New SMiLE Essay

[Bill Tobelman]

The new essay is up. Much of it has to do with ideas in the book The Act Of Creation by Arthur Koestler.

It's not perfect but is more accurate than my last go-round. It's likely not for everybody but I'm fairly sure some of you will like it.

http://www.goodhumorsmile.com/page22.htm

[filledeplage]

The new essay is up. Much of it has to do with ideas in the book The Act Of Creation by Arthur Koestler.

It's not perfect but is more accurate than my last go-round. It's likely not for everybody but I'm fairly sure some of you will like it.

http://www.goodhumorsmile.com/page22.htm

Bill - I feel compelled to be very candid, here. Despite the disclaimer that you have not "partaken" of the substance, I worry as a parent that the is no "don't try this at home" warning.  And, as a career early childhood educator that the essay, is linked to a pedagogical website.  That is even more troubling to me.

Your essay, while interesting, reminds me more of "explication de texte," of the lyrics, interspersing this bisociative theory.  There may be fragile individuals/readers for whom your essay will foster a desire to experiment with LSD.  And, I'm not for censorship.

To be balanced, there have been some very limited medically supervised LSD administrations in the strictly supervised and monitored psychiatric setting, for very limited diagnoses, but, we know that  most LSD experimentation has been done outside of that setting.  And, that the permanent catastrophic effects of this type of experimentation are well known, for nearly 50 years.  

Poetry and literary analysis or "what does it mean?"  Or, "what is the message?" from the poet or writer is as old as writing and poetry, but this "dream state" visionary theory, as a result of LSD, could be dangerously suggestive to some already in a compromised mental status.  

Just saying...

Back to the music!

[Bill Tobelman]

Thank you for the candid response filledeplage.

In order for one to be accurate about the SMiLE era one has to include LSD in the discussion. The way this is done in the essay is through statements made by LSD study volunteers. Their insights further the discussion of SMiLE by adding the drug perspective without having to resort to actual drug taking. It is hoped that people interested in such matters will follow the example set in the article and use the accounts of other's people's to inform and educate.

Arthur Koestler was no fan of psychedelics. His book is a fine example of the possibilities of original thought. Koestler's 'dream' therefore, is not a drug induced one. It is hoped that people further interested in the possibilities of dreams use their own sleep induced dreams for reference.

[filledeplage]

Thank you for the candid response filledeplage.

In order for one to be accurate about the SMiLE era one has to include LSD in the discussion. The way this is done in the essay is through statements made by LSD study volunteers. Their insights further the discussion of SMiLE by adding the drug perspective without having to resort to actual drug taking. It is hoped that people interested in such matters will follow the example set in the article and use the accounts of other's people's to inform and educate.

Arthur Koestler was no fan of psychedelics. His book is a fine example of the possibilities of original thought. Koestler's 'dream' therefore, is not a drug induced one. It is hoped that people further interested in the possibilities of dreams use their own sleep induced dreams for reference.

Bill - Thanks for the response.  Of course LSD was part of the era, and prior, by the CIA in the 1950's for mind control and behaviorial engineering.  Interestingly a suit has been filed by the children of a biological warfare expert for the alleged LSD drugging of their scientist father, only several months ago.  More can be found on slate.com.  I find it a revolting story. 

My concern is the glamorization of the era, when many catastrophic results occurred, including permanent mental illness and disability.  Now, as a result of better brain imaging, brain damage, can be scanned and visualized on a screen for various types of damage, including drug use.  Glamorization and romanticizing can be one of those attractions, no less than sugared cereals on TV, where people develop a compulsion for such products.  I guess it is more of erring on the side of caution, to disclaim loudly, and preface "research" loudly, to confine and define the perameters. 

The SMiLE work has overall been long overdue in recognition for the composition, production and vocals.  I bought the old Smiley LP the day it was released.  It is old and loved music. And, I never think of LSD when I hear it. For example, I think of the "vibrations" with the story I read as between Brian and his mom, and I think of the American saga with Heroes and Villains.

Dream study and circadian sleep cycle  study has advanced since the 1960's.  And it it's more grounded in hard data with brain visualization than theory, in my opinion.  We have a lot of Brian idolization out there.  And, he is the greatest American composer of our time, without doubt.  I would hate to see a relation drawn as between an interpretive essay of one of his works and see a person in a fragile state, mentally, think they could become more "Brian-like" by ingesting LSD. And heeding that "power of suggestion."

