader' known as the greatest Beach Boys song of the seventies? That song absolutely blows me away. So full of soul and melody, such punchy instrumentation and ethereal harmonies. I love how they cut it into two separate 'suites', it gives it such a sweeping feel.  Its a gripping song, Carl's finest moment, IMO.

The rest of the album is also fantastic. The California Saga, for me, is wonderful in its entirety. I love the contrast in instrument use, Pedal Steel fleshed out with synthesizer bass lines! Its got such an Americana feel to it. Great stuff.

I love the stoned soul of Leaving this Town, a very loose feel for a BB song (well, sort of a BB song). Steamboat also has a cool, hazy vibe.

Now, I know I'll be ran out of town for saying this, but to my ears (and I record music myself), Holland is the best produced Beach Boys album. I much prefer the 'band' sound Carl goes for here instead of the symphonic thing Brian was all about. I just love the clarity and aforementioned 'punchiness' of the rhythm section on this record, that sounds like no BB record before or since. Blondie and Ricky really made these songs groove. Carl focuses the backing track mixes on the drums, bass and keyboards (pretty minimal for the BBs) and then just showers everything in vocals and harmonies.  You can definitely tell Carl (and Al) learned how to arrange vocal harmonies from watching Brian, especially if you listen to 'the Trader' or 'Californ-i-a'. The harmony vocals contrast the melody rhythmically, and are pushed back and loaded with reverb.

Just think this album doesn't get nearly as much love as it deserves. My favorite Beach Boys album. 5 stars.

Light, breezy and fun album. By no means a heavy piece of work. Dennis' 'Love Surrounds Me' is funky as hell, sounds like  a sleeker POB cut. His 'Baby Blue' is also pretty fantastic. 'Angel Come Home' is a perfectly fine soul-ed out rocker from Carl.

Good Timin' is great, very pretty and evocative harmonies. 'Full Sail' is a really nice breathy ballad, I love the vocals here.

The Kenny G-esque saxaphone in 'Goin' South' is just awful though...Sumahama is...stupid...And I've never listened to the Discofied Here Comes the Night in its entirety (who has?), I've gotten about 30 seconds in and just had to shut it off. And to think, Curt Boettcher, the genius behind the Millennium and Sandy Salisbury's albums produced that sh*t! Lady Lynda is just such cheeseball pop sh*t, but its hard to dislike.

I think you should just go into this album expecting the lightweight.