Twofer polls #2: Sunflower vs Surf's Up

[Don Malcolm]

Back in the day, when we were forced to be a bit careful about our love for the Boys, most of my friends in the "underground" felt Sunflower was a better overall record than Surf's Up, even though the two best songs out of the whole collection are (arguably) "Surf's Up" and "Til I Die." Even then, we were wondering why it seemed that there wasn't enough recognition of what Dennis was contributing as a songwriter, and his creative absence on Surf's Up was (and is) an all-too-noticeable one.

[bluesno1fann]

Both so good, and it's probably the toughest Twofer poll around.
But gotta go with Surf's Up, only because I'm on a Surf's Up kick at the moment!

[retrokid67]

Sunflower is my favorite, no one was left out 

[bluesno1fann]

Sunflower is my favorite, no one was left out 

Just wondering, if Student Demonstration Time was left out as a non-album single, and 4th Of July and WIBNTLA were added onto Surf's Up, what would you vote for?

[retrokid67]

Sunflower is my favorite, no one was left out 

Just wondering, if Student Demonstration Time was left out as a non-album single, and 4th Of July and WIBNTLA were added onto Surf's Up, what would you vote for?

Now that's a tough one....wow... I guess I would go with....well,  if you took TALOYF away then I guess I would pick Surf's Up, it's too hard to decide for sure  they're both awesome

[bluesno1fann]

Sunflower is my favorite, no one was left out 

Just wondering, if Student Demonstration Time was left out as a non-album single, and 4th Of July and WIBNTLA were added onto Surf's Up, what would you vote for?

Now that's a tough one....wow... I guess I would go with....well,  if you took TALOYF away then I guess I would pick Surf's Up, it's too hard to decide for sure  they're both awesome

TALOYF may be the worst song off the album, but it fits very well on it. Without it, Surf's Up just wouldn't be the same. Face it, TALOYF needs Surf's Up just as much as Surf's Up needs TALOYF.
SDT on the other hand may not be as bad, but it doesn't belong on Surf's Up.

[retrokid67]

Sunflower is my favorite, no one was left out 

Just wondering, if Student Demonstration Time was left out as a non-album single, and 4th Of July and WIBNTLA were added onto Surf's Up, what would you vote for?

Now that's a tough one....wow... I guess I would go with....well,  if you took TALOYF away then I guess I would pick Surf's Up, it's too hard to decide for sure  they're both awesome

TALOYF may be the worst song off the album, but it fits very well on it. Without it, Surf's Up just wouldn't be the same. Face it, TALOYF needs Surf's Up just as much as Surf's Up needs TALOYF.
SDT on the other hand may not be as bad, but it doesn't belong on Surf's Up.

hmm I don't know I've always found that song to be weird and pointless just the fact that that song made it on and WIBNTLA didn't makes me dislike it even more  but I do agree about SDT it doesn't fit at all

[Tony S]

Sunflower is my all time favorite Beach Bots album, after Pet Sounds. Surf's Up is close for me too. The 'vibe' on Sunflower seems a bit more positive, and there are more group vocals too. Though Til I Die is the best of the collections, along with of course Surf;\'s Up.

[slippingonthrough]

This one is easy for me: Sunflower.

Surf's Up is quite inconsistent especially songwriting wise. I also think the sound quality isn't that good on some songs. Long Promised Road is almost ruined by the sound quality. Great album still.
Sunflower has very consistent songwriting and sounds great. Slip On Through, It's About Time, Add Some Music are my favourites.

[JK]

Much as I like Sunflower----a kaleidoscope of an album----Surf's Up has to have my vote. Side one of the original album has its moments (most notably "LPR") but side two is a thing of staggering beauty. 

[slippingonthrough]

Sunflower is my favorite, no one was left out 

What about Al? He only sings a couple of lines on Add Some Music,

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Sunflower is my favorite, no one was left out 

What about Al? He only sings a couple of lines on Add Some Music,

Yeah but he also co-writes It's About Time (brilliant) and At My Window (also brilliant). Does anyone know what Al's exact contribution was to the former? I've always assumed it was to add that awesome guitar riff at the end but I could be wrong...

[slippingonthrough]

Sunflower is my favorite, no one was left out 

What about Al? He only sings a couple of lines on Add Some Music,

Yeah but he also co-writes It's About Time (brilliant) and At My Window (also brilliant). Does anyone know what Al's exact contribution was to the former? I've always assumed it was to add that awesome guitar riff at the end but I could be wrong...

Even though he wrote some of the songs it just doesn't feel like Al's there. They should've added Back Home or Susie Cincinnati.

[retrokid67]

Sunflower is my favorite, no one was left out 

What about Al? He only sings a couple of lines on Add Some Music,

Yeah but he also co-writes It's About Time (brilliant) and At My Window (also brilliant). Does anyone know what Al's exact contribution was to the former? I've always assumed it was to add that awesome guitar riff at the end but I could be wrong...

Even though he wrote some of the songs it just doesn't feel like Al's there. They should've added Back Home or Susie Cincinnati.

You have a point.  I like his version of Back Home it's probably one of my favorite leads of his 

[Summer_Days]

Surf's Up has some "meh" songs, unfortunately. Though 'Til I Die' and 'Surf's Up' trumps everything on Sunflower, the latter album is still way better.

[bluesno1fann]

Surf's Up has some "meh" songs, unfortunately. Though 'Til I Die' and 'Surf's Up' trumps everything on Sunflower, the latter album is still way better.

What about the two Carl song off Surf's Up?

[Summer_Days]

Surf's Up has some "meh" songs, unfortunately. Though 'Til I Die' and 'Surf's Up' trumps everything on Sunflower, the latter album is still way better.

What about the two Carl song off Surf's Up?

I love, love, love 'Long Promised Road' and really like 'Feel Flows'. Image if LPR was on Sunflower instead of 'Tears in the Morning'...holy crap!

[KDS]

This is a tough one. 

The greatest individual songs on Surf's Up are probably superior to the greatest individual songs on Sunflower.

However, as an album from start to finish, Sunflower wins out for me. 

I can even forgive Student Demonstration Time, but not Take a Load Off Your Feet. 

[Mujan, 8@$+@Rc| of a Blue Wizard]

Whats rightly or wrongly considered their best group album versus a dated, forced attempt at being hip?

Yeah, give me Sunflower any day.