Search - Beach Boys :: Friends

Great Music To Cuddle Up To

cindy harvey | 04/10/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What an amazing little album. What an amazing little surprise.I'm not your typical "Beach Boys" fan- as a matter of fact, this album was kind of forced on me by my over zealous husband. I'm glad he did. I can't believe what a friendly, warm, soothing little record this is. I play it at home after everyone has left for the day and it's just me and the music. What a comforting little opus Brian and his friends have created.Not at all what you'd expect. The songs are so pretty and light. I reccomend this to everyone. It has become my very favorite Cd.Highlights are the title track, "Little Bird" and "Busy Doin' Nothin'". What a far cry from "Fun, Fun, Fun"! Brian has incorporated a Bossa-Nova beat into some of the songs, while a couple others are flat-out waltzes! And they all work! They're all incorporated into this one, fantastic, albeit short, gem of an album.I don't mean to gush, I just want to share this wonderful nugget with everyone."

The Beach Boys as an ensemble group debuts

sml17 | Pleasantville, USA | 04/20/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Following the band's "heyday" of commercial success, under the brilliant direction of Brian Wilson, the band's output became more collaborat- ive, with all band members becoming producers/ songwriters, and not just Brian. This album is the first strong result of the last thirty years of the Beach Boys' career. Drummer-turned-composer Dennis Wilson comes out strongly here, with "Little Bird" and a score of others over the next fifteen years. Bruce Johnston and Al Jardine also begin to shine, with Carl Wilson ready to explode on the next album, 20/20. The band's collaborative apex, Sunflower, is the third in a string of monumental artistic works, begun with Friends. The Beach Boys, at this point in their career, became "surfing Doris Days", being type- cast as surf-rockers and losing all commercial viability. In reality, their music is more in tune with the drop out hippie style than the music the hippies really listened to. Here you hear the peace, love, non-competition, and all-inclusive acceptance that the movement espoused, without the trite hippie lyrics (except for "Transcendental Meditation") or acid-tinged instrumentation that came with the movement. Listen, relax, and enjoy."

Dennis proves he's a major talent

RCapella | 07/11/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is remarkable for its juxtaposition of playful Brian Wilson-penned tracks and sensitive Dennis Wilson compositions (his first on a Beach Boys album). "Friends" has a wonderful melody, even if the lyrics are goofy. "Be Here in the Morning" is just fun to sing along to. "Busy Doin' Nothin'" gives actual directions to Brian's house, and has a wonderful melody, arrangement, and one of my favorite Brian vocals. "Little Bird" is Dennis Wilson showing that the messed-up middle brother has a soul, and an incredible talent, too. He definitely paid attention to big brother Brian! This album is a "must have" for any serious music fan!"