That is my concern.

Maybe this should be in the SMiLE section rather than General Discussion.

[Don Malcolm]

Bill--A very interesting essay. I'd like to have seen the concepts presented here more directly applied to the changing structure of musical composition that evidenced itself in Brian's music, beginning with Pet Sounds. "Modular" songwriting is arguably the key hallmark of what "dream escape" creativity is organized around, affording the creator both an ecstatic manifestation (snatches of epiphany found in many early Modernist writers such as Proust or Joyce) and a mournful, haunted underside (French romantic poetry streaming into Symbolism and in the side of Eliot that sees his visions as dream-shards displayed as "...fragments I have shored against my ruins").

More discussion of the compositional technique as it relates to capturing these states of mind would be extremely helpful. There have been some very interesting discussions here concerning how Brian's musical influences led him to the brink of the Smile music, but the heightened "mood swings" that occur in the music itself, tempo changes, major-minor chord voicings, etc., all play a significant role in this singular musical journey. Listening to the Smile music unadorned by Parks's lyrics is, on its own terms, just as "different" experience as it is with the voices/words. Those references to the "pictorial" in your essay leave a tantalizing trail of crumbs toward just how that quality suddenly became so prominent in Brian's composition.

I do agree with filledeplage that a closing "disclaimer" about the dangers of unsupervised use of hallucinogens would be an appropriate endnote for your text. I think a variant of your reply here would be more than sufficient for that purpose.

Thanks much for bringing back your site and for publishing the new essay. I am going to dust off my copy of Koestler's ACT OF CREATION and hope that several of our very brainy folks here will consider discoursing a bit on the future of aesthetics in the light of continuing brain research!

[Bill Tobelman]

Thank you both for your thoughts and suggestions.

[the professor]

May I ask what the bibliographic status of your essay is?  Is this to be peer-reviewed work in a journal of aesthetics or psychology, or it it (now and later) a self-published personal web creation, independent of a scholarly community?

[rasmus skotte]

Great one, Bill! But especially I liked the 'conclusion' from your linked-to BIO BASED SMiLE:

"Brian's SMiLE vision was meant to start a chain reaction of love and mercy. If everyone shared this vision - then we'd get, you know, world peace".

Which is parallel to the one I arrived at in my own (online) "Radiant RayDIODish" rant - and in the "Deus Pax Machina" musicvid.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

The new essay is up. Much of it has to do with ideas in the book The Act Of Creation by Arthur Koestler.

It's not perfect but is more accurate than my last go-round. It's likely not for everybody but I'm fairly sure some of you will like it.

http://www.goodhumorsmile.com/page22.htm

Bill - I feel compelled to be very candid, here. Despite the disclaimer that you have not "partaken" of the substance, I worry as a parent that the is no "don't try this at home" warning.  And, as a career early childhood educator that the essay, is linked to a pedagogical website.  That is even more troubling to me.

Your essay, while interesting, reminds me more of "explication de texte," of the lyrics, interspersing this bisociative theory.  There may be fragile individuals/readers for whom your essay will foster a desire to experiment with LSD.  And, I'm not for censorship.

To be balanced, there have been some very limited medically supervised LSD administrations in the strictly supervised and monitored psychiatric setting, for very limited diagnoses, but, we know that  most LSD experimentation has been done outside of that setting.  And, that the permanent catastrophic effects of this type of experimentation are well known, for nearly 50 years.  

Poetry and literary analysis or "what does it mean?"  Or, "what is the message?" from the poet or writer is as old as writing and poetry, but this "dream state" visionary theory, as a result of LSD, could be dangerously suggestive to some already in a compromised mental status.  

Just saying...

Back to the music!

Hearing Smile made me want to try LSD, aged 16. If it hadn't been that, it would have been something else. No disclaimer would have worked. Some people are that way inclined. In fact, folk like you "advising" people not to do stuff are a big factor in them doing it!

Do I regret taking it - Yes

If I could go back and not take it, would I? NOT A CHANCE.

[Mr. Cohen]

DON'T TAKE LSD! You could do terrible things... you could compromise your productivity... stop voting for your favorite political party... you might even question existence! Get back to work and to obsessing over the Beach Boys. No need to wonder!

