Album Review 2: The Beach Boys

Cool review. I absolutely love Holland, it is great in that it shows that the Beach Boys weren't just Brian Wilson, it was a real group effort that showcased what all the other band members could do. I think the addition of Ricky Fataar and Blondie Chaplin bought a lot to the Beach Boys, they had a R'n'B background and an innate musicality that added an interesting rawness and aggression to the band. You pose an interesting question as to what the band would have sounded like had they continued in the Holland vein, I can only wish they had. I recommend any fans who dig this era of Beach Boys get the 'In Concert' album from around this time if they have not already done so, it contains several flaming versions of cuts from Holland that actually improve on the originals.PS Not sure if Only with You is a better track than Forever!

Thanks for the wonderful and informative review. I've only recently discovered Holland and think it's fantastic. I really enjoyed hearing your take on it.

This is one of my favorite Beach Boys Albums, this is so far ahead of its time until Mike Love hijacked them and turned them into a has been oldies Surf band.

Nice BB collection mate!

Love the review. Thanks. My al time favourite album. This period was their best, by far.

Classic and criminally underrated album. Thanks for the review, really enjoyed it.

I compare Only with you, with the song from 1979 Lady Lynda, a Beautiful ballad. Both are Very passionate ballads, but you were right they had tough times, but the beachb oys Came out with great songs that Should have peaked but just Didn't. its a great Review, I do like the California Saga some Songs you really gotta think about the Song. But Endless Summer ruined a potentially Good Experimental music, and the Beach boys became a Nostalgia Group sadly.

Their last great album.Good on you

Bravo! I'm impressed, you totally nailed it. Makes me want to pull my Blondie signed copy out and give it a spin

I wish they would have continued moving in this direction. But Brian went down hill, and Endless Summer hit big. Dennis Wilson's solo album Pacific Ocean Blue gives a sense of where they mighthave gone after Holland. Steamboat would have fit nicely on Dark Side of the Moon! I disagree with you on the California Saga. I love all 3 parts. Funky Pretty gives a sense of the Love You type vibe. Mt Vernon and Fairway is fantastic though I have to be in the mood.

WHat happened to the EP that came with the album, giggens?

Good review Giggens. So many people miss this great album! Steamboat. Funky Pretty. Sailor. Saga. Only with You. Pretty good. Marcella is my all time Beach Boys' song. I know it's on 'Passions,' but you get the point. Hey, where did you buy your record shelves? I can't seem to find one for all my vinyl. Keep up the great work!

The ironic thing about the single Sail on Sailor was I remember it being played the 2nd time around in 1975 when it was released again a whole lot more than when it was issued the first time around in 1973. For my their last truly great statement.

Great review man, fully agree with everything you said. 'Holland' has always been a favourite of mine. I'd like to hear your thoughts on the 'Surf's Up' album too. Keep it up!

Very well said man, great video!

I just love this album. My favorites are The traider, Only with you, California Saga and Steamboat. Perfect album. Ahhh and I love the cover as well. Great review, mate!

Nicely done.

You got it right. It's a classic. Pity they didn't kick on from there but i guess their legacy was like a black hole that they couldn't escape. Thanks for the review.

Have to say, I do agree with this. In my youth in the 1960's, I loved the BBs, like everyone else, for I Get Around etc... Then I came across Surf's Up, which is a superb album. That was the catalyst for me to buy everything from Pet Sounds upto Holland. This is easily their best era. Some of it is astonishing music. So emotional, so poetic. They were absolutely the only ones doing this, and it is almost always beautiful stuff.

Holland sounds like it was recorded in Rembrandt light. It's got a really 'woody' (not wooden), homey timbral quality. It's worth cherishing, not only for that quality, but because it fully showcases the fully-realized talents of the other Beach Boys besides Brian.

Giggens is right. Holland is a warm, surreal, often poetic, and thoroughly beautiful record that gives lie to the notion that Brian Wilson alone is the Beach Boys, or even the only talented member of the band.

I've been a fan of the Beach Boys since I was eight. I discovered them during their early to mid 70's comeback, and because of Endless Summer. However, my interest in them didn't stop there, and in the waning days of vinyl, procured all of their original studio albums. Aside from Pet Sounds, my hands-down favorite material is the stuff from what I like to call 'the wilderness years'--that period of time between the collapse of 'Smile' and the emergence of 'Endless Summer'. That period of time when they were no longer fashionable, had lost their rudder, and actually, for the first time, had a great deal to prove.

And they would have proved it if America had been listening. All of the albums from this period have something to recommend them. Some of it is very strange, some of it very personal, some of it blatant attempts at radio play, very little of it bad.
Sadly, thanks to the resurgence in popularity of their early-sixties material, the world would soon forget this music ever existed.

Thanks, Giggens. The review was thoughtful, and very well-informed.

Album Review 2: The Beach Boys - Holland

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