SMiLE

I absolutely love this entire album. I am a true music lover myself. This album really displays Brian Wilson’s genius musical talent! The highs and the lows. The harmonies! All just spectacular! Thank you Brian for giving us this treat!!

Musically, it’s brilliant and so Brian Wilson! But would’ve made this so much better, not an old Brian Wilson’s voice on it, and missing voice is Carl Wilson! Carl Wilson, before he died, would’ve been a perfect addition to this! When I hear the vocals in the background, it’s not The Beach Boys, it’s just a bunch of studio musicians! I love you Brian, but I could’ve loved this album better if it completed it back in the day!

Smile is a Beat Opera about the Beat Generation, especially Keroauc. From track one, a church hymn that most likely was standard fare every Sunday at St Jean's in Lowell Mass where Keroauc grew up going to the the reproduction of the French Grotto often to just find comfort in Mother Mary. The referances to so many other albums only shows that Brain was way ahead of his time when this Beat Opera (Smile) was written. Father is Son to the Man, Paperback Writer and Brother John. Heroes & Villains and the ever famous Maggie or Loverly Rita from the persom whom Kerouac wrote a book about (Maggie Cassidy) and Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan worte classic's about this older women also. For any Hippie or wannabe who consider Kerouac our Father or the ever endearing Uncle Jack, or just plain ole Frere Jacques this is a must listen to, must have. My suggestion for wannabe's is...Read upon some of the original Beats for further context about the content.

❤️

Just imagine for a second if this had hit the record stores in '67. It's an absolute masterpiece and look into the mind of Brian Wilson's original intention. I've got to tell you, the entire time listening you will have a smile on your face.

Yet another Brian Wilson solo album, as was Pet Sounds, bearing almost no relationship to the bands history of making great and memorable songs. Interesting, and involved arrangements don’t make a great album unfortunately. You can arrange yourself into a tizzy but if the songs aren’t there, no one will remember a thing. And the songs, aren’t here. SMILE is a terrific curiosity, and, like much of PET SOUNDS, a terrific sleep aid.

They cut the music between songs, and causes a hiccup effect, when it should be one cohesive pice. I also wish they used original tracks in certain cases. Brains voice was more elevated in his prim. All and all, I find it to be one of the most complex albums ever made. Anyone who says otherwise. Cannot be taken seriously

Pet Sounds is what made Brian Wilson the best Rock composer of his time, and SMiLE is what makes him the best EVER. SMiLE is truly a masterpiece. This album blows away Pet Sounds in my opinion.

So crazy and weird music but awesome, it makes me want to do acid and listen to it on repeat. SMiLE and Pet Sounds have to be in the top 20 albums of all-time.

I first became aware of the long lost album, Smile, back in early 2003, when I got curious about my then perspective of the Beach Boys seemingly disappearing from the top of the charts after Good Vibrations. I wondered what could have happened, and learned about Smile and everything else that happened afterwards… a truly sad story. I resolved to find what I could of the Smile recordings and like so many others before me, piece together a working version of the album. I had listened to Smiley Smile/Wild Honey records, and while I grew to love Darlin', hearing the unfinished pieces of Smile in such a sorry state was heartbreaking. Then I read in Rolling Stone that Brian Wilson was finishing Smile, would perform it for the first time in London, and record the album right after. I decided to wait to hear it. In June of 2004, I walked into a Tower Records and immediately made my way to the large Smile display at the front of the store. I bought the album, left, and couldn't get myself to unwrap it. "It's not the right mood", or "I'm too distracted", I kept rationalizing not listening. The real reason was my fear that it wouldn't be any good. Finally, several weeks later, as I drove to meet with friends, I put it in my car's CD player. Our Prayer took my breath away, and the doo-wop intro to Heroes and Villains started making me teary eyed. I remember thinking "I knew there was more to the song!" And then the trumpet slide into Heroes and Villains, and the song exploded in it's joyous noise. I remember that my jaw dropped, and in one second of time my thoughts were as follows "Oh wow, this is amazing, this is what it's supposed to sound like, Brian sounds so strong… Brian is singing in the same key as the original song…" And at that point, I have no shame in admitting that I literally burst into tears, pulling over to the side of the road. I listened to whole album right there. When I finally got to my friend's place, I was asked what happened to me, so I explained, brought out the CD, and got ready to share it. Seeing Brian Wilson and the band perform Smile at the Hollywood Bowl later that year was awesome too. Looking forward to more music!