[Mr. Cohen]

And yes, I'm aware that some people have lost it taking LSD. LSD is something you should prepare for. It's not a joke.  And a lot of the people that "freak out" freak precisely because they had been twisted into all sorts of delusions from societal conditioning and had in fact been living in deep fear their whole lives. In other words, they'd been freaked out their whole lives, but had been bottled in by the steamroller of conformity. Don't blame LSD for pulling the loose thread on their shirts and unraveling everything. Blame the thread.

[I. Spaceman]

I love LSD. Haven't taken it in years, though. I'd recommend it to anyone before I'd recommend a shot of whiskey.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

I had a very bad one, and recorded the train wreck as it happened on dictophone, then turned it into an album. Very funny.

[filledeplage]

The new essay is up. Much of it has to do with ideas in the book The Act Of Creation by Arthur Koestler.

It's not perfect but is more accurate than my last go-round. It's likely not for everybody but I'm fairly sure some of you will like it.

http://www.goodhumorsmile.com/page22.htm

Bill - I feel compelled to be very candid, here. Despite the disclaimer that you have not "partaken" of the substance, I worry as a parent that the is no "don't try this at home" warning.  And, as a career early childhood educator that the essay, is linked to a pedagogical website.  That is even more troubling to me.

Your essay, while interesting, reminds me more of "explication de texte," of the lyrics, interspersing this bisociative theory.  There may be fragile individuals/readers for whom your essay will foster a desire to experiment with LSD.  And, I'm not for censorship.

To be balanced, there have been some very limited medically supervised LSD administrations in the strictly supervised and monitored psychiatric setting, for very limited diagnoses, but, we know that  most LSD experimentation has been done outside of that setting.  And, that the permanent catastrophic effects of this type of experimentation are well known, for nearly 50 years.  

Poetry and literary analysis or "what does it mean?"  Or, "what is the message?" from the poet or writer is as old as writing and poetry, but this "dream state" visionary theory, as a result of LSD, could be dangerously suggestive to some already in a compromised mental status.  

Just saying...

Back to the music!

Hearing Smile made me want to try LSD, aged 16. If it hadn't been that, it would have been something else. No disclaimer would have worked. Some people are that way inclined. In fact, folk like you "advising" people not to do stuff are a big factor in them doing it!

Do I regret taking it - Yes

If I could go back and not take it, would I? NOT A CHANCE.

(Stephen Newcombe) - I was addressing Bill, and did not tell anyone to do or refrain from doing anything.  And, there is a YouTube with Brian, in which he was taking about "Hey Little Tomboy" ( which everyone seems to hate) (not me) and Brian discusses his "use" and I believe he said, that they "messed him up." That is Brian describing an effect.  Not me. 

If I think that someone is glamorizing something that even Brian Wilson "may" have used and experienced a negative effect, then I can voice my opinion, as long as it is respectful, and I think it was, and it is within the "rules of the road" on this board, there shouldn't be a problem.  We lost so many of our best and biggest talented stars, during that time, as a direct result of substances.  It was a waste of brilliant human beings.  Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, to just name two. 

 The bad effects of people ending "tripping" in a psych ward are real experiences from the "Love Generation."  And an experience that generation can hopefully pass on to reasonable, mature and cautious people.  It had nothing to do with you.   I was talking to Bill, who responded very politely. 

[Iron Horse-Apples]

That;s cool, but if it was a private conversation between you and Bill, then maybe take it to PM's.

Your whole tone was very anti LSD, which is fine. I was just putting my two pennies in, that by taking a negative stance you yourself are glamorising it for a certain type of person.  That's all I meant. Just trying to add to an interesting discussion. If you don't want anyone else'e input, then, respectfully, take it to PM's.

By the way, I always enjoy your posts, so no animosity meant, though I can see how the "folk like you" comment would have got your back up.

[filledeplage]

That;s cool, but if it was a private conversation between you and Bill, then maybe take it to PM's.

Your whole tone was very anti LSD, which is fine. I was just putting my two pennies in, that by taking a negative stance you yourself are glamorising it for a certain type of person.  That's all I meant. Just trying to add to an interesting discussion. If you don't want anyone else'e input, then, respectfully, take it to PM's.

