Shut Down, Vol. 2

Beach Boys: Mike Love, Carl Wilson, Alan Jardine, Brian Wilson, Dennis Wilson (vocals).
SHUT DOWN, VOL 2 kicks things off with the Chuck Berry-derived strains of the classic "Fun, Fun, Fun," diving right off the bat into the thick layers of harmony which were the outstanding trademark of the Beach Boys. "Don't Worry Baby" follows, its perfect vocal performances and bittersweet melody transcending the "beaches and cars" lyrical theme with which the group was still associated. It was precisely this ability to inject untold depth into feel-good music that gave the Beach Boys their magic.
Nestled among the classics-to-be are some curious moments--the surf instrumental "Denny's Drums" offers a glimpse of the band's musicianship, while the take of "Louie Louie" features some unusual vocal arrangements. The album takes a humorous turn with"'Cassius' Love Vs. 'Sonny' Wilson," a skit that finds Mike Love and Brian Wilson trading off digs at each other's vocal skills. It's all in good fun, and the lush, melancholy "The Warmth Of The Sun," one of the Boys' more gloriously dour songs, follows directly.