- Delightful, Creative
5
By Ann's Husband, Glen
Quite a few commenters here who seem to scream when originals are toyed with. I understand that. But sometimes variations are creativity—and I love creativity. As long as it’s the living band members themselves doing it. The orchestral accents are not overwrought.
- 🎵🎵🎵
4
By amandax345
It really empathizes the tracks and turns some parts into what seems like a movie score. Great songs they picked. Sounds a bit more different at the beginning and the end of the track opposed to the middle.
- Sloop John B
2
By WisconsinBob
I don’t care for most of these renditions, but The Sloop John B is great! The tuba player, the final 40 seconds or so, somehow had to be playing and breathing at the same time.
- This smells like a Mike Love cash-in job
1
By Tolcat
I was curious, too, to hear it. As a true Beach Boys fan (over 30 CDs), I wanted to like it but the Royal Philharmonic is a classical-LITE group and they trivialize these great songs. "You Still Believe In Me" almost works, but again the strings play the most trite melodies, and the lack of cleverness in arrangements shows. You can't imagine the Beatles or Stones weakening their catalogue by okaying this type of cash-in. "Disney Girls", a great song but almost muzak anyway fits well with this, but it turns it into something you'd hear in the dentist chair before going under sedation. And probably we have Mike and Brucie to thank for this insult to the great Brian Wilson and Wilson Love catalogue. AVOID, especially those on a low-sugar diet.
- Don’t be fooled
2
By Grump123
This is indeed a remix. I thought I’d found old gold. Instead I found my old beach boys records with some extraneous strings. Other than the brief preludes you barely hear the Philharmonic at all. 🙄
- Nope
1
By Razzbeary
Sorry, I like the original versions of The Beach Boys songs better...just being honest. 😞
- Completely unnecessary, but still a compelling album
3
By Tyson Tolson
I came into this as skeptical as everyone else, well aware of Capitol’s persistent milking of The Beach Boys material. However, while absolutely not an essential LP in Beach Boys canon, it’s definitely worth a listen for casual fans. Don’t recommend for true diehards though. There are several great tracks with more filled in backing tracks; which somewhat add to Brian’s ultimate goal of recreating the “Wall of Sound” Spector used in the mid 60’s. Sloop John B, Good Vibrations, and California Girls are probably the best of the album but that’s just my opinion. Anyways, I probably wouldn’t pay a lot for this album (I listened for free on Apple Music) but if you find a discounted vinyl copy or just want to download a couple tracks you’ll probably have an enjoyable experience.
- Pointless
1
By South West 6
The original orchestrations were perfect. These new versions sound cluttered and muddy. Completely pointless exercise outside of making money.
- A Little Odd, But Glad I Bought It
4
By Sulawesi
I agree with the reviews saying some of the songs are enhanced and others diminished. Some of the orchestral overtures just don't work. I think the lead-in to "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" is absolutely horrible - a nice piece of music, but mixes badly with the song. Still, I haven't stopped listening to the album in two weeks, so I must like it overall.
- Another version of old favorites
5
By go4roses
It seems reviewers either love or dislike this release. Personally I enjoyed this release and would like to hear The Beach Boys and the orchestra together live. This has been very successful for the Moody Blues; they’ve been doing this for thirty years. This music has the potential of introducing a younger generation to the music I grew up with while doing the same for the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Relax and enjoy!
