The Beach Boys Today! - Memorable Music Classic Albums

Brian Wilson had stopped touring so that he could relieve some of the pressures on himself, and this astounding album was the result. Not merely innovative and commercial, but it also began to move the Beach Boys in a completely new direction, with side two of the album filled with lush, introspective ballads which would foreshadow the germinating "Pet Sounds" of the following year. Starting off with a ripping version of Bobby Sherman's "Do You Wanna Dance?" it's followed by a galloping original: "Good to My Baby" (which contains one of my favorite choruses), and slightly lesser "Don't Hurt My Little Sister." "When I Grow Up (To Be A Man)" is a perceptive and mature masterpiece, and then side one closes with one-two punch of "Help Me Ronda," and Brian's "Dance, Dance, Dance" (which easily equals the opening number.) Side two is the jaw-dropper, starting off with two similar pieces, "Please Let Me Wonder," and "I'm So Young," both of which are sung from a teenager's point of view, pondering the mysteries of love. My favorite song on the whole album, however is the underrated "Kiss Me Baby," a Spectorian ballad that is lyrically and musically perfect. "She Knows Me Too Well" follows and is almost equal to the previous number. Closing out the album is the challenging "In the Back of My Mind" (with Dennis on the lead vocal), and the bizarre closer, "Bull Session with Big Daddy;" a faux studio interview with Earl Leaf and some hungry Beach Boys.