Published on Oct 26, 2005
In
the last episode of “Jeff Reviews
The Beach Boys,” our intrepid heroes were being torn to shreds for
their terrible album
Smiley Smile, an album that kept me from considering other
Beach Boys releases. However, I stepped off that ledge and fell
into
Sunflower. Not only does this album restore my faith in the
Beach Boys, but also my overall opinion of the band has grown
stronger.
By 1970, those carefree surfin’ days were over for the Wilson
brothers. Commercial success was fleeting;
Sunflower would peak at #151 on the Billboard charts.
Unfortunately, what the public missed out on was a return to form
for The Beach Boys. In fact, one could make the argument that
Sunflower and
Surf’s Up were the last artistically viable albums from the
group. That alone makes
Sunflower worth a purchase.
From the get-go,
Sunflower instantly recalls the glory years of the group.
Tight, soaring harmonies ooze from every track on the album. Echoes
of the immaculate production of
Pet Sounds can be heard. However, the most impressive
feature of
Sunflower is that it is so strong. Every band member got
into the writing process, and Dennis Wilson’s or Bruce Johnston’s
songs hold their own against the contributions of genius Brian
Wilson.
The strongest moments reside on the first half of
Sunflower. Starting things up is “Slip On Through,” one of
Dennis Wilson’s best Beach Boy efforts. It rocks more than you’d
think the Beach Boys were capable of and showcases a strong chorus.
However, nothing on the album compares to “This Whole World.” It’s
only about two minutes, but it perfectly encapsulates what Brian
Wilson was all about. Striking chord changes, unique production,
and one of the best a cappella tags I have ever heard. As the
voices of the Beach Boys surround you and fill the room, it is pure
transcendence. It is a triumph to music in general and adds to the
legend of Brian Wilson.
As I said, Bruce Johnstone contributes some lovely tracks.
“Tears In The Morning” has a world-music influence to it with
traces of American pop and French love songs; it’s all superb. “Our
Sweet Love” is Carl Wilson at his best; no one could touch his
falsetto, while “Forever” is what Beach Boy fans consider to be
Dennis Wilson’s “God Only Knows.” While not as breathtaking as the
former, it is a gorgeous ballad, slipping into a stunning, ethereal
refrain. “Add Some Music To Your Day,” is probably the best group
effort from The Beach Boys. Every member gets to sing lead and it’s
truly a showcase of the group’s enormous vocal talent.
So, is there anything not to like? The last track “Cool Cool
Water” is a dud. Fragments of the
SMiLE sessions were pieced together to form an ode to the
boys’ “favorite group of molecules.” Vocally it’s gorgeous, but it
doesn’t fit in with the overall sound. “At My Window” is a track
I’d love to listen to over and over again, save for the 10-15
second Spanish speaking interval, where some Beach Boy (I think
it’s Brian) just randomly speaks in Spanish. It is these little
quirks the can ruin songs for me. They are wholly unnecessary.
Other than that, the song itself is musically sound.
Sunflower makes up for
Smiley Smile on some level, which is amazing considering my
opinions on that “album.” If you think The Beach Boys died in the
’60s, think again. They managed to stave off mediocrity for a
little while longer, and
Sunflower is a testament to that.