Which album is the Beach Boys' most polarizing release?

[drbeachboy]

You know you're a Beach Boys fanatic when you - Analyze the cover of "Keepin the summer alive"

Indeed! 

[SMiLE Brian]

You know you're a Beach Boys fanatic when you - Analyze the cover of "Keepin the summer alive"

Good point

[rab2591]

I always thought the cover conveyed the message that even at the coldest places on the Earth, you could be warmed up by the music of The Beach Boys. Again, just my opinion.

Kinda what I always thought, too.

As much as I hate their fun-in-the-sun image, I've always loved this album cover.

[EgoHanger1966]

KTSA is one of my favorite album covers, too.

[NHC]

I always thought the cover conveyed the message that even at the coldest places on the Earth, you could be warmed up by the music of The Beach Boys. Again, just my opinion.

I second that opinion. 

[I. Spaceman]

I always thought it conveyed the message that even on a full-price new Beach Boys album, you could get cheap Taiwanese postcard art.

[drbeachboy]

Yep, just like the cheap Taiwanese cardboard Reprise used for the Love You and MIU LPs.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I always thought the cover conveyed the message that even at the coldest places on the Earth, you could be warmed up by the music of The Beach Boys. Again, just my opinion.

I second that opinion. 

I think there may be a clue to the meaning of the cover in the title of the album. It's pretty obscure but stick with it, you may get it.

[Mike's Beard]

I'm slow Stephen, can you give me a hint?

[Micha]

This is the Beach Boys most polar-izing release for an obvious reason:

Thing I always found interesting about that cover is that polar bears only live at the North Pole, while you only find polar penguins at the South Pole, so one or other animal must have been brought by the band.
"Dennis, what have I said? No polar bears!"
"Look, I've told you before, I'm not playing unless there are *at least* two polar bears within ten feet of me at all times. It's in my rider."

Polar bears and penguins on one picture? Aw, that's nothing! Look at this:

[hypehat]

I always thought the second ice age had come and The Beach Boys were trapped in a mysterious dome by the government, tasked with KEEPIN THE SUMMER ALIVE until the scientists find ways to warm the earth. I reckon this should be the plot of any new Beach Boys movie, as the band fight off inaccurate representations of nature from their dome whilst taking time out to play their greatest hits.


Like, there can a The Thing type dynamic where suddenly they look outside and there, crossing the frozen wastes, is David Marks, busting the perfect solo to Shut Down with the Fender that he has used to survive the many miles, and the band must debate whether to let him in and save his life or whether he is somehow contaminated or 'unsafe'. And Al is found to have smuggled a penguin inside and adopted it as a pet called 'Tuxedo', and he must bid it a tearful farewell as a penguin cannot live in the sunny climes of the dome. Hollywood would eat this up.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I always thought the second ice age had come and The Beach Boys were trapped in a mysterious dome by the government, tasked with KEEPIN THE SUMMER ALIVE until the scientists find ways to warm the earth. I reckon this should be the plot of any new Beach Boys movie, as the band fight off inaccurate representations of nature from their dome whilst taking time out to play their greatest hits.


Like, there can a The Thing type dynamic where suddenly they look outside and there, crossing the frozen wastes, is David Marks, with a Fender, and the band must debate whether to let him in and save his life or whether he is somehow contaminated or 'unsafe'. And Al is found to have smuggled a penguin inside and adopted it as a pet called 'Tuxedo', and he must bid it a tearful farewell as a penguin cannot live in the sunny climes of the dome. Hollywood would eat this up.

Great!, and in a cameo role Phil Spector could play Helen Mirren

[SMiLE Brian]

I always thought the second ice age had come and The Beach Boys were trapped in a mysterious dome by the government, tasked with KEEPIN THE SUMMER ALIVE until the scientists find ways to warm the earth. I reckon this should be the plot of any new Beach Boys movie, as the band fight off inaccurate representations of nature from their dome whilst taking time out to play their greatest hits.


Like, there can a The Thing type dynamic where suddenly they look outside and there, crossing the frozen wastes, is David Marks, busting the perfect solo to Shut Down with the Fender that he has used to survive the many miles, and the band must debate whether to let him in and save his life or whether he is somehow contaminated or 'unsafe'. And Al is found to have smuggled a penguin inside and adopted it as a pet called 'Tuxedo', and he must bid it a tearful farewell as a penguin cannot live in the sunny climes of the dome. Hollywood would eat this up.

Then Bruce's odd behavior during C50 is explained when he turns out to be " the thing".  Brian has to burn "the thing" while wearing a smile-era firehat and having the BBs play "fire"

[hypehat]

Haha, Brian looks outside and sees, partially obscured by the driving snow, a tiny man building a wall out in the arid land. Signalling him over, the shivering midget with the frost bitten wig identifies himself as Phil Spector, who has spent the post apocalyptic era building The Wall Of Sound.

"You should have got a dome, it's pretty neat." Brian shouts through the glass. Unable to concede that he was mistaken, Phil Spector curses inaudibly, his piercing stare evident even through his shades. Staggering back, Phil suddenly hears a familiar drum beat, muffled but instantly arresting. Turning around, he can make out Brian snapping his fingers along to his own Be My Baby. Looking out, he waves at Phil jovially.

"That bastard!" Phil screams. In the dome, the record ends, and Brian instinctively moves the arm back to the start of the worn 45.

