Why is it un-american to dislike the Beach Boys ?

[Wild Obsession]

I also find the Beach Boys music to be super annoying..............

[Chip Z'Hoy]

Now playing: The Beach Boys Love You

There are several songs on here that I think are really catchy and amazing ("Mona," "Good Time," "The Night Was So Young") and then a couple that are so odd and disturbing I never want to hear them again EVER ("Roller Skating Child," "I Wanna Pick You Up").

The sound of a band whose golden goose is completely out to lunch. There's a bridge that goes "Pat pat pat pat pat her on her butt."

[Chip Z'Hoy]

"Mona" sounds like karaoke night with a dying man. What a song.

[CrankerBait]

With a few possible exceptions - "Sail on Sailor", "Friends" and "Kokomo" among them - all of their material worth listening to is pre-1967. When Brian Wilson flamed out, they were mostly done as a creative recording entity, and were reduced to trotting out the oldies as a nostalgia act. Having said that, what they did in a few short years in their prime was amazing. Great songs, great arrangements, great harmonies and an essential place in early to mid-60s Americana. It isn't un-Americans to dislike them, but the Beach Boys have to one of the acts most identifiable with America. Their music seems to continue to make millions of people around the world happy.

[Chip Z'Hoy]

Not to get too up their asses, and up my own ass, but the Beach Boys are America. Brian Wilson was the sensitive, forward-thinking one; Mike Love was the conservative capitalist. Brian wants to make Smile; Mike wants to go back to "Fun, Fun, Fun."

And like the United States, the Beach Boys were only functional when these two elements worked together. You go in one direction, you got B-Dubs writing songs about vegetables and exercise. The other direction, you get "Summer of Love": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBFsJk6PWu0

Even as a RADICAL LEFTIST MARXIST, I can appreciate that this balance is necessary.

[Wiseacre]

Not to get too up their asses, and up my own ass, but the Beach Boys are America. Brian Wilson was the sensitive, forward-thinking one; Mike Love was the conservative capitalist. Brian wants to make Smile; Mike wants to go back to "Fun, Fun, Fun."

And like the United States, the Beach Boys were only functional when these two elements worked together. You go in one direction, you got B-Dubs writing songs about vegetables and exercise. The other direction, you get "Summer of Love": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBFsJk6PWu0

Even as a RADICAL LEFTIST MARXIST, I can appreciate that this balance is necessary.

somebody please turn the firehose on this dirty hippie STAT

[MotleyKaos]

Now playing: The Beach Boys Love You

There are several songs on here that I think are really catchy and amazing ("Mona," "Good Time," "The Night Was So Young") and then a couple that are so odd and disturbing I never want to hear them again EVER ("Roller Skating Child," "I Wanna Pick You Up").

The sound of a band whose golden goose is completely out to lunch. There's a bridge that goes "Pat pat pat pat pat her on her butt."

The first time I listened to this album (maybe a year ago?) I loved it (so I guess I reciprocated the "Love You" haha)! But then I listened to it again recently driving with my daughter in the car, and there was just so much cringe. My favorites from this album remain: "The Night Was So Young", "I'll Bet He's Nice", and "Airplane". I enjoy the exchange of lead vocals on "I'll Bet He's Nice" between Dennis (who's probably drunk, damaged voice at this point), Brian (voice damaged by smoking and insanity and Landy), and Carl (probably on something at this point too).

The whole album is like a fever dream, really. That said, I hear that Adult/Child, which would have been the next album (maybe), continues the madness. I'll get around to checking it out on YouTube at some point.

[Chip Z'Hoy]

But then I listened to it again recently driving with my daughter in the car, and there was just so much cringe.

Yeah, I bet!

[Metal Sludge]

I never really think about if I like The Beach Boys or not.
It's more like it's just ingrained.
I've known their music my entire life...it's just there.
The tunes are catchy, you know all the songs, you sing along, they're just fun I guess.

[FOON]

They are Keepin’ The Summer Alive, you goddamn commies!

[MotleyKaos]

They are Keepin’ The Summer Alive, you goddamn commies!

Cool album cover...but from what I hear, NOT a good album!

[MotleyKaos]

I feel about The Beach Boys similar to how I feel about The Beatles. Most people know about that initial period for both bands: the "Fun, Fun, Fun"/"Surfin USA" surf music for The Beach Boys and "I Wanna Hold Your Hand"/"She Loves You" pop rock for The Beatles. If you want to listen to the Rubber Soul/Revolver/Sgt. Pepper's type albums of The Beach Boys, then check out Pet Sounds, Smiley Smile (or any Smile sessions compilation for "what could have been?" that you can find on YouTube), Wild Honey, Friends, 20/20, Sunflower, Surf's Up, Carl and the Passions "So Tough", and Holland.

It's not until after Holland that The Beach Boys begin to slide into an "oldies" act phase with 15 Big Ones (though "It's OK" is an absolute banger!). Then, you have the very odd Love You (released) and Adult/Child (unreleased, again YouTube) before sliding head first into a more Mike Love-led "oldies" act period forevermore.

I think that about covers it. If you want to try the post-Love You stuff, I hear they're not all that bad (s/t from the 80s has "Getcha Back")...but stay far, far, FAR away from Summer in Paradise!

[purple70rt]

If you dislike the Beach Boys, ICE should come take you from your home.

I agree

[greengoblinrulz]

I dont know if there is any music that I hate
To hate it, I'd have to listen to it first
I dont like rap in any way & most of the newer country Im not a fan of either......but hate??
Takes too much effort

[AnthonyFocxsFogMachine]

You go in one direction, you got B-Dubs writing songs about vegetables and exercise. The other direction, you get "Summer of Love": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBFsJk6PWu0

Never heard/seen "Summer of Love" before. Good Lord that is next-level cringe.

And I second that a)Brian Wilson is a genius and b)Mike Love is a marginally talented money grubbing douchebag

[Nobodyspecial]

You don't have to like them, but if you can't acknowledged their greatness then you are a fool.

[Tommy2Tone84]

The deeper I got into Brian Wilson and learning about how he understands music, and how he interprets it, the more I got into the Beach Boys.

I'm a huge Beatles fan, I might listen to them every day, but I don't think Lennon was a genius. I like Dylan almost as much--not a genius. Both brilliant, but I don't think they had that God-given thing where they understood music and songwriting on a superhuman level like Brian Wilson did.

Also, the Beach Boys is just this great American family tragedy. Charlie Manson got involved at one point. Shit was nuts.

You could say the Beach Boys, symbolically, is the ultimate American band. So much of their music is "Aw shucks, let's drive cars" and "Boy is she foxy!" but then under the surface is this misery and decay.

Dennis Wilson, THE surfer dude, drowned. That's America right there.

Well said. If The Beatles had anything close to Brian’s genius it would be Paul. But Brian was on a different spectrum literally and metaphorically. A really sad and tragic story.

I like The Beach Boys but they’ll never be The Beatles.

Manson dragged The Beatles into his sphere of influence too with his Helter Skelter bs. It’s too bad that guy never got a bullet to the head.

[pieceofme]

Even more so now.

[greengoblinrulz]

Way to jinx them