The Beach Boys – The Beach Boys Today!

A great album, when The Beach Boys started coming into their own. Less surf, more thoughts on love, the pains of heartbreak and betrayal.

this album makes me want to smash my head into the wall so hard i break through to the other side

Mine has the T1-2269-P3P etched on side 1 and T2-2269-T4P, not seeing that listed anywhere.

Can anyone please assist me in finding out which release I have? The matrix on side A is marked T1-2269-G4 #8, which seems to reflect correctly on a Canadian release. A side B matrix on the Canadian release should read T2-2269-F1. The matrix on side B on the copy I own is marked as T2-2269-G2 with a triangle marking that says "I AM", which reflects a US pressing from Scranton. ???? Confusion.

Their eighth studio album, predates "Pet Sounds" by one album. Features more mature themes with tracks "Please Let Me Wonder", "When I Grow Up" and "She Knows Me Too Well". More commercially palatable than PS but definitely hints at things to come.

Considered by many as the first "serious" Beach Boys album. The pre-cursor to "Pet Sounds". Recorded at a time when Brian Wilson was beginning to focus all his attention on the music and recording/producing in the studio. The first album to be released after his famous (or infamous) nervous breakdown and after he decided to no longer tour with the group. In my opinion, "Today!" is hands down tied for second best Beach Boys album (tied with "Summer Days!!" and way better than "Pet Sounds".

The general "concept" of the album is rather simple. One side full of rocking, upbeat, "stereotyped", Beach Boys songs. The second side comprised of more slower, emotional, "serious" Beach Boys songs/ballads. The flow of the album sounds wonderful in this track configuration. The album's second side lays all the groundwork and foundation for "Pet Sounds". Brian Wilson would take these same concepts, and only expand on it further and to the fullest a year later.

Unfortunately on such a "perfect" album, there are once again "flaws". it's from, the novelty/filler track. The album concludes with a radio interview of the group talking about playing in Europe. As they discuss Europe we hear the group opening up fast food wrappers/bags. The topic of discussion now shifts as the group makes sure they got their burger orders right. Imagine "Pet Sounds" concluding with this track. This would be even more obsurd and confusing as the dogs barking and the train passing by (which doesnt bother me in the least bit). After that, the only other thing is that the single version of "Help Me Rhonda" (released on "Summer Days!!") is way far superior than the one that appears here.

None the less, 5/5. A novelty track and early version of a song is not enough to bring any decline of quality to an album that serves so much significant importance to the group.

This is one of their very best albums. The perfect predecessor to Pet Sounds.

Brian Wilson at his best