Ok, Well, First thing's first, I am Bob, Hi, This Is my first post on this blog, and i hope, some people agree, or, if you dont like S.I.P maybe it will make you think [or even persuade you to give it another listen], well, here goes.
Ok, so, The first track, Hot Fun In The Summertime, it's a pretty plesant track, however, i do have one problem with this track, the phasing and effects on Carls Voice [this is a frequent problem on the entire album, but it's not too bad when you get used to it], there is even a pretty decent vocal from Mike on this track, [i would like to add, i am not one to constantly bash Mike, but sometimes he does annoy me, so, i may rant now and then].
Next Track number 2 is a cover of early Beach Boys Hit - Surfin', well, what can i say, it's not that great, and i fear it was only used to supply the album with Brian's name on there somewhere [Why did they not intergrate some of those recently rejected Sweet Insanity tracks ?!]. Carl's vocal parts are strong as ever, But, it's kinda ruined by the 90's Pro-tools Production
Track 3, Summer Of Love, i am sorry, but, even i find it hard to find something good to say about this, essently a 3 min Rap [yes, you heard me], laden with innuendo, and a heavily processed backing vocal, however, the chorus is kinda catchy.
Number 4, Island Fever, First thing to say, if possible, avoid the European Recording of this song, it stinks, [O.K the U.S version is not the next Good Vibes, but it's better] essentally, Kokomo Mk. 2, it's not that great, but it's a nice little pop tune, that could have been better with a stronger arrangment.
Track 5, Still Surfin', well, i must admit, i usually skip this one, but it's not too bad, but there has been better, much better, if you have started to grow tired of Mike's voice, then i suggest you skip to...
Track 6 Slow Summer Dancin', as far as albums go, this is the gem, written by Bruce, with a chorus lifted from the Danleer's 1969 song One Summer Night, it features a vocal shared between Bruce and Al, and is one of the best tracks on the album, and may be one of the best late era Beach Boys songs.
Track 7 Strange Things Happen, another track edited for the U.K release, although, this time, just edited, not re-recorded, a Mike track [with a shared vocal from Al] written with Transendential Mediataion in mind.
Track 8, Remember [Walkin' In The Sand], A good vocal from Carl, and an awful backing from Mike [the "Remember" bit sounds like someone lost their cool, and smacked him one, right in the nose] the drums are a little over the top, and the sax solo hurts my ears, a nice cover, but, not in the same leauge as the original.
Track 9, LaHaina Aloha, another brilliant track, and actually, a pretty good, tuneful [neally] vocal from Mike, Carl sounds great as ever, I beleve this is one of the tracks which features one Van Dyke Parks on accordian, [serously, he did, i dunno, Mike trying to do SMiLE ??]
Track 10, Under Broadwalk, with new lyrics, and drums that sound like a Hip Hop record [thankfully, the singing/everything else does not], i would say the Europe mix is probibally the mix to look out for, it's shorter, and, the bridge was included [it was cut from the U.S mix]
Track 11, Summer In Paradise, Ok, the U.S verson sucks, avoid it like the plauge, but, and i mean BUT, the Europe version is much better, it's been completly re-recorded, and has a vocal by Roger McGuinn on one verse, and altered vocals, a pretty plesant listen
Track 12, Forever, right, forget the original, if you dont, you will instantly hate this version, it's pretty good, and has a lead vocal from John Stamos, while it does not stand up to the origianal, it's plesant enough, and a pretty good tribute, the video is awful though, so, try to avoid it, while it does feature the Beach Boys, it's for about 5 seconds, so it's not really worth it, unless you want to see John Stamos, and Babies...yeah, exactly.
O.K overall, it's no Love You, but, it's pretty good, and if you took out Summer Of Love, and Island Fever, you would have a pretty good album here.
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