who had championed the Beach Boys' work in the 1960s, wrote a similarly negative review which stated, in part, In his 2006 biography of Wilson, Carlin referred to it as "the most cynical, spiritually void work the group ever produced", a "gruesome album", and perhaps "one of the worst records ever made by a great rock band." AllMusic's John Bush stated, "The mainstream late-'70s production techniques are predictable and frequently cloying. M.I.U. Album also included several of the worst Beach Boys songs ever to make it to vinyl. [...] Compared with what had come before, M.I.U. Album was a pathetic attempt at music making; compared with what was to come however, this was a highlight." Conversely, Jeff Tamarkin, who wrote liner notes for the album's CD reissue, decreed that the album "stands on own as a lovely, unique work." In 1981, Robert Christgau called the album "dumb [...] despite a lot of fairly pleasant music and a few passable songs". Reviewing the album's 2002 reissue, The A.V. Clubs Keith Phipps stated, "M.I.U. is competent enough, but it's also the sound of a group buying into its own mythology, a retrograde salute to the pinstripes and sunshine image it had abandoned years before." Legacy Reflecting on M.I.U. Album in a 1992 interview, Mike Love opined that "there's some neat gems there but there wasn't a coherence." Asked about the album in a 1979 interview, Dennis Wilson said, "I hope that karma will fuck up Mike Love's meditation forever. That album is an embarrassment to my life. It should self-destruct." Track listing Track details per 2000 CD liner notes. Personnel Per 2000 CD liner notes. The Beach Boys Al Jardine – vocals, guitar, bass guitar, vocal arrangements Mike Love – vocals Brian Wilson – vocals, piano, electric piano, vocal and horn arrangements Carl Wilson – vocals, guitar Dennis Wilson – vocals, drums Touring musicians Michael Andreas – saxophone, horn arrangements Ron Altbach – piano, electric piano, organ, percussion, synthesizer, horns Lance Buller – trumpet Gary Griffin – piano, electric piano, organ, synthesizer, string arrangements Ed Carter – guitar, bass guitar John Foss – trumpet Billy Hinsche – guitar Mike Kowalski – drums, percussion Charles Lloyd – saxophone Rod Novak – saxophone Additional players Chris Midaugh – steel pedal guitar Charlie McCarthy – saxophone Bob Williams – saxophone Roberleigh Barnhardt – string arrangements Recording engineering personnel & assistants Al Jardine – producer Ron