Sunday 24 September 2017

Wild Honey – THE BEACH BOYS****

Wild Honey/Aren’t You Glad/I Was Made To Love Her/Country Air/A Thing Or Two/Darlin’/I’d Love Just Once To See You/Here Comes The Night/Let The Wind Blow/How She Boogalooed It/Mama Says

After the experimentation of the two previous albums The Beach Boys return to what they do best - simple melodic pop songs. Wild Honey includes the US top twenty hit single Darlin'. (US:19 UK:11)

"While it may lack the sophistication of Pet Sounds and the weirdness of the psychedelic, Smiley Smile, Wild Honey makes up for it by being filled with amazing, 100% pop songs. This is an incredibly solid release of psych-pop music."

"Wild Honey had a looser, funkier feel than any previous Beach Boys efforts, at times approaching a kind of bleached-out white soul. The resulting music is often quite pleasant, for the great harmonies if nothing else, but the material and arrangements are thinner than they had been for a long time."

"All these songs are infinitely playable, but one stands out above all - Darlin', my all time favourite Beach Boys song. The wonderful chorus, Carl's fantastic lead vocal, and the overall sound of the song which immediately brings a smile to my face...simply perfect."

"Short, sweet and playful, this modest collection of effortless pop might not deliver on the promise of Pet Sounds but its take on white soul has a sunny, domestic charm to it that’s irresistible. The unadorned production is a great antidote to hermetic studio indulgence and the psychedelic trappings of the day, which makes this, in its own way, a rather bold release for its time."

"It has always been one of my favourite Beach Boys records. Darlin' is essential, as is the magnificent title track. Aren't You Glad sparkles and I'd Love Just Once To See You is about as sweet a rock and roll song as you will ever hear. It's not a masterpiece in the way that Pet Sounds is, but it is an excellent record and a great collection of tunes."

"One could deem this a step backwards from the grandiose production techniques of Pet Sounds and even Smiley Smile. But further listening reveals this as a great offering of contemporary R & B and blue-eyed soul."

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