By the way, I always enjoy your posts, so no animosity meant, though I can see how the "folk like you" comment would have got your back up.

Thanks for your kind words.  I did qualify my position.  And mentioned, I've read some very new studies, very limited, medically supervised administration of LSD in the hospital setting. 

But, I've taught many kids who were orphaned as a result of parent's drug use, and/or death, and live in foster care or with grandparents, who fear they won't live long enough to see them to adulthood, so I guess I've been on the collateral damage end of the distribution chain. 

[Mike's Beard]

People really need to can it with the mythical LSD as spiritual awakening crap. That is soooo 1960's Hippie/new age garbage talk.

Acid just messes with the chemicals in your brain so you see sh*t that isn't there. There's nothing deep about it at all, it's just altering your mind's ability to perceive reality correctly for a while.

[The Shift]

People really need to can it with the mythical LSD as spiritual awakening crap. That is soooo 1960's Hippie/new age garbage talk.

Acid just messes with the chemicals in your brain so you see sh*t that isn't there. There's nothing deep about it at all, it's just altering your mind's ability to perceive reality correctly for a while.

Agree. If you fall for the "spiritual awakening" shite these days, you might as well believe L'Oreal when they say "You're worth it" and drink their shampoo or whatever chemical concoction they're peddling.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

People really need to can it with the mythical LSD as spiritual awakening crap. That is soooo 1960's Hippie/new age garbage talk.

Acid just messes with the chemicals in your brain so you see sh*t that isn't there. There's nothing deep about it at all, it's just altering your mind's ability to perceive reality correctly for a while.

Turn off, tune out, shut up.

[Mike's Beard]

People really need to can it with the mythical LSD as spiritual awakening crap. That is soooo 1960's Hippie/new age garbage talk.

Acid just messes with the chemicals in your brain so you see sh*t that isn't there. There's nothing deep about it at all, it's just altering your mind's ability to perceive reality correctly for a while.

Turn off, tune out, shut up.

I'm well aware how much fun drug taking can be, let's just not pretend that tripping is some kind of 'sacred' experience. It's not, no more than getting drunk, or smoking some good weed or dancing your a$$ off in a club while high on escasty. It's all just a fun way to escape the tedium of everyday life for a while.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

That's cool if you took it for fun. I did have highly meaningful experiences on it though. Please don't tell me I'm pretending just because I experienced something you didn't. That seems a rather narrow minded attitude!

[Mr. Cohen]

Right, to compare getting drunk or even high to tripping is crazy. No one knows exactly why, but tripping encourages a level of introspection unparalleled by most anything else.

[Iron Horse-Apples]

Absolutely right Murry.
Also saying this is very revealing, which makes me suspect he's never taken it.

Acid just messes with the chemicals in your brain so you see sh*t that isn't there.

Acid has very little to do with hallucinations. It's to do with thought. It changed my whole outlook on life forever. It changed everything for me, good and bad. The very definition of a "life changing experience" Nothing like weed, drink or ecstasy. Sorry mate.

[Mr. Cohen]

Yep. Psychedelics really are more about the inner world. While you will hallucinate, I find that if you're tripping to the point where the world looks like some Tool album art, it's often more disorientating than enlightening and rarely preferable to a lighter trip.  People who have a really strong trip like that are rarely in a rush to repeat the same experience over again. The best trip, in my mind, involves some light fractals and exaggerated colors coupled with solid, clear introspection.

[Mike's Beard]

Absolutely right Murry.
Also saying this is very revealing, which makes me suspect he's never taken it.

You would suspect wrong, I tried it 3 times in my teens. I saw some funky sh*t on it (including watching Rocky III and witnessing Sly's face zombiefy and melt off at one point - true story).

Acid has very little to do with hallucinations. It's to do with thought. It changed my whole outlook on life forever. It changed everything for me, good and bad. The very definition of a "life changing experience" Nothing like weed, drink or ecstasy. Sorry mate.

You misunderstand me there. Of course the physical and mental reaction differs between tripping on acid and say, getting steaming drunk, just as a major coke tweekage produces a different effect from getting stoned on pot. The point I was making is that they all produce the same end result in getting one "off their tits", nothing more - nothing less. If you feel different after taking LSD it's because the chemicals in your brain have been altered, not because you have become "closer to God" or something.