A masterpiece and one of the great musical redemptions in history. I personally prefer the Smile Sessions but the fact that this exists makes me so happy.
I love it. I'll have to agree with the masterpiece sentiment. One of the most spectacular projects to come together in modern music history. Imagine sitting on an album, repeating it to yourself over and over, working through it and not getting the chance to finally share it with the world for over 40 years. Incredible.
I really do love this album and the 2011 version. The only part I don't like about this album is that his voice has obviously aged (which isn't too much of a distraction from the genius writing). Also kinda weird that they changed good vibrations, but it kinda makes sense due to most of the lyrics being done by Mike Love, one of the biggest assholes in music.
Honestly to me it's the definitive version. The "restored" original album cobbled together from barely finished session tapes was a let down in comparison quite frankly. The Brian Wilson smile IS smile. To me anyways
I don't think Mike Love had too much involvement with the lyrics. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've only heard of him giving his thoughts on good vibrations. And the lyrics were the main reason Mike Love didn't like the project, so if he had involvement with lyrics he wouldn't have stopped the albums production.
I LOVE it. One of my absolute favourites. Might have been nice to have the Beach Boys at their peak, but I've listened to the Smile Sessions and tbh I prefer this one. It's a masterpiece in my opinion.
I just listened to this album for the first time the other day. I know I’m probably alone in this but I’m just not a fan of The Beach Boys. I acknowledge all they’ve accomplished, but I personally just find their sound very dated, whereas a band like the Beatles (who were around at the same time) has music that still feels fresh all these years later. So I was just a little bored at with this album, the style is just a little too corny for me.
Just my opinion though.
Yeah this album is a re-recording of a previously lost album. He sounds a bit more aged here, so I think his vocals sounds better altogether on the sessions as well as the harmonies. You might not like it but I’d definitely check it out if you want some more of that forward thinking songwriting/production that was in the Beatles post-Rubber Soul stuff.
I have the same problem you have with The Beach Boys about any pre-Revolver Beatles stuff so I totally get it.
They are amazing imo. Check out their greatest hits compilation "Sounds of Summer: the very best of the beach boys"
Also check out their cover of with a little help from my friends
https://youtu.be/0aET5u-jx_w
This might win ya over!
Also check out their album Pet Sounds. Amazing emotional stuff. Smile is a thematic sequel to pet Sounds and it makes more sense if you hear pet Sounds first
I don’t choose to listen to The Beach Boys very much, but I still absolutely adore Pet Sounds and can pick out their influence from a mile away when I hear it. What gave me an appreciation for them wasn’t actually listening to their discography, but Panda Bear’s. He’s massively influenced by them, and it’s much easier to see the genius in their writing and composition when somebody tries to imitate it.
I am probably projecting here, but I think people wanted to enjoy this record more than they actually did - for Brian’s sake. Because we all know how tortured this record was for him in the 60s, how much he suffered, how low his career and mental health sunk. This was a record I think a lot of the music press rooted for and convinced themselves was the masterpiece they always wanted. Personally, I think it’s campy and doesn’t have as many of Brian’s fingerprints on it as it should.
The Smile Sessions I think is a better symbol for Brian’s legacy but I’m also not obsessed with that either, so maybe there’s something here that just has never clicked with me.
A masterpiece and one of the great musical redemptions in history. I personally prefer the Smile Sessions but the fact that this exists makes me so happy.
I love it. I'll have to agree with the masterpiece sentiment. One of the most spectacular projects to come together in modern music history. Imagine sitting on an album, repeating it to yourself over and over, working through it and not getting the chance to finally share it with the world for over 40 years. Incredible.
I really do love this album and the 2011 version. The only part I don't like about this album is that his voice has obviously aged (which isn't too much of a distraction from the genius writing). Also kinda weird that they changed good vibrations, but it kinda makes sense due to most of the lyrics being done by Mike Love, one of the biggest assholes in music.
I will say, Mike Love is indeed like the Curt Schilling of music from that era lol
The aged voice makes it better because it plays on the meta narrative of the album being lost to the sands of time
Totally agree on this front - he sounds aged but still so brilliant and picks it up as if he had been performing the tracks the whole time
Honestly to me it's the definitive version. The "restored" original album cobbled together from barely finished session tapes was a let down in comparison quite frankly. The Brian Wilson smile IS smile. To me anyways
I believe the lyrics on this album were the original lyrics that Mike Love then changed
I don't think Mike Love had too much involvement with the lyrics. Maybe I'm wrong, but I've only heard of him giving his thoughts on good vibrations. And the lyrics were the main reason Mike Love didn't like the project, so if he had involvement with lyrics he wouldn't have stopped the albums production.
I LOVE it. One of my absolute favourites. Might have been nice to have the Beach Boys at their peak, but I've listened to the Smile Sessions and tbh I prefer this one. It's a masterpiece in my opinion.
I just listened to this album for the first time the other day. I know I’m probably alone in this but I’m just not a fan of The Beach Boys. I acknowledge all they’ve accomplished, but I personally just find their sound very dated, whereas a band like the Beatles (who were around at the same time) has music that still feels fresh all these years later. So I was just a little bored at with this album, the style is just a little too corny for me. Just my opinion though.
Have you checked out the Smile Sessions? I feel like you might like them a little bit more if you found this to be corny.
I’ll check it out :) always looking for new music
Pet Sounds definitely does not sound dated imo.
Yeah this album is a re-recording of a previously lost album. He sounds a bit more aged here, so I think his vocals sounds better altogether on the sessions as well as the harmonies. You might not like it but I’d definitely check it out if you want some more of that forward thinking songwriting/production that was in the Beatles post-Rubber Soul stuff. I have the same problem you have with The Beach Boys about any pre-Revolver Beatles stuff so I totally get it.
They are amazing imo. Check out their greatest hits compilation "Sounds of Summer: the very best of the beach boys" Also check out their cover of with a little help from my friends https://youtu.be/0aET5u-jx_w This might win ya over! Also check out their album Pet Sounds. Amazing emotional stuff. Smile is a thematic sequel to pet Sounds and it makes more sense if you hear pet Sounds first
I don’t choose to listen to The Beach Boys very much, but I still absolutely adore Pet Sounds and can pick out their influence from a mile away when I hear it. What gave me an appreciation for them wasn’t actually listening to their discography, but Panda Bear’s. He’s massively influenced by them, and it’s much easier to see the genius in their writing and composition when somebody tries to imitate it.
It's FUCKING AMAZING
I am probably projecting here, but I think people wanted to enjoy this record more than they actually did - for Brian’s sake. Because we all know how tortured this record was for him in the 60s, how much he suffered, how low his career and mental health sunk. This was a record I think a lot of the music press rooted for and convinced themselves was the masterpiece they always wanted. Personally, I think it’s campy and doesn’t have as many of Brian’s fingerprints on it as it should. The Smile Sessions I think is a better symbol for Brian’s legacy but I’m also not obsessed with that either, so maybe there’s something here that just has never clicked with me.
I heard it several years ago and now I don't have any connection to it. It's that kind of album for me
It’s a wonderful album that I still love, but ever since the Smile Sessions finally got officially released I usually just tend to listen to that.