Oddly, I was just defending the genius of Brian Wilson in a discussion on classic rock I was having with a friend a few days before Wilson's death. It's only fitting to review this album now. "Wouldn't It Be Nice " works off the kind of harmonies and sunny pop melodies that are the band's trademark, though there is a 1966 feel to some of the instrumentation coloring the background. When I go back and listen to this album, it's funny how you can hear how it influenced so many artists that came after in how things sit in the mix.
There is a more depressive undertone to "You Still Believe in Me". They do some pretty stunning things with the vocal arrangements here. Lyrically, "That's Not Me" continues to show the beach party has been over for some time as they are more introspective. "Don't Cry' continues to slow dance into melancholy, as the same exuberance that once possessed their songs has mellowed into something with more depth. They shift more toward their upbeat pop sound with "I'm Waiting For the Day". You can certainly hear their influence on indie rock here.
"Sloop John B" might be the song that feels the most like the Beach Boys, in terms of where the vocals sit, despite being a folk song from the Bahamas that Wilson arranged and adapted. "God Only Knows" is a classic, and it makes sense that Brian was influenced by Burt Bacharach going into this album as much as he was by his LSD trip. There is a touch of rock to "I Know There's an Answer," but there is more tambourine on this album than drugs, decreasing its rock sensibilities. "I Wasn't Made For These Times" is the most oddly deprecating, making it one of the most unique songs in the lyrical tone, though the arrangement is odd as well. The title track is an instrumental that is experimental for who they were at this time. "Caroline No" is a ballad that fits well with their overall persona. I will give this album a 10, it's way ahead of its time and bears a significant influence on music to come.
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