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An assembled album of a "lost" Beach Boys project. Entertaining from beginning to end, if you're a fan of the band. Some great music that will take you back to you youth -- or at least away from our current unpleasant times.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
After reading the book SMILE: The Story of Brian Wilson's Lost Masterpiece by Domenic Priore, I just had to get the CD. It's everything I read about in the book, and more. A real treasure of a masterpiece that transcends time (1966 to the present). It's a real tragedy it didn't come out when it was originally planned in 1966, it certainly would have had more impact and historical relevance as the answer to the Beatles Revolver album. Still, putting that all aside, it's a wonder it got finished at all and it's a credit to Brian, his wife Melinda, Van Dyke Parks, and Brian's band (that gave the initial impetus) that it got finished at all. Luscious harmonies, Gershwinian Americana images, it's a tapestry of sounds. Some of the songs were released by the Beach Boys over the years, you'll recognize these of course. Impressive as they are as stand-alone songs, hearing them grouped together as they were originally intended for this album brings a whole new context to the songs and of the album as a whole. Though everything was re-recorded in 2004 using the original 1966 master tapes as a guide, except for a few updates and revisions, those original sessions were faithfully recreated. This album may not be for everyone but what music ever is?Read full review
This album was suppose to be released 40 years ago before The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hears Club Band before Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon and before a lot of masterpieces. There is no doubt in my mind, after listening to it a bunch of times that if it had been released 40 years ago this album would have raised the bar to such an extreme that many 60' bands, including the Beatles, would have become obsolete. The tunes are so perfectly woven together that it makes Pet Sounds sound like child's play. This album as a whole make sense to previously released tracks such as Surf's Up, Our Prayer, Wonderful, and even Heroes and Villains that sounded out of place. Now, you might ask yourself if this can be considered The Smile that was promised to be released along time ago. Well yes and no. While it does sound unbelievable, it is not The Beach Boys, though some might argue this was always a Brian Wilson project. Brian Wilson also sounds older not bad just older. One of the great things he did though was to make his band sound so much like The Beach Boys that a casual fan will have a hard time distinguishing this group from the original. The tracks flow like the finest red wine. Every song has its charm and the orchestrations are so complex and so beautiful that it just blows your mind. This album still has a unique sound even though 37 years of music passed before its release. Every track improves from the previously released and this is unbelievable since songs such as Heroes and Villains, Our Prayer, Surf's Up and Wonderful always sounded great to me. The Beatles won the race 40 years ago with Sgt Pepper's, which is a great album, but if this had been released The Beach Boys would reign supreme today and this could have caused a Pet Sounds effect on The Beatles making them release something a million times better than Smile after Sgt. Pepper's. This album is a true concept album, not a concept album in the style of Pet Sounds but more in the style of Frank Zappa's We're Only In It For The Money were the entire entity is the song, also think The Rolling Stones' Exile On Main Street. If you are familiar with the Beach Boys, 60's music, or concept albums do yourself a favor and get this album you wont be disappointed.Read full review
My two favorite Beatles albums are Abbey Road and Sgt Peppers.. Both albums are full of stellar moments mixed with some pretty strange pieces that manage to enhance instead of distract. Smile is similar in that way. Although, the stellar parts are even better, and the strange parts are even wackier than the Beatles. Watch the live performance on youtube and read up on the album history for context. You'll get more out of it if you do.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I never got around to purchasing or listening to this in 2004 when first issued. Pity for me, I could have had 10 additional years of listening pleasure. The story behind it is incredible, the music is timeless. I can't get the songs out of my head. I would give it a five star, but if I do, it will be thrown away in the stats, so I'm settling for 4.
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