This self-titled 2020 release from The Explorers Club has been on my queue for a while, but I had been exploring a lot of other albums and artists on my list for a while, and finally figured I’d get around to giving this one a listen. They released a cover album this year as well, and I want to check that one out sometime soon as well. Regardless, The Explorers Club carries on the spirit from The Beach Boys, with really bright, optimistic, lovely songs that evoke a sort of California rock vibe in a certain way. I’m not sure if they still do, but I know many members of Brian Wilson’s current band or possibly touring band also play(ed) in this one. I really loved their 2016 album, Together, a whole bunch, and am really glad they’ve put out some more new music.
“Ruby” has a really intimate, almost bluesy feel with the taps of the piano and the light percussion. Wow, I totally recognize the melody from this song, but it’s got completely different lyrics from what I recognize. Those shimmering layers of vocals are super awesome. That bass line really echoes the notes hit by the nearly gospel-like background vocals.
“One Drop of Rain” starts out with some dream-like piano that fades in, and then everything just falls into place so well. Oh wow, everything sounds so harmonic. I really dig the little chops from the guitar. Wow, those horns in the track are absolutely silky smooth. I think there’s even some strings I think. Wow, this song is really awesome – it’s got such a polished feel to it, and really reminds me of The Beach Boys quite a bit, but definitely brings a uniqueness to the table. Great song.
“Love So Fine” is strange at the start, my initial perception is The Flying Burrito Brothers meets The Beach Boys. Wow, the guitar that sort of stays behind the scenes has some absolutely great fuzz to it. The strings sort of keep the song’s soundscape moving around in circles, or at least progressing forward. The vocals are absolutely awesome, and really round the track so well. Wow, the outro is super mellow and has a really nice confident serenity to it.
“Mystery” drops right into place, and has a super sweet feel to it. Basically each song is a different formulation of some type of love song, or at least one that sounds like it was made with an incredible amount of care. Wow, the strings have such a super sweet serene feeling emanating from them.
Oh wow, “Don’t Cry” feels like such a natural progression from the previous track, and the flavor is super awesome. It’s got a sort of minor key feel to it, and sort of keeps on keeping on with its playing. That guitar is absolutely shimmering, and the strumming in particular has such an awesome feel that it brings to the table. The drums are really nice with how jangly those sound as well. The piano/keyboard is really sweet, because it’s accentuating the chords from the guitar super flavorfully, and really progressing the song forward as the strings sort of gently pull the song. The vocals sort of just wash over you as the song plays, and is really awesome.
“It’s Me” has a bit of a false start with the electric organ, and comes back on with just some traditional sounding piano and acoustic guitar on one side of the mix, and drums and electric organ on the other side of the mix. The lead vocals are kind of in the middle, and the background vocals sort of wrap you up in a super harmonic layer. Wow, this song is awesome. There are strings on the acoustic guitar side, and horns on the drums side, and really creates a really polished soundscape that drives the song forward so well. I think there are some congas keeping the song grooving along as well. This song is really awesome.
“Dawn” starts out almost jazz-like with the bass guitar and drums sort of little providing a groove while the background vocals sort of push a melody together that serves as somewhat of a loose basis for the lead vocals. Oh wow, the congas, electric guitar, and piano all really sound awesome. Wow, there’s such a deep, loving feeling coming through the soundscape. The acoustic guitar really accentuating the melody with some really high notes played quite delicately. The song really has a great little groove to it.
“Dream World” sort of drops right into place, and really changes things up a bit in the strong structure. The interplay between the instrumentation keeps the song sort of spinning around, while the piano serves as a sort of center to the soundscape, even though it’s to the left in the mix. I’m really reminded a lot of their final song on their 2016 album, Together, titled, “Dream Montage”. There’s definitely an almost pop-like, Beach Boys-esque psychedelic feel to it.
Oh wow, “Say You Will” sounds completely different from anything else so far; there’s actually a healthy dose of twang in the instrumentation, and particularly the guitars. Wow, this album is super groovy. I’m really digging it, and am totaled hooked at this point if I wasn’t already. This one really has an almost jam-like feel to it. Wow, that piano in the outro is absolutely awesome, especially as it gets discordant.
“Somewhere Else” drops into a really groovy polished rock and roll track that is really driven forward well by the rhythmic sensibilities of the bass, piano, and drums. Oh wow, there’s a huge vibe change up when the electric organ comes on and the distorted guitar drops-out – it’s honestly Beatles-esque. Wow, that little shuffle that happens when the electric organ comes on is super awesome – the vocals change locations, the rhythm changes, and it becomes way more psychedelic. Dang, this guitar solo at the end of the song is absolutely awesome, and the rhythm section is driving the song home really well. Awesome tune.
“Dreamin'” has a really lovely little piano intro, that honestly reminded right away of Randy Newman honestly. Wow, this song feels like it’s sort of walking up and down a little chromatic line the whole time. Oh wow, this bridge really changes up things a bit, but the song is really served very well by it, in my opinion. The songwriting and production quality is absolutely awesome. There’s a little bit of doo-wop feel to this one too, great song.
“Look to the Horizon” has a great, sweet feel that’s very optimistic and really drives the album home and ties things up quite well. It’s got an even tempo, steady, confident, assured feel. The background vocals really melt all the playing together as the big rhythm parts sort of stir everything together on top of that back beat from the drums. Wow, the horns really added some great layer to that one too. Really great song to end the album with.
It seems that The Explorers Club have done it again, and made an album I absolutely will listen to again. They really do carry on the spirit of The Beach Boys in that super polished pop rock, California surf rock, nearly psychedelic feel. If you do enjoy The Beach Boys and haven’t listened to this band yet, please do so soon. I really enjoyed this album, and can’t wait to listen to it again. If you do decide to give it a listen, I do sincerely hope that you enjoy it at least as much as I did.
-A