Brian Wilson's retirement from performing to concentrate on studio recording and production reaped immediate dividends with
Today!, the first
Beach Boys album that is strong almost from start to finish. "Dance, Dance, Dance" and "Do You Wanna Dance" were upbeat hits with
Spector-influenced arrangements, but
Wilson began to deal with more sophisticated themes on another smash 45, "When I Grow Up," on which these eternal teenagers looked forward to the advancing years with fear and uncertainty. Surf/hot rod/beach themes were permanently retired in favor of late-adolescent, early-adult romance on this album, which included such decent outings in this vein as "She Knows Me Too Well," "Kiss Me Baby," and "In the Back of My Mind." The true gem is "Please Let Me Wonder," one of the group's most delicate mid-'60s works, with heartbreaking melodies and harmonies. Be aware that the version of "Help Me, Rhonda" found here is an inferior, earlier, and slower rendition; the familiar hit single take was included on their next album,
Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!). [Capitol's 2012 reissue, mastered by Mark Linett earlier that year, contained mono and stereo versions of the original album; new stereo mixes were produced for "Do You Wanna Dance?," "Don't Hurt My Little Sister," "Help Me, Ronda" [sic], and "She Knows Me Too Well."] ~ Richie Unterberger