Flipper's Ways Died Last Night

Overall Album Score: 9.3 out of 10

I am differing from the general critical consensus and saying that this is a better album than Today!. I can't explain it any further than I just enjoy this album more. There were a few ballads and such that I didn't like so much in Today!, but I consider this to be a much more even album. Furthermore, I do like the novelty value of this album. They came off as very serious in Today! but they're having more fun here it seems.

Most critics claim that this album is a step backwards for them. They do seem to revisit many of the songs they've already done away with such as the novelty tracks (notably "Amusement Parks U.S.A.") and even the instrumentals ("Summer Means New Love"). But I pointedly disagree with their assessment. If anything, Brian Wilson (the only real genius of the group) is even more on top of his game with his immensely creative song arrangements! Summer Days & Summer Nights effectively brings back all the fun of the early Beach Boys albums, but without all that triteness. The only track I dislike on the album in any remote sense is "I'm Bugged at My Ol' Man," but the hilarious lyrics end up winning me over.

Also, they don't repeat that mistake (IMO) of lumping five ballads together. That was a bit much for me!!! Last, and certainly not least, this album doesn't have one of their "studio chatter" noises. That can only be considered a benefit.

Even if I'm wrong about this album being better, I'd argue until I'm blue at the mouth that "California Girls" completely blows away anything the Beach Boys had done previously. That song is an absolute gem, and easily in this group's Top 5. Don't even try to argue with that, or I might punch you in the mouth. I'm usually not such an aggressive person! Hey, I'll defend the Beach Boys against anyone who dares challenge me to a fight!!

Gosh, every single one of these tracks are amazing. The instrumentation is just perfect. Oh, and you do realize this is the album that precedes Pet Sounds (as long as you rightfully omit their studio-demanded throwaway Party!).

Overall Album Score: 9.3 out of 10 (The production is even better than their previous effort, and the songwriting is tops. There isn't one bad track here.)

Average Song Score: 9.4 (The Beach Boys are at a songwriting high here. Absolutely spellbinding music. Even the supposedly throwaway stuff is great.)

Album Tilt: 9.0 (It's only brought down since it didn't end as well as it started.)

Artist Rating: 9.5 (The instrumentation is brought to levels these guys never tried before --- there's some exciting stuff on here for fans for art-rock.)

Track Reviews

The Girl From New York City 9.5/10

The first thing that struck me about "The Girl From New York City" is it sounded a lot like a Frank Zappa track from Cruising With Reuben and the Jets. Except, naturally, the Beach Boys version was serious and much better. It's a fun song and highly energetic. Unlike much of the Beach Boys material during their early period, this hasn't dated badly. The instrumentation is enjoyable and very refined.

Amusement Parks U.S.A. 9.5/10

You would think that this was a bad throwback to their earlier period (after all the advances they made with Today!) just due to its novelty. But this really is a very refined song. That groove the organ playing in the background sounds almost menacing to me ... that's certainly a far cry from the impression I got from their previous albums. Even the play acting in the middle of the track doesn't come off that badly. I enjoy this song very much.

Then I Kissed Her 10/10

Oh, the beautiful melodies! This is more of a heavy rocker and I fall in love with the percussion, especially those light clicks we hear. Musically, this is very Beach Boys, but Brian Wilson sure learned a thing or two about song production... What a revolutionary. Nobody in 1965 was layering sounds like this. Not even The Beatles.

Salt Lake 9.5/10

This one is another heavily produced masterpiece! Oh, Beach Boys fans probably hate me for this. Musically, this is very early Beach Boys, but the song production is heavily creative and completely nailed. The xylophone we hear lightly in the background gives this song such a unique texture. The dark saxophone was awesome too... That combined with a catchy melody is just sheer musical heaven.

Girl Don't Tell Me 8.5/10

This track is weaker compared to the others, but I'm still enjoying the hell out of it. The melody is wonderful, but it's not that catchy compared to its 'big brothers.' The vocal performance is a little annoying to me. Again, the instrumentation saves it (with the light xylophone) but it's not nearly as complex as the others. I'd never call this a throwaway track, but it's weaker for these guys during this era.

Help Me, Rhonda! 10/10

Oh, the heavenly catchiness! OK, I'd normally pretend to go ape-crazy at the addition of this song because they already included this in their previous album. Who likes a repeat? But at least they took the occasion to improve this song. It sounds much crisper and tighter here. It was good in Today!, but it's better here. Plus, they got rid of that annoying volume-change thing that plagued the original. This song is classic!!

California Girls 10plus/10

Maybe the real reason I consider this album to be such a masterpiece is that I have such a fondness for "California Girls." The introduction to the song was rather unusual for the era ... it was classical inspired and had nothing to do with the main melody. It points directly to Pet Sounds. I'm also calling this track the Beach Boy's best song pre-Pet Sounds for reasons not only because of the flawless and beautifully lush instrumentation, but the melody is also catchy and utterly heavenly. If you don't know this song by heart already, then there's something wrong with you!!!!!!! GAAAHHH!!!!!!

Let Him Run Wild 10/10

I love this beautiful ballad!!! It would be hard to follow-up that previous song, but the Beach Boys pull that off like samurai masters. This track has those beautifully haunting melody these guys are famous for. The development of the song is flawless ... it has a more thoughtful contemplative section and a more upbeat part...... Gosh, Brian Wilson is a genius.

You're So Good to Me 9/10

This is probably not one of the album's highlights, but who can argue that it isn't charmingly unusual. Those loudly thumping drums certainly seem unusual for the day, and those guitars produce an interesting effect. The melody is just great, though. The "lah-lah-lah's" are interesting in the sense that they sound almost self-parodical. But it's too engaging to really consider it as such.

Summer Means New Love 8.5/10

One thing I never cared about the Beach Boys earlier albums was the meaningless instrumentals they'd always do. But that stuff is even much better and even welcome here with "Summer Means New Love." Those choppy guitar chords almost has a new wave effect ... The lead melody is what makes this a nice song... It's quite catchy. The instrumentation is very smart, and I love the violins in particular!

I'm Bugged At My Ol' Man 8/10

OK here's the worst song of the album. This has easily the most cliche melody of the album. The instrumentation is uncharacteristically sparse ... consisting of just a piano pounding. The lyrics are very funny, though. It's basically a "white rich teenagers' blues." It's like a pre-Weird Al novelty song. I never thought the Beach Boys were very witty, but this song makes me laugh out loud. Musically, it's very out of place here.

And Your Dreams Come True 9/10

This song isn't the best ending I would have hoped for! But at the very least, it's brief. There is no instrumentation here at all; it's just the Beach Boys singing a cappella. Well, they're excellent at harmonizing, at least, and the song is only 1 minute. I would have liked something a little more amazing, but ........ Well, this was a great album anyway and I'm still stoked about that!!!

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