TODAY !!!!!...run to your wrecka stow 's.....brian wilson's masterpiece is finally here !!!




Peace
Mark

Is it any good?

what is it like?

kokomo said:

Yep, great album, but I favor Pet Sounds.

i saw it at beast buy today but i passed on it...i kinda waffle on beach boys/brian wilson stuff, though i like pet sounds okay.

Why oh why didn't they REMASTER and RERELEASE the 60's sessions? Wilson completely fucked it up by rerecording everything .

VoicesCarry said:

have you HEARD the album yet?

read the review on AllMusicGuide.com, which i think will answer your question (plus they give it 4 1/2 stars!)

it explains that these versions are JUST AS GOOD if not BETTER than the originals. they did much of the recording on the ORIGINAL TUBE CONSOLES and have kept the arrangements nearly identical to the originals but have added ONLY where the original work was not yet finished. i personally haven't heard it yet, but I KNOW i have to own it...very necessary.

BTW, What's the deal, Did the "tune" called "Mrs. O'Leary's Cow" really drive Brian Wilson over the edge?

mrdespues said:

Yes, I've heard the album. Why would I comment if I hadn't?

Allmusic may have it's opinion, but mine is that the 60's recordings (of which I have many bootlegs) are far superior to these. Lightning didn't strike twice with the same equipment IMHO.
[Edited 9/28/04 15:15pm]

VoicesCarry said:

my apologies...it's been my experience that a hell of a lot of people on the org comment on stuff they've never seen/heard/read about. one only has to visit the P & R forum to see that.



i think you may be right...and there's still a possibility that the originals will be officially released. i've only ever heard the originals in bootleg form so for me, although i would love the originals, this new release will suit just fine. i mean, it can't be THAT bad, can it?

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[Edited 9/28/04 16:27pm]

VoicesCarry said:

ok, let the screaming at Finess commence... i never heard the "Smile" album..

mrdespues said:

No, it's not *that* bad, it's just.....not the originals. I have a really nice clean stereo bootleg (there are some muddy ones out there), so maybe we've heard different things. All I know is there really isn't a point to rerecording something. It reminds me of all those budget-line greatest hits collections where the 60's artist has gone back and rerecorded everything (The Shirelles have a million of those).

.
[Edited 9/28/04 16:27pm]
[/quote]

No, it's not *that* bad, it's just.....not the originals. I have a really nice clean stereo bootleg (there are some muddy ones out there), so maybe we've heard different things. All I know is there really isn't a point to rerecording something. It reminds me of all those budget-line greatest hits collections where the 60's artist has gone back and rerecorded everything (The Shirelles have a million of those).[/quote]

I think the reason he re-recorded the tracks was probably for legal or financial aspects. If he used the original source material some of the bucks and kudos would have gone to the surviving Beach Boys who appeared on the tracks. Considering Mike Love's attitude to Brian's work at the time was not complimentary I don't blame Brian for taking all the glory (and cash) for his masterpiece. Also, the original Smile recordings were somewhat incomplete so some parts would have had to have been re-recorded anyway.The only thing that doesn't seem right to me is having Taylor Mills on backing vocals on the album. I'm not being sexist but Smile was recorded without female vocals and it just doesn't sound right. She is great live in his touring band but I believe she shouldn't have been involved in the studio project.

VoicesCarry said:

I have a really clean one, too...but, well, on to your next point...



Well, I think there is a point in this case, because the original wasn't finished...and I can see why Brian wouldn't want to add to a 40-odd year old recording, can't you?...that just ruins the original...we've seen that kind of travesty with what happened to a lot of old Hendrix recordings over the years with overdubs.....so let's hope he releases the original AS IT WAS in the future as sessions from the original Smile, even though it wouldn't be finished. I'm sure a lot of fans would love that. I'm glad he did a new version and FINISHED IT though. It's his album, after all and I'm glad he got passed his issues with it and can now move on in the knowledge it's DONE, ya know? Good for him...and I'm sure it sounds just fine in the new version. My !

hmm there are some good songs

but damn it takes so long to adjust to such fruity songs..


maybe my mind will change


its just so damn silly..

I finally picked it up today and I don't see what there is to complain about. These new versions are virtually IDENTICAL to the originals, the only thing is now it's FINISHED!

Brilliant! Almost on a par with Pet Sounds.

Picked it up on Tuesday...pretty crazy. Sometimes it I forget that I'm listening to the 2004 version. Yes, it is silly... and that is part of the magic. So this is the SMiLE Brian of 2004 envisioned...with a fully supportive band and positive momentum, he has finally done it.

It's a very good song cycle that I don't think anybody can repeat...at least not anytime soon.

kokomo said:

Yes, it's a wonderful thing. Looking forward to the "Original Smile Sessions" box set that is supposed to be out next year.

Smile is it worth it after all these years?

my answer's yes. I was deeply impressed with the live show earlier this year and now that i have the album (and not some fan made bootleg) I am very pleased. The album's been completely re-recorded and his new backing band does a terrific job of filling in the Beach Boys' places.
How does it sound?
Well take a bit of Pet Sounds mix it up with Sgt Pepper's and add a few Zappa like twists, bang u got Smile. It's a musical fest, a psychedelic trip. And it rightly deserved all the praise it got through the years.
If you like 60's psychedelica you'll like this album...
my advice: pick it up, you won't be disappointed

blackguitaristz said:

Pet Sounds was great!. I listened to it straight for weeks! I lent it to an old friend 4yrs. ago... needless to say I haven't received it back. I also believe my old friend may have died?