Pacific Ocean Blue

The first thing I should say is - do some research before you slag an album off for being 2 hours long. This album is actually 37 minutes long if you shave off all the extras and 'bonus' tracks, which I always do.

It's very Beach Boys in places. Of course it is. Has a melacholy vibe and surprisingly good songs.
I'm only surprised as I was led to believe that Brian was 'the talent' and the other brothers were just in the band to keep the parents happy.
One criticism is the number of poor fade outs. It seems our Dennis could write songs but wasn't great at endings?

It's not an album I think I'll play again, but it has certainly shifted my opinion of the Beach Boys' family tree.

Pretty cozy and nice.

Ehh it's pretty chill. Dennis Wilson is a -wild- figure, though. Phew.

Sonically great, lyrically pretty rough.

Has the potential of someone if they could have hung on in life a bit longer could have made great music.

It’s also just pure uncut 70s.

Another case of revisionist praise. This was accurately received and critiqued when it came out. It's OK, better than what the Beach Boys were putting out at the time but that's not saying much.

An absolutely rock solid 2.25.

Fantastic hair and beard though... don't even get me started on that chest rug teasing its way past the neck of that tshirt.

3.25

𝘗𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤 𝘖𝘤𝘦𝘢𝘯 𝘉𝘭𝘶𝘦 feels like the great unexpected triumph in the extended Beach Boys universe. Dennis Wilson’s rough, soulful voice and his surprisingly intimate songwriting give the album a depth that none of the other solo Beach Boys projects quite reach. The arrangements are warm, weathered, and quietly ambitious — full of pianos, horns, and that sense of California melancholy he carried so naturally. It’s easy to see why this record is often called the best Beach Boys solo effort: it has heart, character, and a lived-in sincerity that lingers long after it ends.

Idk, felt kind of bland to me. Definitely would have been better if it got trimmed down. 2*

Kad se desi nešto što ne zvuči kao Beach Boys pomislim da ovo nije toliko loše, ali kad se desi nešto što zvuči kao Beach Boys pitam se kako su oni dostigli taj nivo manije jer ja ih ne mogu ni slušati.

An eclectic mix of genres in sprawling 70 minuets of 70s rock .blending the beach boys , wings and pink floyd…the only problem is that you are better off listening to wings, the beach boys or Pink Floyd

A lost masters piece that I would have Ben happy to remain lost .

There are undoubted moments of quality - just not often enough . A tighter 8-10 song 37 min album was old have been better.

Weirdly the surf rock songs are the worst elements, sounding more shawoddywaddy than anything else .

Dreamer is a great stoner rock song .but even that fades out instead of reaching a climactic finish

But to many songs are like “you and I” an awful Schmaltzy rock ballad - a song so bad that it warrants any album with it on to be docked 1 if not 2 points

The fact that it failed to chart speaks to its quality — one can not get away from the feeling that it’s because of bloated albums like this that Punk was so refreshing.

Pacific Ocean blues moves along and redeems the previous song a little … but not enough to save this album from mere meh

A few interesting moments in an a diverse album.

Balding men without musical talent might want to steer clear of this album, or risk an acute bout of jealousy. Pretty enjoyable listen overall.

By the opening seconds, you know this is a Wilson/Beach Boys–related recording. The Wilsons’ angelic voices never fail to touch your heartstrings. However, Dennis Wilson can sound like a fallen angel (akin to Robbie Roberston of The Band), when his voice is on the verge of breaking (esp. in the middle section of the album comprising Thought of You & Time). What was surprising to me when I heard this album for the first time was how often one stumbles upon straightforward Rock elements (see What's Wrong, second half of Time). Dennis Wilson took the formula of the main band and opened it to more conventional structures here and there, which, as it turns out, was a smart move. Sometimes, the sound is extremely punchy, and that fits Dennis’ voice just great. As one can expect, the songwriting is versatile and - in the most positive sense - unpredictable. The (reissue) opener, The River, shape-shifts so much that it takes a few listens to get a hold of it. Regardless, you can simply approach Pacific Ocean Blue for a quick dopamine rush, too, because the hooks and choruses are simply beautiful. Also, the sprawling, opulent Thoughts of You caught me completely off guard: the way the whimsical, fragile piano led ballad transitions to the psychedelic, nearly drone-like arrangement is nothing short of stunning. Released eleven years after Pet Sounds, this ranks among the finest works in the Beach Boys cosmos - even if the slow-paced tracks in the second half do not manage to hold up the initial excitement one feels when listening to the A-side.

