In praise of Friends

[ThyRavenAscend]

I didn't particularly like it when I first got it all those years ago. However, there is something about it that breathes. It is like a cool breeze on a hot summer's day. It most certainly doesn't have the impact of Smile, but it does have something - to my ears anyway. Much like "A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night" it bucks the current musical trends of the day and does its own thing.

Awesome description. "Friends" really deserves no comparison to "SMiLE", and it certainly does not deserve the 3rd position in a trilogy with "Pet Sounds" and "SMiLE" (though "Transcendental Meditation" would have been a gloriously bizarre cap to the trilogy lol)--but "it does have something".

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Anyone who doesn't like Friends is a twat. That is all.

[Mike's Beard]

I like Friends but feel the album is slightly underbaked, as was Smiley Smile and Wild Honey.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

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[Bicyclerider]

Could someone point me which parts of Friends album are underwritten? How can anyone write genius songs celebrating the joys of everyday life any better than that?

Think if it was overwritten... That would ruin the whole thing.

It was written exactly right, the way Brian intended - low key beautiful songs about family and friends and everyday life.  A favorite of mine I haven't seen mentioned is "Wake the World."  The album isn't about punchy "hit" songs, it's about mood and ambiance - Brian's mental state.  I suspect it appealed to Brian not only because it was an idealization of his life as it was and how he wanted it to be, but also because he managed to realize the vision he had for the songs in the final product in a way he never did with SMile (until BWPS I suppose).

[Paulos]

Anyone who doesn't like Friends is a twat. That is all.

Hello, I don't like Friends and I'm a twat, apparently.

Seriously though, I like the title track, Meant For You, Passing By, Little Bird and Busy Doin' Nothin' but the rest bores me. I do not need to defend or justify my opinion.

[rab2591]

Could someone point me which parts of Friends album are underwritten? How can anyone write genius songs celebrating the joys of everyday life any better than that?

Think if it was overwritten... That would ruin the whole thing.

It was written exactly right, the way Brian intended - low key beautiful songs about family and friends and everyday life.  A favorite of mine I haven't seen mentioned is "Wake the World."  The album isn't about punchy "hit" songs, it's about mood and ambiance - Brian's mental state.  I suspect it appealed to Brian not only because it was an idealization of his life as it was and how he wanted it to be, but also because he managed to realize the vision he had for the songs in the final product in a way he never did with SMile (until BWPS I suppose).

This.

[metal flake paint]

Love it, from Meant For You to Transcendental Meditation, and all stops in between.

It may also be one of Australia's World Record Club's most celebrated releases!

I've got the pink one. Do you think it's a good idea to collect the other colours, or would it be a waste of time and money?

If the funds aren't too cool, just ask a friend for a loan and collect the rest of 'em

[Marcella]

As Brian himself has said, I love Friends because I don't have to be in a certain mood to listen to it. Rather, listening to Friends actually creates a mood, and a good one at that for me. I also love the album cover, and if I were to ever frame an album cover I would go with Friends....All Summer Long would be in 2nd place btw. Little Bird, trite and silly as it is, is my favorite Dennis lead. Love that simple descending bass line towards the end of Little Bird and it made my night last night hearing David sing it live at the Tower in Philly

[clack]

Love this lp -- has a whimsical, casual, seemingly tossed-off beauty. Reminds me of one of Brian Eno's  70's ambient-pop albums, like 'Another Green World' or 'Before and After Science'.

Don't know who the audience for this would have been in 1968, though -- too slight for the counterculture, too quirky for the mainstream. Could have only been a flop.

[sockittome]

Anyone who doesn't like Friends is a twat. That is all.

And you're an asp!

But seriously, I have tried and tried to really like this album, but it's just not my cup of joe.  It has the coolest cover of any BBs album.  The front cover is very inviting with a summery feel to it, and the back cover photo is very relaxing.  But I feel the album itself falls short, not so much musically, but lyrically.  (TM falls short musically, IMO as it sounds to me like an experiment that didn't quite get there).  I can't help but think that Brian could have used some outside help on the lyric writing.  It's just a little too simplistic for my tastes.  That is all.  Just my opinion.  I respect anyone who likes or even loves FRIENDS.

[John Stivaktas]

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Jennifer Aniston is morphing into Iggy Pop?

Friends is definitely an under-rated album.

[Gertie J.]

the resemblance is uncanny!

