Search - Beach Boys :: Smiley Smile

Smiley Smile a little Smile for me

Chip Dunhill | Deep in the Bowels of Texas | 05/15/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After the one-two artistic triumph of Pet Sounds and "Good Vibrations," expectations ran high for the next projected Beach Boys album, Smile. That mythical record never happened, and its legend cast a long shadow over every subsequent Beach Boys recording, unfortunately obscuring the merits of a string of rewarding, esoteric works, Smiley Smile being the first of these. Though many have lamented that this album's interpretations of the Smile material are but pale facsimiles of that opus' full-blown productions, these criticisms are one-sided and unfair, Smiley Smile being quite remarkable in its own right. In many ways, it's even more challenging and avant garde than what had been planned for Smile; Smiley Smile is easily the single weirdest thing the Beach Boys have ever released. And Smiley Smile is not just anamolous in the Beach Boys' catalog -- nobody else has made a record that sounds anything like it, either. The barely-there production makes it sound like a collection of demos, often featuring just vocals, keyboards and incidental production, lending a creepy edge particularly to the re-recorded Smile material, which was pretty ghoulish to begin with. Some of the remakes, like the bizarre "She's Goin' Bald," even improve upon the originals, and the included spectral doo-wop take on "Wonderful" is as immortal as the long-lost Smile version. "Heroes and Villains" says more about the whole Smile era in three minutes than the several books that have covered the subject since. In addition to these cuts and the million-selling "Good Vibrations" (which is best programmed out for consistency), there's also a dissonant, impressionistic instrumental ("Fall Breaks and Back to Winter"), and "Gettin' Hungry," a released single (oddly credited to "Brian and Mike") that revolves around swirling organ drones rivalling anything conjured up by the Velvet Underground's John Cale, also featuring a great Brian Wilson a capella vocal break. Wilson cultists pining for an official Smile release should give a(nother) listen to this underrated disc; it's a small gem, but is shines brightly nonetheless."

"Smiley Smile Makes Sense" Shock Exclusive

D. Coram | Bournemouth, UK | 09/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Now that SMiLE has been released, you have to come to this album downwards from the big one rather than up from your expectations of a follow up to Pet Sounds. This is the companion; the one you play in the car, in the office, or while you're "sittin' in a dentists' chair." In the context of the spiritual and psychological rollercoaster that is SMiLE, this album genuinely makes perfect logical sense as a Brian Wilson Chills Out After Major Head Mess record. I really, really, really urge you to get this record and listen to it after you've digested and learnt SMiLE because you'll really, really enjoy it."

Fill the Gap!

Kendal B. Hunter | Provo, UT United States | 10/05/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, this album is for die hard Beach Boys/Brian Wilson fans ONLY! Do not get this if you aree hosting a luau or beach party. If you like the albums "Pet Sounds" and "Surf's Up," then proceed . . .This albut is the "lost recordings" of the album the Beach Boys did after smashing things up with "Good Vibrations." what you are listening to is mostly rough cuts, scratch vocals, and backup tracks. So it is quite an unusual mix. Imagine looking at Da Vinci's sketchbook, and you get the idea. The ideas are not fill-blown, but you see the gems and grains of genius.You may have heard other forms of the songs in the later Captiol recording, especially "Smiley Smile," "20/20," and the Brother Records "Surf's Up" and "Sunflower." Howver, in almost all cases these rough-cut tracks are better than the cannibalized and polished released tracks.I am strangly attracted to this album. It is far more avant guard than "Sgt. Pepper's." At times it delves into a stoned da-da-ism. However, the music, harmonies, and orchastration are impeccible.So buy it, listen, and form you own opinion of what could have been."