Holland

[the captain]

I'll say this: I don't (and can't) argue that it doesn't capture the period well. Having not been there, though, I can only guess. And for me that makes it an irrelevant point. I can only go by the quality of the songs (mostly good) and the quality of the performances (good) and my taste (brilliant, if I do say so myself!). Among my favorite 4-5 BBs albums, probably. But that doesn't equal classic album for me.

[brianc]

I know. But to some of us, that's no compliment.

It's not meant to be complimentory, nor pajorative in nature. Just a general statement.

[lance]

I dont find it pretentious myself--in fact, I think it seems surprisingly unpretentious. I also dont really see it as "prog-rock". For me, Smile is much more prog-rock, maybe my definition of prog rock is different. Maybe Steamboat is kind of prog-rocky.

I can see the poem on the Beaks of Eagles not being everyone's cup of tea, but when I open up my heart it kind of works for me--and the backing music makes it sound even better.

[Music Machine]

Trader really makes this album for me, I think it's one of the best 70's Beach Boys tracks. I also like the overall sound/ production of this album, it very much reminds me of the Beatles' Abbey Road and '72 - '75 Pink Floyd.

[Marty77]

I would really love to hear an instrumental + backing vocals version of "beaks of eagles". The background vocals are especially intriguing.

[the captain]

I would really love to hear an instrumental + backing vocals version of "beaks of eagles". The background vocals are especially intriguing.

So would I. The poetry doesn't ruin it for me ... but it doesn't help.

[Marty77]

I would really love to hear an instrumental + backing vocals version of "beaks of eagles". The background vocals are especially intriguing.

So would I. The poetry doesn't ruin it for me ... but it doesn't help.

Yeah. I like the poetry. It's just Al's delivery that kind of puts me off listening to it all that often. Sounds like it was done in one take.

[wallabie]

Well, I´d say that "Holland" is my favorite Beach Boys Album. I really love the California Saga... it´s a good tribute to California from grown up musicians.... So if you´d ask me... "If you have to go on an uninhabitat island, which Album would you take with you" my respond would be: "I´ve been to an uninhabitate Island and I took Holland with me"

[sleeptalk]

sorry, but this one really hasn't clicked for me yet. the only song that i really dig here is "big sur," and there's a much superior alternate version of it floating around. so-called classics like "sail on sailor" and "only with you" sound off to me, for whatever reason. and brian's suite of BS at the end is the worst thing he's ever done.

[sleeptalk]

ooh, "steamboat" is pretty dope, too.

and why oh why do they have to do that stupid, stupid poetry in "the beaks of eagles?" other than that, it could have been a great song! lovely lead vocal melody, and backing vocals...

[Aegir]

It's a poem, that's why.

I think Beaks of Eagles is one of the coolest songs in the Beach Boys catalogue.

[TheLazenby]

I listened to the "California Saga" recently, and I didn't see what was so bad about 'Beaks Of Eagles'...  I just heard "Hard Times" as well; fantastic song.  I've loving all that I'm hearing of Blondie and Rikki's BB's output.

As for "Mount Vernon and Fairway" - brilliant.  Brian's childish side at its best - take that, second movement of Smile! :-)

[Mr. Cohen]

I must be one of the only people in the word who doesn't mind Al reading poetry (I'm also thinking of "Santa Ana Winds", which isn't poetry, but the spoken intro is still reviled by most BB fans - I find it endearing in a dorky way).

[phirnis]

I like the spoken word bits in "California Saga" a lot, in fact I think they really add to the overall feel of Holland. That record wouldn't be the same without "The Beaks of Eagles".

[Aegir]

You ever see those videos of teenage girls lipsyncing and dancing to Barbara Ann or Fun Fun Fun or something? Imagine that with Beaks of Eagles.

[slothrop]

I like the spoken word bits in "California Saga" a lot, in fact I think they really add to the overall feel of Holland. That record wouldn't be the same without "The Beaks of Eagles".

Agreed. Mike always sounds so damn peaceful for how much people rag on him.

[Don_Zabu]

I like to pretend that "Only With You" is the last track. "Funky Pretty" is just way to weird for me to stomach.

Aside from that, though, Holland was definitely The Beach Boys's last true masterpiece (Love You being the last good album). I love the atmosphere, I love the singing, I love Blondie and Ricky's contributions, and I love how much it proves Mike and Al's wasted aptitude as songwriters and lyricists.

[LetHimRun]

This, along with CATP, has grown on me over the times I keep listening. I really like Leaving this Town and Steamboat. The rest are great, too. I gave it a 5, a notch above CATP.

[rab2591]

I love 'Holland'.

It is the perfect album to take camping. Sitting next to a fire listening to 'Steamboat' or 'Big Sur' is surreal. I skip 'Beaks of Eagles' because I cannot listen to that poem over and over again (though the chorus' are great).

The only song I don't enjoy that much is 'Funky Pretty' - it isn't a bad song, but just like 'TM' with 'Friends', it ruins the chill vibe of the entire record. Plus I can hardly understand the vocals.

It is a short but worthwhile album. It's far from my favorite BBs album but far from the worst.

[hypehat]

I got this on vinyl for £2 and i love it even more. although my copy didn't have the EP 

It's WAY too short though. A revised tracklisting could probably have 'Out In The Country' at the start, then as normal sticking 'Hard Times' after the Trader, and a finished Carry Me Home at the end....

I'll give it a 4. Really good, but could be much better.

[Don_Zabu]

When it comes to Mount Vernon and Fairway, the music is quite nice, but the story itself doesn't make a whole lot of sense, and it probably would've ended up better in the hands of another writer.

Actually, I wish Mike Love had written the fairy tale proper. If "Big Sur" is anything to go on, he obviously had some poetic beauty in him at that timeframe, so it would've at the very least been an interesting combination.

[Amazing Larry]

1. Sail On Sailor 10/10
2. Steamboat 9.5/10
3. Big Sur 8.5/10
4. Beaks Of Eagles 7.5/10
5. California 9.5/10
6. Leaving This Town 9/10
7. Only With You 9/10
8. Funky Pretty 10/10
9. Mt. Vernon And Fairway 10/10

Album Rating: 9.22

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Just got done listening to Holland front to back with headphones (first time actually) and either I'm nuts or I can suddenly hear Brian in the fade singing "someone say why" in a somewhat "smokey Brian" voice!

Am I crazy???

[rab2591]

is it in the right speaker? Because I hear a semi-raspy voice singing something, but I can't make out what is being sung....
______

The more I listen to Funky Pretty, the more I love it. I've put it up there with 'A Day In The Life' and 'Across The Universe' - it's such a cosmically beautiful song.

How I wish I could've been a fly on the wall during the composition/recording of this.

[Pinder's Gone To Kokomo And Back Again]

Yes, it is in the right speaker.

I was listening to somewhat absentmindedly while at work and when that line came in it was as if Brian walked into the room and said something. It just rang loud and clear as Brian. Now when I listen again, it could be anybody, but I still suspect it's him.

Funky Pretty is indeed epic and a perfect album closer.

I LOVE the version on In Concert, but the tag on the album version is just sublime and Brian's drums really ground the track in a great simple way.