[Micha]

Anyone who doesn't like Friends is a twat. That is all.

The namecalling you send out returns to you. Try sending out a smile nxt time.

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Anyone who doesn't like Friends is a twat. That is all.

The namecalling you send out returns to you. Try sending out a smile nxt time.

Irony doesn't translate into print well does it... I'd have thought it was obvious I was writing in jest.

[runnersdialzero]

"Diamond Head" does nothing for me, but the rest of the album is, to me, like all 9s or 10s. Yes, even "Anna Lee, The Healer". Dem harmonies are frigging beautiful and the whole thing sounds way too genuinely upbeat for me to hate. Trite MY FOOT.

As for "Diamond Head", I like soundscapey semi-ambient pieces just fine, I'm not one of those people who has a strong idea of the way a song "ought" to be formed and rejects all else or whatever, I'm just not into it.

[Rotat]

Most of me loves the album for what it is. It is pretty low-key, under-produced, very lightweight at times, but then again other of their albums are also lightweight at times (Sunflower) and people enjoy that. It's just such a warm, comforting, relaxing type of album, with some very nice melodies, great little subtle arrangement touches, and even some subtle experimentation with the last few songs on the record. It reminds me of what Smiley Smile might sound if they weren't in a rush to release something, had their head together and maybe weren't stoned so much (I absolutely love Smiley Smile for the record).

Also something that is worth mentioning is that while Brian is definitely the leader here still and all over the record in terms of production, arrangements and songwriting, it's still quite collaborative with the other guys in the band. Look at the credits for "Be Here In The Morning" and "When A Man Needs A Woman". Just all over the place as far as who is credited on some of these songs, which is interesting..

My favorite songs are "Busy Doin Nothin", "Meant For You", "Diamond Head", "Friends" and "Anna Lee The Healer". Basically the most obvious Brian Wilson-esque songs on here I think are the best. Those two aforementioned songs Mornin' and Needs A Woman are two of the weakest, but mostly because of the lyrics. I don't think that was even Brian's fault, or I doubt it. The songs themselves are still pretty quirky pop tunes, with really good vocals. I don't think there's one bad song on the record. "TM" is definitely the weakest of the bunch and obviously is a weird inclusion to close the album (it sticks out like a sore thumb) but over the years I've appreciated it. At least Brian sings a nice vocal on it.

[TimmyC]

The pefect friends album would have gotten rid of transcendental mediation and replaced it with I Went To Sleep, Time to Get Alone, and (possibly) We're together again

[sockittome]

The pefect friends album would have gotten rid of transcendental mediation and replaced it with I Went To Sleep, Time to Get Alone, and (possibly) We're together again

Now we're talkin'!  I'd happily sacrifice TM and Be Here in The Morning.....and maybe Anna Lee.

[Awesoman]

I feel I'm one of the few on the board that isn't all that impressed with Friends. The title track, Busy Doin' Nothin', and Passing By are some of my absolute favorite Beach Boy songs, but the rest feels underwritten. For the first time, some of Brian's melodies sound pedestrian. Anna Lee The Healer, Be Here In the Morning, and When A Man Needs A Woman sound especially trite. I love the mood of Friends but I feel the songwriting is a step down from Smiley Smile and Wild Honey.

Nah, I've never been all that taken by Friends.  It has its moments but it certainly killed the group's chances of ever reclaiming their previous glories pre-SMiLE. 

[Disney Boy (1985)]

Be Here In The Mornin' is my favourite track on the album. It's so inventive.

To me, Friends is very much a Wilson brothers album. It's almost the anti-Mike Love album.

[phirnis]

I don't really feel I Went to Sleep would've fit well on Friends. It's a brilliant song but they didn't need another sleepy waltz on that album. TM is a great closer, one of my favorites from that time in their career.

[runnersdialzero]

The pefect friends album would have gotten rid of transcendental mediation and replaced it with I Went To Sleep, Time to Get Alone, and (possibly) We're together again

Friends is just not Friends without "Transcendental Meditation".

[sparkydog1725]

The Friends-20/20 "2-fer" is my favorite Beach Boys "album". I could probably live without Anna Lee but it has its charms.

[bossaroo]

one of the greatest albums by anyone ever... its mood is unmatched.

also one of the most "Brian" albums in the catalog.

When A Man Needs A Woman hits the spot every time!