Sunflower

The Beach Boys | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 5, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000008DA8
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #369,282 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Criminally Underappreciated, October 11, 2008

By 

Bryan Cumbers - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunflower (Audio CD)

Here we go. This is the Beach Boys as I know and love them. Sunflower is a wonderfully inspired effort from the Beach Boys, and includes some of the most stunning harmonies they ever recorded. If all you've ever heard of the Beach Boys is Pet Sounds, I pity you. Their post-Pet Sounds material may not be written about with the same fervor, but they unquestionably had a lot left to offer in the relm of sugary melodies. By this time, Brian Wilson's creative control of the band was no longer such a sure thing, and there were many tracks that were either co-written or entirely composed without Brian's influence. His brother Dennis in particular was coming into his own as an incredible songwriting talent with such tracks as "Slip on Through", the rocker "Got to Know the Woman", and the beautifully tender "Forever". In the 1990s, the musical world saw the Beach Boys in a different light than they had since the 1960s. Their music was revered both commercially and critically for the first time in many years and finally people started to take notice of their early Brother albums, Sunflower and Surf's Up in particular. The arrangements on this album were imaginative and unyielding and it was clear that the Boys were still the creative force the world knew them to be. I understand if you worry that this album couldn't possibly be anything but a disappointment after Pet Sounds. I mean, after all, when do you ever hear the words `Beach Boys' and `70s' in the same sentance? Well, if it is critical reassurance that you need, understand that this record was very well received in Britain, even if America remained oblivious to its genius. Trust me; it is an excellent album and a purchase you will not regret.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Add some music to your day, June 27, 2004

By 

Johnny Heering "trivia buff" (Bethel, CT United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sunflower (Audio CD)

This was the first album by The Beach Boys after they split from Capitol Records. It's a solid effort. The Beach Boys by this time had become more of a group effort, due to Brian Wilson's declining participation in the group, so the other members of the group had to step up. Although Brian still helped to write the majority of the songs here, there are five songs with no participation from Brian at all. In fact, the best song here is probably Dennis Wilson's gorgeous ballad "Forever", although there are many other fine songs here, too. This album displays a deepening maturity by the members of the group. Recommended to Beach Boys fans.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Do as they say - add some music to your day!, February 8, 2003

By 

Geoff Hall "Geoff Hall" (Borehamwood, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sunflower (Audio CD)

Sunflower was the first Beach Boys album I ever bought, because I loved "Cottonfields", which was the first track on the vinyl version of the album and "Tears In The Morning".

There are two sides of the group on the album - the harmonies that we know and love ("Add Some Music To Your Day" and "Dierdre", amongst others) and the harder-edged, more rockier side which are demonstrated on "It's About Time" and "All I Wanna Do".

It adds up to an excellent album and shows there was more depth to the band than just their surfer sound.

Good value now that it's paired with "Surf's Up", possibly my favourite of all their albums (yes, even better than "Pet Sounds"). So, go and buy the 2-4-1 CD.