Customer Reviews

Friends

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

What an amazing little album. What an amazing little surprise.

I'm not your typical "Beach Boys" fan- as a matter of fact, this album was kind of forced on me by my over zealous husband. I'm glad he did. I can't believe what a friendly, warm, soothing little record this is.

I play it at home after everyone has left for the day and it's just me and the music. What a comforting little opus Brian and his friends have created.

Not at all what you'd expect. The songs are so pretty and light. I reccomend this to everyone. It has become my very favorite Cd.

Highlights are the title track, "Little Bird" and "Busy Doin' Nothin'". What a far cry from "Fun, Fun, Fun"! Brian has incorporated a Bossa-Nova beat into some of the songs, while a couple others are flat-out waltzes! And they all work! They're all incorporated into this one, fantastic, albeit short, gem of an album.

I don't mean to gush, I just want to share this wonderful nugget with everyone.

This album was sheer eveidence that their was a casual, friendly element to the man who created such masterpieces as Summer Days and Nights and Pet Sounds.Perhpas because people were expecting Brian to deliver another Pet sounds or a similar work. "Friends" is Brian making an album I believe just for the sake of amking some good music to "relax" too. The songs are good, not really sophisticated...but genuine. A true classic is "Diamond Head" a song that unless you knew it was the Beach Boys..you'd think it was a Don Ho instrumental. Other great tracks include..."Wake The World" is perhaps the first pop song to use a tuba. "Be Here In The Mornin'" is another gem..that Al Jardine's Beach Boys Family and Friends is performing on tour. "Anna Lee The Healer is a harmonic masterpiece. The songs are gentle....and unlike anything the group had done up to that point. Any real fan of the Beach Boys, should have a copy of "Friends"

I am a huge fan of the Beach Boys, and the first time I heard this album, I was awe struck. I noticed it had a good flow to it and it was great relaxation music. "Friends" is a pleasent song, But my Two favorites are "Be here in the Morning" and "Busy doing nothin." Although a far cry from Pet Sounds, It is still an excellent album, even though I am 14 years old. A must have for any huge Beach Boy fan. You'll wasnt to "Be There in the Morning" to hear this classic. My only recommendation is that Capitol releases more of there studio albums in the U.S.

I love this album. I wouldn't give it five stars, but it's one of my favorite Beach Boys albums. If you are expecting "Help Me, Rhonda" and "California Girls", be warned: This ain't even close. But give it a try -- it'll stay with you long after you put it away. It is so mellow and different from any previous Beach Boys record. Brian really lets the vocal harmonies come out, like on "Anna Lee, The Healer", "Wake The World" and the title track. "Passin' By" would sound right at home on "Pet Sounds", and "Busy Doin' Nothin" is one of Brian's best. In fact, the only thing that keeps this album from five stars is "Transcendental Meditation". Unlistenable.

This album is remarkable for its juxtaposition of playful Brian Wilson-penned tracks and sensitive Dennis Wilson compositions (his first on a Beach Boys album). "Friends" has a wonderful melody, even if the lyrics are goofy. "Be Here in the Morning" is just fun to sing along to. "Busy Doin' Nothin'" gives actual directions to Brian's house, and has a wonderful melody, arrangement, and one of my favorite Brian vocals. "Little Bird" is Dennis Wilson showing that the messed-up middle brother has a soul, and an incredible talent, too. He definitely paid attention to big brother Brian! This album is a "must have" for any serious music fan!

Following the band's "heyday" of commercial success, under the brilliant direction of Brian Wilson, the band's output became more collaborat- ive, with all band members becoming producers/ songwriters, and not just Brian. This album is the first strong result of the last thirty years of the Beach Boys' career. Drummer-turned-composer Dennis Wilson comes out strongly here, with "Little Bird" and a score of others over the next fifteen years. Bruce Johnston and Al Jardine also begin to shine, with Carl Wilson ready to explode on the next album, 20/20. The band's collaborative apex, Sunflower, is the third in a string of monumental artistic works, begun with Friends. The Beach Boys, at this point in their career, became "surfing Doris Days", being type- cast as surf-rockers and losing all commercial viability. In reality, their music is more in tune with the drop out hippie style than the music the hippies really listened to. Here you hear the peace, love, non-competition, and all-inclusive acceptance that the movement espoused, without the trite hippie lyrics (except for "Transcendental Meditation") or acid-tinged instrumentation that came with the movement. Listen, relax, and enjoy.

I just got FRIENDS over the Christmas holidays and I think the music is great! The only dissappointment is Transendental Meditation. Meant for you is an instant classis for me and the song Friends is very charming. I am only 14 years old and the Beach Boys are my favorite group all the way. I just wish Capitol would release the two-fer series again. Go BEACH BOYS!

When this album appeared, the first thing that struck me - Bruce Johnston finally appeared on the cover with the other Beach Boys ( though only in illustration form). A beautiful, but overlooked album, my favorite number is still the title track, "Friends." This album would be a welcome additon to a true Beach Boy fan's colletion. Surfer Dude

This is a far cry from previous Beach Boys albums, but a pleasant surprise. It proves that Brian was not the only great songwriter in the group; Dennis has staked a claim to that. His songs "Little Bird" and "Be Still" are two beautiful songs, and shows this hard rockin' drummer's soft side.

This is unfortunately a very overlooked album/period for the Beach Boys. The music on Friends is absurdly positive, and also really good. It's like coming down after the crazy trip of Pet Sounds/Smile/Smiley Smile. The lyrics get a little dopey at times, but the songwriting is , as usual, excellent. My favorites are "When a Man Needs a Woman", "Passing By", "Little Bird", "Friends",and "Busy Doin' Nothin'". It's obviously not as god as Pet Sounds or Smile, but when I think of the other music in '68, it's amazngly grown-up and well-executed. I also must mention how good Wild Honey and 20/20 are as well.