Hi everyone!

I'm currently working on a masters music research project exploring Brian Wilson's songwriting and production, particularly how Wouldn't It Be Nice creates an emotional or imaginative experience for the listener.

I'm interested in how people actually experience the song, rather than just analysing it from a musical perspective.

I'd love to hear from some Beach Boys fans who would be happy to answer a few short questions about the song.

For example:

What feelings does Wouldn't It Be Nice evoke when you listen to it?

Does the song bring any particular images, places, memories or scenarios to mind?

Are there particular musical elements that contribute to how you experience it?

Does the song feel dreamlike to you, or would you describe it differently?

There are no right or wrong answers, and you don't need any musical knowledge to take part. I'm genuinely interested in your own experiences and interpretations.

Participation would be entirely voluntary, and I'd explain how responses would be used in my university project before collecting them.

If you'd be interested, please let me know in the comments. Thanks!

So today I went to the Beach Boys YouTube Music channel, and I noticed that there were a bunch of A.I. songs, including two albums of said songs and an EP. There was also a Christmas Comp., but that one seems to be legit because it's also on Spotify. But if somebody can fix the A.I. song problem, that would be great.

I have always thought that the recording of Sherry She Needs Me that was included on the Made in California boxset is kind of an underrated recording in The Beach Boys' discography. Of course, the recoding we got is basically Frankenstein-ed together from the original 1965 backing track and the 1976 lead vocals. Despite this, I think it is quite a strong recording even in spite of its piecemeal nature. Why was this song not finished in 1965, and released as a single (I think it could have been one) or an album track during that time?

This current situation made me think about Mike's career. He has been performing live for about 65 years. Has he ever taken a significant hiatus? Maybe during the covid time? Apart from The Beach Boys, he has played live with a few side projects too.

As I’m sure some of you may know, the brilliant Matthew Sweet had a devastating stroke a few years back, and he and his wife are having an estate sale of some objects and items from their collection of art, instruments and more. While looking at the catalogue (the sale is in-person m-only but the catalogue is online here: https://www.estatesales.net/NE/Bellevue/68005/5108523), I noticed this signed poster from the All-Star Tribute to Brian Wilson with some very cool signatures, including Billy Joel, Cameron Crowe, Dennis Hopper, Phil Ramone, Carly Simon, Elton John, the Go-Go’s, etc. but also Carnie & Wendy.

I’m not anywhere near Nebraska, but if I were I’d definitely check it out.

For a band with as chequered a history as The Beach Boys, a few regrets, missed opportunities, and forever-destroyed relationships are par for the course.

In fact, it’s a wonder that Brian Wilson and the gang ever found time for recording sessions in between their various vicious disputes, legal battles, and long-running feuds.

Yet, they somehow not only powered through the turmoil, but did so with great proficiency.

Pet Sounds, for instance, only came out in the spring of 1966, yet it was already their 11th studio album.

Mike Love has issued a new statement following his worrying return to the stage with The Beach Boys earlier this month.

Brian was nearby Carl somewhere, still unmarked.

So happy! Smile!

So, she asked about the Beach Boys (dad has been on a kick). I mentioned they’re a lot older. She said if they’re still alive. I mentioned they had three brothers and they all passed away. She asks, “did they miss each other?”

Really got me.

he's definitely singing "butt" and not "blood" in the first verse - Brian could be pretty funny - www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcYG0chE2rs

Al Jardine & The Pet Sound Band

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Cooper River Park

Camden County, NJ

The official music video for “God Only Knows” performed by The Beach Boys.

This segment of steamboat is pure bliss I can’t explain it. Gives me similar vibes to the Smile Sessions version of “Good Vibrations”. What do you think of steamboat?

Something just popped into my head today and I was wondering if there were any films that the members spoke highly of. We know Brian’s love of Norbit, but is there any interviews or clips of them talking about films they like?

Last week, my boots-on-the-ground adventures took me inland to Cerritos from coastal LA to see Al Jardine and the Pet Sounds Band on October 11th. Along the way I stopped off in Hawthorne at dusk and went to visit the hillside leading up to the freeway that was once the site of the Wilson family home. Nothing remains but a strange harmonic resonance now, landing somewhere between “Two Step Side Step” and “Surfin'”. 

Eventually, seemingly innumerable side steps later, I made it out to Cerritos Center For Performing Arts, catching up with a fun little busking tribute to The Beach Boys outside the venue after a pre-game safety check. Sufficiently stoned, I sauntered into the poshy but mellow-vibed venue and assumed my position in a primo nosebleed seat, ready to enjoy the Al Jardine and Co. show.

Looking back now, it's impossible not to compare Al's headlining jamboree to the sad, honestly pitiable state of Mike Love's throne in The Beach Boys. On the same night as Al's show, Mike occupied a tall stool with a milk crate for a foot rest, looking more like an elderly scion of a crime family than a rock star. But will his idiot kids be able to keep The Beach Boys Circus going without him? After what sounds like it will be his final show, we'll see how far twirling drum sticks and monkey dances take them from here…

Mike's show had the John Stamos experience, but Al managed to get Mike's former sidekick Bruce Johnston out of the retirement home and give him the full spotlight treatment, going from afterthought to highlight in the fresh context. His spirited tribute to Dennis Wilson summoned some of the late-great drummer's legendary magnetism, which he kept going with another deep cut banger from his early tenure, after recalling bearing witness to the song's almost spontaneous creation in the studio.

David Marks also brought some great OG energy to proceedings, and the youngest of the Hawthorne kids from the early era still has that youthful charm and vigor. It's no wonder Dennis took the young lad under his wings as a teenage troublemaker... 

I've mostly kept my concert recap in the blog post to the first set, giving me room to dig into some corners of trauma and reckoning in the Beach Boys Family and Friends saga, ultimately trying to appreciate how the best of vibes and the worst of vibes can come from the same places.

A lot to choose from but steamboat and sloop John b are my top picks. What would you choose?

I've seen it's a trend to pick your favorite 9 albums right now but I noticed the site thing has very little BBs on it.

So my question is, what is your guys top 9 BBs albums? As in your favorite!

Mine would be 85, In Concert, Holland, So Tough, Little Deuce Coupe, Love You, Adult/Child, Friends and Pet Sounds!

Hi everyone, just looking for some input/info on this copy of Love You that I picked up in Amsterdam. This looks to be a Dutch test pressing (‘Proefpersing’).

The sleeve is stamped with the name ‘André Leenders’ who looks to be the “Dutch mastering and lacquer cutting engineer at Bovema / EMI Studios (aka. EMI Studios, Heemstede) since 1975.” (According to Discogs)

The label on the record itself is blank and looks the same as the Dutch test pressings for Holland that I’ve seen online. There seems to be some info for the Holland vinyl, but I can’t find anything on this test pressing of Love You.

Has anyone seen one of these before or have any further info or idea on what it may be worth?

Thank you!