Music Review: Beach Boys - M.I.U. Album
Published May 12, 2008
“Kona Coast” brings the Beach Boys back to Hawaii for a pleasant upbeat romp. This song is one of the Beach Boys best post 1960’s beach songs. Simple lyrics and full harmonies over a bouncy beat make it almost the 60’s again.
Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue” was an interesting choice for the Beach Boys to record. The lead vocal and song structure remain loyal to the original release. The Beach Boys, however, layer in some great harmonies and a superb lead guitar to effectively change the listening experience of this classic rock & roll song.
“Belles” Of Paris” features an odd muted vocal by Mike Love that is an effective counterpoint again some very high vocal harmonies. The song is a tad weird for the Beach Boys but ultimately interesting.
The only real misses are “My Diane” which is a dirge like song to Brian Wilson’s soon to be ex-wife and “Match Point Of Our Love’ which harps back to the uncomfortable simplicity of the Beach Boys Love You album. Even the songs that don’t quite measure up like “Hey Little Tomboy, Wontcha Come Out Tonight” and “Sweet Sunday Kind Of Love” are inoffensive.
M.I.U. Album needs to be listened to on its own terms which admittedly is very difficult to do. It is by no means a great album but Al Jadine’s production and his ability to layer in traditional Beach Boys harmonies over some catchy melodies are its saving grace. The ability of the Beach Boys to pull together and actually produce this album may have saved their career.
- Music Review: Beach Boys - M.I.U. Album
- Published: May 12, 2008
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Pop, Music: Rock
- Part of a feature: The Discographer
- Writer: David Bowling
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A few points to quibble on.
Kona Coast is pretty much a clone of the earlier Beach Boys song, Hawaii (especially the end tag). So having it as a highlight and comparing it to the Sixties catalog isn't off base, but it's not really revealing. It's more of an indicator of all the recycling the Beach Boys were going to do the next several years.
And My Diane is to Brian's soon-to-be-ex-wife's sister. He was married to Marilyn Rovell, not Diane. He had romantic feelings for, and apparently liaisons with, Diane. That much is true.
And why would Belles of Paris be rated better than My Diane? Dennis Wilson's vocals on Diane surely bring some emotive quality the other songs lack. And dirges aren't too common in the Beach Boys canon, so gotta give it some credit for effort. "Belles of Paris" has some pretty wretched lyrics, too, let's not forget. (Though it's mighty catchy, I won't refute that.)
Just my two cents.