Shutdown v.1.4

Overall Album Score: 7.8 out of 10

So whatever happened to Shut Down Vol. 1? Yes, that album exists, but we don't need to worry about it. It was apparently a compilation the record company threw together that featuring songs from many artists about cars. The Beach Boys had a few songs, but they were already released. And, all that's left is this very confusing album title!

Oh well, let's talk about the material in the album. Fortunately for us, this isn't another instance where the studios padded the album with already released songs. But this album sure is padded with a lot of unnecessary material, which is frustratingly what keeps this album from breaking the 8.0 barrier on my rating system! Nothing could be as bad as the faked stage antics in ""Cassius" Love Vs. "Sonny Wilson"," which sounds positively embarrassing, and they even go so far as to add a drum solo in "Denny's Drums," which probably isn't better than any random drummer could probably do it. Meh!

But let's concentrate more on the good side of the album! Right away, the album begins with one of the group's more popular tunes "Fun, Fun, Fun" which is an excellently catchy pop rock number. Immediately, they follow that up with a heartmelting ballad "Don't Worry Baby" (which for some reason isn't that famous) that uses the Boys' melodic and harmonic skills perfectly. They manage to even top the harmony sequences with "The Warmth of the Sun" although the melody leaves a little bit to be desired.

Oh, there's so much great material on this album! One thing I notice in terms of the band progression..... The arrangements are getting more creative! Yes, we've seen this hint already in Surfer Girl, but the progress continues to occur ....... Notice especially "Pom Pom Girl." It probably would have been an averagely good song for the Beach Boys, but Brian Wilson (I assume) adds timpani hits and unusual clapping. Slightly weird if you ask me, but completely compelling. Yes ......... I believe these guys are onto some better times! ........... Actually, they're already there, but they just need to get rid of all that filler!

Overall Album Score: 7.8 out of 10 (The "great album" continues to escape the Beach Boys. But, naturally, some of these songs are completely priceless!)

Average Song Score: 7.8 (The great moments are golden! The Beach Boys really have their songwriting skills down here ... unfortunately, there's a lot of nonsense too.)

Album Tilt: 7.5 (Very spotty. The bad parts are too noticable.)

Artist Rating: 8.0 (I'm really noticing some neat things these guys are doing. Some of these songs might have been below average, but their creativity makes them better.)

Track Reviews

Fun, Fun, Fun 9.5/10

The classic Chuck Berry "Johnny B. Goode" sequence begins this enjoyable Beach Boys rock song. OK, it's not the Beach Boys' most original song, but it's a classic song anyway! The melody is infalliable... The rhythm has a nice "chugging" to it, which seems like an improvement over what I remember from their debut album. There's a nice electric organ solo in here to give it spirit. It's a classic!

Don't Worry Baby 10/10

Just to prove that these guys' strength was always ballads, they follow up their hit with this absolutely spellbinding piece. The song strikes me as sounding too '50s like I criticized their earlier ballads for sounding like. But this time, this one has that "Beach Boys" sense about it. It's personalized to the Beach Boys, and that's why it can stand the test of time.

In the Parking Lot 9/10

This is a memorable song ... I went to that Brian Wilson concert 18 months ago. I never heard this song when I went to the concert, but I remember clearly that he sang this song. OK, it's a lot like "Fun Fun Fun" and probably not as strong, so I can't give it such a high score. I like that there's a ballad-like introduction to the song that seemingly has little to do with the "rocking" body of it. That seems pretty complex!

"Cassius" Love Vs. "Sonny" Wilson 5/10

This type of nonsense is what keeps this album from being a classic for these guys. They were off to a great start with the first three tracks ... but this throws a wrench in the wheel and ruins the whole experience. It's so bad that I sometimes remember this song more than the others!!! This song is a clearly staged "insight" into how the Beach Boys goofed off during practice. Only, this obviously isn't how they really acted... Nobody acts like this unless they're on the Mickey Mouse club. (Oh, and goofing around with the "Mickey Mouse" singing wasn't necessary either.) We all know the Beach Boys all took themselves pretty seriously ... this doesn't convince anyone otherwise.

The Warmth of the Sun 9.5/10

Yay, back to the real ballads! You can tell right here, with the fourth 9+ song on here, these guys really have their craft down well. This song is as harmonically rich as anything they would do up until Pet Sounds (although melodically this is a slightly different story). Oh, those heavenly voices are enough to untangle every mess that's in your brain!!!

This Car of Mine 7/10

Pretty banal here. It's obvious this group needed to get away from such songs ... there's no passion in this song at all. It's just a chugged-out song without a memorable melody. Even the fade-out at the ending is sloppy. (Fade-outs are one thing, but when it still sounds sloppy, you have problems.) The good sense was they kept it under two minutes.

Why Do Fools Fall in Love 8/10

This is a '50s cover ....... they really needed to get away from these songs. But at least they give the song some life with their trademark vocal harmonies. It doesn't save the melody, which is mostly trite, but I love the voices! They even add some, what I perceive, rather unusual percussion. It sounds like someone's shaking spoons!

Pom Pom Girl 8.5/10

Cutesy but kind of fun in its own way. The melody is fine, but it sounds like it was recycled from earlier Beach Boys compositions. The nice quality we're getting here is the instrumentation is kind of interesting. Those timapani hits and the funny clapping noises were an excellent and pretty innovative touch. The same thing goes with the dialogue as the song fades out. This is an energetic song with some funny vocal performances. I like it!

Shut Down Part 2 7/10

The best thing about this instrumental track is that counting that begins the song and then the horn that toots eight times. It's strange ... and somehow I like it. It seems to be another hint at their future. After that point, however, it's just another derivitive "surf-style" instrumental track that we heard a bit too much in their earlier albums.

Louie Louie 7/10

They're getting really pointless here by covering this famous old song. The vocal bass work is annoying (especially that stupid sounding vocal acting as the bass). This is obviously more filler, I guess because the studio wouldn't give them enough time to work out this album. Whatever.

Denny's Drums 5/10

.................That's right, this is a drum solo. They're really hurting for filler material. He's not really a great drummer. I'd rather listen to the neighbor kid.

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