Beach Boys

Surf's Up - 1971

From its iconic cover to the madcap collection of tunes within it, Surf's Up tipifies the Beach Boys' attitude of the early 1970s. Much like the previous year's Sunflower LP, Brian Wilson's contributions here are limited, however a couple of those "Til I Die" and the title track, are bonafide masterpieces. Thankfully, brother Carl really steps up with a couple of mini-masterpieces of his own in "Long Promised Road" and "Feel Flows", while Bruce Johnston chips in the lovely sappy "Disney Girls (1957)". Those who hate Mike Love (guilty as charged) will find their justification here with his contribution "Student Demonstration Time" -- an after-the-fact protest rave up complete with megaphone vocals and fake police sirens -- the only stinker on an otherwise spectacular LP that is the first in the unofficial The Last Great Beach Boys Album series.

Sunflower/Surf's Up - The Beac...