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Last Active 12-09-22 12:08 am
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| Ars Choice Beach Boys Cuts 1966-1971
Only songs from Pet Sounds, Smiley Smile, Wild Honey, Friends, 20/20, Sunflower, and Surf's Up were considered since this is pretty much considered their "golden period."
Disclaimer: I am a weird Smiley Smile fanboy, so don't except all of your favorites to be here. | | 10 |  | The Beach Boys
Pet Sounds
"God Only Knows"
Paul McCartney once said this is his favorite song of all time. Apparently, only Brian Wilson, Carl Wilson, and Bruce Johnston are even on this track and you know what, those are the best 3 Beach Boys anyway. But yeah it's sentimental and sweet without ever feeling corny. It probably helps that Carl is on leads too since he's definitely my favorite vocalist of theirs. Written by Brian + sang by Carl = recipe for success. | | 9 |  | The Beach Boys
Sunflower
"All I Wanna Do"
Hypnagogic pop? Neo-psychedelia? Chillwave? Nah, this is from 1970. As much as it's fun to hate on Mike Love, his voice is PERFECT on this one. It has the right about as nasal. The production is so timeless and it's buzzing with psychedelic groove. | | 8 |  | The Beach Boys
20/20
"Cabinessence"
Another "Brian wrote it, Carl sang it" song, this time from the Smile Sessions. The song creatively jumps from slow romantic verses to frantic trippy choruses. It's so magical, strange, and pretty. | | 7 |  | The Beach Boys
Surf's Up
"'Til I Die"
"Brian wrote it, Carl sang it" part 3. The only thing to match good quirky psych, is good melancholy psych and the whistling echoes and harmonies of this one. Self-acceptance never felt like such a downer. | | 6 |  | The Beach Boys
Smiley Smile
"Wonderful"
"Brian wrote it, Carl sang it" part 4 (seriously the best combo.) Controversial opinion, but I really don't like the Smile Sessions version of "Wonderful." Its too cleaned up and clear. The hazy, warm, intimate Smiley Smile version feels so creepy and depressive, but it's also like a musical hug. The second half is so hysterical (not in a funny way) that it's almost like a look into Brian's mind at the time. Somehow I find it comforting. | | 5 | | The Beach Boys
Pet Sounds
"I Just Wasn't Made for These Times"
My favorite song on Pet Sounds. On some level, it's weird how direct the line "sometimes I feel very sad" is to the point where it teeters on corny. On the other hand, the lyrics in general hit a specific relatability mark about being disappointed with your peers and the social isolation that results. Musically, the brick-walled woodwinds are fuzzy and unique and really demonstrate why I love 60s production. | | 4 | | The Beach Boys
Sunflower
"Deirdre"
Bruce Johnston is probably the most underrated songwriter in the band, only second in quality to Brian. Then again, Brian helped write this one. Johnston has his own brand of unique melancholy. This song has a weird "sitcom theme song" vibe to its musicianship, despite the lyrics being about a woman returning to her hometown after staying at a mental hospital. Melancholy comfort psychedelic pop with orchestral instruments, what could be better? | | 3 | | The Beach Boys
Smiley Smile
"Good Vibrations"
"Brian wrote it, Carl sang it" part 5. This one was a #1 single in the US, UK, and Australia, and is celebrated by legit everyone who likes 60s music (whether they be pretentious music nerds or people who only listen to the radio,) so this isn't a controversial choice at all. Jittery cello, theremin, playful percussion, and harmonies are some of the most memorable instrumental parts. This is quirky as hell, upbeat, trippy, catchy, and checks so many "what I want in a song" boxes. The real question is: who doesn't like this song? | | 2 | | The Beach Boys
Surf's Up
"Feel Flows"
Carl actually wrote this one, and just wow. The echoes and effects on his voice are beautiful, commanding, and just top-tier psych. The organs are so simple, but they manage to make the song feel like a liquid. This is The Beach Boys song I tend to show people when I tell them that they're amazing at making psychedelic music. Brian may not have written this one, but it's about him from his brother's perspective. | | 1 | | The Beach Boys
Smiley Smile
"She's Goin' Bald"
Say what you want about how great The Smile Sessions are, but it has nothing even close to this. Four sections about Mike Love going bald, but if he were a woman. Disjointed vocal effects, hypnotic bongos, a big epic conclusion, all with continuely building hysteria. Apparently, it's a comedy song because all of The Beach Boys find it hilarious? The early "He Gives Speeches" version is neat too, but much like The Smiles Sessions version of "Wonderful": it's too clean and bright in comparison. Say what you want about goofy music, but it's able to push the envelope in a way sometimes serious music can't and this is a prime example. | |
ArsMoriendi
09.04.21 | Since nothing from 2 of those albums made the cut: My fave song on Wild Honey is "Here Comes the Night" and my fave on Friends is "Be Here in the Morning"
| Colton
09.04.21 | cool list, should be longer though. Needs Let's Go Away for Awhile, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Little Bird, Friends and Cool Cool Water at least. Good call on 9 and 2 though | ArsMoriendi
09.04.21 | I wanted to keep it at 10, but those are all great songs
Cool Cool Water was one of the songs that almost made the cut | Colton
09.04.21 | have you checked out that new compilation? | ArsMoriendi
09.04.21 | Feel Flows: The Sunflower & Surf's Up Sessions 1969–1971? No, doesn't it have anything new worth checking? | Frippertronics
09.04.21 | It has hours upon hours of unreleased material.
Note, Carl didn't sing Til I Die and Brian has next to nothing to do with Deidre except for one line. | ArsMoriendi
09.04.21 | 6 and a half hours for just outtakes? Damn I think I'll pass
The liner notes of Surf's Up lied then >:( and that makes sense about Deirdre, which line?
| Frippertronics
09.04.21 | it's not just outtakes, it includes backing tracks, a capella stuff and live content. This box has been several years in the making and if I'm going to be honest, The Beach Boys have had a long history of questionable decision making regarding what makes their albums. | Frippertronics
09.04.21 | No clue what line in particular, but I'm going off of what Bruce said (mind you, he hates the song) | Frippertronics
09.04.21 | if it makes it easier, I can just list the stuff from the box that is worth listening to and you can judge if you want to dig any deeper since, well yeah, it's 6 and a half hours. | Pheromone
09.04.21 | always preferred the artistic vision of the monkees | Colton
09.04.21 | Frippertronics please do that | Frippertronics
09.04.21 | listen to:
Break Away
Celebrate the News
San Miguel
Big Sur
Sweet and Bitter
My Solution
Sound of Free
Lady
Surf's Up (2019 mix, which is all Brian)
Wouldn't It Be Nice to Live Again (this version is the unedited take with the closing flute/piano/vocal jam)
'Til I Die (extended with alternate lyrics)
honestly all of disc 4/5
personally, the entire box is worth listening to and I find it hard to believe any serious fan would just ignore it when the band has been notoriously terrible with their legacy. |
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