Surf's Up

I got this album the day after Brian Wilson died... spooky! I don't think I'd ever listened to this. Not quite the high of Pet Sounds, but still great. Very different from their earlier work.

This sounds so far removed from what I understand a Beach Boys record should be. It feels way more expansive, and kind of weird and unusual. A much darker tone, with typical Beach Boys notes punctuating it at times. The production is quite interesting as well. There's some good tracks in here, but the overall to me is merely 'quite good'. The album cover is badass.

RIP Brian Wilson.

I liked Student Demonstration Time. All of the other songs made me fall asleep, since they were so boring.

One of the best. Bye Brian.

Did a Beach Boys deep dive around 10 years ago after really only knowing Pet Sounds and the singles. This one stood out. Sad, magical pop music that shines. Feel Flows both sinks and floats. A special song.

Gute weghörbar, aber nichts was im Ohr bleibt

Ok album, not much interesting, but at least somewhat enjoyable to listen to. A little gloomy sounding for The Beach Boys in my opinion. 3/5

Brian Wilson kuoli eilen/tänään -- sattumaako? Kantaaottavampaa Beach Boysia, ja genrellisesti monipuolisempi kuin aiemmat levyt. 4/5

2.2

Honestly surprised by this record. I generally like the radio hits from The Beach Boys, but have never been a big fan. Remember listening to Pet Sounds and not really caring for it. But this is an extremely strong record. Some really interesting, unique ideas all over this record, particularly the song Long Promised Road. Take A Load Off Your Feet and Lookin' At Tomorrow (A Welfare Song) are also highlights.
Student Demonstration Time is probably the weakest song, but that's mostly due to the sound effects and not the song itself.

The album is a tad top heavy, but generally the whole album is strong. Probably one of the better psychedelic rock records (outside of Pink Floyd) I've heard.

Hey, I'm all in favor of a beloved band or artist making an album later in their career that is a bit dark, mysterious, or left-of-center. This ain't it though. It seems to me like they are grasping at straws to see what will work and none of it sounds genuine.

For me, this is the 2nd Beach Boys album on the list. I experienced a few surprises in the course of the project, so I thought I'd give the album a chance. I even had to cancel a block from my streaming provider. I like the album better than the other stuff I've heard from the band. Nevertheless, I just don't enjoy the Beach Boys. Maybe you have to live in California for that. 3/5

Listened to this all the way through 2 times. First listen it just made no sense as a Beach Boys album 2/5. Listened again as if it were an album by just any unknown band. Still terrible. Lyrics sound like a 5th grader. Vocals are weak and scattered. Music is forgettable.

Who knew that the words “surfs up” could be read negatively?

It sounds like The Beach Boys stretching themselves creatively, looking at what is developing in music of the era and thinking about the state of the world. Some of the experiments work better than others, but the lasting impact is a far broader definition of what this band sounds like. It’s dark, energetic and actually pretty deep.

‘Til I Die stands tall amongst the tracklist. It has me on the edge emotionally as it seamlessly transitions, dips and dives from section to section. The Beach Boys using their well known skill of harmony for a new and different purpose. One that is sad but no less impactful.

8/10

The whole album is worth it for the titular song.

The Good: We’ve got the Beach Boys!
The Bad: Very little beach included here…
The Ugly: Boys… what about aging men?

I am not judging this album based on the lyrical content—I know one too many persons who don’t pay attention to lyrics, instead they listen to the music…—which means that this album, from a musical standpoint, is your basic “easy listening” you could expect to hear in a department store as you are picking out your next pair of socks.

Is the album bad? No… and it contains some whistling, which is always preferred over crying…
Is the album good? No… and that is just my opinion.

Off to rate this album so that I can find out what joyful album awaits me today… hopefully The Black Crowes, because I need some serious rock and roll at the moment.

3* for run of the mill music that isn’t neither here nor there...

Never heard this kind of Beach Boys music. Nice, but kind of a bummer. 3*

The contrast between the album title and its cover is hilarious. Never properly listened to beach boys but had heard a few of their hits before. This is very different to those and I think I prefer this slightly darker sound.

A weird one. Some really strange lyrics with the beach boys trying to be socially relevant, and sometimes failing miserably. Also had one of the few pop songs about looking after your feet.

Still has enough of tr beach boys sound, and at least it's memorable.

Honestly, though there were no songs on here that were mind blowing, I was impressed by the variety and more serious topics. I guess I assumed most of the beach boys stuff was generally surface-level and vapid. Not bad. 3.4/5 -> 3/5

Such an activist themed album from a surf rock band. I like the one about taking care of your feet.