[hypehat]

I should get back to work

[SMiLE Brian]

I should get back to work

No....

[Mike's Beard]

I always thought the second ice age had come and The Beach Boys were trapped in a mysterious dome by the government, tasked with KEEPIN THE SUMMER ALIVE until the scientists find ways to warm the earth. I reckon this should be the plot of any new Beach Boys movie, as the band fight off inaccurate representations of nature from their dome whilst taking time out to play their greatest hits.


Like, there can a The Thing type dynamic where suddenly they look outside and there, crossing the frozen wastes, is David Marks, busting the perfect solo to Shut Down with the Fender that he has used to survive the many miles, and the band must debate whether to let him in and save his life or whether he is somehow contaminated or 'unsafe'. And Al is found to have smuggled a penguin inside and adopted it as a pet called 'Tuxedo', and he must bid it a tearful farewell as a penguin cannot live in the sunny climes of the dome. Hollywood would eat this up.

Then Bruce's odd behavior during C50 is explained when he turns out to be " the thing".  Brian has to burn "the thing" while wearing a smile-era firehat and having the BBs play "fire"

Bruce needs to be grabbed this instant, tied all winter to a f#cking couch and have a sample of his blood tested with something hot.

[Mike's Beard]

I always thought the second ice age had come and The Beach Boys were trapped in a mysterious dome by the government, tasked with KEEPIN THE SUMMER ALIVE until the scientists find ways to warm the earth. I reckon this should be the plot of any new Beach Boys movie, as the band fight off inaccurate representations of nature from their dome whilst taking time out to play their greatest hits.


Like, there can a The Thing type dynamic where suddenly they look outside and there, crossing the frozen wastes, is David Marks, with a Fender, and the band must debate whether to let him in and save his life or whether he is somehow contaminated or 'unsafe'. And Al is found to have smuggled a penguin inside and adopted it as a pet called 'Tuxedo', and he must bid it a tearful farewell as a penguin cannot live in the sunny climes of the dome. Hollywood would eat this up.

Great!, and in a cameo role Phil Spector could play Helen Mirren

Lay off the Mirren. That is an absolute GILF.

[SMiLE Brian]

I always thought the second ice age had come and The Beach Boys were trapped in a mysterious dome by the government, tasked with KEEPIN THE SUMMER ALIVE until the scientists find ways to warm the earth. I reckon this should be the plot of any new Beach Boys movie, as the band fight off inaccurate representations of nature from their dome whilst taking time out to play their greatest hits.


Like, there can a The Thing type dynamic where suddenly they look outside and there, crossing the frozen wastes, is David Marks, busting the perfect solo to Shut Down with the Fender that he has used to survive the many miles, and the band must debate whether to let him in and save his life or whether he is somehow contaminated or 'unsafe'. And Al is found to have smuggled a penguin inside and adopted it as a pet called 'Tuxedo', and he must bid it a tearful farewell as a penguin cannot live in the sunny climes of the dome. Hollywood would eat this up.

Then Bruce's odd behavior during C50 is explained when he turns out to be " the thing".  Brian has to burn "the thing" while wearing a smile-era firehat and having the BBs play "fire"

Bruce needs to be grabbed this instant, tied all winter to a f#cking couch and have a sample of his blood tested with something hot.

I think thats what put the reunion on hold...

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I always thought the second ice age had come and The Beach Boys were trapped in a mysterious dome by the government, tasked with KEEPIN THE SUMMER ALIVE until the scientists find ways to warm the earth. I reckon this should be the plot of any new Beach Boys movie, as the band fight off inaccurate representations of nature from their dome whilst taking time out to play their greatest hits.


Like, there can a The Thing type dynamic where suddenly they look outside and there, crossing the frozen wastes, is David Marks, with a Fender, and the band must debate whether to let him in and save his life or whether he is somehow contaminated or 'unsafe'. And Al is found to have smuggled a penguin inside and adopted it as a pet called 'Tuxedo', and he must bid it a tearful farewell as a penguin cannot live in the sunny climes of the dome. Hollywood would eat this up.

Great!, and in a cameo role Phil Spector could play Helen Mirren

Lay off the Mirren. That is an absolute GILF.

Fine, as long as you lay off Brucey, the living embodiment of the term BBILF

[hypehat]

It's the shorts, isn't it? 

[Iron Horse-Apples]

It's the shorts, isn't it? 

It always comes down to the shorts

[Heysaboda]

in the grand scheme of things, my vote goes to 'Love You'. Among fans, it really seems to be a love or hate thing (rarely do people seem to think it's just alright, or 'good'). An album considered to be the group's last classic by many critics, yet would also likely cause casual listeners to scratch their heads. 'Smiley' contains 'Good Vibrations' & 'Heroes & Villains' ... universally acclaimed.

I think it's just alright...I like the "drunk" tunes as I call them (Side 1 + Solar System, Love is a Woman) and not so much of the others.

Aren't they ALL "drunk songs" on Love You?

Love You is Brian's Tonight's the Night.

And a wonderful ride it is!!

[Mike's Beard]

It's the shorts, isn't it? 

It always comes down to the shorts

They're not actually shorts. Bruce is still wearing those stage pants Al Jardine lent him when he debuted with the band back in '65.

[Micha]

It's the shorts, isn't it? 

It always comes down to the shorts

They're not actually shorts. Bruce is still wearing those stage pants Al Jardine lent him when he debuted with the band back in '65.

You've convinced me!