I will not include the bonus tracks or second disc of the 30th anniversary edition for this review.

After listening to all the listed Beach Boys albums and Brian Wilson's Smile, it was about time I got the other notable solo release from a Beach Boys member. Brian's brother Dennis Wilson was the drummer for the Beach Boys, gaining prominence as a singer-songwriter for the group towards the end of the 1960s. In fact, it got to the point where Dennis began working on his own solo project, and after a few years, it came together in the form of Pacific Ocean Blue.

Now I will start by stating that Dennis had worked on his baritone voice to offer a more deeply soulful delivery, and I think it suited him well. He certainly put in the range alongside the variety of compositions, from the bombastic opening of "River Song" and "What's Wrong" into more delicate ballads like "Moonshine" and "Thoughts of You". I'd say on the whole, the session personnel did a superb job matching Dennis's performative strengths, particularly with some decent guitar playing from his brother and fellow Beach Boys member Carl Wilson. Not to mention the solid production and orchestral swell on tracks like "Time," which offer such a crisp slowburn.

Yet, I can't help but recognize that this was Dennis's solo debut, and as such, still has some trouble finding its footing. His lyrics, which delved into the rock star lifestyle and heartbreak, were presented from a genuine place. But the content was repetitive at times as the momentum of the record slowed down in the second half. Also, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I wasn't a fan of the swampy dirge of cuts like "Dreamer" and the title track, especially the former, with the phat bass harmonica pushed to the front of the mix that got pretty grating on my ears.

Still, I overall appreciated Pacific Ocean Blue, showcasing Dennis's talent separate from the Beach Boys. Unfortunately, Dennis would be hampered by alcohol abuse to the point where it cost him his life from drowning after drinking all day. I can only imagine what could have been had he sobered up and refined his songcraft.

I recently read a book which suggested the cult that’s sprung up around this album has more to do with Dennis Wilson being photogenic and tragic than the music. I truly believe Pacific Ocean Blue is so good, I would still give it five stars if it was by the balding, belligerent Beach Boy Mike Love and not the handsome, hirsute one, but you’ll just have to take my word for it.

Yeah you know. Pretty enjoyable, but nothing stood out

This one took me a few listens to truly warm up to it, but it somehow kept me coming back each time. The arrangements are honestly gorgeous and set a very uniquely melancholic mood -- one that reminds me a lot of Beck's Sea Change album we got earlier in the list (one that I also loved!)

One special mention to Holy Man, which despite being a bonus track is one of the most beautiful instrumentals we've had on this list. Go listen to it if you stopped at End of the Show!

Standouts: Friday Night • Dreamer • Time • Pacific Ocean Blues • Holy Man

Pacific Ocean Blue is the first and only solo album by Dennis Wilson, and one I’ve often heard mentioned but never actually sat down with—until now. The version on iTunes runs close to two hours, so I braced myself for a long listen. Thankfully, it was time very well spent.

This is exactly why I’m doing this challenge: to uncover hidden gems I might have otherwise missed. To my surprise, I enjoyed this album far more than most of the Beach Boys’ catalogue. It has a warmth and depth that feels more personal and soulful.

The two singles, “River Song” and “You and I”, somehow failed to chart on release, which baffles me—they’re superb. The use of brass and instrumental flourishes throughout the record is a real highlight, adding richness and character to the sound. Overall, it’s a beautiful and rewarding listen that deserves far more recognition.

Favourite track: River Song and You and I
Least favourite track: Honestly, every song here feels worth the time.
Album artwork: A great cover—simple but striking. Wilson even looks a little like an American George Harrison.

It wasn't bad, I would put this on in the background if I had guests over.

(4.5) i didn’t know what to expect from the album cover but i properly loved this one