Smile is the LP that The Beach Boys/Brian Wilson never released. It was touted as being the greatest endeavor ever from the genious Brian Wilson (before/as he cracked up) and the follow-up to the Brilliant 'Pet Sounds' in 1966. Problem is, it never got finished and released and has been a sort of cult 'what might have been' album ever since. Well, after nearly 40 years I finally picked up a copy of 'Smile' in it's newly released form. To be honest, I thought I was buying the original recordings cobbled together from the 1966 sessions. What in reality I bought was Brian Wilson's completely rerecorded (and added too and edited, I assume) rendition of Smile with his current band The Wondermints. My dissapointment was great at first at being deprived of finally hearing the mystical original recordings, but after a few listenings I have made peace and am enjoying Smile as it is now. It really is an excellent lp and delivers on all the extraordinary buz that has preceded it. It's unbelivably catchy and even after all this time, still has the feeling of being ground breaking. Wilsons' band is unbelievable in captuiring the spirit of the Beach Boys, but even more incredibly, the great studio musianship that Brian Wilson guided and employed in the 'Pet Sounds' era. I've been pretty much burning "Smile' in the ol CD player since I bought it, and would be interested to hear what any (if any) of the rest of you may think.
Writing wise, I'd put it above "Pet Sounds". I know that's almost blasphemy to some people, but it's REALLY good. Brian doesn't have the vocals anymore though. His backing band is pretty damn good however. 4.5 stars out of 5 IMO. Would have been better than "Sgt. Peppers" had it come out in the '60s.
That sequence of "The Child is the Father to the Man" is breathtakingly beautiful. I thought this was the surprise of 2004, actually. I didn't think Brian had it in him to cobble this together into something that is truly brilliant. I will have to still put "Pet Sounds" above this since "Don't Talk (Put Your Head on My Shoulder," "Caroline, No" and "God Only Knows" are only three of the most perfect songs ever.
I have to agree BMoney... The songs you mentioned, plus 'Hang on to your Ego' (the original version), plus, well, the whole damn thing makes Pet Sounds unsurpassable. Still, Smile comes as a great treat. I especially like 'Roll Plymoth Rock' and 'Wonderful'.
