Being quite a critical collective here concerning music (and most other things) I'm curious about your opinions on Brian's "teenage symphony to God" that's finally been completed by original composers Brian and Van Dyke Parks and released today. If you're a fan of the BB or just curious it can be listened to in its entirety at www.smilethealbum.com. You enter your email and then click the link in the email you receive.

Having had a couple listens I think it's pretty stellar by today's standards. I can't begin to speculate in what ways it would have impacted popular music if it had been released when it originally was scheduled for in '67. In regards to this album...I was really torn on whether it should be messed with. Let's face it...Brian can't sing like he used to (and is still basically pretty "gone"), Carl and Dennis are dead, Mike Love is a fuck and I don't even know what's become of Al Jardine and Bruce. I also felt that recording technology is so advanced now it would probably contrive the spirit of the recording. The two big BB legacies that remain intact are the proven Pet Sounds and the unknown potential of the Smile album. I really didn't want to screw the last one by shaming it with a crap release.

Having now heard it I'm really impressed. Brian and VD Parks managed to finish Smile with what seems to be their orginal vision, recreate Beach Boy harmonies and not make it sound over produced (or what I call "too sparkly".) My only complaint is that Brian's voice is not what it was. He certainly gets the job done with the help of some overdubs and probably some back up help. It's quite passable but if you put it back to back with the old recording of the same song, like "Surf's Up" for example, it just lacks a bit...which is to be expected really. Is it better than Pet Sounds? I don't know. If it were released back in the day it would probably be considered the Beach Boys masterpeice. Being released now I'd just say it was fucking amazing effort.

i just bought it, and had to run inside real quick. it's still in the car; i'm on 'heros and villans'... i'm not far enough into it to say what i think on it. i was surprised that i got the only copy i could find at cat's... weird.

i'd think there'd be a bigger promotion behind this, seeing as it has taken that long... most everyone i've talked to haven't heard about it.

the packaging is pretty cool, at least.

(Edited by dontstaylong at 12:35 pm on Sep. 28, 2004)

I haven't heard it yet, but I saw Brian Wilson on MSNBC today. Man, that guy gets goofier by the day. He reminded me of Phil Hartman doing Adm. Stockdale, Perot's VP nom in 92. WIlson would just blurt out stuff, it was very awkward. The anchor intro'd him and said welcome to the show to which BW replied "Thanks! My album is out in record stores. Buy it now!" The whole thing was just off kiltered.

I remember seeing Brian Wilson rehearsing for the July 4th thing here in Nashville last summer. You could tell that he was on a totally different plain, but he intrigued me to the point that I wished I could get inside his head for an hour. I honestly think he "sees" music. He was singing "Good Vibrations" and during the round robin harmony parts he would be looking around then pluck his hand into the air where he thought his voice should go, then harmonize into it. At first he looked like he was conducting, but the more I watched the more I was convinced that he was seeing stuff we couldn't see. Very odd, yet very cool and exciting.

(Edited by Peace Frog at 2:03 pm on Sep. 28, 2004)

I love it.

That's hilarious! "Buy it now!"

Sad, though, that he feels like he has to say that kind of stuff to get people to buy it. Like others have said, it should have probably been a little better promoted. I'm sure the biggest demographic for it (the people who were into the band relatively close to when they were still around) have no idea.

The sad thing about it, is that it seemed like he doesn't have control of the "brain-to-mouth" valve. He said it very much like if you and I were in the situation, you know, to plug an album, movie, etc, but just shouted out stuff hewas thinking. He was constantly walking on the anchors questions. It was like the first thing that popped in his head went spewing out. I was half expecting him to shout "Gridlock!!!"

I bought it tonight. It was kind of weird looking for the CD under my name. But can't wait to listen to it.